JDP News

And the winners of my book launch party are...

2012-02-14T21:06:00.001-07:00

Cheryl

has won the Dangerous Favor gift package consisting of: A Dangerous Favor tote bag containing a Dangerous Favor mug, a Dangerous Favor mouse pad, a copy of Dangerous Favor (print version), a box of candy and some swag

Marjorie Cullen

has won the Loyalty's Web gift package consisting of: A Loyalty's Web tote bag containing a Loyalty's Web mug, a Loyalty's Web notebook, a copy of Loyalty's Web (winner's choice of print or Kindle version), a box of candy and some swag

Aimee

has won the Illuminations of the Heart gift package consisting of: An Illuminations of the Heart tote bag containing an Illuminations of the Heart mug, an Illuminations of the Heart notebook, a copy of Illuminations of the Heart (winner's choice of print or Kindle version), a box of candy and some swag.

Congratulations ladies!

The following "attendees" will also each receive a 2 oz box of chocolate and some swag. (I only included your name if you sent me your mailing address or included your email address with your comment. If you left a comment my book launch but don't see your name listed but want the chocolate, please contact me at jdipastena@yahoo.com.)

Heidi

Jaimey Grant

Jeannette

Jennifer Griffith

traveler

petite

Christine A

Kristee Richardson

Valerie Ipson

Lisa and Randy

brendajean

Cindy A. Christensen

Mary

Colleen C

Megan

Peggy Urry

blackroze37

Debra Brown

Cathy

Maria

Danielle Thorne

Bonnie

Rachelle

Lisa~Bookworm Lisa

Anna Arnett

Books Are Sanity!!!

Pat Cochran

C. Wolfe

Julie W.

Jennifer Mathis

Lexie@BookBug

Larry Hammersley

Gayle

mom

Tera Mecham

Melprincess

D. Ogden Huff

Cindy M. Hogan

Small Town Shelly Brown

Anah

Ginger Phillips

Kari Pike

Anna W.

Cindy Rogers

Mary

Wow, what an awesome book launch party, thanks to all of you! I hope you all have/had a spectacular Valentine's Day!

Let the "Dangerous Favor" party begin!

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day! (Or almost-Valentine's Day, if you're here on Monday.) And welcome to my online book launch of Dangerous Favor! I couldn't think of a better time to share my newest sweet medieval romance with you. I'm giving away prizes, of course, and gifts to everyone who visits (think chocolate!). But first, a little bit about Dangerous Favor:

Here is the back cover blurb:

Mathilde needs a champion.

Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father's innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father's past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams.

Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri's attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?

And of course, I can't let Valentine's Day go by without sharing a sweet, romantic excerpt with you. (Okay, so I snipped just a couple of words out so as not to give away a tiny bit of the plot, but this scene reads true without them.)

It occurred toMathilde that Etienne might interpret her remark as evidence of herown lack of skill in the kitchen.

She addedhastily, “I am not in the habit of burning something as simple as gruel. Sincemy father was forced to let our cook go, I have been responsible for all ourmeals. Father teases me that if he had known he had such a talented cook for adaughter, he would have turned Gilles off years earlier.”

“You cook?” Aflicker of surprise animated his drowsy gaze. With an effort, he drew his rightelbow under him to prop himself up. “Nay, your fragile fingers never wielded aflesh-hook or turned the weight of a boar on a spit.”

“Father drafteda scullery boy from the fields to help me lift the heavier pots and to dressgame as large as boars. And my fingers are not fragile!”

“They are soslight I wonder their delicate bones have not shattered ’ere now. Such etherealextremities were intended only for the gentle drawing of an embroidery needleor the sweet plucking of a harp’s strings.”

“I play theflute, not the harp. And I will prove to you that my fingers are quite strong!”

She crossed thetent, set the bundle of bread and cheese on the stool next to the cot, thengrabbed Etienne’s hand and squeezed.

“Mercy, mylady!” he cried.

But his greeneyes twinkled as they had that first night she had met him in Grantamur’s hall.Her squeeze had as much effect on his strong, broad palm as she imagined itwould have had on a stone. She flushed with embarrassment at her boast—and withconfusion at the disturbing tremor she felt as his long brown fingers wrappedthemselves about her own.

