Friday, November 21, 2014

Today's Special - - A Jewel in Time



Who better to write a book with than your best friends? Today, we welcome Jeanne Adams, Barbara Devlin and Caitlenn T. Ainnsley, best friends and authors of the new anthology, A JEWEL IN TIME. 

Welcome, ladies!









Love, Holidays, Bookish Besties!!
By Jeanne Adams

Do you have a Best Friend?  Most of us have more than one.  And most of us have a circle of acquaintances who we call for lunch, or a movie, or even a night out on the town.
 
But that best friend?  She’s the one you call when your boss just made a pass and you don’t know what to do.  Or he’s the one you call when you just wrote a breakup letter to your boyfriend.  Or the guy-friend or girlfriend you call to be your “date” for a wedding you don’t want to go to, but have to, and you know your ex-boyfriend/husband/lover will be there.

Besties are all that.  They’re moral support.  They help you talk things through – whatever “those” things may be.  They’ll laugh with you till you both nearly wet your pants.  They’ll help you pack when you have to move, and share the box of tissue until it’s gone.

Besties are just that…the best.  They answer the phone at 2 am, when they see your number come up on the screen.  They tiptoe out to the driveway in their PJs at nearly 4 in the morning to give you your spare keys, when you’ve been at a party and you’ve lost your house keys.  They tell you the truth when shopping - “Yes, it DOES make you look fat.  Here, try this one!”

And about that guy you met on Friday who drives the Mercedes?   “No, I don’t think he’s just divine.  I think he’s a moron!”

When you’re a writer, your Besties take on a new set of challenges.  You MAKE them read your stuff and tell them to be honest.  Put on the spot, they have to tell you what they think.  Ohhhhh, that is a minefield!  It’s worse than the dress thing or the boyfriend-is-a-moron-thing. 

It’s dangerous to the friendship.  It’s like callin’ the baby ugly, as we say down home.

But your REAL Besties won’t let you down.  They’ll still be sweet.  They’ll tell you it’s a good first draft (even when you and they both know it’s the 12th draft.)  They’ll tell you they like the story, but honey, you SO need to work on your spelling!  (“OMG! Didn’t we both have Mrs. Jones for English in 9th grade?  Did you SLEEP through that class?”)

And when you get past THAT stage, and maybe a few more, they’ll say, “HEY! Let’s write a book together!”

Nothing is more fun.

Two of my absolute Besties are here with me today.  We met at the Denver RWA Conference in 2001 and have been laughing all the way ever since. 

And yes, we wrote a book…TOGETHER!!  The Anthology A JEWEL IN TIME came out November, 14, 2014.  WOOT!!!

Barbara Devlin, who wrote the first story, is a fabulous writer.  All the novels in her Brethren of the Coast historical series, starting with ENTER THE BRETHREN, have been BESTSELLERS!!  Woot, go Barb!! 

Debut author Caitlenn T. Ainnsley and I met in the buffet line at RWA National in 2001, and struck up a conversation.  Grins.  This last January, Barb and I persuaded her to join her fabulous comedic, contemporary brilliance to a light-paranormal holiday anthology we’ve just published together.

So, Barbara, Caitlenn and I are, collectively, The Sultry Sisters.  And we’re the proud authors of a A JEWEL IN TIME.  The anthology stories follow a magical, gold and gem-studded glory of a brooch through the centuries, as it passes from mother to daughter.  The beautiful gem is a master jeweler’s work, and it’s key to each young woman’s fate.  The jewel is passed down in the Douglas-Gascoigne-Lake family (whom we first meet in Barbara’s first book, ENTER THE BRETHREN), and it passes each generation to the eldest daughter.

Here, in brief, are the three storylines from A JEWEL IN TIME:


Three incomparable women, one incredible jewel...
Loving Lt. Douglas - It is the Age of Sail, and First Lieutenant Mark Douglas of the Royal Navy has set his sights on a fiery society miss with a spirit to match his own. What happens when Lady Amanda Gascoigne-Lake's father rejects the sailor's suit, and an ancient brooch with mystical power portends doom?
Behind Enemy Lines - In WWII Europe, Lady Grace Corvedale flees Paris as the Germans approach, but Hitler has learned her brooch may have mystical powers, and he vows to possess it -at any cost. Lt Robert "Dix" Dixon, an unofficial attaché to the British Embassy, is dispatched to rescue her, but can he outwit The Führer to save Grace?
The Brit, the Brooch and the Blizzard - When a series of tragic events leaves Olivia DuBois stranded in Boston during a blizzard, a handsome Brit rides to her rescue, and the California girl falls hard. Emerson Gascoigne-Lake manifests the quintessential knight in shining armor, but does a family heirloom foretell true love or destroy it?






