Monday, August 31, 2015

Carry Her Heart

I'm definitely having a bit of Monday Glee here in Erie, PA today!  I found out that this spring's release, Carry Her Heart, is a Golden Leaf Award finalist!!  

I am so glad that readers (and judges) are responding to this gentle story of love...the love of a mother for a child, and the kind of true-love couples I adore writing about.

91% of the 113 reviews on Amazon have been 4 and 5 star!

Thanks to the judges of the Golden Leaf...and thanks to all you readers who've picked up Pip and Ned's story!

Holly

PS For those who've asked, yes there is a sequel.  I'll let you know as soon as I have a release date!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

National Dog Day!

It's National Dog Day!  As the owner of two dogs—or probably as the person two dogs own—we're celebrating here.  These are my dogs, Ethel Merman and Ella Fitzgerald.  We rescued Ethel first.  She's been abused before languishing in the shelter for weeks.  But the kids fell in love with her, and we brought her home.  She was not without issues.  Separation anxiety was a real thing.  So we adopted Ella Fitzgerald to keep her company.  It's been ten years and they're inseparable.

They're also my writing companions.  When I decided to end the Everything But...series with Everything But a Dog, I used them as the models for the dogs in the book.

If you haven't ever tried the series, it's about a Hungarian grandmother, Nana Vancy, who spends three books trying to break a family curse...yes the family was cursed to bad weddings.  After she's finally broken the curse in Everything But a Groom, Everything But a Bride and Everything But a Wedding, she finds she's bored.  So she tries her hand at matchmaking in Everything But a Christmas Eve, Everything But a Mother and Everything But a Dog.  That last one is Ethel and Ella's book.  Not to give too much away, Nana Vancy discovers that she's very good at matchmaking dogs to their proper humans.  (Better than matchmaking human couples!)

Ella
When it came time to put together a cover for the book, I sent in a picture of me and the dogs.  They did a great job of capturing Ethel and Ella!!  Yes, my dogs had their fifteen minutes of fame.  And because readers kept asking about Nana Vancy and crew, I went on to do three short Nothing But stories and the Everything But group had cameos in the first book in my new Cupid Falls series, Christmas in Cupid Falls and if you watch closely, you'll see Nana Vancy again in Carry Her Heart.

Ethel
Today, for National Dog Day, let's celebrate our pets.  And if you're looking for a new pet, don't forget to check out your local shelter.  There's a chance one of Ethel or Ella's friends is waiting for you.  And who knows, if a tiny Hungarian grandmother points you in the direction of a certain dog, maybe you should listen???

Holly







Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: Bosom Buddies


I was talking about where I got my start earlier, and Bosom Buddies was right there at the get-go. One of my earliest books, it has an #EasterEgg courtesy of my work with lactating moms.  This opening scene was different (even for me LOL) but I left it because I loved it.  And it turned out that so did the acquiring editor.  Lesson?  Don't second-guess yourself!

Oh, and originally it was titled, Baby, It's You, but I went back to my original title.  Why?  Read the opening scene and you might have a clue!  LOL

Bosom Buddies


Allie McGraw knocked on the door.

“What?” a voice barked as the door swung open.

Allie almost jumped as her upstairs neighbor’s face appeared. 
Her focus shifted from the face to the rest of the neighbor, standing like an ancient warrior ready to do battle.

Allie momentarily lost all words. He was breathtaking. 

She could hear the wailing that had caused her to come upstairs, but she couldn’t see the wailer. “Uh . . . well, I’m Alexandra McGraw, from downstairs,” she finally managed.

“I know who you are, I just want to know what you want.” He glanced over his shoulder. “As you can tell, it’s not the best time.”

“That’s why I came up. I mean, I heard . . .”

“The screaming? The crying? The uncontrollable sobbing?” he asked. 

Under other circumstances, she might have been insulted by his sarcastic tone, but the dark circles under his brownish eyes and his haggard appearance wouldn’t allow it, so Allie nodded and said, “Yes.” 