“Let me go,” shewhispered.

“Afraid Therri willsee me holding [your] hand?” he said, echoing her earlier warning. “I supposethat would give him a bit of a jolt.”

He laughedsoftly, an utterly disarming sound that caused a catch in her breath.

“I’m not holdingthem tightly, you know,” he said after a moment of flustered silence on herpart.

“What?”

“Your fingers. Idon’t want to break them. I am only holding them lightly—see?” He lifted herhand, bouncing it slightly as though weighing it in his.

He was right. Hecradled her fingers as gently as a mother might cradle her cherished babe.’Twas not by force of strength that he held her trapped, though quiet poweremanated from his touch. If her fingers continued to nestle in his, ’twasbecause she willedthem to.

Somewhere insome far corner of her mind the word seducer whispered. But ’twas more than hismysterious charm that held her now. She did not know why she thought suddenlyof the grey-haired knight and his menacing gaze. But with her hand inEtienne’s, the threat of that memory seemed to ebb, replaced with a warmpromise of safety.

To celebrate the release of Dangerous Favor (available now on Amazon), I'm giving away not one, not two, but THREE prize packages!

(1) A Dangerous Favor tote bag containing a Dangerous Favor mug, a Dangerous Favor mouse pad, and a copy of Dangerous Favor (print version), a box of candy, and some swag.

(2) A Loyalty’s Web tote bag containing a Loyalty’s Web mug, a Loyalty’s Web notebook, a copy of Loyalty’s Web (winner’s choice of print or Kindle version), a box of candy, and some swag

(3) An Illuminations of the Heart tote bag containing an Illuminations of the Heart mug, an Illuminations of the Heart notebook, a copy of Illuminations of the Heart (winner’s choice of print or Kindle version), a box of candy, and some swag

And EVERYONE who enters will receive a 2 oz box of chocolate and some swag (bookmarks, magnets, pen, and a special Dangerous Favor white ribbon).

(**If you already own a copy of Loyalty's Web or Illuminations of the Heart, you may still enter for the other prizes in the package. Just leave a comment with your entry letting me know you already have the book.)

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.To get your box of chocolate and swag, you must also email me your mailingaddress to jdipastena@yahoo.com, because obviously I can’t send you your candyif I don’t know where to send it. J (Addresses will not bekept and you will not be added to any mailing lists)

Deadlines for entries is February 14, 7:00 PM MST.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
USA entries only
Entrants must be 18 years or older
Giveaway opens February 13, 2012 and runs through February 14, 2012
Winners will be selected on February 14. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.
Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded
Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com or PO Box 673, Kearny, AZ 85137
Legal venue: Arizona (no, this doesn't mean you have to be from Arizona to enter!)
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

Online Book Launch Party for "Dangerous Favor"!

2012-02-11T23:25:00.000-07:00

7 AM February 13 – 7 PM February 14!

Dangerous Favor is having a launch party, and all of you are invited! I’llbe sharing a romantic excerpt in honor of Valentine’s Day, and giving awayprizes, of course! And just so more people can attend, I’m starting a day early…Monday,February 13! Entries will remain open through Valentine’s Day right up till 7PM MST.

My new medieval romance, Dangerous Favor, can’t celebrate without hersister romances, of course, so I’ll be giving away a gift bag each of thefollowing to three lucky winners:

A Loyalty’s Web tote bag containing a Loyalty’s Web mug, a Loyalty’s Web notebook, a copy of Loyalty’sWeb (winner’s choiceof print or Kindle version), a box of candy, and some swag

An Illuminations of the Heart tote bag containing an Illuminationsof the Heart mug, anIlluminations of the Heart notebook, a copy of Illuminations of the Heart (winner’s choice of print orKindle version), a box of candy, and some swag

And of course the star of the party!

A Dangerous Favor tote bag containing a Dangerous Favor mug, a DangerousFavor mouse pad, acopy of Dangerous Favor (only print version available), a box of candy, and someswag

And EVERYONE who visits will get a 2 oz box of candy andsome swag (bookmarks, magnets, pen, and a special Dangerous Favor white ribbon)

The party begins at 7 AM Monday, so mark your calendarsand be sure to drop by!

