35% Off My Books at The Wild Rose Press This Weekend

Today is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day in the year in the US!

The Wild Rose Press is celebrating by putting every digital book on their website on sale for this entire weekend for a fantastic 35% off.

That's $1.94 each for Lady of the Stars, Pumpkinnapper, Mistletoe Everywhere and An Inheritance for the Birds, and $2.59 for Gifts Gone Astray. No better prices anywhere!

So, if you've wanted to get my ebooks at a discount, now is the time to do it.
 
My books are here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=486

Blurbs and excerpts are at the above link.

Have fun. And I hope you've recovered from all the turkey.

Thank you all,
Linda

My Fifth Contract: AN INHERITANCE FOR THE BIRDS

The Wild Rose Press has contracted my latest Regency comedy novella, An Inheritance for the Birds for their upcoming historical Love Letters series. Each story starts with a letter which changes the characters' lives. Some examples are an arranged marriage, a Dear John letter, an unexpected inheritance, a mail order bride, or the death of a loved one.

My letter is a notice of the hero's inheritance. But there's a catch...

Here's the unedited blurb and excerpt:

BLURB:
Make the ducks happy and win an estate!

What?

Mr. Christopher "Kit" Winnington can't believe the letter from his late great-aunt's solicitor. In order to inherit her estate, he must win a contest against her companion, Miss Angela Stratton. Whoever makes his great-aunt's pet ducks happy wins.

A contest? What a cork-brained idea. This Miss Stratton is probably a sly spinster who camouflaged her grasping nature from his good-natured relative. There is no way he will let the estate go to a usurper.

Angela never expected her former employer to name her in her will. Most likely, this Mr. Winnington is a trumped-up jackanapes who expects her to give up without a fight. Well, she is made of sterner stuff.

The ducks quack in avian bliss while Kit and Angela dance a duet of desire as they do their utmost to make the ducks--and themselves--happy.

EXCERPT:
Yawning, Kit shut the door behind him. Enough ducks and prickly ladies for one day. He dragged off his clothes and draped them over the chair back. He blew out both candles.

Bates had already drawn back the covers and left Kit's nightshirt on the pillow. The counterpane was soft under his hand, and covered a feather bed. He gave a grin. By any chance, had they used the down from the pet ducks to stuff the mattress and pillows?

After pulling on the nightshirt and tying the bed curtains back, he settled into the soft cocoon and laced his hands behind his head. Tomorrow, he would have it out with Miss Stratton about the steward's house, but that was tomorrow. He fluffed up his pillow and turned onto his side…

"QUACK!"

A bundle of flapping, squawking feathers exploded from the depths of the covers and attacked him. Throwing his arms over his head for protection, Kit fell out of the bed. He scrambled to his feet and bolted for the door, the thrashing, quacking explosion battering him. A serrated knife edge scraped over his upper arm.

"Ow!" Batting at the avian attacker with one hand, Kit groped for the door latch with the other.

The panel swung open. Miss Stratton, a candle in one hand, dashed into the room. "Esmeralda, you stop right now!"

The feathered windstorm quacked once more and, in a graceful arc, fluttered to the floor.

Kit lowered his arms and gave a mental groan. A duck. He should have known.

Thank you all,
Linda

25% Off All Ebooks at The Wild Rose Press in May

All this month, The Wild Rose Press celebrates its fifth year in operation.

As a special gift, enjoy 25% off all ebooks (including mine) at The Wild Rose Press (http://www.thewildrosepress.com) with coupon code 18b632d0b0

Here's my link: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=486&zenid=22aefecd81e713c7420bb257501f2bf3

Have a good time!

Thank you all,
Linda

The Wild Rose Press Celebrates 5 Years And Prizes!

