Category Archives: Book info

The Importance of Passion in Our Writing

curseRecently, the historical romance market hasn’t been all it could be. Early in my career, I wrote contemporary romance, but about six years ago I mostly turned to writing historical, first Victorian, and then 1920s romance. I’ve had a blast, releasing contemporary only in sexier Anh Leod titles like Tempting Josie and Wet Christmas (In Christmas Nookies, an anthology). I haven’t wanted to chase the market, even though I’ve been encouraged to return to contemporary.

I plotted out a standalone contemporary. I plotted out an eight-book contemporary arc using my favorite tropes. I even started book one, but I wasn’t feeling it. I kept going with a passion project set int the 1920s. But then, something changed.

I was offered an opportunity to write something contemporary, and for some reason, that idea set my creativity on fire. It had roots in the kind of historical fiction I was writing, in terms of location and characters. And, I could bring in a naughty pleasure I’d been enjoying in my relatively non-existent free time. That’s a reality TV show my father hooked me on called The Curse of Oak Island. It’s about a treasure hunting team working in Nova Scotia.

When I combined this opportunity with a treasure hunting hero and a reality TV setting, all of a sudden I had a novella I plotted in a couple of days, and a book I was drafting less than a week later. The timing was right and this time, I had a new found love for a contemporary project.

I love this story! It will be out in July, so it will be a while before I share much about it, but I wanted to tell the story of its birth. Sometimes, when we can’t drum up enthusiasm, it’s because we haven’t quite landed on the right idea yet. It’s there though. Just take a look at what currently is interesting to you. The answer might be hiding in your hobbies, favorite shows or books, in the garden…wherever you might care to look.

Coming this month with my newly revised Anh Leod story, Aphrodite’s Necklace:

UTS_ScandalouslyYours_BoxSetKindleSize

Coming in March…Trifling Favors…book 7 in the Redcakes series

Trifling Favors cover200x300

Holiday Coloring Page: My Christmas Gift to You

Redcakes Coloring PageHappy Holidays! I commissioned this Redcake’s Tea Shop coloring page for your enjoyment this holiday season. Just save the image and print with your home printer. Brew a cup of tea, grab a slice of cake, and relax with a box of crayons, pens or colored pencils! This is a great family activity, too.

Story sales! My novel Christmas Delights and the anthology Holiday in the Heart are both on sale currently for $.99. If you haven’t read these tales of holiday magic, get them now before the prices go up…

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Heart-Deborah-MacGillivray-ebook/dp/B002EAYIA2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KM9O6QI/

New Release: Boxed #Romance Set: Sweet Sensations

SweetSensations_BoxedSet_Promo1-LeodMy entire household has been hit with a mega-cold, so I’ve missed reporting on my last couple of new releases. Sweet Sensations came out almost a week ago, and is currently just $.99 for this boxed set, which includes at least one holiday read – my story “Loving a Go-Go” which is an expanded version of “Christmas a Go-Go” from a few years back.

Buy from Amazon

The other new re-release is “Claudia’s Pleasure” a novella that starts my series Men of Myth. What do you think of the new cover? The original was a hugely popular cover in its day.

Claudia's Pleasure 2015Buy on Amazon

blurb:

Can a long-term relationship regain its sizzle?

Claudia and her boyfriend Sam have been together since high school. Real life is setting in as they reach their mid-twenties. She loves him, but the sex isn’t what it used to be. Even worse, her gaze is straying to a handsome actor and a gorgeous architect. Los Angeles is full of man-candy ready to share her bed.

Is Sam going to be enough for her, even if he’s willing to try anything to get them back on track?

Reader Advisory: Includes an M/M/F/M ménage a quatre with mild M/M interaction.

 

We’d Rather Be Writing Releases! #cookbook #recipes

wedratherbewritingBuy here: http://amzn.com/B01638N5PO

Have you ever wished you could find more time to do the things you want to do, rather than just doing the things you have to do? Most authors juggle day jobs and family responsibilities along with their writing. Because they need to find time to write, they look for ways to save time in other aspects of their lives.

Cooking often takes up a huge chunk of time. In We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips you’ll find easy, nutritious recipes for meat, poultry, pasta, soup, stew, chili, and vegetarian meals. All of the recipes require a minimum of prep time, freeing you up to read, exercise, garden, craft, write, spend more time with family, or whatever.

Within the pages of We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips you’ll be introduced to authors who write a wide range of fiction—everything from mystery to romance to speculative fiction to books for children, young adults, and new adults—and some who write nonfiction. Some of the authors write sweet; others write steamy. Some write cozy; others write tense thrillers.

Some are debut authors with only one published book; others are multi-published and have had long publishing careers. Some are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors who may or may not be familiar to you, but being a bestselling author doesn’t mean they still don’t have to juggle their day job along with their writing.