Sweet Saturday Samples

2012-02-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

Here's another sweet sample from my newly released medieval romance, Dangerous Favor (rated PG). If you visited last week, you'll remember that my hero, Etienne de Brielle, tricked my heroine, Mathilde, into giving him the white ribbon in her hair as a favor for him to wear in a tournament. The ribbon belonged to Mathilde's brother, a token from her brother's lover. In this scene, Etienne is indeed wearing the ribbon tied around his arm as he fights in the tournament, despite Mathilde's attempt to make him give it back. :-) According to the tournament rules, the combatants are supposed to be fighting with blunted weapons, but Etienne unexpectedly finds himself confronted by three knights wearing unmarked armor and wielding dangerously sharpened weapons:

“We’ve no wishto harm you, de Brielle. The ribbon is all we want.”

Etienne whirledat the growling voice and found the glistening point of a third lance aimed atthe base of his throat. Fury hardened his voice. “Does your sister know what acoward you are, de Riavelle? Exchanging sharpened weapons for blunted ones togain an unfair advantage over your rivals?”

A pair ofgold-flecked eyes weighed him through the slits of the knight’s unmarkedhelmet. “We merely wish to demonstrate the sincerity of our request.” Theknight’s voice rasped as though spoken through a throat filled with gravel. “Issome wench’s trivial favor worth spilling your blood over?”

“You tell me? Youare the one so driven with misguided lust that you would risk what shreds ofreputation you have left with this foul attack on me.”

“Drop your lanceand surrender the ribbon.”

Etienne’s handtightened on his shaft, but defiance was futile with that lance-blade at histhroat. Reluctantly he let his own lance fall into the dust.

“And yoursword.”

Etiennehesitated, then drew his sword and tossed it down after his lance. “I don’tneed them to thrash you, de Riavelle,” he said. “That I will gladly do with mybare hands. If you intend to turn a sportly match into a game of blood, then doit now. Otherwise I guarantee you will have to crawl back to your tent where Iwill hear you beg your sister’s forgiveness on your knees.”

The blade nudgedup beneath Etienne’s chin. The gold flecks in de Riavelle’s hazel eyesglittered eerily. Saints! The man was serious! To turn a friendly competition lethal over awoman’s favor—! Either the ribbon on Etienne’s arm held greater significancethan de Riavelle had thus far admitted, or the man must be slightly unhinged.

“Now, de Brielle.”

Again Etiennehesitated. De Riavelle’s companion drew his sword and Etienne saw the sun’sbright rays bounce off its well-honed edge. He looked one last time into deRiavelle’s menacingly glistering eyes. Then slowly, he reached around to untiethe ribbon.

Dangerous Favor is available on Amazon. There's also a copy up for grabs in a giveaway over on Clean Romance Reviews, if you'd like to check it out. :-)

Thanks for stopping by! Click here to read some Sweet Saturday Samples from some other wonderful authors!

Tuesday Teaser

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Teaser is a weekly bookish meme (rhymes with “cream"), hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. (I’ve borrowed it from LDS Women’s Book Review.) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share at least two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I'm adapting the rules slightly. I'll be quoting some random lines from the last chapter I read before I post a teaser. I'm a slow reader, so you may get multiple teasers per book. Here's a teaser from Killing Lincoln, by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard:

Booth has purchased other weapons for his various plots, including the cache of revolvers and long-bladed daggers now hidden in his hotel room. But the Deringer with the chocolate-colored wooden grip is his personal favorite. It is not lost on him that the pistol's primary traits--elegance, stealth, and the potential to produce mayhem--match those of its owner.

From Killing Lincoln, p 95

If you'd like to share a teaser from a book you're currently reading, I'd love you to do so in the comment section. And you don't even have to share it on a Tuesday! Be sure to include the title, author, and page number in case others would like to check out the book you're reading.

What Am I Reading Now?

