Emelle Gamble's Blog

Emelle Gamble Newsletter, April 2016

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April 2016  
Dear Marsha,

Who won the Kindle Fire HD? Newsletter subscriber Randi W. from Kansas City, Kansas! Congratulations! And thank you to all the newsletter subscribers who liked my Facebook page and posted reviews!Happy April dear readers! If the old adage is true, then May will be full of flowers! We've had a lot of rain, and friends in the Midwest have had snow this past month, so we will all be happy to see the last of April, knowing summer approaches.

I'm off this weekend to my local Romance Writers of America chapter's Annual Retreat in Westminster, Maryland -- great speakers, panels, camaraderie and industry information gossip, raffle baskets full of books and goodies, and a group Jeopardy battle Saturday night. We will all be wearing 1920s gowns when we shout out, "Who was Lady Macbeth!" if someone asks, "Who said ­out, damn spot, out I say." These are the best of times, in the company of other writers, and I'll give you a full reporting of the fun next month.

Exclusive for Newsletter Subscribers: $100 VISA cash card for your summer vacation fund!To help you enjoy your summer trip, one lucky subscriber will win a VISA cash card!

3 WAYS TO ENTER:

1 - Request a FREE copy from me of one of these Classic Romantic Suspense novels (read the summaries about the plots here).


2 - Write a review of any Emelle Gamble novel (here's the link to Amazon showing all the books) and post it on Amazon or Goodreads.

3 - Refer a friend who loves to read (and loves monthly contests!) to sign up for my newsletter.To Enter: To request a book, send an email to [email protected] with the title in the subject line. To let me know you've posted a review, send me an email with "I reviewed" and the name of the book. When you refer a friend to be a newsletter subscriber, send an email saying "I referred". If you do all 3, you'll get 3 entries! Winner will be randomly selected and announced in the June 2016 newsletter.



My favorite review this month is for Molly Harper by Amazon reviewer Teresa A. ...

"5 stars! I've read Secret Sister and Stranger Than Fiction and loved them both so I knew ... that I would love this book too! I now need to pick up the next book in the series to find out what happens to Molly and Cruz! All the characters in this book were very well developed and by the end of the book I wanted to go to Molly's house for dinner with John and Anne too!" 

My THREE Favorite Things in April 2016 ... ONE ... My daughter Olivia, baby Ruby and hubby Jon are due to land this week for a long visit! I literally can not wait to hug all three of them. Here's Olivia and Ruby on their recent travels to Spain.TWO ... A new contract. My newest Romantic Suspense novel, The Second Man , will be released by SoulMate publishing in August! Stand by for cover reveals and some free advance copies!THREE ... My Facebook followers. This month we discussed memories of our mothers, favorite Shakespeare quotes, and if a book can be TOO long, among other topics. I am knocked out every time I post at the smart, funny, touching and caring words of wisdom! Come join me on Facebook if you haven't already. XXX Emelle
Connect with Me!www.EmelleGamble.com    |    My Goodreads Page           

Author Emelle Gamble, Main Street, Walnutport, PA 18088SafeUnsubscribe™ [email protected]Update Profile | About our service providerSent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try it free today

Reader Nina Lillardand Author Emelle Gamble discuss the novel SECRET SISTER

 

Click to view at Amazon Books

 Nina:What was your biggest reservation about putting your work out there, and whatgave you the final push to become an Author? Did you have a full-time occupationbefore you published your first book?

Emelle: I had noreservations – was totally gung ho to share my stories and entertain as soon asI felt like I knew how to actually structure a story. Pretty arrogant, huh? I’vealways worked in marketing and yes, when I first started writing, I worked forAT&T.

 

Nina:Somewriters do research in different ways to develop or frame up their story. Haveyou ever done something unusual to build a character or a plot? Like Travelingto a weird place, developing a ritual, sacrificing various writing instruments*LOL*, anything that was memorable, funny, intense, or something that became“your thing” to get you in a zone of inspiration.

 

Emelle: Veryinteresting question, and I am shocked to answer No. I think my characters –particularly the lead characters – come from a very personal history place, andI know them as aspects of myself, or those closest to me. This isn’tto imply my characters are me or anyone I know, but I do understand them andthink I get what makes them tick. They seldom get away from me and act out –although that happens. Zoe, the hero’s sister in Secret Sister, was one ofthose. She had so much insight and spunk, and I had imagined her more passive.

 

Nina:Sometimesreaders experience the stories you write in a completely different way than youintend. Have you ever been swayed to write additional pieces to a story to helpyour readers see your characters the way you see them?