The authors who contributed to this book are a rather creative and resourceful bunch when it comes to carving out time from their busy lives. So in addition to timesaving recipes, within the pages of this book you’ll find timesaving and organizational tips for other aspects of your life. And if you happen to be a writer, you’ll also find a plethora of great ideas to help you organize your writing life.

Authors who contributed to this book include: Lisa Alber, Reggi Allder, Judy Alter, Krista Ames, Rose Anderson, Cori Lynn Arnold, Judy Baker, Beverley Bateman, Donnell Ann Bell, Paula Gail Benson, Kris Bock, Maureen Bonatch, Ava Bradley, Susan Breen, Lida Bushloper, Michelle Markey Butler, Ashlyn Chase, Judy Copek, Maya Corrigan, Mariposa Cruz, Melinda Curtis, Lesley A. Diehl, Conda V. Douglas, Nancy Eady, Helena Fairfax, Jennifer Faye, Flo Fitzpatrick, Kit Frazier, Shelley Freydont, Mariana Gabrielle, Rosie Genova, Marni Graff, Joanne Guidoccio, Margaret S. Hamilton, L.C. Hayden, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Heather Hiestand, R.Franklin James, Kathryn Jane, M.M. Jaye, Elizabeth John, Stacy Juba, Gemma Juliana, Carol Goodman Kaufman, Melissa Keir, Kay Kendall, A.R. Kennedy, Lynn Kinnaman, Marie Laval, B.V. Lawson, Claudia Lefeve, Alice Loweecey, Cynthia Luhrs, Sandra Masters, Lisa Q. Mathews, J.M. Maurer, Sandra McGregor, Kathy McIntosh, Claire A. Murray, Ann Myers, Tara Neale, Stacey Joy Netzel, Jayne Ormerod, Alice Orr, Laurel Peterson, Irene Peterson, Pepper Phillips, Caridad Pineiro, Kathryn Quick, Renée Reynolds, Josie Riviera, Elizabeth Rose, C.A. Rowland, Cindy Sample, Sharleen Scott, Terry Shames, Susan C. Shea, Judy Penz Sheluk, Joanna Campbell Slan, Karen Rose Smith, Lynette Sofras, Kaye Spencer, Skye Taylor, Lourdes Venard, Lea Wait, Regan Walker, Lois Winston, and Aubrey Wynne.

Enchanted Eternally Coming to Kindles Near You! #romance #paranormal

Enchanted EternallyBuy here:  http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Eternally-Jan-Springer-ebook/dp/B015YEHB76

Paranormal romances for your every reading mood: urban fantasies, ghosts, futuristic threesomes, a fairytale fantasy for grown-up readers–and shapeshifters with unusual twists–perfect fare for your Halloween haunting…

MUSE, by Alexa Silver

After Slate is attacked on stage, Blaze acts instinctively.. Staying safe is only part of the battle, as their hearts are in the balance as well.

BLISS HOUSE, by Ann Jacobs

Two wounded mortals, two ghostly lovers. The ghosts must bring the mortals together in their haunted house, or be damned for all eternity.

LADY’S CHOICE, by J. L. Miller

Two Zelion interstellar traders may settle their differences by playing kids’ games, but they find they must compromise when they discover the same woman—Lija—is each one’s perfect mate.

HUNTING JOHN DOE, by Anh Leod

A man running for his life…a woman on the lam… Secrets they can’t unlock alone.

THE WOODSMAN, by Belle Scarlett

In the Enchanted Forest, where cursed beings are consigned until the spells that bind them are broken, The Big Bad Wolf-shifter meets his match in Lady Lily Rouge, whose first sexual surrender he must win by sundown or else stay a lonely shifter forever.

HAUNTING MELODY, by Flo Fitzpatrick

A musical doll and an eccentric, stupidly- short witch send Melody Flynn through time to the 1919 Ziegfield Follies—and into the arms of stagehand Briley McShan.

THE BANSHEE AND THE REAPER, by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

In the arms of a Reaper, a Banshee’s wail has nothing to do with sorrow.

BARED TO HIM, by NY TIMES bestselling author, Jan Springer

When custom boatmaker Miranda shifts, Gray Wagner goes primal…

Cover Reveal: Trifling Favors by Heather Hiestand #amreading #romance #Redcakes

Trifling Favors coverReleasing March 15, 2016! The final Redcakes novel..

Preorder:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0104FZETC

The sweetest treat is a kiss…

Greggory Redcake’s plate is full. Widowed young and left with two small children, the manager of the Kensington location of the illustrious tea shop is besieged on all sides between the bakery and family matters. If only his remarkably efficient shop assistant, Betsy Popham, could manage his home life, too! But Greggory can’t linger on thoughts of Betsy’s fetching smile when a dead body is discovered in the bakery…

Betsy has no time for romance, not even with the delectable Mr. Redcake, whose kisses are all too unforgettable. Haunted by a specter from her family’s past, Betsy is terrified that the man blackmailing her has turned to deadly violence. Yet the only way to save her position–and possibly her life–is to accept Greggory’s help as their delicious attraction sweetens into the tantalizing promise of true love…

Sugared Violets, Buttercream…Wedding Matilda Blog Tour #newrelease #romance

BBT_TourBanner_MeddingMatildaJoin the tour, buy the book, and enter the contest for a large gift card!