Ian Ryan, her normally prim and proper upstairs neighbor, was looking decidedly disheveled. His brown-with-a-touch-of-auburn hair, usually so neatly combed, zigged and zagged every which way. His nicely tailored suit had been replaced with a pair of gray sweatpants that had seen better days and a stain-splattered T-shirt. Somehow he looked all the more attractive because of it. 
Focus, Allie, she warned herself and asked him, “I wondered if there was a problem and if I could help?” 

He just glared at her. “I’m used to doing things on my own. I’m sure with enough time I’ll find the proper . . .”

The muted wailing escalated and became a shriek. Ian bounded from the door toward the noise, and Allie followed right on his heels.

On the couch, trapped by two pillows, was the source of the noise. 

Dressed in pink, so her gender was obvious, was a baby—a very unhappy baby. Ian picked her up, much like someone would pick up a football that had been left on the field, and held her awkwardly to his shoulder.

It did little to halt her protests.

Allie watched, torn for a moment by indecision. But the pitiful wail made up her mind for her. “Here, let me have a try,” she said, gently taking the infant from Ian before he could protest.

“Now, what’s all this noise?” she whispered as she plopped the baby on her shoulder and patted her back. Allie’s fingers snaked through the romper’s legs and checked the diaper. Dry. “When’s the last time she ate?”

Ian flopped onto the couch and shook his head. Gone was the warrior looking for a battle, and in his place was a warrior ready to admit defeat. “That’s the problem. She won’t. I’ve tried every kind of nipple there is on her bottles. The pharmacy delivered them. I’ve called her pediatrician, who just told me give it time, she’d eat when she was hungry.” A muscle in his cheek jumped. “Well, she is hungry, but she won’t drink from any of the bottles here.”

“Where’s her mom?” Allie asked.

“In the hospital. A drunk driver. I . . . well, the baby’s my responsibility until Anne can take over again.”

Rarely at a loss for words, but finding herself suffering from it a second time in the course of one conversation, Allie hesitated a moment before she figured out what to say. “I’m sorry. I hope she’ll be okay.” 

She wanted to say more but made a habit of not prying, so she left it at that. The baby’s screams had quieted to a mewling whine punctuated by tiny hiccups. Allie returned to the business at hand. “What did Anne feed her?”

“She breastfed, no bottles or solids yet. That’s why I’m having all these problems. She hates the bottle.”

“Smart girl,” Allie whispered to the baby. To Ian she said, “She knows what’s good.”

“Her knowing what’s good isn’t going to help me. Her realizing she’s going to have to settle for second best is.” 

What might have sounded like exasperation or annoyance moments ago was really only worry, Allie realized. She smiled. “Well, I have an idea. Why don’t you grab the formula and come down to my place for a minute?”

The baby kept up her protests as they walked down to Allie’s apartment. 

Allie had seen the look of relief that had passed over Ian’s face when he’d grabbed the formula. She had a feeling she’d seen more of Ian Ryan’s true nature in just one morning than most people did after knowing him for years.

In the three months since she’d moved in, he’d only had a passing nod for her after their brief introduction. Oh, he stomped on the floor if her music got too loud, but he didn’t make a federal case of it. Not the most friendly soul she’d ever met but not mean and nasty either. But Allie had a feeling he would have befriended the devil right then to find a way to quiet the baby.

“What’s her name?” she asked as they approached her apartment. There was a lull in the baby’s squalling that allowed further conversation.

“Ryane with an E at the end. Anne always said she was going to name the baby after me, but when it turned out to be a girl, she didn’t think Ian was such a good idea.” Allie turned around and caught the ghost of a smile on Ian’s face as he remembered a happier time. “Ryane was her compromise. It combines Anne’s first name and my last name.”

It was the longest string of words Allie had ever heard Ian put together. “Well, Ryane with an E, we’re going to get you fixed up real quick,” she promised the baby as she opened her door. 

