Sara Reyes | Author Tour Report: Jeff Abbott in Dallas

Jeff Abbott at the Q&A
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Last night we had the opportunity to meet a native Texan in town for a tour of COLLISION, Jeff Abbott. Fresh from a week in London and still jet-lagged, Jeff regaled us with his exploits of researching a book with his mom in Frisco. Now, Frisco is across the road from where I live and my closest shopping area, so finding out that we were the backdrop for an international thriller was a bit, well, 'thrilling.' Although, if he got it wrong, even a bit of the streets or neighborhoods or prairie, it would throw me out of my reading. Sorry, but that happens to me and it's annoying especially if the book was going along so well. And Jeff picked a road under construction. Of course, right now, that could be true since they are busy building TWO toll roads in Frisco. The only city in North Texas where BOTH of the primary arteries costs 25 cents a mile to traverse! It's outrageous! you pay for the bonds and taxes and then they charge you for usage as well! They may not say they raise taxes but they'll enjoy quarter and dollaring you with fees to death! Ah Frisco....

Where was I? Oh, yes, COLLISION, or RUN if you picked the book up in the UK where it sells like hotcakes for those Brits on their way to vacations in the sunny isles of the Mediterranean. Jeff also stated his biggest fan base text him as they are enjoying a bit too much of the sun, sand and alcohol whilst on posh vacations. Well, the new book features two main characters: both incomplete in a way, who must stick together to survive. But both men have dark secrets that throw everything up for grabs. And a chase scene in Frisco, Texas.

Jeff is funny and enjoyed the pokes from the audience at the Lincoln Park Barnes and Noble as well as poking back. It helped that his mom wasn't there, although I understand there will be reports made! I didn't think his hair cut was THAT bad!! Jeff lives in Austin with his wife and children so he's not a stranger to our part of Texas. We can only hope we'll get some more international intrigue set in our back yard!

Till next time... Sara Reyes

DFW Tea Readers


Readers 'n 'ritas ... celebrate passionate literary obsessions, October 11th with Sherrilyn Kenyon and more...

Jo Davis | The Perfect Hero

When Fresh Fiction asked me to guest blog today, I’ll admit I puzzled for days over what to write about. Like many authors, I’m an introvert at heart. When I’m not sitting at the computer racing to meet a deadline, my nose is buried in a book…rooting for a yummy hero to save the day.

Eureka! That’s it! I’ll write about heroes, my favorite subject! They are sensual, moody, contradictory, playful and—ahem—one size definitely does not fit all. But what pearl of information could I possibly impart that hasn’t been discussed before? Then, thanks to an online romance readers’ discussion, I discovered The Perfect Hero—the Gamma male!

This man was a revelation to me, folks. An honest-to-God two-by-four upside the head. Where have I been that I haven’t heard of this Super Male, this ultimate package of melt-your-panties goodness? Oh, right—sitting at the keyboard breathing life into Alphas and Betas. Or so I believed. I wish I could take credit for labeling this guy, but alas, I can’t, and the origin of the term seems vague. However, I’ve been creating Gammas for years without even knowing I was doing so! To better understand the Gamma, let me begin with a refresher on Alphas and Betas.

The Alpha male is tough, opinionated, stubborn, and sometimes downright rude or mean. But don’t judge him too harshly because there’s always a deep-seated reason he’s this way, and he’s a good man, through and through. Whenever I picture an Alpha, the phrase “hard-lovin’ man” pops into my head. It takes a special woman to love him, and capture his love in return. One hero of my Firefighters of Station Five series, Captain Sean Tanner, is a true Alpha to whom life has been particularly cruel. Only an equally tough heroine will be able to penetrate Tanner’s shell.

Betas are affectionate, loyal, happy, and basically non-violent. They live to help others. They are poets, musicians, artists, doctors, lawyers, and firefighters, just to name a few (not that Alphas don’t hold those occupations, mind you—of course they do. See above!). Yes, I can hear a few of you groaning. But I, for one, can get cozy for hours with a well-written true Beta man because he’s a nice break from all that macho intensity. He’s such a joy to watch in action, sweeping his lady off her feet, loving her like nobody else can. Tommy Skyler, the youngest of my Firefighters of Station Five men, is a happy-go-lucky Beta with a golden life…and there’s a storm of epic proportions on his horizon. One he may not survive.

Now for those Gammas! There are arguments/descriptions of two Gamma types floating around in cyber land. One argument claims the Gamma male is the perfect blend of the best traits of Alpha and Beta males. I’ll call him the Kick-Ass Angel. This type is funny, loving, and insightful. He’ll take his lady for walks in the park or whisk her to Paris. But try and take what’s his and he’ll tear you limb from limb—and smile while doing it. He may have a wonderful sensitive side, but he also has a hair-trigger when it comes to protecting the ones he loves. Howard “Six-Pack” Paxton, the hero of my August 5 release from Signet Eclipse, TRIAL BY FIRE (Firefighters of Station Five #1), is this type of Gamma male—a wonderful combination of the strong, bossy, opinionated Alpha with a loving, caring side. Zack Knight, the hero of my May 2009 Signet Eclipse release UNDER FIRE (Firefighters of Station Five #2) is another example of this type, with slightly different shading. As I wrote Zack’s story, I struggled during the entire process with labeling him as a Beta, because that wasn’t quite true. Beta is his dominant side, but push him too far and suffer the consequences—he’s a Gamma!

