Friday, October 12, 2012

Today's Special - - Juliana Stone

PJ here.  It's my pleasure to welcome Juliana Stone to the blog today.  I discovered Juliana with the publication of her debut paranormal romance and have eagerly awaited each subsequent book she's written. She writes dark paranormal romance, is venturing into contemporary romance with the release of her new book, OFFSIDE and also writes young adult novels as Julie Blackstone.  Describing herself as an "80's geek," Juliana indulges her passion for music by singing in a band in which her husband plays guitar.  A Canadian, Juliana also has a passion for hockey and that passion figures prominently in her new book.  But I'll let her tell you about that.  

You can find out more about Juliana and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.  Please give Juliana a warm Romance Dish welcome!



Hey all!  I’m so happy to be here talking about my very first contemporary romance, OFFSIDE, because this book involves more than a few of my favorite things.  Romance.  Sports.  Hunky, gorgeous men, and heroines who are strong, likable and yet, kick ass!

Some of you may know me from my paranormal romances, The Jaguar Warriors and The League of Guardians series, but last year I decided to spread my wings so to speak and I wrote a few contemporary romances.  The Summer He Came Home releases next April, from Sourcebooks, and is the first in my new Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series.  The hero, Cain is a yummy rock star. Truthfully, I had so much fun writing that first book, I wrote a second and decided to self-publish The Barker Triplets, as a way to let my paranormal readers try my contemporary voice!

So, The Barker Triplets, Billie-Jo, Bobbi-Jo, and Betty-Jo (as an aside, these girls are named after my cousins J )  are an interesting bunch, and I decided that my first book would be about Billie, a hot shot female hockey player!  Basically, Billie has represented her country in the Olympics, and has played professional hockey in a men’s league in Europe.  She suffered a career ending concussion and finds herself back home at loose ends, with no plans and a chip on her shoulder.  She decides to sign up for a Friday Night Hockey league, which only has men, and is met by a lot of resistance.
 
I can tell you all, that these events were inspired by two women who did just that in the small town I live in. These ladies are still playing today, though, the men did change the sign up rules, to specify it as a men’s league instead of hockey league.

I had a blast writing this book, developing the relationships between the family members, the sisters and I was able to combine my love of hockey, something that I’ve enjoyed my entire life.  I come from a hockey family.  My brothers played.  I played.  My friends.  My son. I love everything about the game, the physical aspect especially.  And adding a dash of romance into this forum?  Win for me!

To celebrate the release of OFFSIDE, I’ll award one commentator your choice of a kindle copy of OFFSIDE, OR an advanced reader copy of THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME!  All you have to do is tell me what your favorite sport is and why!

45 comments:

  1. Hi Juliana!
    Your new book sounds great. My favorite sport is baseball and I am a diehard Cubs fan...someday!!!!! I would love to win an advance copy of your book.. When go to a book store will look for Outside..

    Donna

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    1. I just downloaded it on amazon..can't wait to start it...

      Donna

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    2. Oh Donna, I love baseball as well. I play in a ladies league and it's the highlight of my summer! I'm a huge Giants fan and am so happy they're moving forward and only 4 wins away from the World Series! Just so you know, OFFSIDE is a kindle book only! Sorry

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    3. Donna, I grew up watching the Cubs and am still a fan. Someday!

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  2. LOL I just read the second comment, Donna, I hope you enjoy OFFSIDE!

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  3. If professional sports, then baseball. If college sports, then football. But i dont sit still well, so I almost never watch a complete game. Sort of hop from one thing to another. Look, squirrel!!

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    1. LOL @ your squirrel comment! If it's college football, I'm glued to the TV. Other sports, I tend to do things and listen, running back to the screen when something good happens. ;-)

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  4. hi juliana..

    nice to meet you,,congrats on your release your books,,i love the cover,,
    my fav sport is football.

    thanks ^^

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  5. Hi Juliana,

    I really love NHL hockey and NASCAR races, but I only get rarely a chance to watch them overseas.

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    1. I'm a big NASCAR fan too. So sad to hear news yesterday that Dale, Jr. is out of the race for the cup. Sidelined by a concussion from last week's wreck. :(

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  6. I love going to the gym, because you have so many different kinds of sport there and you can vary. I like it not just to do one sport. I like Baseball, Boxing and Football as well.

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    1. Boxing looks like it would be great exercise. I'd love to do it with a punching bag. Another person? Not so much. ;-)

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    2. I would prefer a punching bag as well =)

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  7. Hi Juliana! Great to have you with us today! I'm a rabid college football and basketball fan; have been since I was just a wee little thing. When we bought our first big screen television, people assumed it was for my late husband. Little did they know, it was his present to me, his sports fanatic wife! lol!

    Second to football would be hockey. I grew up a fan and having a hockey playing college boyfriend solidified that love even more.

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  8. My favorite sport is definitely football. We hosted a Superbowl party last season. I won't do that again... unless my guests are as serious about the game as I am. It was awfully hard to concentrate on the game. Lol.