Allie felt a twinge of embarrassment as she looked around the apartment. After being in Ian’s pristine quarters, she was sure hers didn’t impress him. Loud colors, piles of this and that, and her books all over. She had plans, but she’d been too busy to implement them. New jobs didn’t allow much free time, and free time was what she needed to finish settling into her new home. Right now her life was organized chaos and so was her apartment. 
She glanced at Ian’s face. She’d been right. He wasn’t impressed at all. Well, she’d be darned if she were going to explain. She was doing him the favor and didn’t owe him an explanation or an apology for the mess.

“I know it’s here somewhere,” she mused, looking at the pile of stuff on the dining room table. “I brought a new one home to check . . .” 

She tried to hand Ian the baby, but he shook his head. “You keep holding her. She hasn’t been that settled since, well, it’s been a while.” He eyed the table and looked at Allie. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll try to find it?” 

“An SNS.” She sometimes forgot that other people didn’t share her expertise. Ian’s look of confusion served as a reminder. “It’s a supplemental nursing system put out by Medela. A sort of bottle with tubing instead of a nipple. Moms hook the tubes next to their nipples and the baby gets the supplement while they nurse . . .” 

She stopped as Ian’s face turned a brilliant shade of red.

“I know I’m desperate, but I don’t think I’m quite that desperate,” he stuttered.

Realizing he’d misunderstood, Allie burst into laughter, which startled the baby and set her to fussing again, though more halfheartedly than before. 

“I’m sorry,” she crooned as she patted the baby’s back. Her smile remained. The mental picture of the prim and proper Ian Ryan, SNS taped by his nipples and nursing a baby, was more than ludicrous, it was hilarious. 

“I think we can find an alternative to that,” she choked out and began to search again.

Want to read more about Ian and Allie's romance?  Find it at Amazon.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Real Life in Fiction

We've talked about #EasterEggs in my books.  Well, in this month's Her Second-Chance Family, the heroine's foster daughter volunteers at a bird rescue.  We have a great one in the Erie Area, but my inspiration was my friend Steve in NC.

You can find out more about the American Wildlife Refuge or Erie's Tamarack Wildlife Rehab.  I think the people at both organizations are amazing!!

Excerpt from Her Second-Chance Family:


“Do you work?”

“I’m volunteering at a wildlife rescue. They work mainly with birds, but sometimes if there’s room, they rehab other animals, too.”

“Oh, that’s so cool.” She didn’t know much about birds. She could spot a cardinal or blue jay, and even knew what a sparrow was, but not much beyond that.

“Yeah, don’t be too impressed,” he said with a laugh. “I go out a few days a week and clean stuff.”

“Do you get to work with the birds?”

He shook his head, which made his hair look like it was in danger of whiplash. “Not yet. I do grunt work mainly. But I get to see them, and someday Mr. Stone says I can do more. Everyone has to pay their dues.”

Austen reminded her of Audrey. Paying your dues sounded like balancing your karma. She smiled at the thought as she listened to him talk about one of the owls that had come in a few weeks ago.
He told her he was seventeen and was going to be a senior. She told him she was sixteen and going to be a junior. He asked how her driving was going. She told him, but didn’t mention her Sound of Music moment.

They didn’t talk about anything deep or even all that personal, but it was nice. Willow decided she liked him.

“I know you mow on Mondays,” Austen said, “but I go out to the rehab center on Wednesdays and Fridays, too. If you want to come out and don’t mind cleaning cages and other stuff like that, you could come with me and see them.”

Willow had never really thought much about birds, but suddenly she wanted to volunteer. She’d be helping the birds, and spending time with Austen. She figured her karma wouldn’t mind if helping the birds helped her get to know him better, too. “I’d have to ask Audrey.”

“Okay, let me know if you want to. Want to exchange numbers?”

It was the first time a guy had asked for her phone number. Maybe it was just about the birds, but maybe it wasn’t. She grinned.

“Sure.”

Saturday, August 22, 2015

August Releases!