Book FIVE of Barbara’s series, CAPTAIN OF HER HEART launched last FRIDAY, right alongside A JEWEL IN TIMECAPTAIN OF HER HEART tells the story of Lady Alexandra Seymour and newly commissioned Nautionnier Knight Jason Collingwood. We got to know Jason and Alex in book 4, ONE-KNIGHT STAND, when they conspired to help Lance and Cara to the altar.  And as for her novella in our anthology, "Loving Lieutenant Douglas," goes back in time, 27 years, to 1785, before ENTER THE BRETHREN begins, when then Lieutenant Mark Douglas romanced Lady Amanda Gascoigne-Lake. 








Caitlenn, author of the contemporary “The Brit, the Brooch and the Blizzard”  gave fiction a rest for a few years as she worked on non-fiction until her friends – Barb and I - made her write with us.  I guess that's that what besties are for.  They don't let you give up on your dream.  In 2015 Caitlenn will be introducing an amazingly fun, kind of crazy, heroine who'll be the star of her series The Conscious Gypsy Chronicles.






As for me, I did the middle bit.  I wrote the WWII story, “Behind Enemy Lines” my first historical.  All of you who frequent The Dish have seen me here recently promoting the first book in my Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romantic Suspense, THE TENTACLE AFFAIRE, A Slip Traveler Novel.  I’ve also just put out a short Romantic Suspense novella called DEADLY DELIVERY.












So, Dishies, what do you think about Best Friends?

Do you have a BFF?  The kind who would bail you out of jail? (Or better yet, one who’d be in the cell with you, saying, “DAMN, that was fun!”)
What’s the craziest situation you and your BFF have gotten into?  Did it involve the police?

We'll give away one Kindle copy and one print copy of  A JEWEL IN TIME.

We’d love to hear from you…Come say hello on FaceBook, Twitter, or on our websites

www.BarbaraDevlin.com

www.Twitter.com/JeanneAdams

68 comments:

  1. My sisters are my best friends & since I am the sensible one I'd be bailing them out.

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    1. Hi Mary...Just me and my one sister and I'm the sensible one and I have bailed her out of many a mess, but not jail (yet!).

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  2. Hahah! Mary, I know what you mean. My sister and I both are sensible. Our brothers? Not so much...Grins.

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  3. Good Morning, Dishes.

    So great to be back with all you fabulous ladies. And Mary, as a retired police officer, I've always bailed out my sisters, from one metaphorical jail after another.

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  4. I dont talk to mine any more I have tried but have bailed them booth out of jail. I love them both but need a different path. Barbra I love your brethren series and the wonderful back story told in this book have not gotten to the other two stories yet but hope to this weekend

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    1. Thanks Denise!! And yes, sometimes you have to keep the distance to keep the love alive. Grins. Isn't the Brethren series fabulous??

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  5. I have 4 of the best friends ever, we even got matching tattoos.

    I am a big fan of Barbara Devlin's Brethren of the Coast series, I am so excited to read this short and see how it fits in! Love this series so much!

    Thanks

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    1. Hi Jennifer!! Isn't the Brethren series great? I love it!! :>

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    2. I'm curious Jennifer...what are the tattoos?

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  6. Hi Denise and Jennifer. Thank you so much for reading my books. Jennifer, since you know the Brethren, then you also have come to know Admiral Mark Douglas, the leader of the Nautionnier Knights, and his wife, Lady Amanda. The novella travels back in time, 27 years, to tell their love story. It also features my most ambitious sea battle, to date. Hope you enjoy it.

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    1. Ohhh...yeah...the sea battle is intense! And I just love Lady Amanda!

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  7. Welcome, ladies! I'm looking forward to reading A JEWEL IN TIME. I love anthologies and novellas, especially at this busy time of year.

    I don't have sisters but I do have wonderful best friends. I tend to be the voice of reason of the group. ;-)

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    1. Hi PJ,

      Thank you so much for hosting us. I have two baby sisters. I call them baby sisters, Tina & Carla, but they're in their forties. Gee, what does that say for me? But I'd kill for them, on command, as they have my heart.

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    2. Hey PJ!! This is the BEST time for Anthologies. When you have so much to do, but need that little break!!