 

Tour stops are listed here:

August 17: Christine Young
August 17: LibriAmoriMiei – review
August 18: Unabridged Andra’s
August 19: Danita Minnis
August 20: The Reading Addict
August 21: Archaeolibrarian – I dig good books!
August 24: Buried Under Romance – review
August 25: Rachel Brimble Romance
August 26: Romance Novel Giveaways
August 27: BooksChatter
August 28: Susana’s Morning Room
August 31: Dena Garson – Real… Hot… Romance
September 1: Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews
September 2: Nana Prah
September 3: Katherine Givens: Historical Romance Author
September 4: Room With Books – review
September 7: A Fold in the Spine – review
September 8: Welcome to My World of Dreams
September 9: Jen’s Reading Obsession
September 10: Historical Romance Writer and Lover of Books…Vikki Vaught
September 11: Long and Short Reviews

Who is Ewan Hales? #amreading #romance

John ShearerWedding Matilda is coming out (finally) on August 18th! It is up for preorder at the usual places and you’ll probably receive it on the 17th if you preorder, which is cool.

Ewan Hales, the hero this time (and see the old pic of J.M. above for my inspiration), is a man of mystery. He’s been around the Redcakes series all along, as secretary at the flagship Redcake’s Tea Shop and Emporium, but we haven’t known much about him except that he’s rather formal and a natty dresser, plus has quite a reputation with the ladies.

It was a shock to all when I began to investigate him and discovered the past he never knew. His late father was an aristocrat! Due to the extremely dissolute family Ewan is related to, he finds out at the opening of Wedding Matilda that he’s now the heir to an earl. And not a very nice one, either. Where once he was much too low on the status scale to romance a Redcake sister, now, he’s almost too high. Especially when the one, still-unwed Redcake is an unwed mother….

Purchase Here

http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Matilda-Redcakes-Book-5-ebook/dp/B00Q1I2SD2/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wedding-matilda-heather-hiestand/1120817224?ean=9781616507947

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wedding-matilda/id959374115?mt=11

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wedding-matilda

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Heather_Hiestand_Wedding_Matilda?id=OxxjBgAAQBAJ&hl=en

http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/31640

 https://heatherhiestand.com/books/wedding-matilda/

Wedding Matilda is available on #Netgalley for #review

Wedding Matilda-highresAttention, reviewers! My Victorian romance, out August 18th, is available on Netgalley and also for preorder. Thank you in advance for your honest review.

Netgalley link:  https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book/67013

Prefer to preorder? See your favorite etailer, including Amazon at:  http://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Matilda-Redcakes-Book-5-ebook/dp/B00Q1I2SD2

Please add on Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23637847-wedding-matilda

Blurb:

Sugared violets, buttercream…but he craves her kiss most of all…

Orphaned as a boy, Ewan Hales is proud to make his living as secretary to the manager at Redcake’s Tea Shop. But the startling news that he’s heir to the Earl of Fitzwalter changes everything. While tendering his resignation to lovely Matilda Redcake, however, Ewan is struck by her spirit, the luscious bow of her lips—and a realization. Matilda might not marry a working man—but will she wed a future nobleman?

Ewan’s unruly hair and roguish kisses are tempting, but Matilda has far too many problems to consider romance. With sabotage at a cake factory threatening the family empire, she must focus her considerable willpower on keeping Redcake’s from ruin—until she learns that her young son has been kidnapped. Together, she and Ewan must uncover the truth before they can savor the sweet freedom of love…


One Taste of Scandal is a delicious, multi-layered Victorian treat.”
–Gina Robinson, author of The Last Honest Seamstress and the Agent Ex series

 

 

Wedding Matilda by Heather Hiestand: Cover Reveal

Wedding Matilda-highres

Blurb:

Sugared violets, buttercream…but he craves her kiss most of all…

Orphaned as a boy, Ewan Hales is proud to make his living as secretary to the manager at Redcake’s Tea Shop. But the startling news that he’s heir to the Earl of Fitzwalter changes everything. While tendering his resignation to lovely Matilda Redcake, however, Ewan is struck by her spirit, the luscious bow of her lips—and a realization. Matilda might not marry a working man—but will she wed a future nobleman?

Ewan’s unruly hair and roguish kisses are tempting, but Matilda has far too many problems to consider romance. With sabotage at a cake factory threatening the family empire, she must focus her considerable willpower on keeping Redcake’s from ruin—until she learns that her young son has been kidnapped. Together, she and Ewan must uncover the truth before they can savor the sweet freedom of love…

Out this August! Preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your favorite etailer!

https://heatherhiestand.com/books/wedding-matilda/