 

Emelle: I have alwaysbeen a huge believer in ‘the story stands alone’. I resisted, when I was anEnglish major in college, reading criticism of works that based points ofso-called insight on the author’s personal life. I realized once I beganwriting, that this of course was foolish of me, as all work is a chunk of theauthor’s soul, and reveals certain things. What has been a true revelation tome is how often my characters are viewed differently by my readers than by me.Now, a smart author would probably question their skills as writer and work ontheir technique (HA!), but of course, as your insightful question asks,something else is going on. I wrote a blog post once that said, ‘books belongto readers’. And that is the revelation – once a book is out there, the readerbrings their own reality and life experience and personality make-up to thestory, and very often sees things an author might not realize or simply seesthings differently. It’s been shocking, and intoxicating at the same time. Butno matter how carefully an author thinks they are crafting a character or a story, itwill often, if not always, be seen to mean, or succeed or fail, for reasonsthat are different than what was intended, and that is completely legitimate. So no, I don’t try and convince someone of a character’svirtue. I let them meet the reader, and the rest is up to those two!   Books Belong to Readers blog post

 

Nina:Forme personally, Secret Sister was an incredibly remarkable story. I’m not sureif I would have felt as emotional had I read the book on my own, instead ofexperiencing it through the audiobook. I thought Stephanie Bentley was nothingless than perfect narrating it; and the combination of the story with the performanceof it moved my heart in a very unexpected way. What was the process of pickingthe perfect narrator like?

 

Emelle: I contractedwith ACX, who is the company who puts the narrator and the producers/actorstogether for audio books, and then sells them at Audible.com or Amazon or iTunes. You post a request for audition on their site, andprescreen actors and producers, who read and then submit short (5 to 15 minute)tapes. Stephanie was immediately empathetic as Cathy Chance, in particular. Sowhile she wasn’t a ‘perfect’ match to how I heard the characters inside my head– I still feel she has a bit of a ‘valley girl’ tempo that I had not imagined –her depth of emotion and grasp of the drama of the story sold me immediately.In fact, listening to some of the story from her lips, I felt like I was notthe author – she made me forget that I already knew what was coming nextbecause she built the tension so beautifully.  

 

Nina:Pleasetell us a little bit about Secret Sister and what is was like to write thisstory.

 

Emelle: Secret Sisteris truly the book that best expresses what I feel about true love. I am a hopeless romantic, and believe that some peopleare meant for each other, and are fortunate beyond blessing when they findtheir true love. The idea for the book came when I was sitting around with my critique group.  I threw out the notionthat my true love, my husband of thirty-plus years, would know me ‘no matterwhat’…and hence the story was born. I found it fun beyond belief to imagine thecircumstances of what happen to Cathy, and how difficult itwould be to try and convince someone of your identity if you looked completelydifferent.

 

The book deals with love on many levels, love of a parent, or abest friend, of your spouse. And it certainly is about the secrets we all keep from even those closest to us. It was emotionally taxing to write, but if I had to use oneword, I would say creating Secret Sister and those characters was exhilarating.No matter what else I ever write, it will be always be my favorite creation.   

 

Nina:AQuestion for a character in the book…Nick’s best friend Bradley. One ofthe best quotes I ever heard is Bradley’s comment to Nick, “The heart remembers”. Having that in mind, do you believe you canallow yourself to love and be happy with a new person, as you once were?

 

 “Yes. I think you honorlove by opening yourself to love again. You can never recreate what you hadwith another – especially if that other was your soulmate – but you can behappy again. I believe that, just as I believe I will never love as completelyas I loved Mitch.”  Audio book link 

Love is all there is, it makes the world go 'round Love and only love, it can't be denied No matter what you think about it You just won't be able to do without it Take a tip from one who's tried - Bob Dylan
  
 

 