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    1. Oh, Jane. I know just what you mean! One of my friends hosts a Superbowl party every year. It never fails. As soon as the game starts, the women all start chattering about this, that and the other (as long as it doesn't involve football) while the husbands (and me) are gathered around the TV cheering on the teams and yelling at the refs. The women are all good friends of mine but I don't think they know quite what to do with me. lol

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  9. I belong to a sports-mad family. Football is tops, although after last weekend's college games, we're ready for basketball season. We love baseball too, but then there's the Braves' sad story, which raises my blood pressure just to think about. Thank God for the Falcons!

    I'm a big fan of Rachel Gibson's and Dierdre Martin's hockey romances. I look forward to adding yours to the group.

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    1. I love Gibson's and Martin's hockey romances too, Janga. Last weekend wasn't the best for our teams, was it? Hopefully, better Saturdays ahead! :)

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  10. My favorite sport is college football. I grew up in Louisiana, cheering LSU on (and I still do that!) I now live in Texas, where football is king! But I watch other sports, and I'm certainly open to reading about lots.

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    1. There are a whole lot of LSU fans in my neck of the woods this weekend. I live a few miles from Clemson and South Carolina is their fiercest rival, hence all the new LSU fans in Upstate South Carolina! :)

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  11. My favorite sport is HOCKEY! LoL. Every time I go home I always make sure to go to the local minor league games. *Syracuse Crunch* I love the whole atmosphere and it's such a contact sport... I just love it!
    Booksniffersanonymous@gmail.com

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    1. We have a minor league team in our area (about 45 miles from me) but I never seem to be able to get over there for a game. I need to make more of an effort. I really miss live hockey.

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  12. My favorite sports to watch are tennis and baseball. As far as books, I enjoyed reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips' football series and Rachel Gibson's hockey series.

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    1. I'm not a big baseball fan. Too slow for me. I love tennis though! And I agree with you on SEP's Chicago Stars series. Great books!

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  13. My favorite sport is ice hockey. I'm so sad that the HHL is in a lockout and I really hope we don't lose the whole season! I like all kinds of sport romances :)

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  14. Basketball! I grew up with two brothers who loved most sports so there was always some sport on TV at my house, but it was basketball that captured my interest over all the rest. You have to remember that this was back when the uniforms were tight tanks and very short shorts! Then I married a Chicago Bulls fanatic (who also loved most other sports as well!). When our son and only child came along he eventually picked up his dad's sports tastes, too. Ad in that he played basketball at school from age 5-15 and you can see that my choice had to be that sport. Our son will be 25 on Sunday; he recently asked be if I could teach his girlfriend how to like sports as I do!

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    1. I don't watch as much pro basketball as I used to. Too many strikes have soured me on the league. I grew up a Bulls fan and watched as many games as I could during the MJ era. These days I get my basketball fix from college games, primarily Florida State and North Carolina.

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  15. Hi, Juliana! I'm so glad you're dishing with us today. Congrats on the new release! I love sports-themed books!

    Well, my favorite sport to watch is football because of the fast pace. My favorite sport to play is baseball/softball because we have so much fun when we do. Of course, I'll read just about any romance with sports in it: football, baseball, NASCAR, hockey....

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    1. Right there with you, Andrea! Except for the playing part. The knees just aren't up to that anymore.

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  16. Thanks for a fun post and congrats to Juliana on the newest release! It sounds awesome :) Ummm... we were never really a sports oriented family (no one played) but I live in a state where people live, breath and die college football. So I've learned to fake it pretty decently if only so that I don't get run out :)

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    1. Erin, where I live, college football isn't considered a sport. It's a religion. ;-)

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  17. For watching, it'll be hockey. I like the fast action. :) I suck any sports though myself.

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    1. LOL @ May. I like to say that as an athlete, I make a great fan! :)

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  18. I love watching gymnastics and ice skating. They always look so wonderful and make me wish i can do the routines myself

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    1. Gymnastics is fun but I usually only watch it during the Olympics. Love figure skating though and watch it pretty much anytime it's on TV.

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  19. Well we don't watch any sports here but I use to enjoy a good game of soft ball!

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    1. Softball is a popular recreational sport around here. We have teams for all ages.

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  20. I have never really been much of a sports person. My family has always leaned towards soccer though so thats the one Im most familiar with.

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    1. I don't know all the rules of soccer but I'm learning more as the little ones in my life come up through the ranks. It's fun to watch.

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    2. Soccer was the one sport I hated. Omg, so painful to watch my son pick flowers in net while the game was going on, LOL. I was very happy when he switched to baseball and hockey!

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  21. I started to love hockey when I was attending the University of Wisconsin. At that time Badger Woman's hockey coach and Olympic coach Mark Johnson was a player. Yes, I'm that old. I have a good friend whose daughter, Heidi, played on the successful woman's college championship team. Hockey is so physical, fast-paced, violent, and skilled! I love watching it especially the Colorado Avalanche team. My son was a huge Boston Bruin fan.

    I enjoy college football. Go Badgers! Go Gators!!

    Packers are my pro team but they're having a rocky start this year, hampered by some questionable calls.

    Baseball is too slow for me. I played a lot of softball. It's OK if you're actively involved.

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  22. I love football, especially Iowa Hawkeyes college football. Which won and beat michigan state. Yea my team. This book sounds great, definatley want to read. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Christinebails at yahoo dot com

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    1. Chris, hope you don't mind if I insert a little "boo hiss" here. I'm a Michigan State alum! lol

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