I've always been a fan of August, but this August is extra-special! I have a new release, 


Good can come out of bad 
If it wasn't for the tragic accident ten years earlier, Audrey Smith might never have taken in the three foster kids she loves so dearly. And if it wasn't for the new addition to her home—a troubled teenage thief—she wouldn't be fantasizing about Sawyer Williams. 
Make no mistake—Sawyer's the victim here. He's the one who was robbed by Audrey's daughter. But teaching the teen a lesson rather than punishing her makes Sawyer a superhero in Audrey's eyes. Someone who can forgive and forget… That is until another break-in rocks their community, threatening Audrey's family and her future with Sawyer.





And two of my older books—oldest books—were rereleased as eBooks!  I hope readers enjoy a glimpse of where I started my writing career!  







Nurse Allie McGraw can’t ignore the cry of a baby in need. And if the noise coming from the upstairs apartment is any indication, then the baby’s temporary guardian—Allie’s attractive neighbor—could also use a break. While Ian Ryan may be a computer guru, his borrowed bundle of joy is clearly giving him a run for his money. Allie agrees to lend Ian a hand, but that’s all she can spare. After a recent rough patch, her heart is off-limits.
Ian lives in a complication-free zone…or at least he did until he found himself caring for his tiny niece. With a baby on board, his life has taken a new turn—one that includes a cute, caring nurse. Allie’s the first woman to make him crave more than just a temporary fling. Now that Ian’s finally ready to take a chance on love, can he convince Allie to take a chance on him?
This novella was previously published as Baby, It’s You. It is one of the first stories Holly Jacobs ever wrote. 



Forget glass slippers—this runaway bride’s practical shoes lead her straight to a prince.
Thanking her lucky stars that she wore comfortable shoes, Charlotte “Charlie” Eaton dashes out of her wedding, leaving behind her controlling mother’s choice of groom, high society’s stifling expectations, and, unfortunately, her purse. But the stars align in her favor yet again when a knight in a shiny truck rides to her rescue. Just when she’s ready to give up on a fairy-tale kind of love, could she have found her Prince Charming?
After surviving a rocky childhood, Dan Martin has created his own happily-ever-after. The owner of a fast-growing shipping company, he’s content with his comfortable life. The one thing he doesn’t need? Trouble. And that’s exactly what the hitchhiker in head-to-almost-toe bridal wear represents: trouble with a capital T. But when Charlie flashes her sparkling green eyes at Dan, he’s already a goner. Together, can a bride running away from her nightmare wedding and a man running from his nightmare past make their happiest dreams come true?
This novella was previously published as Cinderella Wore Tennis Shoes and Side by Side. It is one of the first stories the author ever wrote.


Thanks so much everyone for the support!  Like I said, I've always liked August, but this one is particularly nice!!!

Holly

Mock Quiche!




I've had people asking for this one, so here goes the original recipe and tonight's version.
Mock quiche:
Decades ago (wow, I feel old saying that) a friend, Donna, gave me this basic recipe.
3 C grated zucchini
1/2 C oil
1/2 C parmesan cheese
4 eggs
1 TB parsley
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
1 C Bisquick
hard cheese
Mix everything but the hard cheese, pour in greased pie plate, sprinkle hard cheese on top and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Since then I've discovered how adaptable it is. Tonight's version was:
3 C finally chopped spinach
1 C chopped fresh spinach
1/2 parmesan cheese
1/4 olive oil
5 eggs
parsley, oregano and basil
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 C homemade whole grain biscuit mix
I served it with zucchini and peppers and onions. I've used it with leftover vegetables, and a variety of fresh ones from the garden. I love how versatile and simple it is!

Holly

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

New Releases! Well, Old Releases! New Old Releases!

Cinderella Wore Tennis Shoes
Bosom Buddies




Yes, that's releaseS with an S!  I'm so excited that both of these stories are coming out again!

I started writing in the late '90s.  I still had a toddler at home, and older kids...  Life was busy.  I called those early years of writing my vampire years.  The only time I could write was after the kids fell asleep.  I'd write until I couldn't stay awake any longer. 