The second type of Gamma I’ll dub the Black-Hearted Devil. He’s described as a near-sociopath, so close to being unredeemable as a hero you can’t slide a sheet of paper sideways between his good and bad sides—what scant good he retains. His woman will have to brave the fires of Hell to win him, and does. I haven’t yet written this type of Gamma hero, but I’ve read a couple that have been extraordinarily well-done. As an author, it would be a fascinating challenge to undertake shaping and breathing life into this type of man.

Either way, the Gamma male concept was a terrific discovery for me, as both a reader and an author. I submit that the Gamma male can be branched into both sub-types: Kick-Ass Angels or Black-Hearted Devils. Whatever the Gamma hero is to you, run—don’t walk—to your nearest bookstore and hunt one of your very own to devour.

Question: What terrific book have you recently read that, in your opinion, features a delicious Gamma hero? Is he a Kick-Ass Angel or a Black-Hearted Devil?

Happy Reading,
Jo
http://www.jodavis.net/

Jo Davis is a former teacher, past Golden Heart finalist, and author of sexy romantic suspense and erotic romantic suspense/thrillers. Her debut romantic suspense series, the Firefighters of Station Five, launches in August 2008 from Signet Eclipse with TRIAL BY FIRE. Her first erotic thriller, WHEN ALEX WAS BAD, will debut in August 2009 from NAL HEAT.

TRIAL BY FIRE~ August 5, 2008
UNDER FIRE~ May 5, 2009
WHEN ALEX WAS BAD~ August 4, 2009
HIDDEN FIRE~ December 2009

Charlene Teglia | When the To Do list is as long as the TBR pile is high

I have a dilemma right now. July is a busy month for me, with two releases hitting the shelves; Naughty Nights (Pocket) July 15, and Wicked Hot (St. Martin’s) July 22.

Add preparations for RWA Nationals in San Francisco to that, with all the accompanying To Dos. Then there’s the list of things to be done to get child #1 ready to start school in August. And let’s not forget the weeds in the garden, the laundry pile that’s waiting, the people who expect me to feed them three times a day, and the book that will not write itself.

So I should be doing all of these things, right? Yet I look over at my TBR pile, and it is as high as my To Do list is long…and full of temptation.

There’s Lynn Viehl’s latest installment in the Darkyn series, Twilight Fall. There’s Hope Tarr’s historical Blaze, Bound to Please. There’s a terrific-sounding SF/romance, Mathematicians in Love by a new to me author which I could not pass up once I read the premise. And Marjorie Liu’s Iron Hunt is pretty hard to resist.

This is too much enticement for my book-loving soul to withstand. Some days the To Do list needs to be put on hold while I read just one more chapter. Because loving books and wanting to spend my professional life creating and dealing with them was my dream, and I refuse to be too busy to allow myself the pleasure of a great read now that I’ve achieved that dream.

There will always be the clamor of daily demands, but there should also always be time to treasure the joy of reading. Even if it’s fifteen stolen minutes in a hectic day.

Do you let the To Do list wait when the TBR pile calls?

Charlene Teglia
www.charleneteglia.com/

Wicked Hot Excerpt

Jessica Barksdale Inclan | Writers or Readers

Hello, everyone. My name is Jessica Barksdale Inclan, and I’m the author of a few novels, the latest BEING WITH HIM, a paranormal romance from Kensington.

I am so happy to be here today at Freshfiction.com. I blog daily at www.redrom.com/, but it’s nice to have a new place to meet people. As I was thinking about what to write about to you today, I realized I didn’t want to talk about writing but reading. Writers usually are always readers first. And as that is the case with me, I relate most with being a reader. That’s what I do. That’s what I am.

Reading saved me. It has always saved me. From before I could read myself, my mother’s daily and nightly reading to me saved me, kept me from thinking my own thoughts sometimes, giving me new thoughts to think about. Reading put me into worlds I had never been, worlds I wanted to go to.

Reading was something I could do when all else failed. In fourth grade, I was tested at 12th grade reading level and a 2nd grade math level. Things have changed relatively little in that regard, the wide disparity still there. But then and now, reading was the thing I could do and do well, sometimes the only thing.

I read during my labors with both children. I've read in airplanes. I've read on long car rides in the rain. I've read during sad afternoons, during long waits in the car for children to finish their appointments and classes. I've read in every place I've ever traveled to. I read whatever is in front of me: newspapers, cereal boxes, instruction booklets.