Reader Nina Lillard and Author Emelle Gamble discuss the novel SECRET SISTER  Click to view at Amazon Books Nina:What was your biggest reservation about putting your work out there, and what gave you the final push to do become an Author? Did you have full time occupation before you published your first book?Emelle: I had no reservations – was totally gung ho to share my stories and entertain as soon as I felt like I knew how to actually structure a story. Pretty arrogant, huh? I’ve always worked in marketing and yes, when I first started writing, I worked for AT&T. Nina: Some writers do research in different ways to develop or frame up their story. Have you ever done something unusual to build a character or a plot? Like Traveling to a weird place, developing a ritual, sacrificing various writing instruments *LOL*, anything that was memorable, funny, intense, or something that became “your thing” to get you in a zone of inspiration. Emelle: Very interesting question, and I am shocked to say no. I think my characters – particularly the lead characters – come from a very personal history place, and I know them very well as aspects of myself or those closest to me. This isn’t to imply my characters are me or anyone I know, but I do understand them and think I get what makes them tick. They seldom get away from me and act out – although that happens. Zoe, the hero’s sister in Secret Sister, was one of those. She had so much insight and spunk, and I had imagined her more passive.  Nina: Sometimes readers experience the stories you write in a complete different way than you intend. Have you ever been swayed to write additional pieces to a story to help your readers see your characters the way you see them? Emelle: I have always been a huge believer in ‘the story stands alone’. I resisted, when I was an English major in college, reading criticism of works that based points of so-called insight on the author’s personal life. I realized once I began writing, that this of course was foolish of me, as all work is a chunk of the author’s soul, and reveals certain things. What has been a true revelation to me is how often my characters are viewed differently by my readers than by me. Now, a smart author would probably question their skills as writer and work on their technique (HA!), but of course, as your insightful question asks, something else is going on. I wrote a blog post once that said, ‘books belong to readers’. And that is the revelation – once a book is out there, the reader brings their own reality and life experience and personality make-up to the story, and very often sees things an author might not realize or simply sees things differently. It’s been shocking, and intoxicating at the same time. But now how carefully an author thinks they are crafting a character or a story, it will often, if not always, be seen to mean, or succeed, or fail for reasons that are legitimate. So no, I don’t try and convince someone of a character’s virtue. I let them meet the reader, and the rest is up to those two!   Books Belong to Readers blog post Nina: For me personally, Secret Sister was an incredibly remarkable story. I’m not sure if I would have felt as emotional had I read the book on my own, instead of experiencing it through the audiobook. I thought Stephanie Bentley was nothing less than perfect narrating it; and the combination of the story with the performance of it moved my heart in a very unexpected way. What was the process of picking the perfect narrator like?  Emelle: I contracted with ACX, who is the company who puts the narrator and the producers/actors together for audio books. You post a request for audition on their site, and prescreen actors and producers read and then submit short (5 to 15 minute) tapes. Stephanie was immediately empathetic as Cathy Chance, in particular. So while she wasn’t a ‘perfect’ match to how I heard the characters inside my head – I still feel she has a bit of a ‘valley girl’ tempo that I had not imagined – her depth of emotion and grasp of the drama of the story sold me immediately. In fact, listening to some of the story from her lips, I felt like I was not the author – she made me forget that I already knew what was coming next because she built the tension so beautifully.   Nina: Please tell us a little bit about Secret Sister and what is was like to write this story.  Emelle: Secret Sister is truly my book about true love. I am a hopeless romantic, and feel that some people are meant for each other, and are fortunate beyond blessing when they find their true love. Sitting around with my critique group, I threw out the notion that my true love, my husband of thirty-plus years, would know me ‘no matter what’…and hence the story was born. I found it fun beyond belief to imagine the circumstances of what happen to Cathy, and imagined with my whole being how it would be to try and convince someone of your identity if you looked completely different. The book deals with love on many levels, love of a parent, or a best friend, of your spouse. It was emotionally taxing, but if I had to use one word, I would say creating Secret Sister and those characters was exhilarating. No matter what else I ever write, it will be always be my favorite creation.    Nina: A Question for a character in the book…Nick’s best friend Bradley…One of the best quotes I ever heard is Bradley’s comment to Nick, “The heart remembers”. Having that in mind, do you believe you can allow yourself to love and be happy with a new person, as you once were?  “Yes. I think you honor love by opening yourself to love again. You can never recreate what you had with another – especially if that other was your soulmate – but you can be happy again. I believe that, just as I believe I will never love as completely as I loved Mitch.”  Audio book link  Love is all there is, it makes the world go 'round Love and only love, it can't be denied No matter what you think about it You just won't be able to do without it Take a tip from one who's tried - Bob Dylan
  
  

Hi gals...

Okay, after lots of research and thinking, I'd like you to look at these covers and tell me if any seem a good fit to emulate for Thrill Girl.

It seems the successful books in the general 'mainstream suspense-mystery-domestic noir' category use image and font to set tone, and deliberately give no images of character.

 

 
The older, classic noirs use stylized, somewhat salacious tones and pics no matter if doing 50s books or more modern adaptations






And there are those with modern photos that seek to tell the plot with people...

And of course the fabulous Tana French ones, with a single, realistic itemand the evocative setting









 

 I was a slow convert to audio books – not as a listener, because I have always loved listening to a story – but as an author of ‘to be read’ stories. I was always nervous about the process which includes putting material up for audition, listening to the tapes the actors send – and then, gulp, choosing the ‘just right’ narrator.
Why? Not because it was a difficult a process, it isn’t. ACX, my retailer of choice, makes it ridiculously easy and economical for authors to find just the right professional voice to step up to the microphone and ‘tell’ the author’s story to an audience of readers who enjoy getting their box fix via a hands-free delivery system.
What was most daunting to me was simply letting go of my story. There is no doubt about it – giving a book to an actor to read is letting go of your work and watching – in fascination, and sometimes in shock – as another creative person interprets the mood, tone and characters in your book. 
Authors, by the end of the editing process (which in my case involves reading my book about 10 times, some sections more than that), can clearly ‘hear’ their characters voices. We know what motivates them, what they wish for, what they’re hiding and scared of. We understand clearly why they did what they did, and what part they play in the overall panorama of the plot. Our biggest challengers as authors are to do two things – make the readers clearly understand these characters by choosing the right words for the dialogue and internal thought, and convincing the reader that these made-up creatures are acting from believable and well-grounded motivation.
On my final edit, I am confident the readers will understand my characters’ actions and personality, and hopefully they will like or dislike them as I do, and enjoy the story they inhabit.
Readers, of course, bring their own experiences along with them when they read a book, and I have learned from conversations and reviews that authors aren’t always the final word. I have often been surprised by readers reactions to a story of mine, where many times they do not like or accept something about a character, that, as the writer of the story, I thought I was the final word on. HA! Frankly, I’ve loved this reckoning, for I know that books do belong to the readers. When I write it, it is my story, but when I give it to someone else, it is theirs. Each of us decide which characters are good or bad or fair, or deserving of a happy ending.  