I knew I wanted to comedy and was thrilled when I sold to Kensington's Precious Gem line!  These are two of the earliest.  Kensington changed the titles when they were first released.  Bosom Buddies was Be My Baby, and Cinderella Wore Tennis Shoes to Side by Side.  I liked mine better.  So last year, when I decided to indie publish them as Holly Jacobs Classics, I went back to the original working titles.  I thought they fit the stories better.

After I sold these early books to Kensington, I went on to write for a number of Harlequin lines, for Silhouette Romance and for Avalon books and finally, for Montlake Romance.  When Montlake asked to republish Bosom Buddies and Cinderella Wore Tennis Shoes, I said yes.  I love working with the entire team there!

I wrote these earliest stories with more enthusiasm than anything else.  They were written late at night, in a quiet house (the only time my house was every quiet was late at night back then!).  I'd grown up reading and was so nervous and thrilled to find I could put a story together.  Through the years between then and now, my writing has grown, but I still love these early works. 

So before you order the books, check your shelves, both physical and eBook shelves!   And I hope when you read them you see shades of the writer I've become in them.  

As always, thank you for your support!!  I'm so lucky to have so many readers who have been with me since I wrote these books!  Really, thank you! 

Holly







Monday, August 10, 2015

A Short History



When I started writing, I wrote some romance short stories.  I loved them and was so excited when they started selling...and kept selling.  They were where I learned so much about writing, and about the romance genre.  A short story is by it's very name...short.  I can't tell a whole story.  Just a snippet.  A vignette.  I loved jumping into a couple's life, then jumping right back out.

Eventually, I wanted to tell bigger stories, and started trying romance novels.  And those sold.  But every now and then, I enjoy going back and playing with those short, blink-of-an-eye stories.  I like to think of them as a country video.  I'm telling you a story...just not all the story.


Nothing But Luck

Nothing But Love
Nothing But Heart


When Avalon was sold to Montlake Romance, and all my older stories for them were slated to come back out, I did three short stories that I felt tied together my Everything But... series (they're all on sale this month for $1.99 each) and my earliest series, WLVH Radio.  It was a blast introducing new readers to both series through the short stories.


Labor Day
There He Was 
The new shorts I'm writing this year aren't really tied to anything.  Oh, in Labor Day, I mentioned Quincy Mac, from my Maid in LA mystery series.  But these are simply stand-alone vignettes.  Labor Day, has been out for a few weeks.  Right after Labor Day came out there was a story on the news about a police officer in Ohio who bought a woman carseats. (Definitely go read his new story...what a nice guy!)  If you read my story you know why I felt I was a bit psychic after that!  I mean, I wrote mine first.

In mid-September, There He Was is out.  This one was inspired by an old Myth Busters episode where they show that a water tank can truly take off like a rocket. Mine doesn't launch exactly like that, but I watched the episode while I was mulling over that 'bang' moment when you simply know to your core that you love someone.

I hope you all enjoy these short stories.  As a writer, sometimes stretching your craft means going backwards and coming back to where you started!

Holly

PS. For newer writers, I think short stories can be a very useful educational tool.  They teach you how to focus completely on your characters.  You also need to be able to pick when to start your story and when to end it.  That sounds simple, but you have to figure out how to do it in a way that it makes sense to readers.  You have to give them enough to engage them with your opening, and end it so that they're satisfied.



Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: "...because you smiled."


This week's teaser is actually an #EasterEgg.  I'll confess, I did visit with a mechanic on a flight once, and he did say the words, "...because you smiled." It stuck with me. I thought it was such a powerful message!

Her Second-Chance Family 



I guess when I say karma, I’m saying that we all put a lot of things out into the world. I just try to put out more good than not. For instance, I was flying to a conference last fall. Maggie May came and stayed with Clinton and Bea…”

“This was before Willow?” he asked.

Audrey nodded. “Yes. She didn’t come to us until February, but you know, I can’t remember what it was like before she was ours.”
He was afraid she’d stop her story, so he said, “And you were flying to a conference?”

