Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

Let me begin by saying that my first kiss was nothing to write home about. It certainly wasn’t anything like the kiss I write between Armand and Felicity in The Making of a Gentleman . The interesting thing is that this kiss is Armand’s first. The comte has been imprisoned for twelve long years and has recently escaped France for the safety of his brother’s home in London. The duc , Armand’s brother, hires Felicity to tutor Armand, and the comte discovers she’s the only person who can touch him without causing him pain. He’s intrigued by her, and he’d like to do far more than kiss her. Here’s a scene from The Making of a Gentleman… “I’m not sure what you’re asking.” Her voice was low and trembling, but he did not think it was from fear. He narrowed his eyes and studied her face. No, she was definitely not afraid. Should he take that as a yes? He wrapped an arm about her body, pulling her hard against him. The sensation was so strong, he almost gasped. Her heat and her softness burned...

Good morning, and Happy Valentine's Day! Since we're talking about first kisses, I thought I'd give you an excerpt from Charlie and Nate's first kiss in One Fine Cowboy. Sometimes a first kiss happens before you're ready for it. Charlie isn't fully convinced that this cowboy is what she wants, and she kisses him kind of ...by accident. And to make matters worse, Nate has a concussion. The same connection he'd felt in the barn zinged back into being, stretching between them, pulling them together. Charlie's eyes widened in surprise. She looked away, but then her eyes flicked back to his, as if she couldn't help herself, and now he felt like he was looking into her heart, past the brittle facade she presented to the world to a softer version of Charlie hidden behind it. The flickering lights around the edge of his vision intensified, giving her a shimmering halo, and he closed his eyes and gave in to the inexplicable force that was drawing them togeth...

Quick - name that movie! :) Okay, the movie poster was a giveaway, but it's on television as I write this (12:30 a.m. EST). I still haven't decided if it's a romance or not. I mean, we have the ol' boy-meets-girl, boy-wants-girl, boy-gets-girl, boy-screws-up, but in the end does he get her? And do we really want him to? I mean, yes, Scarlett changes through the movie, but she's still self-centered in the end. She's also not much of a heroine in the traditional sense - someone we want to root for. But she's a survivor. Whatever you think of Scarlett, she's a survivor. But is that enough? What is it about this movie that we love? What's making me sit here for three plus hours, watching something I've seen half a dozen times before? I know how it ends; I can repeat most of the dialogue and I know which scene is coming next. So what's the draw? Some would argue it's Rhett. Hmmm... I can't deny that. Clark Gable is pretty darn suave, and t...

Most readers and reviewers love The Werewolf Upstairs. However, I read one review recently that may have been written by someone who didn't care for romantic comedy. The person called my dialog stilted--and then edited the following lines from my couple's first kiss until it DID sound stilted. That's not fair! Tell me what you think. If your "crush" ran out into traffic to grab a two-year old, what would your next breathless words be? I think my attorney heroine did just fine. “I can’t believe you saved that child without getting killed.” “Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking. I guess I wasn’t thinking at all, just reacting to the situation.” “You were so brave and so selfless.” And so amazing and so…hot! He smiled and placed a finger under her chin. Tipping her face up, he bent low, hovering just over her lips. “Can I have a kiss as my reward?” “I’m sure the boy’s mother would have kissed you if you’d asked.” She was teasing, but also trying to keep her distanc...

by Tracey Devlyn I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s first kiss excerpts this week, but it got me to thinking about what qualifies as a first kiss. Is it the melding of lips, a buss on the cheek, or a flick of a man’s tongue on the lady’s hand, neck, breast…? Well, you get the point. So, for my example, I’m going to use something a little more subtle, but no less effective. At least, I hope you’ll find it effective. Beware though. The scene below is unedited, so please forgive any newbie mistakes you might find. :) A Lady’s Revenge hits the shelves, e-readers, etc. October 2011! “Good morning, Dinks,” Guy said. The maid curtsied. “That it is, my lord.” Guy stepped into the bedchamber—and stopped dead in his tracks. “Oh!” Dinks exclaimed, crashing into his back. “I’m right sorry, my lord. Didn’t expect you to be standing in my path like that.” Guy ignored the maid’s rebuke. His nostrils flared as the fragrant, moist air of a recent bath reached his nose. But it was the sight of Cora ...

by Danielle Jackson A lot of firsts happen in romance novels—first kisses, first times (yes, I mean that time), first… well, ok, you get the idea. But as so many of you know, being a first-time published author during this time is incredibly intimidating. What is the best way to promote and market YOUR book, which deserves all the love and attention and accolades along with the rest of them? Typing “social media” into Google isn’t going to help you. In fact, it will probably send you screaming in the wrong direction. But, there are some simple things to remember as you start your journey into publication, or even if you have more than one book in publication, to navigate through what does and doesn’t work for you and your book. 1. You Don’t Have to Blog Every Single Day. At every single RWA National conference I’ve been to, I’ve attended a workshop on promotion and at all of them a speaker has said one thing I just don’t agree with: YOU MUST BLOG. Now, I think blogging during your rel...

by Terry Spear First Kiss from WOLF FEVER: She glanced at the men standing about, including both Tom and Jake. Which made the situation worse. Why couldn’t any of the alpha males show any real interest in her? She was not a beta kind of girl. She supposed that was because her father had become so downtrodden by her mother’s treatment of him. She couldn’t see being married, um, mated to someone like that. “Carol?” Ryan said, his deep baritone voice again yanking her from her faraway thoughts. She really needed to get more sleep. She turned her attention back to Ryan. He thought she wasn’t being honest with him about her abilities, when he wasn’t honest about why he had been lurking in the woods last night, watching her window. She didn’t have to be psychic to know something more was going on between them. Time to turn the tables. Throw him off balance. Trying to look like this was a perfectly natural way for her to act, she smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned into the s...

by Olivia Cunning If you don't know this already, I write erotic romance. Very explicit, erotic romances about rock stars. My first kiss scenes tend to happen very early in the book. This one, between lead guitarist Brian Sinclair and human sexuality professor Myrna Evans, happens on page 21 of Backstage Pass . And by page 29, they.. well... Did I mention I write very explicit, rock star erotic romances with frequent, inventive sex scenes? Anyway... Brian and Myrna's First Kiss Brian turned Myrna to face him and pressed her up against the door with his body. She gasped in surprise just before his mouth claimed hers in a passionate kiss. She wrenched her head to the side, breathing hard. "What are you doing?" "Kissing you." "I never kiss on the first date." "This is our second date." She hesitated, her expression thoughtful. "Good point." Her fingers slid up his back and tangled in the longish hair at his nape....

by Amanda Forester Ta da!! Here is my new cover for The Highlander’s Heart , which will be released in November. Since we are on the romantic topic of first kisses this month, I thought I’d share the first kiss from The Highlander’s Heart . Let me set the scene. The year is 1355 and tensions are high between England and Scotland. The English Lady Isabelle manages to escape her murderous husband but gets lost along the border and wanders into Scottish territory. Isabelle stomps through thick brush all day only to find highwaymen on the road, and worse yet, one of those barbarian Highlanders. Laird David Campbell is returning home to the Highlands when he discovers a bonnie lass being accosted on the road. He races to her defense only to find she is actually English, and a disgraced miss from the look of her. She demands to be taken back to England but since there is a price on his head Campbell refuses. With indomitable English spirit, Isabelle marches back into the forest to walk hom...