While I have embraced this fact of life about readers, what I didn’t realize was that when I authorized an audio version of a book, I had authorized another interpretation of what was going on.  Listening to the actors voicing my words, I was surprised at how,  through intonation and tone,  their grasp of each character  was a shade or two different from mine.
My first venture into audio was with my book SECRET SISTER , a women’s fiction novel with a surprise paranormal twist that sets up the action. Thematically, this novel is about love and friendship, trust and lies, secrets and the hope we all have that we can ‘fix’ even the most complicated events so that we will be happy.
The actor who produced and narrated SECRET SISTER, brought a younger, fresher voice to Cathy Chance than I had heard in my head, and a more subdued and suffering voice to my hero, Nick Chance. In several scenes, she infused the novel with an ache and dramatic intensity I had not imagined, but which she felt by interpreting the words I had written in a darker or sadder tone.
This same thing occurred – even more startlingly for me – with Caroline Price’s performance of my new audio release of MOLLY HARPER . Both in the introductory novella, Duets, and in the full women’s fiction novel, brought a pensive, inured insight to Molly I may not have consciously intended.
Buy Molly & Cruz at Amazon.comMolly Harper, a beautiful, academy award winning actress, is an angsty, somewhat prickly character and I had some push back from readers and reviewers about her. Some thought she was arrogant, or cold, or unforgiving, and felt she should be softer, nicer, because of all the blessings she has in her life…not bitchy because of unresolved personal wounds.
I saw her, wrote her, as heroic and smart, navigating as best she cut through a cut-throat profession as she dealt with significant wounds to her heart and soul because of some deeply troubling family secrets and lies. But I understood how readers, coming from their own experiences, didn’t understand her as I did.
However, I was again surprised (slow learner here) to listen to Caroline’s reading of the novel, because through her, I actually heard Molly’s character differently. She did seem a little bitchy. She could be aloof. I finally understood what some readers had been angry with Molly about when Miss Price voiced my character. She spoke the same words I had written, but came away with a different take.
Note to self…embrace this fact – anyone who touches your work interprets it and understand it through their experience and point of view – hears it with their heart in a way you might not. I have always prided myself on being good at communication – that human process of stating something in such a clear way the person being communicated with fully understands what you meant. But this process has taught me once again that for all my thinking, planning, editing and polishing…readers and listeners hear things you may not realize you revealed.
The bottom line is, once an author writes ‘the end’, books then belong to readers, and listeners. They will create, with their own wonderful imaginations, the world inhabited by your characters.
Trust this, and enjoy it, for after all, there is nothing else you can do.   

