eHarlequin.com Merchant Deal Feed
The Santina Crown: Q&A with Sarah Morgan, Plus “Defying the Prince” Excerpt!
MIRA Author Spotlight – Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs’s life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She’s had a career as a teacher, but has been writing since she was old enough to recognize what a story was. Growing up she loved reading fiction featuring a dramatic love story, and so romance writing was a natural fit.
Today, she is an international best-selling, award-winning author, with millions of copies of her books in print in numerous countries. Her most recent novel, Return to Willow Lake, brings to life once again her beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series. This time Susan is telling Sonnet Romano’s story. It’s a story of the bond between mother and daughter and of recapturing a childhood friendship that turns into much more….
Susan lives with her husband and family at the water’s edge on an island in the Pacific Northwest. Here she can be found with her notebook and pen, letting her words find their way to the page.
She invites everyone to join in the fun at susanwiggs.com or www.facebook.com/susanwiggs.
Take a look at the video below to hear Susan talk about her unique writing process for the Lakeshore Chronicles series.
Harlequin LIVE Presents: #1 NYT Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs
UPDATE:
Susan WILL TALK ABOUT:
The Release of RETURN TO WILLOW LAKE
Fan Q&A
Giveaway – Signed Copy of Return To Willow Lake!
Do you have a question for Susan?
Send them to us before Monday Aug 27th at 12PM EST.
Leave a comment on this event or on post it on Harlequin Facebook
OR through Twitter using the hashtag #HarlequinLive
See You There!
The Release of RETURN TO WILLOW LAKE
Send them to us before Monday Aug 27th at 12PM EST.
Leave a comment on this event or on post it on Harlequin Facebook
OR through Twitter using the hashtag #HarlequinLive
Contest: Win 6 Signed Harlequin Presents Books!
by Amy Wilkins, Harlequin Digital
Dear readers, do we have a giveaway for you! One lucky winner can win an awesome set of 6 Harlequin Presents books autographed by the authors that I picked up at the Romance Writers of America conference!
Blog News RoundUP: August 23, 2012
Each week we post the best news coming out of Harlequin and Carina Press. Free books, contests, community spotlights and the latest book trailers to check out. Read on for the latest news!
Harlequin eBOOK store!To start your WHISKEY CREEK adventure . . .A FREE NOVELLA! WHEN WE TOUCH by Brenda Novak
You’re invited to a wedding in Whiskey Creek, Heart of the Gold Country. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong wedding.
START SHOPPING ► http://bit.ly/PHeujm
HARLEQUIN.COM: Get swept away in the past and save 40% with our Historical Clearance Sale! These romantic stories set in times gone by are the perfect escape.
START SHOPPING ► http://bit.ly/MNDvKd
Do YOU read Historical romance? 
HARLEQUIN COMMUNITY: Wild About Weddings!!!!
At Harlequin, we’re wild about weddings and we’re celebrating them all month long in our Community!
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ► http://bit.ly/RfNbO9
If you had a crystal ball, what would you have told yourself to do or NOT to do on your wedding day?
Harlequin EXCLUSIVE Video Reveal!!
Behind the Scenes at a Big Sky series Cover Shoot: Meet BOONE!
We interviewed the cowboys who modelled for the covers of Linda Lael Miller’s new Western trilogy on life, love and the women who rock their worlds Boone, one of the three heroes from her new Big Sky series for HQN Books
WATCH IT HERE ► http://youtu.be/qpzt27y9stA
CARINA PRESS:Romantic Suspense Sale!
Do you want a strong, meaty plot with a bit of mystery, that you can sink my teeth into, topped off with some smokin hot scenes.Then THIS is definately the genre for you!
SHOP NOW ► http://bit.ly/O3lxB9
“The Iron Legends” Blog tour & Giveaway: A New Anthology from Julie Kagawa!
Summer, Winter, Iron…where do you belong?
Linda Lael Miller’s Big Sky Mountain Hits #1 on the NYT!
Congratulations to Linda Lael Miller who has hit #1 on the New York Times list for BIG SKY MOUNTAIN!
Linda Lael Miller has also hit #6 on the USA TODAY Bestsellers List!
This placement on the NYT is Linda’s sixth #1 , and follows the recent #1 placement for BIG SKY COUNTRY, the first title in the Big Sky series!
Congratulations to Linda and to everyone who made this possible.
Have you read the book? What are your thoughts?