2012-02-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

I greatly enjoyed Janette Rallison's My Fair Godmother! I'll have to look for the sequel. In the meantime, I haven't forgotten that one of my reading goals this year is to read a minimum of 2 non-fiction books. And since I just happened to get a nice non-fiction book for Christmas, I decided to start with this gift, namely, Killing Lincoln, by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. I don't generally enjoy reading about Civil War battles, but so far, the authors have made it fairly painless. (For me, not for the combatants.) And the battles scenes are nearly over, so I'm looking forward to reading more about John Wilkes Booth and the tragedy he instigates.

Here's the blurb from the dust jacket:

The anchor of The O'Reilly Factor recounts one of the most dramatic stories in American history—how one gunshot changed the country forever. In the spring of 1865, the bloody saga of America's Civil War finally comes to an end after a series of increasingly harrowing battles. President Abraham Lincoln's generous terms for Robert E. Lee's surrender are devised to fulfill Lincoln's dream of healing a divided nation, with the former Confederates allowed to reintegrate into American society. But one man and his band of murderous accomplices, perhaps reaching into the highest ranks of the U.S. government, are not appeased.

In the midst of the patriotic celebrations in Washington D.C., John Wilkes Booth—charismatic ladies' man and impenitent racist—murders Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. A furious manhunt ensues and Booth immediately becomes the country's most wanted fugitive. Lafayette C. Baker, a smart but shifty New York detective and former Union spy, unravels the string of clues leading to Booth, while federal forces track his accomplices. The thrilling chase ends in a fiery shootout and a series of court-ordered executions—including that of the first woman ever executed by the U.S. government, Mary Surratt. Featuring some of history's most remarkable figures, vivid detail, and page-turning action, Killing Lincoln is history that reads like a thriller.

Stop by on Tuesday and I'll share a Tuesday Teaser with you!

Sweet Saturday Samples

2012-02-03T23:36:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've shared a Sweet Saturday Sample with you. I've been so busy wrestling my new medieval romance into shape for publication that I haven't had time for very much else. But my new book, Dangerous Favor (rated PG), has been officially released and is now available on Amazon, so I am able to share a sample of it with you today!

A little setup: Etienne (my hero) and Mathilde (my heroine) met the previous night in the castle of a young widow who is holding a tournament so that she can choose a new husband. Etienne persuaded Mathilde to give him the white ribbon in her hair to wear as a favor in the tournament, but when her brother finds out, he becomes angry and insists Mathilde get the ribbon back. This scene takes place the next morning on the field of tents where the knights are preparing for the tournament.

Mathilde’s violet eyes turned misty again. Etienne imagined shelonged for some man to be thus stricken over her. No doubt it was of Therri shedreamed. What had she called him? The Vision? Etienne’s mouth quirked up inrare envy of his friend.

She sighed and forced her gaze—reluctantly, he thought—torefocus on his face.

“Pray, sir, it is most unchivalrous of you to tease me this way.If you are a true knight, you will honor my request and give me back theribbon.”

Etienne hesitated. He wanted to wear her favor, but he realizedit was equally important to him that she should think well of him. If hecontinued to refuse her request, she would think him a churlish brute.

Before he could decide how to answer, Hermaline swept throughher half-circle of mounted attendants, apparently tired of waiting for herwould-be champion to return. She bore down upon Etienne and Mathilde withsparkling eyes, her veil fluttering in her hand like a banner of war. If hewere to surrender Mathilde’s ribbon, he told himself, then he must at least armhimself with some other shield in its place.

“If I give it backto you,” he said quickly to Mathilde, “what will you give me in exchange?”

“In exchange?”

“You agreed lastnight to grant me your favor for the tournament today. If you insist that Ibehave as a ‘true knight’ and return the ribbon you gave me, then I demand youkeep your word as a ‘lady’ and grant me some other favor in its stead.”

“But I told youlast night that I have nothing else to give you.”

Hermaline was nearly upon them.

“Then,” he murmuredto Mathilde, “I hope you will forgive me, for I am about to behave mostunchivalrously.”

Thank you for stopping by! Now click here to read some more Sweet Saturday Samples.

People Reading Joyce's Books: New Winner!