We are celebrating 5 years! Five days and more than $500.00 worth of prizes. April 27th - May 1st on the Wild Rose Press yahoo groups. Join us for a celebration in the garden. The Wild Rose Press Yahoo group The Wilder Roses Yahoo group (this is an adult loop with adult content. 18+ only) How to Win... For chances to win more than $500.00 worth of prizes all you have to do is party with us. Everyone who participates will be entered into the prize drawings. Non-stop fun from Wednesday, April 27 - Sunday May, 1st. Click on the links above to join the fun and help us celebrate 5 years in the garden.

My Fourth Contract: GIFTS GONE ASTRAY

The Wild Rose Press has accepted my latest Regency comedy novella, Gifts Gone Astray. I have no idea when it will come out, but I assume it will be sometime this year. I hope, I hope!

Anyway, here are the unedited blurb and excerpt, to give you some idea of what the story is about:

BLURB:
A gift is a wonderful surprise. Or maybe not.

At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copley, the widow who's caught his eye, is a dream come true.

Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.

Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr. Fairfax--more closely.

EXCERPT:
She glanced at the mantle clock. "Oh, look at the time! I must return to the drawing room. So much to do before the family party tonight. But, before I leave—" she swallowed "—we had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—"

"But I received a gift. Someone left it outside my door."

"Thank the stars." She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Stephen's gaze followed her hand down and his throat dried.

"I worried your present was lost."

She worried about me. Capital! He tore his eager gaze from her breasts and lifted his head. "I have not yet unwrapped it. A book, I take it?"

"Yes. The volume belonged to my husband. He was a scholar, and that book was one of his favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying it." Another dazzling smile curved her lips. "I selected it with you in mind."

His pulse thumped. I have a chance. "You flatter me with your consideration."

"My pleasure." She flashed another of her heart-stopping smiles. "As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is." She smoothed her face into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wanted to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game. For now.

Thank you all,
Linda

Shameless Promotion - Did You Think I Was Going to Stop?

Two things today: a 25% off coupon from my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, and a book giveaway on Tuesday.

Through the end of the month (that's tomorrow!), The Wild Rose Press celebrates its fourth year in business by offering 25% off all e-book titles with coupon code fe9e6440c3 at checkout. That includes my Lady of the Stars, (BUY LINK HERE), and Pumpkinnapper, (BUY LINK HERE). Blurbs and excerpts on my website. More information on the coupon here.

On Tuesday, after everyone in the US has recovered from the Memorial Day holiday, I'm hosting a book giveaway. I'll be giving away three copies of Sourcebooks' The Pearls of the Stone Man, an inspirational novel by Edward J. Mooney (http://www.edwardmooney.com/pearls.htm). Come back on Tuesday and leave a comment for a chance to win (US and Canada addresses only).

Thank you all,
Linda

MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE - Release Date November 3, 2010

Happy Easter, everyone!

On this holiday, we may as well look forward to another. The Wild Rose Press will release my Regency Christmas novella, Mistletoe Everywhere, on November 3, 2010.

BLURB:
A man who sees mistletoe everywhere is mad--or in love.

Charles sees mistletoe. Not surprising, since he's spending Christmas at Mistletoe Manor. But why does no one else see it? And why does it always appear above Penelope, the despised lady who jilted him after their last meeting?

Penelope wants nothing to do with the faithless Charles, the man who cried off after she accepted his marriage proposal. But he still stirs her heart--and he stares at her all the time. Or rather, he stares at the empty ceiling over her head…What does he see?

According to folklore, mistletoe is the plant of peace. Can Penelope and Charles, so full of hurt and anger, heed the mistletoe's message and make peace?

EXCERPT:

After Charles had heaped his plate with more food than he wanted, he took one of the empty chairs at the table bottom, as far from Penelope as possible.

His tensed muscles eased as he joked with his friends. Smythe made a comment and Charles turned to answer. He caught sight of Penelope…and a monstrous bunch of mistletoe above her.