Please come join us at the "Readers for Life" Literacy Event at the Marriott Marquis. Free entrance to readers! Come meet hundreds of authors and buy some signed books. All proceeds to benefit Literacy. 
 In honor of the ghost of RWA past, here's a blog I did about one of the more embarrassing things ever to happen to Emelle Gamble! Leave a comment below about something embarrassing that happened to you, and you could WIN a FREE signed book and $25 gift card!  What not to do at RWA in New York City?             Hint:  Do NOT spill 10 pounds of shrimp on your shoes at Nora Robert’s party.   I’m sure you are nodding as you read the above, and thinking, “Well, what kind of dolt would do that?”This dolt.It was a few years ago, and Ms. Roberts had graciously invited her home chapter of RWA to join her and her many other guests for cocktail hour in her suite. It was perfect…view out the windows glorious, delicious and varied spread of cheeses and dips and seafood, waiters with drinks on gleaming trays, fabulous clothes and sparkling party jewelry. The room was packed with well-known and much loved writers, very important editors, publicists and fans and fellow WRW members like me who were thrilled to mingle and have a couple of munchies and a fortifying drink before the Awards Ceremony.I was nervous, as always, like most of us there, hoping to make an impression on those we wanted to do business with. I had my elevator pitch ready and my new high heels on and was keeping my eyes peeled for an editor I was dying to chat up. I decided I’d grab a drink, but realized sensibly it would be much smarter to first take a lovely little cocktail plate and grab a few bites. The line was forming, shoulder to shoulder hungry writers were starting to queue up, and I somehow, with a graceful step or three, managed to plant myself right in front of an amazing display of shrimp. A gorgeous silver bowl of the plumpest, freshest, yummy little creatures sat on a table covered with  crushed ice, the enormous bowl tilted just so one could poke a toothpick in and spear one without any effort at all. Plate in one hand, toothpick in the other, I first spooned on a tablespoon of lovely red cocktail sauce, then speared a shrimp. I plopped it on the plate and frowned, not sure but wondering, did the  silver bowl gently, oh so freaking gently, begin to turn on its bed of ice? I thought it might have, no more than a degree clockwise, if I remember right. The room was warm, the ice was melting just a bit, but no problem. Surely. I speared a second shrimp. When I picked the thing up from the mountain where it perched with a thousand of it’s lovely pink  buddies, disaster.Like card 101 in a design that could only ever balance 100, the silver bowl of shrimp moved again. Wildly . The thing took a full, dizzying ninety-degree spin, and one second later tipped forward and spilled at least half its content onto the table, onto the table cloth, onto the floor of Ms. Nora Robert’s suite.And onto my totally shocked and humiliated feet. It made quite a noise. A crash, actually.  Ice, silver, shrimp, glass. I don’t know what broke, but something did.One hundred people fell silent. And then an anonymous voice from across the room asked gently, “Is everyone thinking, Thank god I didn’t do that?”Which was hilarious at the time to everyone but the woman with seafood stuck between her toes.In an instant a waiter in a black coat appeared at my elbow. He smiled at me and then spoke into a walkie-talkie, which appeared in his hand as if by magic.“We have a shrimp emergency,” he said. Clicking sounds. Static sounds. Then a disembodied voice asked, “Is there sauce involved?” The waiter met my eyes. He looked relieved. “No, no sauce.”Many more people in black coats appeared. The shrimp was cleaned up. Replacement bowls of the jumbo little devils arrived. The hostess was gracious and kind and did not have me thrown out of her penthouse window. She waved me to come over to where she stood, sympathetic and smiling, and had me sit down while people brought me drinks.  Later that evening, after all the fun, I had an excellent discussion with the editor I was chasing, but it centered on faux pas in public, not my book. I believe she said me vs the shrimp was the worst she had ever witnessed. Ha.Ha.Ha.Yay! I made an impression!Okay, so lesson learned and duly passed onto fellow Conference goers.  “Step away from the shrimp”, as my dear critique partner, Elaine Fox, now whispers in my ear whenever we’re in a buffet line anywhere .

Especially if the sneaky devils are in a bowl on an ice display, intent on proving Al Gore is totally right about Global Warming.

I thought I was done with movie star Molly Harper and her on-again, off-again true love, hot-tempered English professor Cruz Morales. I introduced you to them in DUETS, and let you see them struggle and come together and break apart in MOLLY HARPER. I ended that book on what I thought was a final note, but after many readers and reviewers wrote that they wished for a little bit more, I decided a sequel novella would be just the thing!

DECEMBER WEDDING is the final chapter for these two, and I hope you'll enjoy it. It's available for pre-order now, and will be released on November 22, 2014 exclusively on Amazon. 





The final act... together again and expecting a child, will the love story of Molly and Cruz end with a happily ever after, or will all the old problems of family, fame and temperament once again rule the day? Join the Harper, Sullivan, and Morales families for more than one surprise in DECEMBER WEDDING. Two reader favorites, brother Harry Sullivan, and birth mother Anne Sullivan, along with a couple of not so favorite ones (hint, hint, ex-hubby Ben Delmonico is back!) are part of the last adventure.  


 Pre-order on Amazon




****SPECIAL CONTEST FOR READERS WHO POST A NEW REVIEW****

To say thank you to all new readers who leave a review of any of these titles on Amazon.com on or before December 15, 2014, I'll be giving away one $50 Amazon gift card. Just email me at [email protected] when you've posted a review and you'll be entered in the contest. As all my readers know, any honest review is welcome...share your thoughts and it benefits other readers, and the author! We love hearing what you think. 

Winner announced on my Facebook page December 17th! Good luck.






One of my critique partners suggested this actress was Molly Harper! 







And one of my dear readers sent me this photo and said it was Cruz Morales! Works for me! 



All three titles are available in eBook or Paperback, and will be available as Audio Books this winter. Good luck in the drawing, and happy reading. 

XXX Emelle 
                        www.EmelleGamble.com

  Buy DUETS here  













                                           Buy MOLLY HARPER here  



   Buy DECEMBER WEDDING here

RWA in San Antonio Texas, July 23-27...Please come join us at the "Readers for Life" Literacy Event at the Marriott Rivercenter ...Free entrance to readers! Come meet authors and buy some signed books. All proceeds to benefit Literacy. (Yes, the great Nora Roberts, here with a fan, will be signing her books!)

In honor of the ghost of RWA past, here's a blog I did about one of the more embarrassing things ever to happen to Emelle Gamble! Leave a comment below about something embarrassing that happened to you, and you could WIN a FREE signed book and $25 gift card!