2012-02-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I (or rather, Random.org) drew Joan Sowards' name as one of the winners, but Joan informed me that she is receiving a copy of Dangerous Favor from another source and kindly encouraged me to draw a new winner from my People Reading Joyce's Books photos. I have done so, and the new winner is...

Donna Hatch!

People Reading Joyce's Books: And the winners are...

2012-02-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who sent me a photo for my People Reading Joyce's Books giveaway! Each and everyone of them was absolutely WONDERFUL! But now it's time to draw the three winners. (Drum roll please as I toss the names into the Random.org hat)

And the winners for a copy each of Dangerous Favor are...

Brenda Child!

Joan Sowards!

Alesha Gurney!

Thank you again to everyone who was brave enough to enter! Just because the contest has ended doesn't mean I wouldn't love to continue to receive photos of my readers with my books. I'll be adding a Readers Gallery to my blog soon. I'd love to see you there!

One day left for "Dangerous Favor" giveaway!

2012-01-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

There's one more day to enter for a chance to win a free copy of Dangerous Favor! Click here to find out how.

Cassandra Bowers with Illuminations of the Heart.

Winner: "There Your Heart Will Be Also"

2012-01-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Julie W! Julie has won a PDF copy of There Your Heart Will Be Also, by Felicia Rogers.

Thank you to everyone who read my interview with Felicia and entered her giveaway.

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-01-26T21:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Young Adult Giveaway Hop, sponsored by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Down the Rabbit Hole. Here at JDP NEWS, I'm giving away a copy of the YA romantic comedy, My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison. Here's a summary:

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience!

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post with your name and email address so I can contact you if you win. Don't forget the "leave your email address" part. That's very important. :-) Deadline is January 31st, midnight PST.

So comment away, then hop along to the next blog below! (After you read the "official rules".)

According to Social Media Explorer, I'm supposed to post the following Official Rules in connection with this giveaway:

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
Entrants must be 18 years or older
Giveaway opens January 27, 2012 and runs through January 31, 2012
Entries may be left in a comment or sent via email to jdipastena@yahoo.com
Prize: A gently used print copy of My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison, retail value $16.99.
The number or eligible entries received determines the odds of winning
Winners will be selected on February 1. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.
Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded
Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com or PO Box 673, Kearny, AZ 85137
Legal venue: Arizona (no, this doesn't mean you have to be from Arizona to enter!)
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

There. Now hop-hop along to the next giveaway!

"Dangerous Favor" Giveaway: deadline drawing nigh

2012-01-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

There's less than a week left to enter for a chance to win one of three copies of my new medieval romance, Dangerous Favor. All you need to do is send me a picture of yourself with a copy of any of my previously published works. Each photo = 1 entry. Click here for full details.

Brenda Child with Loyalty's Web

Brenda Child dreaming of Illuminations of the Heart

Brenda Child with An Epiphany Gift for Robin (remember, e-versions count as entries too!)

This has got to be a tie for my favorite entry. Brenda with two of my future fans! Don't worry, I won't draw winners according to "favorites"...but still, this one is pretty cool!

Win a copy of "Dangerous Favor" on Goodreads!

2012-01-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

Goodreads Book
Giveaway

Dangerous
Favor

by Joyce DiPastena

Giveaway ends February 25, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Tuesday Teaser

2012-01-24T09:00:00.001-07:00

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share at least two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

I'm adapting the rules slightly. I'll be quoting some random lines from the last chapter I read before I post a teaser. I'm a slow reader, so you may get multiple teasers per book. Here's my second teaser from My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison:

He paused as he glanced at the driver's box. "Is your driver all right? He's acting rather addled."

"Addled" was the word they used for crazy in the Middle Ages. I glanced up at Scuppers. He was biting his shoulder as though he had an itch and hadn't thought to use his hands to scratch it.

From My Fair Godmother, p 249

"Dangerous Favor" on Amazon!

2012-01-23T13:06:00.001-07:00

My new sweet medieval romance, Dangerous Favor, is now officially for sale on Amazon!

Here's the official back cover blurb:

Mathilde is in need of a champion!