"Gordon? What is it?" Smythe swiveled in the direction Charles was staring. He looked up and down, and from one side to the other. "I say, with your mouth hanging open like that, you must see something spectacular, but damned if I know what it is."

With an audible click, Charles clamped his jaw shut. "I thought I saw…" He forced his gaze back to his companion. "Nothing. I imagined I saw mistletoe."

Smythe's eyebrows rose. "Mistletoe?"

"Yes. The house is named 'Mistletoe Manor', so the place is filled with mistletoe decorations. Pictures, wall hangings, ceiling trim, whatnot."

"Indeed." Smythe's eyebrows rose higher. "That 'mistletoe' you saw is over that Miss Lawrence. Lovely little filly." His lips curved into a knowing grin. "My jaw dropped the first time I saw her, too."

Charles stiffened. "I was not looking at Miss Lawrence. I believed I saw mistletoe over her."

"'Mistletoe'." Symthe's grin widened. "Of course."

And on April 7, my guest is Monica Fairview, who talks about her latest release, The Darcy Cousins.

Thank you all,
Linda

NEC-RWA Conference Was This Weekend

The New England Chapter of the Romance Writers of America held their annual conference this past Friday and Saturday. I went for the second time this year for another two days of workshops, networking, pitch appointments and fun.They held this year's conference in the same hotel as last year's, a few miles from my house. Since I hate driving, I went again. I can handle short distances.

This year, I again saw Diana Groe/Emily Bryan (Stroke of Genius), and I met Hannah Howell (Kentucky Bride). I also met some Wild Rose Press people. Penny Watson (Sweet Inspiration), who gave me a nice review for Pumpkinnapper, was there. Kathy Cottrell, Wild Rose Press editor for The Last Rose of Summer line, took pitch appointments. Beverly Breton (Stars in Her Eyes) gave a workshop I attended. When I heard she was also a TWRP author, I introduced myself. She knew who I was, and mentioned Pumpkinnapper by name. Maybe people do notice my books.

I had a good time, although I ate way too much. I also won a gift basket full of goodies for the second year in a row. I don't yet know the location of next year's conference, but if they hold it nearby, I'll go again.

Now for the Shameless Promotion: On March 31, fellow Classic Romance Revival author Steph Burkhart will guest blog about her latest book Be Mused, a paranormal anthology.

Fellow Regency and TWRP author Donna Hatch will guest here on April 2. The Wild Rose Press will release The Guise of a Gentleman, the second book in her Regency series, on April 16.

I'm part of The Long and Short of It's Easter Egg Hunt, which runs from March 29 to April 3. A PDF copy of my Lady of the Stars is part of LASR Prize Pack 5. Visit my website during the Hunt for a chance to win one of the prize packages. See http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm for more information.

Thank you all,
Linda

My First Royalty Check

I just received my first royalty check from The Wild Rose Press. Enough people bought my book, Lady of the Stars, to generate some royalties.

The amount isn't much. I had to earn $25 before they would write a check. So, I made $25, but not much more.

My husband asked if I was going to frame the check. I'm going to cash it, but I'll make a copy first, and save that.

I doubt I'll receive a check next quarter. Sales tend to spurt at the release, then tail off. The good news is at least a few people were willing to pay for my story. Maybe I have some kind of future as an author.

Now for the Shameless Promotion. Next Monday, June 22, is The Wild Rose Press's Stop and Smell the Roses Blog Bouquet. Twenty Wild Rose Press authors will post special blogs and offer prizes. Leave a comment on my blog then for a chance to win a PDF copy of Lady of the Stars. Event runs from when I post my blog next week (probably late Sunday night, June 21) until 9AM Eastern time Tuesday, June 23.

Thank you all,
Linda

P.S. The above image is not my check. That picture is the check the USA presented to Russia for the Alaska Purchase in 1864.

May 1 - Come to The Wild Rose Press's Third Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to the Wild Rose Press.
Join us May 1, 2009 for a day of fun blog posts and prizes every hour.