What not to do at RWA in San Antonio?  
Do NOT spill 10 pounds of shrimp on your shoes at Nora Robert’s party.

I’m sure you are nodding as you read the above, and thinking, “Well, what kind of dolt would do that?”This dolt.It was a few years ago, and Ms. Roberts had graciously invited her home chapter of RWA to join her and her many other guests for cocktail hour in her suite. It was perfect…view out the windows glorious, delicious and varied spread of cheeses and dips and seafood, waiters with drinks on gleaming trays, fabulous clothes and sparkling party jewelry. The room was packed with well-known and much loved writers, very important editors, publicists and fans and fellow WRW members like me who were thrilled to mingle and have a couple of munchies and a fortifying drink before the Awards Ceremony.I was nervous, as always, like most of us there, hoping to make an impression on those we wanted to do business with. I had my elevator pitch ready and my new high heels on and was keeping my eyes peeled for an editor I was dying to chat up. I decided I’d grab a drink, but realized sensibly it would be much smarter to first take a lovely little cocktail plate and grab a few bites. The line was forming, shoulder to shoulder hungry writers were starting to queue up, and I somehow, with a graceful step or three, managed to plant myself right in front of an amazing display of shrimp. A gorgeous silver bowl of the plumpest, freshest, yummy little creatures sat on a table covered with  crushed ice, the enormous bowl tilted just so one could poke a toothpick in and spear one without any effort at all. Plate in one hand, toothpick in the other, I first spooned on a tablespoon of lovely red cocktail sauce, then speared a shrimp. I plopped it on the plate and frowned, not sure but wondering, did the  silver bowl gently, oh so freaking gently, begin to turn on its bed of ice? I thought it might have, no more than a degree clockwise, if I remember right. The room was warm, the ice was melting just a bit, but no problem. Surely. I speared a second shrimp. When I picked the thing up from the mountain where it perched with a thousand of it’s lovely pink  buddies, disaster.Like card 101 in a design that could only ever balance 100, the silver bowl of shrimp moved again. Wildly . The thing took a full, dizzying ninety-degree spin, and one second later tipped forward and spilled at least half its content onto the table, onto the table cloth, onto the floor of Ms. Nora Robert’s suite.And onto my totally shocked and humiliated feet. It made quite a noise. A crash, actually.  Ice, silver, shrimp, glass. I don’t know what broke, but something did.One hundred people fell silent. And then an anonymous voice from across the room asked gently, “Is everyone thinking, Thank god I didn’t do that?”Which was hilarious at the time to everyone but the woman with seafood stuck between her toes.In an instant a waiter in a black coat appeared at my elbow. He smiled at me and then spoke into a walkie-talkie, which appeared in his hand as if by magic.“We have a shrimp emergency,” he said. Clicking sounds. Static sounds. Then a disembodied voice asked, “Is there sauce involved?” The waiter met my eyes. He looked relieved. “No, no sauce.”Many more people in black coats appeared. The shrimp was cleaned up. Replacement bowls of the jumbo little devils arrived. The hostess was gracious and kind and did not have me thrown out of her penthouse window. She waved me to come over to where she stood, sympathetic and smiling, and had me sit down while people brought me drinks.  Later that evening, after all the fun, I had an excellent discussion with the editor I was chasing, but it centered on faux pas in public, not my book. I believe she said me vs the shrimp was the worst she had ever witnessed. Ha.Ha.Ha.Yay! I made an impression!Okay, so lesson learned and duly passed onto fellow Conference goers.  “Step away from the shrimp”, as my dear critique partner, Elaine Fox, now whispers in my ear whenever we’re in a buffet line anywhere .

Especially if the sneaky devils are in a bowl on an ice display, intent on proving Al Gore is totally right about Global Warming.

 

 DATING CARY GRANT...A Modern Manhattan fairy tale  starring...Tracy Connor, a New York City career woman who loves her job and classic movies.

Mike Connor, her estranged husband, a small-town Mayor who loves his wife but doesn’t seem to have enough time to see her.

The handsome stranger, Philip Adams, who lives downstairs from the small sublet Tracy has temporarily moved into. He’s charming, funny, and looks a lot like her very favorite screen icon, Cary Grant.

Now think. If you had a choice to spend your evenings the next few weeks with a charming, sexy movie star, or with your husband, whom would you choose?

Well, of course you'd choose your husband. He's your true love. The man you've promised yourself to, committed yourself to, till death do you part.  Right?

But, what if your husband is a workaholic and, despite the fact that his ambitions are to help people lead better lives, he pretty much ignores you most of the time. So what if you decided to move out on your own? Because you need a break from the discussions and disappointment and stuck in the mud, unable to move forward place you find yourselves in. Because you do, after all, want to find a permanent solution to your marital woes.

Would you like a little company? (Did I mention the sexy movie star?) Well, what if the movie star was  -- ta dah!!! --  Cary Grant!