Here's the link, if you'd like to check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Favor-Joyce-DiPastena/dp/159992806X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327347936&sr=8-1

Author Interview & Giveaway with Felicia Rogers

2012-01-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve held an author interview and giveaway, but I have one today with Felicia Rogers, who writes sweet romances. Stay tuned after the interview to learn how you can win a copy of Felicia’s inspirational historical suspense novel, There Your Heart Will Be Also. (E-book, PDF)

JDP: Welcome, Felicia! There Your Heart Will Be Also is set in the 1550s, during the reign of Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII. What did you find most fascinating about this time period?

Felicia: The most fascinating thing about this time period for me was discovering the Wedding Ceremony. While I was researching for my book, it came to my attention that the wedding ceremony we use today originated in the Common Book of Prayer. This book was written by Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and accepted by Edward VI in 1558-1559.

JDP: I’m always interested in how authors research their historical novels. Could you tell us a little about how you researched the historical background for There Your Heart Will Be Also?

Felicia: How I researched information for my novel was by using internet sources such as Wikipedia. I also used Foxes’ Book of Martyrs, and the Bible.

JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?

Felicia: Two research books or resources I use on every book I write are the Holy Bible and Wikipedia. I do use other materials depending on what I’m looking for. One book I wrote recently concerned flowers in a different country. I used various websites to answer those questions but I couldn’t point to anyone in particular. Also, two books that I use regularly are Scotland, The story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson and King and Queens of England and Scotland by Plantagenet Somerset Fry.

JDP: Are there any historical figures from the era of There Your Heart Will Be Also who particularly intrigue you?

Felicia: There is no way I could pick one historical figure from this time in history and say they alone intrigued me. From Henry VIII until the end of Elizabeth I’s reign there is one interesting figure after another. From young Lady Jane Grey taking the throne for right at a week only to be ousted by Mary and eventually beheaded for the attempt, to Mary Queen of Scots who desired the throne at eighteen yet was beheaded before achieving her goal.

The entire monarchy of the time intrigues me.

JDP: What inspired you to write There Your Heart Will Be Also?

Felicia: My inspiration for There Your Heart Will Be Also is hard to pin point. I had just stopped reading a wonderful series of historical romance novels and I emailed my cousin, who is a genius with words, and asked her if she would like to write a novel together. She agreed.

So I sat down and began writing bits and pieces of a story and sent them along to her. Due to a busy schedule she was unable to help with the project and in the end I finished the entire story alone.

The book honestly started out as something vastly different from what is has become. In the beginning, I only wanted to see if I could actually come up with a complete story. Could I get from the beginning to the end and have something that still made sense. But overtime my ideas changed and developed into wanting something more. Something that if put out there I would be proud to say was mine.

I guess you could say I took a little bit of all my knowledge combined it with what I like in a book and thus my story a born.

JDP: Tell us a little bit about There Your Heart Will Be Also.

Felicia: Only daughter of an English lord, Sarra of Greenbriar, is used to getting her way. So when her father passes and the King begins sending suitors, she feels justified in taking matters into her own hands. Through a series of harmless pranks, Sarra works to keep the potential husbands at bay.

Cedric MacNeil is a Scotsman that has lost it all. Death claimed his parents and jealousy claimed his entitled position as Laird of his clan. Since his mother was a familiar of the English court, he leaves his native land and heads to England to fight on behalf of the English King. Tournaments are won, earning honor and glory for the crown. Cedric’s reward is the opportunity to gain what he wants most in this life, land.

But as he gets to know Sarra, he realizes he might get more than he bargained for.

JDP: Are you working on any new projects?

Felicia: Currently, I’m editing a chick-lit and a contemporary inspirational romance which should be out close to the first of 2012.

JDP: Where can readers obtain copies of your books?

Felicia: Copies of my books can be obtained at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press, Bookstrand, and other ebook retailers.

JDP: Thank you for visiting us today, Felicia. It was delightful to get to know a little about you and your book.