Stop by www.BehindTheGardenGate.blogspot.com all day May 1, 2009. Beginning at 6 am ET and ending about 11pm ET, each hour will highlight the many lines we have at the Wild Rose Press.
And every hour, a random winner will be drawn from those who post a comment. The winners will receive their choice of book from that line.

At the end of the day, a grand prize winner will be drawn from all that post throughout the day.
The grand prize winner will receive a gorgeous tote bag full of books, a t-shirt, coffee mug, gift certificates and whatever else we can stuff in a tote bag or if the winner would rather, they can take a $30 gift certificate to the TWRP bookstore.
(this can be any TWRP store, White Rose Publishing, the Wilder Rose or the main Wild Rose Press bookstore.)

www.BehindTheGardenGate.blogspot.com

www.thewildrosepress.com (romance)

www.thewilderroses.com (erotic romance)

www.whiterosepublishing.com (inspirational romance)

Shameless Promotion (But Not What You Think)

Buy Christina Phillips' book! Please!

My latest foray into promotion is having a guest blogger. Next Sunday, March 15, erotic romance author Christina Phillips will be my very first guest as she celebrates her latest release. Christina was kind enough to interview me on her blog after Lady of the Stars' release. Now I'm happy to return to favor.

On March 13, The Wild Rose Press will release Christina's Touch of the Demon.

In the meantime, here's her cover and blurb:

Blurb

Dark angel Rafe travels back in time to destroy the woman who is fated to bring untold chaos to the cosmos. Instead, he finds Celeste, a child of the Earth Goddess, who is sworn to protect the one Rafe seeks. He mistakes her for his quarry but an irresistible attraction prevents him from taking her soul. And although Celeste holds the one weapon capable of banishing Rafe from Earth forever, she's unable to deny the overwhelming desire to possess this creature from hell. They come together in a frenzy of passion, each believing they are changing destiny by their actions. But when the Earth Goddess appears they discover her plans are more far reaching than either had imagined.

Congratulations, Christina, and I look forward to your post here next week.

Thank you all,
Linda

Guest blog repost

Here's an interview I did for the SisterWriters blog on September 28, 2008. I think it's funny (**grins**) and worth a repost. Also, it's been a rough week, the mind is gone and Sunday is posting day (**more grins**)

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a brand new romance writer and I write Regencies. Most have humor, some have fantasy and occasionally I throw in a little paranormal. I have no idea how I developed this combination, but my stories trend this way.

As for writing romances, I've read them for a long time without ever thinking about writing them. But a few years ago I went on a romance reading binge. I quickly exhausted my favorite authors' books, and in my quest for more, discovered quite a few other authors I liked.

But after I had wallowed in romance for a while, (and did I have a good time wallowing), I ran out of books. My favorite authors can write only so fast, and I didn't like the second string. What to do? Why, write my own. Almost at once I discovered how hard writing is. But did that revelation stop me? No. Determined or crazy, I kept at it, and my novella will soon be e-published.

You have a new upcoming release. Can you tell us about it?

The Wild Rose Press will publish my very first book, Lady of the Stars, a Regency time travel novella on January 7, 2009. My Christmas present will come a little late this year.

Lady of the Stars is the story of a woman who sees a man she thought forever gone through the back door of a gazebo. Little does she know that back door is a time portal that whisks her back to 1817. Culture shock abounds on both sides, as she and the man she literally runs into adjust to each other. But as they fall in love (the story is a romance), the hero's family legend awakens. Will it bring them together, or tear them apart forever?

Lady of the Stars is a combination of the paranormal (time travel), fantasy (family legend) and humor, which is not obvious from the blurb above. Although the story's overall tone is serious, it does contain some funny scenes--at the beginning when the hero and heroine first meet and clash, and later on in the bedroom scene, where I have my best joke, the condom joke.

What are your dreams as a writer?

