Michelle chats with author BFFs Michele Grant and Cheris Hodges
Join me every week as I share a few shout-outs on romance author goings-on, related events and recommended reads.
Authors Michele Grant and Cheris Hodges celebrate their friendship ...
Michelle: How did you become friends? What attributes contributed to the friendship?
Michele: Cheris and I met online, Twitter specifically. Turned out we were both friends with a couple in Charlotte and then figured out that we were label mates. She was the first author from Kensington to reach out after I signed with them in 2009. Fortunately (or unfortunately), we have similar senses of humor, taste in TV shows and weakness for well-written romances. We share a love of ubersexy alpha male characters that also double as eye candy. We're both Daddy's Girls, and we're unapologetically Southern.
Cheris: Michele and I have a 21st-century friendship. We met on Twitter. We have mutual real-life friends, and I was sent a link to Michele's blog and was, like, this is my girl! Then I found out two important things about her: We were both published by the same publisher, Dafina Books, and she is a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan with Romo issues like me. BFFs for life! And I think it's amazing that Michele and I have the same sarcastic sense of humor. Lord, if anyone ever hacked our text messages or DMs, there would be trouble. I'm joking.
Michelle: What's a fun memorable event as writer buddies?
Michele: Cheris and I keep missing each other at events, but we have been plotting for the past year to do a military anthology together with a third author. Something about those SEALs keeps calling out to us. We're hoping to pitch a steamy summer read to our editor.
Cheris: Sadly, Michele and I haven't met in person, but we have had several conversations online and on the phone. That's when we discovered our love of military heroes. I am so in love with the Marines, and we are looking to create an anthology together.
Michelle: How important is a writer friend in the writing business?
Michele: Having someone who gets what you're going through is absolutely crucial. From publicity and marketing advice, to how to maximize working with your agent, to expanding your fan base…. It's great to have someone to bounce things off of. One of the best things Cheris ever told me was to accept and do all virtual book club invites. The book clubs are really our foot soldiers out there in the market. If they love your book, it's reviewed well and purchased often.
Cheris: Having a writer friend in this business is so important because I can say things to Michele about writing or deadlines that my best friend would look at me and give me a Kanye shrug about. And, sometimes, you have to vent. Maybe it's about writer's block, a bad review or the like. Having Michele in my corner allows me to get in and out of my feelings without wondering if she gets it.
Michelle: Pick a book by the other that you'd personally recommend.
Michele: My favorite book of Cheris' is Too Hot for TV. It's sexy and sultry, but more than that, the characters are approachable and feel like people that are in your inner circle. I love how she makes her heroines vulnerable but not weak and her hero alpha but not overbearing. Plus, Cheris does some of the best scene descriptions in that book. There's one scene where you actually feel like you're in the tropics. Brilliant!
Cheris: My favorite Michele Grant book is Sweet Little Lies. I love her style and the fact that her characters are people I'd want to sip Chardonnay with. I loved that I saw myself in Christina. Especially when she wrote the note to the delivery man. Michele's characters are in your face and real. When you read this book, you feel as if you're hanging. With your home girls.
Michelle: What is your holiday wish for 2014?
Michele: My holiday wish for 2014 — Hmm, if I could find a man half as awesome as those that Cheris and I write about? No? Too self-centered? OK. How about peace on earth and good will toward men? OK, too smaltzy. I'll just say that I wish more people would get out there and read romance or women's fiction. Not just mine or Cheris' books but the genre in general. It really broadens the mind and gives you different perspectives on relationships. Romance makes the world go round, so why not learn all you can about it?
Michelle: Enjoy Michele Grant's Losing to Win (read HEA's review), her current novel, and keep an eye out for Any Man I Want next summer.
Cheris: My holiday wish for 2014? That's actually easy. I just want to spend time with my mom and dad. Their anniversary is Dec. 24, and one day, I'm determined to get the real story about how that happened and write about it.
What's sweeter: Revenge or true love? Find Love After War (read HEA's review) in stores now! Follow me on Twitter @cherishodges.
Happy holidays from a Bookaholic Tati Ella
It's always nice when readers share their love of their favorite reads. Meet Tatiana, a rabid reader who regularly shares her love for books and authors on her YouTube channel.
Start your shopping …
Here are a few holiday romances for your enjoyment:
Christmas Angel: Second Chances by Deatri King-Bey
What it's about (courtesy of King-Bey Productions):All Abigail wants for Christmas is to be left alone. She has grown tired of her family's horrible matchmaking schemes and her daughters' deceptive plans to get her to take her ex-husband back. Jeff is all work and no play, which is why he found himself stranded in the middle of nowhere with a blizzard quickly approaching. Upon meeting the kindhearted, gorgeous owner of the home, he deems Abigail his Christmas Angel, and thanks Santa for the early gift. But is she too good to be true?
Christmas Angel is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Seducing Sheri: A Climax Creek Short by Kianna Alexander
What it's about (courtesy of the author):Sheridan Cole works hard as an accountant and financial planner — so hard she's barely had time to sleep, let alone date. She's looking forward to a relaxing Christmas in Climax Creek, N.C. Nick Dunn has spent the last several weeks trying to keep his family's business from being taken over by a large corporation. That situation holds his entire focus ... that is, until he runs into his high school crush at the local coffee shop.
Seducing Cheri is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and iBookstore.
Christmas Ultimatum by Unoma Nwankwor
What it's about (courtesy of KevStel Group):Freelance journalist Olanma Obinze just landed the interview of a lifetime in Dubai. Abayomi Rice was in charge of scheduling interviews for his grandfather, but would only grant Olanma's request if she accepted his ultimatum. After all they did have unfinished business. Who said it was the season to be merry?
Christmas Ultimatum is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Michelle Monkou celebrates her upcoming Kimani February release, One Of A Kind, available for pre-order at major retailers and online. Her website is MichelleMonkou.blogspot.com.