More about Felicia! : Felicia Rogers, born and raised in the southern part of the United States, is a Christian wife and mother. She is just your average, ordinary woman, with a side interest-- writing. For eleven years, every waking moment of her life was consumed with changing diapers, wiping noses, and kissing scrapes. But now that her children have grown and she enjoys a modicum of freedom, in addition to taking care of hearth and home, she writes! She enjoys adding a flavor of realism and humor to her all too real romance stories. For what is love without a little laughter! Read more about Felicia and her books at http://feliciarogersauthor.webs.com/

Okay, now for the giveaway! Felicia is giving away 1 PDF copy of There Your Heart Will Be Also. I’ve been alerted to new rules (well, new to me) for conducting such things as giveaways, so all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your email address so I’ll know how to contact you if you win. Since this is a PDF, the giveaway is open to International entries. The deadline to comment is January 29, midnight PST. I’ll draw and announce a winner on January 30.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

Entrants must be 18 years or older

Giveaway opens January 23, 2012 and runs through January 29, 2012

Entries may be left in a comment or sent via email to jdipastena@yahoo.com

Prize: 1 PDF copy of There Your Heart Will Be Also, by Felicia Rogers, retail value $2.99.

The number or eligible entries received determines the odds of winning

Winners will be selected on January 30. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.

Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawarded

Sponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com or PO Box 673, Kearny, AZ 85137

Legal venue: Arizona (no, this doesn't mean you have to be from Arizona to enter!)

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

Tuesday Teaser

2012-01-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share at least two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

The part that made my stomach sink--about four feet down the parchment roll, near the end--was a statement that all wishes were considered permanent and binding. That meant I couldn't undo wishes.

From My Fair Godmother, p 108

What Am I Reading Now?

2012-01-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

I've met YA author Janette Rallison at several writing-oriented functions and found her to be amazingly talented, witty, and kind. I've had one of her books, My Fair Godmother, in my TBR pile for quite awhile now. I thought it sounded like a fun book to kick off the new year. Here's the back cover blurb:

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience!

"Dangerous Favor": cover unveiled

2012-01-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, here it is! The cover for my new medieval romance, Dangerous Favor.

I love it! What do you think?

Deadline for "Dangerous Favor" giveaway extended

2012-01-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a couple more weeks before I have any physical copies of my new medieval romance, Dangerous Favor, to give away, so I decided to extend the deadline for my giveaway till the end of the month. The new deadline will be January 31, midnight PST. I'll announce the three winners on February 1st. Which means you have a little over two more weeks to send me photos of yourself with copies of my first two books, Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart. I know some of you are shy, but I also know that all of you are beautiful. So start snapping away. :-)

For complete details on how to enter, please click here.

Loyalty's Web Book Trailer

2012-01-09T16:46:00.001-07:00

The lovely and talented Rachel Rossano has made me a book trailer for Loyalty's Web. Learn more about Rachel and her books on her website, The World of Rachel Rossano, and blog, Rachel Rossano's Words.

More contest pics!

2012-01-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

There's one more week to enter for a chance at one of 3 copies of my soon-to-be-released medieval romance, Dangerous Favor. All you have to do is send me a picture of you with one of my books (print or e-book, personal or borrowed) by January 15th.

Each of these people have entered. I hope you'll join them soon!

Click here for full details on how to enter.

Gayle Humpherys with Loyalty's Web

Gayle Humpherys with Illuminations of the Heart

I can't lie. This has got to be one of my favorites: Gayle Humpherys with future readers of my books. :-)

Here's Jeannette J with a copy of Illuminations of the Heart

Jeannette J with Loyalty's Web

And here's Jeannette J with my short e-story, An Epiphany Gift for Robin. (See how easy it is to send me a picture of you and any of my ebooks?)

Cindy Wiser with Loyalty's Web

Cindy Wiser with Illuminations of the Heart

Thank you for sharing your pictures, ladies!

Books I Read in 2011

2012-01-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the books I read in 2011. I know many of you read twice or triple (or even quadruple!) as many, but as I said, I'm a slow reader. The important thing isn't how many books you read, though, it's that you read at all and found a few new and old gems through the year!

Books marked with a ** in blue signifies that it was a rereading of an old favorite. My favorite "new" book of the year is marked with 3 ***'s in red.