I love Regencies and I want to write them forever. But the market for historicals, and Regencies in particular, has contracted dismally in the past few years. In my dream, my witty stories and scintillating prose make me the next Amanda Quick. My unique combination of humor, fantasy and the paranormal sparks a spectacular upsurge in historical sales, with Regencies at the forefront. And I make a lot of money.

Ha! Someone will be the next Amanda Quick, but I very much doubt I will. I'll settle for making a few bucks and writing Regencies.

What advice do you have for other aspiring writers?

Keep trying. Lady of the Stars was a contest loser in The Wild Rose Press's Through the Garden Gate contest in 2007. But they saw enough there to ask me to resubmit. I resubmitted twice. And now I eagerly await my release date.

Thank you all,

Linda

Linda Banche

Regency romance--most with humor, some with fantasy, and occasionally a paranormal.

Lady of the Stars--Regency time travel available from The Wild Rose Press
www.lindabanche.com

http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/

Rankings

Lady of the Stars has been out for a whole week and a half. How am I doing?

Well, I'm no longer on the The Wild Rose Press's monthly best seller list (sniff), I'm #4 on the Miniature Rose list and #2 on the English Tea Rose (my line)bestseller list.

But what do these rankings mean? I have no idea. As far as actual numbers of books sold, I won't know until I get a statement from the Wild Rose Press.

We all know there are lists and there are lists. If you want to make yourself #1, I'm sure you can find some measure that will put you there. Look at all of those weird baseball statistics.

Someone said to take this information with a grain of salt. She's probably right.

Thank you all,
Linda

Release Day - Lady of the Stars, Regency time travel

The day has finally arrived. Here's my book page on The Wild Rose Press site. The page was up last night, with a note that the book would be available on January 7.

Well, January 7 it is, and I even got my first sale. Author Lindsay Townsend bought what must have been the first copy. Thank you, Lindsay.

Today has been more than a year and a half coming. In May, 2007, I saw the notice for The Wild Rose Press's "Through The Garden Gate" contest. I entered with "Lady of the Stars" and lost. All the gory details are here on my August 3 post. But in losing, I won. The story is now published, and I learned an awful lot in the process. Thank you, Wild Rose Press, for your time and effort.

Today is a day of Shameless Promotion. I'm at Brenda Williamson's Romance Party all day, and the Wild Rose Press loop from 9-10AM Eastern.

And take a look at Kaye Manro's blog. Thank you, Kaye.

Thank you all,
Linda

The Time Draws Near

TheWild Rose Press will release Lady of the Stars this Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

Wednesday. Three days from today. I can't wait. I'm scared. What will happen? Will anybody notice? On Wednesday I'll be at The Wild Rose Press yahoo loop from 9-10AM EST, and also all day at Brenda Williamson's Romance Party yahoo loop. I'll have a contest at Brenda's, and I've made a list of discussion topics to encourage participation. If anyone shows, that is. Brenda's loop is sending out reminders every day about my author day. I'll also be blogging at Kaye Manro's blog.

Today I'll send out event invitations on facebook and myspace. Tomorrow I'll promote on the loops I belong to, since most of them have their promos on Monday. Tuesday I'll email people whose addresses I know.

And Wednesday, I'll be here, attached to the computer all day.

All this info is on the blog sidebar. And also on my website, www.lindabanche.com

Thank you all,
Linda

A Good Year

Now, as 2008 ends, it’s time to reflect on the past year.

Looking back:

I entered four RWA contests. I neither won nor finaled. Mainly because my heroine doesn't appear in the first twenty pages. Maybe this book won't sell as it stands, but I'll have to see what an editor or agent says.

The Wild Rose Press gave me my first contract for my novella, Lady of the Stars. Lady started life as an entry in TWRP's Through the Garden Gate time travel contest. I lost. But they saw enough to ask me to resubmit, and I resubmitted twice before they accepted the story. For all the gory details, see my blog post And How Did You Become An Author?