Presents – It’s Not Just a Job, It’s a Lifestyle!
by Harlequin Presents Editor Carly Byrne
Plenty of Presents-esque things have happened since last month’s blog…
In the office editors are still jet-lagged from the RWA conference in Anaheim and the whirlwind of author lunches, seminars and glittering parties. Our very own not-so-secret Presents baby is on the way (courtesy of Presents Editor Lucy Gilmour!) And Senior Editor Joanne Grant was last seen swimming with dolphins in Australia!
Elsewhere in the world we’ve recently enjoyed two weeks of sporting prowess and seen men and women at the top of their game, driven to succeed and with an abundance of talent (not to mention all the hot bods!) Sounds like all the components of a Presents alpha hero to me!
The last fortnight has also seen a new breed of hero and heroine emerge; move over reality TV stars, WAGS and glamour girls, ordinary people with extraordinary skill and determination are our new pin ups!
In Presents we often refer to the exotic international locations, the jet-set glamorous lifestyle and impenetrable wealth as what’s most aspirational about the series, but what about the heroes and heroines?
The idea of heroes and heroines as role models is an interesting one. An alpha hero often comes from less savoury roots (I certainly have a soft spot for a tortured hero who pulls himself up by the bootstraps!) and becomes top of his game through hard work, drive and passion that can rival a gold-medal winning athlete!
Some might think the heroine deserves a medal just for putting up with her arrogant alpha, but she’s no push over! The Presents heroine is aspirational because she’s independent, tenacious and won’t settle for less than she deserves. Hearing the words ‘I love you’ isn’t enough; she needs actions to back it up.
So I’ll be trying to adopt a Presents mantra to my life. While spending $700 on a pair of shoes might be beyond my means, I’ll be thinking to myself ‘what would a Presents hero or heroine do?’– whether it’s tackling an obstacle at work or plucking up the courage to speak to the hot guy in the bar – I think we can all be inspired by our favourite Presents!
Now we want to hear from you! What do you find most aspirational about reading or writing Presents? In what ways has it become a lifestyle for you? Do you have any unusual role models?
What Did You Read This Summer?
by Amy Wilkins, Harlequin Digital
Seeing all the back to school ads on TV is a stark reminder that summer is nearly over — but it’s also a nice time to reflect on all the great books we’ve gotten to read over the holidays, whether it was on the beach, a cabin (but hopefully not
Harlequin Exclusive Cover Reveal: Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefield
Good afternoon, Harlequin Blog readers! We have a special treat for you today: we’re revealing the cover of the brand new release from Sophie Littlefield!
In the dark days of war, a mother makes the ultimate sacrifice
Lucy Takeda is just fourteen years old, living in Los Angeles, when the bombs rain down on Pearl Harbor. Within weeks, she and her mother, Miyako, are ripped from their home, rounded up—along with thousands of other innocent Japanese-Americans—and taken to the Manzanar prison camp.
Buffeted by blistering heat and choking dust, Lucy and Miyako must endure the harsh living conditions of the camp. Corruption and abuse creep into every corner of Manzanar, eventually ensnaring beautiful, vulnerable Miyako. Ruined and unwilling to surrender her daughter to the same fate, Miyako soon breaks. Her final act of desperation will stay with Lucy forever…and spur her to sins of her own.
Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield weaves a harrowing tale of stolen innocence and survival that echoes through generations, reverberating between mothers and daughters. It is a moving chronicle of injustice, triumph and the unspeakable acts we commit in the name of love.
About Sophie Littlefield:
Sophie Littlefield grew up in rural Missouri. She writes the post-apocalyptic Aftertime series for LUNA Books. She also writes paranormal fiction for young adults. Her first novel, A Bad Day for Sorry, won an Anthony Award for Best First Novel and an RT Award for Best First Mystery. It was also shortlisted for Edgar, Barry, Crimespree and Macavity Awards, and it was named to lists of the year’s best mystery debuts by the Chicago Sun-Times and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Sophie lives in Northern California.
You can visit Sophie at her website, www.sophielittlefield.com or follow her on Twitter @swlittlefield.
Speak out against bullying
by Hannah Harrington, author of Speechless (Harlequin TEEN)
When I initially wrote Speechless, I had no idea that one of the story’s main subjects—high school bullying—would within a year become such a hot-button issue in today’s media. It’s not that it’s a new problem in our culture, but it feels as though, for the first time in a long time, it’s one people are finally talking about—a conversation that is way, way overdue.