Cary Grant???

Well, I don't mean the realCary Grant, right? The star of Notorious, and Indiscreet, the hunk in It Takes a Thief and North by Northwest, to name a few of his seventy-two films? I can't mean Mr. uber-Handsome, Mr. Cleft in his chin, Mr. Very, very cool, classy movie star ICON, right? Because, you're certainly thinking, isn't Mr. Grant, well, dead?  

Yes, unfortunately he is.

But what if his totally perfect and sexy ghost was currently living in a high-end townhouse in New York City? And he's sweet and tan and mixes great martinis. He likes white dinner jackets and a heart-to-hearts  by the fire where he can lean close and whisper in your ear, "What else can I for you tonight?"

Yikes.

So, I ask again. If youhad to pick between spending the next few weeks with the guy who might have been your biggest mistake in life, or a legend who listens when you talk, always understands what you mean (and looks like a Greek god would look if he was an Englishman), who would you choose?

Hubby? Or Cary? 

Read DATING CARY GRANT and see what Tracy does...would you do the same? 

Praise for DATING CARY GRANT...

DATING CARY GRANT  "...the author went into the mind and lives of Tracy and Mike in such a way that you could really relate to both of them. I could really understand each of them and how they had gotten to this point in their marriage. It really is a love story, not just a break up story, and It was so well written and had unique plot, that I just couldn't put this book down until I had finished it. I loved it, and I loved the way it ended and for any of you who are looking for a fun, yet serious in a way, romance, this one is for you." Long and Short Reviews

DATING CARY GRANT  "Fantasy and reality blend together in this mesmerizing tale from Emelle Gamble. I had a hard time putting it down, even as my eyes were getting dried out and closing from exhaustion...It's not your typical romance, making it a breath of fresh air in a market currently inundated with new adult contemporary romances (which I do love, but need a break once in a while!). I continue to be a fan of this author..." Andi's Book Reviews   

Click here to Buy DATING CARY GRANT by Emelle Gamble exclusively on Amazon.com

Emelle Gamble here. I’ve belonged to my current critique group, The Lifesavers,for over twenty years. Four of us are long-time published authors. Two members of The Lifesavers  are original members, the other two have been part of the group for over a decade.  Evie Owens is the newest member this past year. We talked for a long time about publishing something together and this novella collection, Once and Forever, featuring a buffet of our individual styles and genres, seemed the perfect vehicle. In it we’re thrilled to feature Evie Owens’ first published work, the novella The Psychic Detective. Here’s a blurb about our project…
            ONCE AND FOREVER                                      An anthology From five compelling authors, five original novellas which will make you laugh and cry, and believe in a love that once found will last forever. Meet a duke, a psychic, a bodyguard and a professor…and one "guardian fairy" in absorbing stories ranging from regency and contemporary romance to paranormal and women's fiction. 
Once and Forever...a novella collection from the Lifesavers... 
Click link ABOVE TO BUY it exclusively at Amazon!