Before and after submitting, I learned a lot from the Wild Rose Press. Their suggestions made my story better and helped me with my next submission. Thank you, Wild Rose Press, for giving me a chance.

I started promotion. Oh, my. Talk about culture shock. I had no idea what promotion involved. Writing is very hard work, but promotion is even harder, maybe because I'm not the outgoing type. Luckily for me, with online promotion, I can still hide to some extent. I now have a blog, a website, accounts on myspace, facebook, goodreads, and I will start a twitter account. And I belong to forty-five yahoo loops.

In between all that time-consuming promotion, I finished NaNoWriMo (52,084 words) and I wrote my second novella, Pumpkinnapper. TWRP gave me a contract for Pumpkinnapper without asking for a resubmission.

Looking forward:

2009 starts with the release of Lady of the Stars on January 7. I hope it fares well.

Happy New Year.

Thank you all,

Linda

Shameless Promotion. Again??!!!

Yes, here we go with more Shameless Promotion. Lady of the Stars’s release date looms closer and closer. I didn’t realize just how close until I looked at the calendar on the Wild Rose Press yahoo loop.

Here I am on January 7, 2009, my release day, scheduled from 9 to 10 AM EST to talk about my book. If you click on my entry in the calendar, you get my blurb.

I realize there are a few typos and I have no idea how they got there. I’ve also changed the blurb since I first sent it in. Yes, we TWRP authors write our own blurbs.

I’d be very happy if a few people would show up. At the lower left of my entry there is a link to “Add the Group Event to my Calendar”. Please do.

That same day, January 7, I also have an all-day Author Day at Brenda Williamson’s Romance Party yahoo group. If you can show up at Brenda’s for a few minutes, too, I would appreciate it. I hope I’m not there all by myself.

And I just signed up at facebook. If you’re on facebook, please send me a friend request. Here's my profile. Or you can find me by searching on Linda Banche.

Thank you all,

Linda

My Second Contract!

Pumpkin thieves, a youthful love rekindled, and a jealous goose. Oh my.

While receiving a contract is always good, the timing does put a crimp into my plans for NaNoWriMo. I'll have to do edits whenever they ask, and I have no idea when they will.

But until then I work on my story for NaNoWriMo. However far I get, I'll be farther than if I hadn't started at all. Yesterday, on Day One, I wrote 3500 words. I didn't say they were good words, or that I will keep them all, but they are words.

Progress reports to follow.

Thank you all,

Linda

Shameless Promotion

Buy my book! Please!

How shameless is that? I apologize for the outburst, but I'm still bouncing around from excitement. I've just received the release date for my very first published book. The Wild Rose Press will release Lady of the Stars, my Regency time travel novella, on January 7, 2009.

My Christmas present, a little late. But not if you use the Julian calendar, because January 7 using our Gregorian calendar is December 25 on the Julian calendar. Here's the calendar conversion link:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/calendar/

So, I really do receive my Christmas present on Christmas. Just depends on what calendar you use.

Now for some more shameless promotion--here's the Lady of the Stars blurb:

Caroline knows something is wrong the instant she steps into that unusual gazebo with two doors. But when a man she never thought to see again appears outside, she flings caution aside and plunges through the back door, crashing into an unknown man--and 1817.

A voyage through time? Impossible. Richard refuses to believe the strange woman's outlandish tale. Still, the lady is lost and alone, and he helps the stranded wayfarer.

But as attraction flares between these two lonely people, Richard's family legend grinds to its ultimate fulfillment--will it bring them together, or tear them apart forever?

And while we're talking promotion, on Wednesday August 27 from 5-6 PM EDT, I will be in Coffeetime Romance's Latte Lounge. I will post an excerpt, answer questions, and have a contest. Come and join me, especially since I have a whole hour, which I didn't expect, and I have to fill it up somehow.

How's that for shameless promotion?

Thank you all,

Linda