Some people like to talk about bullying as if it’s a rite of passage every kid is meant to go through. I don’t believe that, but it was a topic I wrote about because I think it’s something most of us can relate to on some level. Bullying and harassment come in all forms: name-calling, having someone spread nasty rumors behind your back, maybe having someone shove you around or steal your things to antagonize you. There’s even cyberbullying now on top of everything else, and I am pretty sure Al Gore did not have that intention in mind when he invented the internet! (Side note: Don’t worry, I do know Al Gore did not, in fact, invent the internet.)
I’m sure we all have our stories, some worse than others; I know I have mine. I sincerely hope none of yours are as bad as what both Noah and Chelsea endure in my story.
I didn’t set out to write Speechless as a PSA on bullying, and I certainly am not someone who has all the answers. My main thought was: what about a story of a girl who chooses to take an oath of silence? Maybe for some of us taking an oath of silence might not be such a burden; I know I sometimes have days where I would love it if I didn’t have to talk to anybody. To up the stakes, this girl had to be someone who really valued using her voice, so giving it up would be a Very Big Deal. The obvious question after that was, why on earth would she do that voluntarily?
Because it got her into trouble somehow. Because she has a big mouth and runs it about things she knows better than to talk about and hurts people in the process. Because maybe one night at a party, she walks in on… Well, as you can see, the ball got rolling from there.
The good thing about starting a conversation is that it means more people become aware, and once more people are aware, sometimes it leads to people taking action. One of the organizations that is doing great work is Love Is Louder. In Speechless, Chelsea is lucky enough to get varying levels of support from friends, family and the school administration—but unfortunately that’s not true for everyone’s situation, which is why projects such as Love Is Louder are so important. Love Is Louder for everybody, whether you’re gay, straight, trans, or even dealing with issues beyond just bullying such as self-harm, discrimination, disordered eating and depression. If you’re in a position where you need someone to talk to, Love Is Louder can provide resources, and if you’re someone who just wants to help, they could use you, too! Check out their website, www.loveislouder.com, to see what they’re doing and what they can do for you.
Speechless is available August 28 from Harlequin TEEN!
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.
Contest: Win a Signed Harlequin TEEN Book by Michelle Rowen or Jordan Dane!
by Amy Wilkins, Harlequin Digital
Harlequin Blog News RoundUP: August 16, 2012
Each week we post the best news coming out of Harlequin and Carina Press. Free books, contests, community spotlights and the latest book trailers to check out. Read on for the latest news!
SIZZLE and CHILL Contest!!! Celebrate with Susan Wiggs and Tess Gerritsen – for your chance to WIN an Adirondack chair and a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses. Very COOL 
!
ENTER HERE ► http://on.fb.me/QfLZKa
Ends August 26th.
HARLEQUIN.COM – Discover Superromance!!!
You want more than just romance! These stories are filled with intense relationships, real-life drama and the kinds of unexpected events that change women’s lives—for the better—forever.
CHECK IT OUT ► http://bit.ly/PdZn1j Do YOU read Superromance??
HARLEQUIN COMMUNITY: Spotlight Discussion!
SUPERROMANCE is Friday Night Lights; Parenthood; Love, Actually; The Proposal; Serendipity; When Harry Met Sally; The Big Easy; The Vow; No Reservations for their complex characters, layered plots, strong romance and high emotional stakes.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ► http://bit.ly/RhP5Ag
Do YOU ♥ any of these movies?
CARINA PRESS: The WEEKEND SALE is back.
Kick off the weekend with great reads—and savings.
Enjoy GREAT SALES on all Contemporary Romance and save on our Featured story in our 3-Day Sale.** DON’T MISS IT THIS WEEKEND ► http://bit.ly/NEVK3U
On the Red Carpet with Harlequin Books at the 32nd Annual Romance Writer’s Awards
The Romance Writers Association (RWA) Conference may be over for another year, but I can’t help looking back on it one final time by sharing this amazing video put together by Jayne Hoogenberk, Manager of Community & Social Content for Harlequin’s Internet and Digital department.
Each year Jayne interviews Harlequin’s RITA Award nominees on the “red carpet”. This year she greets authors Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, Fiona Lowe, Kara Lennox, Sarah Morgan, Donna Alward, Harlequin C.O.O. Craig Swinwood and many more. (You’ll see what I mean about the “red carpet” when you watch the video!)
Check it out below!
Have you read any of the RITA-nominated books featured? Let us know what you think of them in the comments!
Let the “Alice in Zombieland” Countdown Begin!
by Amy Wilkins, Harlequin Digital
Alice in Wonderland + zombies = Gena Showalter’s new Harlequin TEEN series!