“Yes. I had the window seat. And this man came and took the aisle seat.” She smiled at the memory.

Sawyer would never admit it, but he didn’t like the thought of her smiling at another man. He didn’t say anything, but he felt out of sorts picturing it. Which was absurd. He hardly knew Audrey and certainly had no claims on her.

She didn’t seem to notice his annoyance, and kept talking. “I looked up from my book and smiled. I said hello. And then he said hello, and then… Well, we talked the rest of the flight. He was an airline mechanic. He mentioned his wife within the first few minutes. I thought it was lovely that he wanted to make sure I knew he wasn’t hitting on me, that he was married. We talked about his kids and my kids. I mentioned my kids want a dog, and he said he had cats…”

“And?” Sawyer pressed.

“At the end of the flight, as we taxied to our gate, he told me thank you. I had no clue what he was thanking me for. But then he said he flew every week for work, and he hadn’t talked to someone on a flight for years. I asked why me, and he said, ‘Because you smiled at me.’ I’ve remembered that ever since, and I am more aware that the smallest thing can mean the most.”



Sunday, August 02, 2015

Holly Jacobs August Newsletter


Hi, everyone!  I hope your summer is going well!  It's been a busy one here.  I went to NYC for a conference a couple weeks ago, but most of my summer has been spent in the garden or at camp.  Yes, I'm happy to announce that after 25 years, we finally have running water at our cottage.  Well, running if you pump it!  But the pump's right out our back door, so it's convenient! Oh, and we've managed to make it Presque Isle for a few nights on the beach, or canoeing on the lagoons!

In amongst everything else, I have a few releases to announce:
Her Second-Chance Family
Released 8/1
Harlequin SuperRomance

New Release:
Her Second-Chance Family

Good can come out of bad 
If it wasn't for the tragic accident ten years earlier, Audrey Smith might never have taken in the three foster kids she loves so dearly. And if it wasn't for the new addition to her home—a troubled teenage thief—she wouldn't be fantasizing about Sawyer Williams. 
Make no mistake—Sawyer's the victim here. He's the one who was robbed by Audrey's daughter. But teaching the teen a lesson rather than punishing her makes Sawyer a superhero in Audrey's eyes. Someone who can forgive and forget… That is until another break-in rocks their community, threatening Audrey's family and her future with Sawyer.

Buy at:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Or your favorite online bookstore.
News:

I took part in USAToday's HEA column!

Congratulations to my monthly drawing winners!
Cindy, Janet, CountryGirl!!

Last year's Christmas in Cupid Falls is a finalist in both the Holt Medallion Awards and the Golden Quill Awards!  The trade paperback is on sale at Amazon for $6.

I found out about both awards in the same week...it was a very good week! LOL

Shortly thereafter, I found outJust One Thing won the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award!  I'm so very excited!  If you haven't picked up a copy, the eBook is on sale this month at Amazon.
Montlake Romance is rereleasing two older books.  

Cinderella Wore Tennis Shoesand
Bosom Buddies on August 18th!!

They were originally published by Kensington Precious Gems as Side by Side and Baby, It's You.  So check your shelves before you order them!  These are some of my earliest books.  I wrote with a lot of heart, but was very new to the business!











I've got a few new short stories in the pipeline.
The first, 
Labor Day is out now!

Watch for more in the upcoming months!
I'm continuing my monthly drawings...you've subscribed to my newsletter  so you're already entered.  Stay tuned!  My next release is in November.  These Three Words from Montlake Romance.  It's another emotional ride.  I will never quit doing comedies and lighthearted, sweet romance, but I do enjoy stretching my writing with these stories.  

One last bit of news...I'll be at Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Weekend next April 29-May 1!  If you're interested in hanging out with me and some of my writing friends, you can find out more here.

As always, thank you so much for your friendships and continued support!!  I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!  I'll talk to you in the fall!

Holly

PS Want my newsletter delivered to your email box?  Click here!