Hand of Fate, by Lis Wiehl with April Henry (fiction)

Knight's Fee, by Rosemary Sutcliff (fiction)

The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff (fiction)***

Dearly Departed, by Tristi Pinkston (fiction)

The Chariot of Israel, by James S. Sangster (fiction)**

The Silver Branch, by Rosemary Sutcliff (fiction)

Wrong Number, by Rachelle J. Christensen (fiction)

Mark of Royalty, by Jennifer K. Clark and Stephonie K. Williams (fiction)

Abinadi, by H.B. Moore (fiction)

Constant Hearts, by Donna Hatch (fiction)

Loving Lydia, by Amy de Trempe (fiction)

Counting the Cost, by Liz Adair (fiction)

King John, by W.L. Warren (non-fiction)

Lydia, by Wanda Luce (fiction)

The Lantern Bearers, by Rosemary Sutcliff (fiction)

The Amber Treasure, by Richard Denning (fiction)

The Reluctant Widow, by Georgette Heyer (fiction)**

Free Men and Dreamers, Volume 1: Dark Sky at Dawn, by LC Lewis (fiction)

Here Lies Arthur, by Philip Reeve (fiction)

Crown of Anavrea, by Rachel Rossano (fiction)

A Very Merry Chase, by Teresa Thomas Bohannon (fiction)

Goal for 2012: Read at least 2 non-fiction books and four old favorites. (Hmm, maybe I'd better write that down somewhere so I'll remember!)

Tuesday Teaser

2011-12-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share at least two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

"Henri, it is iniquitous! It is not a public exhibition that I engage in! One would say we were gladiators."

"Reste tranquille," grinned De Vangrisse. "We are all backing you, mon petite."

"I trust you'll not forget to inform His Majesty of the rendezvous," said Philip, resorting to biting sarcasm. "And have you engaged a fiddler to enliven the meeting?"

From Powder and Patch, p 89

What Am I Reading Now?

2011-12-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

Something about this time of year always makes me long for the warm and familiar. This includes my choice of reading material. Usually instead of starting a new book in December, I prefer to snuggle down with a well-loved favorite read from the past. This year my choice alighted on Powder and Patch, by Georgette Heyer. Here's the back cover blurb:

TO WIN HER HAND, HE MUST BECOME WHAT HE DESPISES...

Cleone Charteris's exquisite charms have made her the belle of the English countryside. But Cleone yearns for a husband who is refined, aristocratic and who is as skilled with his wit as he is with his dueling pistols.... Everything Philip Jettan is not. As much as she is attracted to the handsome squire, Cleone finds herself dismissing Philip and his rough mannerisms.

With his father's encouragement, Philip departs for the courts of Paris, determined to acquire the social graces and the airs of the genteel -- and convince Cleone that he is the man most suited for her hand. But his transformation may cost him everything, including Cleone....

Stop by on Tuesday and I'll share a Tuesday Teaser with you!

A Light Unto All: A Christmas Gift

2011-12-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

What Christmas is really all about.

Let us remember Him!

JDP News

And the winners of my book launch party are...

Let the "Dangerous Favor" party begin!

Online Book Launch Party for "Dangerous Favor"!

Sweet Saturday Samples

Tuesday Teaser

What Am I Reading Now?

Sweet Saturday Samples

People Reading Joyce's Books: New Winner!

People Reading Joyce's Books: And the winners are...

One day left for "Dangerous Favor" giveaway!

Winner: "There Your Heart Will Be Also"

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

"Dangerous Favor" Giveaway: deadline drawing nigh

Win a copy of "Dangerous Favor" on Goodreads!

Goodreads BookGiveaway

DangerousFavor

by Joyce DiPastena

Tuesday Teaser

"Dangerous Favor" on Amazon!

Author Interview & Giveaway with Felicia Rogers

More reader pics!

Tuesday Teaser

What Am I Reading Now?

"Dangerous Favor": cover unveiled

Deadline for "Dangerous Favor" giveaway extended

Loyalty's Web Book Trailer

More contest pics!

Books I Read in 2011

Tuesday Teaser

What Am I Reading Now?

A Light Unto All: A Christmas Gift

Goodreads Book
Giveaway

Dangerous
Favor