I don't have graphomania (the constant need to write) but I do have bibliomania. I will admit to that right now, no holds barred. I am obsessed with reading.

Now reading helps me make a living, reading and her twin writing. Reading is what I can do for others out of love. Reading is a gift I give to others out of friendship.

I read fast. At school, my colleagues have loved me during hiring committees because I could read through the application folders faster than anyone else. They loved me during writing assessments because of the same thing. It's my own true skill, something I didn't have to work at, learn to do. It's in my brain due to no training on my part.

I like to hold what I read, so I worry about ebooks, about kindles, about electronic everything. I like a book, being able to flip back and forth, feel the pages under my fingers. I like to carry it with me, even reading in the dry sauna or some times at the pool, water everywhere. I like to read outside, inside, in the sun, in the shade. This isn't going to disintegrate into Green Eggs and Ham, but you get my point.

Today, I am thankful for my reading skills, my reading love. I've read a lot today already, and it's a good thing, a nice thing, a wonderful thing.

What does reading do for you? How do you feel about reading? Is it your first true love?

Jessica
Being With Him

Jessica Barksdale Inclan
www.jessicabarksdaleinclan.com/

What a reader does in her spare time? Book signings, dine with authors, and read!

Rios Tex-Mex
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Glad you asked...even if you didn't, you get to hear. HA! the power of the blog erupts! Anyway, this week we had two signings I attended, one I missed, one conference planning session and a whole bunch of work work work on FreshFiction.com. Oh, yeah, and I read a couple of books worth mentioning.

The signings...Tuesday was great! We had dinner with the book club at the fabulous little "hole in the wall" Tio Rio Tex restaurant in North Dallas. Tio Rio is one of my favorite in town Tex restaurants because it is small, the food is great and there is a tree growing through one of the walls. Now, for most you would say, "a tree! How quaint!" with a sniff on the "quaint." But trust me, in our part of Texas, a tree that size deserves respect and admiration. And the food, well, great fish dishes and my advise is to take whatever the special is, because it will be sublime! Our book club and gang usually meets up at either "Tio Rio" or "Natalies" when we're attending a book signing at the Borders Preston & Royal in Dallas, so they know us by sight and name! Now that you have the setting, it's time for the guests!

Carol Cassella Signs
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Our author guest was the delightful Carol Cassella (she'll be blogging here later this month, so keep an eye out! She's so much fun!). She was on her "tour" taking in a city per day all over the country. She had one of her daughters with her on the Texas segment of the tour but she didn't join us for dinner. We also had as a guest, Charlene from Keller. One of Carol's old high school classmates. I hope I got the name right and hope even more she'll join us in our "western" teas (as in the Fort Worth side). Carol was scheduled to sign OXYGEN at Borders after our dinner and a whole slew of her old classmates held a reunion at the store as well!

OXYGEN is a suspense novel about a woman forced to make choices about her career, her family and her love life in the midst of a malpractice case in a Seattle hospital. Our group had a bit of discussion as to whether it was a suspense or just fiction because the death took place early and the sense of thrill tension wasn't always there. The descriptions, story and stand out characters in OXYGEN made it a hit with our group. And a book that makes you talk and argue is always a good book to read! Carol talked to us about being an anesthesiologist and mother of two sets of twins. In their teens no less! A BRAVE strong woman! Then we all went over to the book store for a standing only crowd. They added chairs until there were none left! A great turnout! They even sold out of OXYGEN!!! Good thing we had our copies!

Ridley meets the bear
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

The next signing was with the funny, although he does write thrillers, Ridley Pearson. I was introduced to Ridley via Dave Barry and the Peter Pan prequels. What can I say? I sometimes go at things backwards! Anyway, I met him at a Book Expo a couple of years ago when they were "pushing" the Peter Pan books. I've always enjoyed Barry's columns so I was curious as to the YA novels. And Ridley was so funny, I picked up a couple of his books to try. KILLER VIEW is the second Walt Fleming book and is a "thrill" of a read! Set in Sun Valley, Ridley told us about his research for the Walt books including an encounter with a black bear! Oh yeah! DO NOT LOOK A BEAR IN THE EYE! Great advice!

As for the conference, well, we're having a readers conference in October in Richardson. It will be a weekend of GREAT, FABULOUS, you-better-not-miss-it-FUN!!! Filled with chat sessions about books -- the stuff readers love to talk endlessly about, lunch and dinner with some FABULOUS AUTHORS including Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Candace Havens, and Lauren Willig, a book swap, and a tea on Sunday with over 30 authors. For $135 you can't beat the fun! Check out the website at Readers-n-ritas.org. Did I mention the "margaritas"? I hope you'll join us!

Until next week when I'll be on the road in Oklahoma at the first "Fangs, Fur & Fey Con within a Con." I can't wait!

Sara Reyes
DFW Tea Readers Group
Readers 'n 'ritas ...celebrate passionate literary obsessions