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    3. Thank you for hosting us! I totally agree...I love anthologies this time of year so you can get a whole story read and get Christmas shopping done in the same day!

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  8. A Jewel in Time sounds captivating. Love to lose myself within the pages. I have a friend who dumped me and that friendship was doomed. Best wishes.

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    1. Petite,

      Thank you for joining us, today. And it was their loss.

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    2. Petit, I agree with Barb, it was their loss! You're awesome. Grins. (I can say this, I've known you on the Romance blog for years. Grins.)

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    3. I had a friend dump me too! I never even saw it coming...I got a "Dear John" break-up letter in the mail. It was so weird. I still scratch my head over it because nothing in particular happened. We can look at it for creating the space for those who really care about us.

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  9. welcome Barbara. What a wonderful book which resonates with me. Perfect for this time of year. Friends are rare but precious and I have one who would be there for me no matter what. Lucky. Wishing you much happiness and success.

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    1. Thank you, Traveler.

      It's great to be here on the Dish, again. And A Jewel in Time is a fun collection of novellas. Jeanne always delivers great suspense, and Caitlenn writes an edgy romantic comedy.

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    2. Hey Traveler! I love anthos this time of year! Its so wonderful to have those kinds of friends. The ones who'll be there. No matter what. I'm blessed to have it and sounds like you are too. Love it!!

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  10. I absolutely love Barbara Devlin's Brethren of the Coast series

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    1. Hi Danielle,

      Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad you enjoy my work. If you've read the series, then you don't want to miss Loving Lieutenant Douglas, in the anthology.

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    2. It's fabulous, isn't it, Danielle!?! I've loved the Brethren for a looooong time. Grins. Got to read it in its earliest incarnations, and am thrilled to have so many of the stories out there for everyone to read. Can't wait for the next!!! And then next year...the origin stories....Hey Barb, want to say something about Arucard? Grins.

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    3. Oh, yes. Arucard. For those familiar with my Brethren of the Coast, you know each book begins with a prologue, featuring the medieval knights that found the order, and sets the tone for the book. Due to reader demand, I am launching a new series in 2015, Brethren Origins, which will tell the tale of each of the virgin 5: Arucard, Demetrius, Aristide, Morgan, and Geoffrey. Book 1: Arucard, debuts next summer.

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    4. *Bouncing in seat* So excited for this!!!

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  11. Congratulations on the new release. My sister is my best friend.

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    1. Hey Kim! My Sis is one of my all time Besties as well. Great to have someone who knows you that well be your BFF isn't it? Grins.

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    2. Thank you! It's very exciting to have my debut book finally out there and even better that it's with my best friends!

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  12. Now, why do I have a feeling that the BFF question is from Jeanne, bahaha! She is the one that landed me in trouble.... ;)

    Actually, I do have two friends that listens to everything, my husband Jerry and my friend who is also named Deb.

    I love the premise of the novella! Can't wait to read it!!

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    1. Hey Deb! Bwahahhaha! Tis I, indeed! Grins. And you know me, I love trouble. Grins. Hope you enjoy the novellas!

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    2. Hi Deb...LOL...Jeanne is a good trouble maker!!! So nice to have those good true friends and when you can have one of them in your hubby--even better!
      Thank you re: the novella. It was so much fun to write!

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  13. Good morning Ladies,
    I am just starting to read Jewel, and of course it is fabulous as I expected. As for best friends, they are hard to come by if they are true friends. I have one that I proudly call my sister now and her parents claim me as their child as do her siblings. She has always been there for me and I for her at least since 1994, so 20 years...once you find them ya can't let them go. Again thank you ladies for a wonderful book...and I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with family, fun and friends.

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    1. Hi Risha! Yay! Thanks for enjoying Jewel! Hope you'll enjoy all the stories. :> And you're right, besties are hard to come by and when you find one...hang on to 'em! Grins. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well!

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    2. Hi Risha,

      Thanks for joining us, today. And so glad you're enjoying Jewel.

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    3. Thanks for getting the book! Hope you enjoy all the stories! I have another close friend whose family claims me as their own. In fact, they're upset because I'm spending Thanksgiving at my boyfriend's parents this year instead of with them.

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  14. Looks like a great book! My BFF and I now live about 5 hours apart, but when we get together it is like we last saw each other yesterday. One of our most memorable times, and the police were not involved, happened outside of Denny's. My BFF had a little too much to drink at bowling and an order of pancakes did not help. When we were leaving, she danced like Baby from Dirty Dancing across the hood of my brand new car in front of a Denny's audience. She has made me promise to never relate that story to her family.

