Congratulations to "Janet K", the winner of Maureen's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
I am a sentimental old fool. As the new year is upon us, I sit and reflect on what a great time I've had with all the wonderful readers and authors that have visited JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. You know I adore you all, and it is with the warmest wishes and hugs that I say, "Happy New Year!"
The holidays are a busy time for everyone, so we had some free time on JRS, and I decided to step out of the shadows and talk a little bit about...me. LOL, I hear the crickets chirping out there!
Way, way back in high school--back in the day when I'd hitch my horse to the school post while my mom was home beating our clothes on a riverside rock--okay, you get the idea. High school was a long time ago! Anyway, I had crafted an 8-page short story entitled, WIDOW'S TALE. For anyone who has read WIDOW'S TALE, you'd be sad to hear that Brett Murphy died on page 8. Obviously that was my teenage drama influence. I got an A+ on the short story, and I actually still have those 8 pages, yellowed paper and all.
The story stuck with me. The fictional, gothic-like town of Victory Cove on the rugged shores of Maine was one I wanted to revisit. Over many years, WIDOW'S TALE evolved into a 300-page book (in which Brett Murphy does live!). I finished the book and didn't quite know what to do with it. I ended up submitting it to the Golden Heart contest, and low and behold, I was a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category! I didn't win, but it got me an in with Silhouette's Intimate Moments' editor. The problem, however, was that the story was too long for their line. I hacked away at the content to the point that WIDOW'S TALE looked like a steak on a hibachi grill. In the end, I went back to the original version and self-published it. It was on the Amazon Romantic Suspense bestsellers list for several months.
But still, the little lobster village of Victory Cove beckoned me. I pictured a sinister old house set high on the ocean cliffs. ENDLESS NIGHT was born, and "Wakefield House" received equal billing with the lead characters. This time, when I sent the manuscript out, Carina Press answered and informed me that the size was just right! :)
I would love to gift a Kindle or Nook copy of WIDOW'S TALE or ENDLESS NIGHT (winner's choice) to one random, "Happy New Year!" wisher. :)
I love Romantic Suspense, and I love you guys!
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Jan 1st. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@justromanticsuspense.com with a subject title of JRS GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
Maureen!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Thank you for all you do for romantic suspense and all of us who write it! I hope you have an awesome 2013 and get absolutely everything you wish for! You're tops in my book! (And I'm so glad to hear that Brett Murphy lives! Lots of hugs to you!)
Thank you, Dee. And thank you for writing great Romantic Suspense!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to all at JRS! It has been wonderful discovering new authors like you Maureen through this site, and thank you for all the great giveaways!
Deleteshelleybp (at) live (dot) com
Thank you, and Happy New Year to you, Shelley.
DeleteHappy New Year, Maureen! Thanks for working so hard on the JRS website. I have learned about so many new authors because of this website. I am so glad I have met you this year and hope that you have a fabulous 2013!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Amy. Always happy to see you here at JRS.
DeleteI love JRS and I loved learning the stories behind your stories!!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best in 2013!
Happy New Year, JB. Keep writing those great RS books!!
DeleteI love this blog !!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR. Many wishes of safe, healthy days of dreams coming true in 2013 !
~Angi
Happy New Year to you, Angi. I look forward to reading what you have for us in 2013. :)
Delete:) Wishing you the very best in 2013 Maureen! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Colleen. Thank you for a great year!
DeleteI appreciate all you do, Maureen, to make JRS a place I love to visit every day. Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and hoping it is a good year for all of us!
ReplyDeletekacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com
Happy New Year to you and your family, Karen. We have a great year ahead for JRS.
DeleteHappy New Year everyone. I love JRS. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre. I have found several new authors here and even won a book once. Love to win a copy of one of your books. How neat that the story you wrote as a teenager evolved into a book. Here's hoping for a fantastic 2013. Trishleroy49 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThank you, Trish. Happy New Year to you!
DeleteHappy New Year Maureen,
ReplyDeleteYour cover of "Widow's Tale" as well as the storyline draws me. & seeing that you love Romantic Suspense so much I am very interested in reading your work.
Jan
janet_kerr(at)msn.com
Hello Janet. Always happy to see you here. Yes, I adore romantic suspense!
DeleteHappy New Year, Maureen! Merry Christmas...Happy Valentine's...Happy St. Paddy's Day...Happy 4th of July...Happy Gobble Gobble! Your books sound positively fantabulous and I would be thrilled if I was the lucky winner.
ReplyDeleteEllen M.
(Starr77777@aol.com)
You forgot Columbus Day. :) Happy New Year to you, Ellen.
DeleteHappy New Year to all the authors that have been a part of this blog and a big THANK YOU to Maureen for doing such a great job. I look forward to hearing from you each time and have read several of these authors for the first time because of your blog. Hope everyone has a new year full of smiles and heart throbbing romantic suspense.
ReplyDeletegrandmabkr at yahoo dot com
Happy New Year, Brenda, and thank you so much for the kind words.
DeleteHappy new year!
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Happy New Year, bn! :)
DeleteHappy New Year to all!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maureen, for making JRS a great place to visit daily.
jtcgc at yahoo dot com
Always happy to see you here, Taurus. Happy New Year to you and your family.
DeleteThis Blog is one of my best discoveries this year - love inhaling the posts and all those delicious books :D
ReplyDeleteLet's hope 2013 is full of romance and suspense, thrills & chills!
Happy New Year! willa (at) talktalk (dot) net
I like the way you think Willa. Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy New Year Everyone! Here's wishing you all a safe and fun night :)
ReplyDeleteLeave all your cares at the door and start fresh!
efender1(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good plan!
DeleteHappy New Year!!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you well & may 2013 be all that it can be.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Happy New Year, Mary. :)
DeleteHappy New Year!! Romantic suspense is my very thing to read. Both of the books look great and I'd love to be entered to win one. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletemlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Thank you, Martha. Happy New Year to you and your family.
DeleteHappy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteHeres to a great 2013.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Happy New Year, Donna!
DeleteHappy New Year to all and I hope the new year brings a lot of great things for everyone. I would love to be entered for a copy of either book.
ReplyDeleteseriousreader at live dot com
I hope the new year brings great things to you too, Linda!
DeleteHappy New Year, Maureen!
ReplyDeleteI've loved all your books. I think I'd even enjoy reading a grocery list penned by you. Looking forward to the next book. :)
Wishing you a frabjous and creative 2013.
Cheers
Vicki
Ahh, the suspense in my grocery list. Wheat or rye? Wheat or rye? Happy New Year, dear Vicki.
DeleteBoth of these sound like fabulous reads. I'm particularly drawn to the setting you've chosen. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletemaeclair (at) maeclair (dot) com
Thanks so much, Mae. :) Happy New Year to you!
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