Part of the fun of marketing this anthology was designing some marketing to introduce each of us to the other’s network of readers and friends. So I challenged them…come up with 3 things that amuse, interest or scare you about another critique group member. It was great fun! I think it was really interesting to see each author’s writing style and voice appear so well as they describe one of their friends. What do you think? 
          Now we’ll take turns introducing each other to you…
Three Things about Mary Blayney by Evie OwensMy instructions were to list 3 things about my beloved critique partner, Mary Blayney, that will amuse, enlighten, or scare the heck out of readers... Guess which of those reactions I zeroed in on? Yes, Mary is one of the most generous and giving people I've ever had the privilege of knowing, both as a critique partner and as a human being. And yes, she's one of the best storytellers I know. I love her honorable heroes and heroines and she writes the best secondary characters. William Bendasbrook,  Marquis Destry in "One More Kiss" is my all time favorite. And yes, she amuses and enlightens me every time I see her. But what you need to know is how scary this woman is...
First, it is thanks to Mary that I now know you're supposed to apply your eyeliner to the inside. The inside! Did you know that? I certainly never did. But it works like a charm. Even though it's a little scary the first 20 or 30 times you try it.
Second, she can move an entire household of four in to a new place and have it unpacked and set up in 3 hours. Internationally. Okay. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. For someone like me, who moved just myself across town last year and still has stacks of boxes to undo, that's fricking terrifying.
Third, she has a grizzly bear skin on her wall. And that's all I can say about that. Seriously. In fact, I may already have said too much...
Three things about Elaine Fox by Mary BlayneyElaine likes to sit and read (and watch oh-so-boring tennis), but in fact, she is one of the most active people I know. She loves  tennis, kayaking and mountain biking and is a qualified yoga instructor. 
Her ability to read with speed and appreciation is amazing, making her arguably the best read member of our writing group. Her book collection ranges from the nonfiction classic GODS GRAVES AND SCHOLARS to ME BEOFRE YOU with hundreds of titles in between. She will keep a book on her to-be-read pile for years until the moment is right to read it.
As a painter, jewelry maker and needlework artist Elaine’s creativity is not limited to writing. Lucky for us she is always drawn back to words which she assembles into books with humor and insight and, oh, yes, romance.  My two favorites besides The “Princess in the Pinot” in ONCE AND FOREVER are IMPOSTOR and BEDTIME FOR BONSAI. Both go beyond the genre to explore the human condition in amusing and insightful ways. The love scenes are great too!
Three Things About Emelle Gamble by Elaine FoxFirst, I pity people who try to convince Emelle that her political views are misguided. I really do. It’s like trying to convince an avalanche it’s going the wrong direction – if you stand your ground too long you’re going to be covered in evidence to the contrary.
It’s not that she won’t let you talk or listen attentively to your side. She’s curious and open – but she’s a brain! A top-notch debater with a lawyer’s mind and a writer’s articulateness.
Second, she is also one of the most astute judges of character I’ve ever known. For much of the time I’ve known her I’ve been single, and for a while it got to the point that I could not feel completely comfortable about my latest date until he got the okay from Emelle! (Not quite as neurotically dependent as it sounds – she’s just that good. And fortunately she likes the man I’ve chosen!) 
But seriously, when you meet her she’s lovely and courteous and engaging, but she’ll pick up more about you than meets the average eyes and ears. And she manages to do it without being critical! It’s no wonder she writes characters so rich and nuanced you could read about them for years and still be interested.
Which brings me to the third thing: she is a Real Writer. By that I mean she plots and plans and develops and polishes and examines and tests and reworks and knows her stories inside out. She can look at them globally, minutely, from a thematic, character or plot perspective. And she does not quit until she has the story exactly right.
And that makes for a literary ride readers will never forget. Write on, Emelle!
Three true Things about Lavinia Kent by Emelle Gamble.1-She cannot remember to bring things home with her from critique group. I mean, she just can’t do it. She lives at the very edge of the present with one foot in the future. So if, during the course of our dinner party and jam session we call critique group,  we give her presents, flowers, leftovers, books to read, clothes to try on, or dessert to share with her lovely family, most of the four of us first have to form a human blockade at the door and frisk her bodily or she’ll leave for home without them. She’s left her phone. Her computer. One time her car keys, but aha! She had to come back!
2-She writes the hottest, most interesting, romantically sophisticated,  and Never, ever, ever gratuitous sex scenes a person can write and get published. I mean, I’m not much of an erotica or hot romance reader, and even I can’t stop once I start on a Lavinia Kent scene!  And then I’m exhausted and need a smoke. And I don’t smoke.
3-She’s fearless. She’ll walk in secluded areas and run into creatures that would ground a lesser woman forever (see Facebook post re: terrifying red orb spider).  She eats snails. I’ve seen her. She’ll eat anything on any menu in any great restaurant because she has an open and curious mind and not nearly enough taboos. (Possibly informing #2 above). 
She’s also drop dead gorgeous (women notice this as much as men), and is a willing and generous audience for anyone who wants to tell a story. And she’s not perfect (see #1 above), but damn close to it.    
Thr    Three Things about Evie Owens by Lavinia Kent1. Evie Owens is grandmother.  Evie Owens is a grandmother.  I have to repeat it to myself sometimes because it’s so unbelievable.  When I first met Evie I thought she was at least ten years younger than me.  And I don’t just mean across a crowded room or even just on our first meeting, or even our tenth.  It wasn’t until she started showing pictures of the cutest little bundle of blond curls ever that I had any clue.  And even then I was doubtful – or convinced that Evie had her first child at the age of seven.
Now that we’ve been critique partners I’ve gotten to know that Evie has wisdom that only comes with maturity and I look forward to every little picture of the young miss.  (PS – if  anyone wants to send me baby pictures I never complain.)
2. Evie helps keep me hip – at least in my teenagers’My seventeen year-old daughter always delights in Evie’s recommendations – even if it does mean I have to hear them sung around the house for days.  Not so bad when the song in question is A Girl, A Boy and A Graveyard by Jeremy Messersmith. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2XdgMFffZUTHANK YOU, Evie.
3. If any of my friends could see ghosts, it would be Evie.  I don’t just say this because of her fabulous story, They Psychic Detective, with its ghost-seeing detective.  And no, it’s not just the skull rings and tarot cards, either – okay, maybe the tarot cards a little.  Evie just looks at the world and sometimes adds those few words that imply that she’s seeing  something the rest of us don’t. 
4. Evie really needs a new cat – so if you know of any strays . . .  Just joking, but I really do think it would be a good idea.
(Please note. You can email Ms. Kent at I‘[email protected]and explain the difference between the quantity 3 and 4. :>) HA! Emelle )


Once and Forever...a novella collection from the Lifesavers... 
Click link ABOVE TO BUY it exclusively at Amazon!