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    1. Hi Laura.

      I want to party with you. Okay, for me and my bffs, we favor Ol' South Pancake House, which is legendary in Fort Worth. I have fond memories of that place from every decade of my existence.

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    2. Hi Laura...I love those friends that you can just pick up where you left off no matter how much time has passed. And I agree with Barb...you and your bestie sound like a lot of fun! Thanks for the compliment on the book! Hope you enjoy it!

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  15. Okay...let's go for number three on posting this! Yikes. I love that you and your bestie are close enough that when you are apart, it's just like yesterday when you see one another. That's so cool. I have fond memories of Denny's - mostly of Gland Slam Breakfasts at 1 or 2 a.m. after exams. Grins.

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  16. Congrats on this new release. This sounds fantastic. It's going on my wishlist. Thank you for sharing this . Both of my sisters are my very best friends. I'm the one they both call on whenever. :)
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. Hey Carol L! Thanks for your kind words. I love that your sisters are your besties.

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    2. Hi Carol.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

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    3. Thank you! My your wish list be granted soon!

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  17. Congrats on the awesome new release :) Ummm... my bff and I have gotten in plenty of adventures since high school. And yes, if I ever had to get bailed out of jail or bury a body, I could call her w/out pause. We used to be a threesome, but our other friend died in March from cancer. It's not the same, but we are learning and healing. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Hey Erin! So sorry to hear about your third bestie! Cancer sucks. Snorking about the burying the body. Bwahahaha!

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    2. Hi Erin.

      I'm currently battling the big C, and I detest it. So I'm very sorry for your loss.

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    3. Sending (((hugs))), Erin.

      Barbara, you've been in my prayers. Kick that Big C's butt!

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    4. Hi Erin...so sorry for your loss! Thanks for the congrats!

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    5. Thanks guys!!! He was so young, only 33, and had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. We treasured all of our time together and we can honestly say that we raised hell and have great memories! He was the base of our friendship triangle, as he was always practical and down to earth. His favorite phrase was "reeeeeally?!?!?" said in a very exasperated tone. Barbara, my prayers and best wishes to you!!!

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  18. Congrats on release and ny BFF lives next door and we can always get into trouble.

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    1. Hey Barb,

      Thanks for stopping by. How convenient to have your BFF next door. Makes for quick and easy body disposal...

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    2. Lucky for you, Barbara B! My BFF and I live in different states now but she's coming to visit Monday. I can't wait! :)

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    3. Laughing at Barbara Devlin's body disposal. Now you sound like Jeanne!

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    4. Hi Barbara...Thanks for the congrats! That would be fabulous to have a BFF that lived next door...all of mine are in different states!

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    5. And that would be why Barbara Devlin and I get along so well, PJ!! Bwahahahah!!! Barbara B, I love that your BFF lives next door! How fun!

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  19. Hi Everyone! Third author in the anthology here! Sorry I couldn't join in sooner...my day job got in the way--I was facilitating a team building off-site in a client's home. Looks like y'all are enjoying yourselves!

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  20. Congrats on your new release! Yes I have a BFF that would bell me out of jail and I am suprised we didn't end up there when we were young, now we are to old for those kinds of things but when we were younger there was much we didn't try at least once.

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    1. Heeheehee. You're never too old for mischief, Quilt Lady! I'll bet if you asked your BFF, "Do you want to go get into some mischief?" She'd say yeeeeessss!! Grins. (Inciting to riot, aren't I?) Thanks for popping in!!

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  21. Yep, I've got a couple BFFs and we've had a few interesting experiences luckily the police have never been involved. However, I do have a few people I could rely on for bail should it ever be needed - I've asked a time or two. ;-)

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  22. I met my best friend in high school. When I got on the school bus the first morning, she thought I was a stuck up city girl who felt I was too god to mingle with the country kids. The truth, I was shy and afraid to say high to anyone. We were in chemistry together with a boy sitting between us. We sat in the front row and dodged an explosion when the teacher accidentally mixed some chemicals. That boy is now my husband. We never got into trouble with the police, but managed to get into enough trouble talking and pulling pranks in school, in 4-H, and in college. We talk late into the night/morning and everyone has given up getting a word in when we get together. We live far apart now, but when we do manage to get together, it doesn't seem like any time has passed.

    You three are so lucky to have each other to be creative with. A common interest is a good glue and it sounds like we will be reaping the rewards. I hope the anthology is a big success.

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