Samhain Publishing

I’m getting all geared up for my next release. I’m pretty excited about it, because I loved loved loved writing my FIRST RESPONDERS series. The first book, OFF THE CLOCK, came out in October and starts with Gabe Brenner, an off-duty paramedic, witnessing an accident. And not just any accident – the victim is Carly Douglas, a woman he has some past history with. Now book 2 – IN THE LINE OF DUTY – is all ready to go and will be released on August 28! Perfect timing for a summer time romance, I think! Kendra Givens – who we meet briefly in OFF THE CLOCK – is an RCMP constable and Jake Symonds is a big ol’ thorn in her side.

I set this series in the Annapolis Valley, one of my absolute favourite places to visit in the summer. It’s naturally beautiful with several small towns along its length. There are wineries and fruit and vegetable farms, and also the ocean. A lot of my favourite things all in one place! It was natural that Jake and Kendra enjoy summer activities like charity barbecues (complete with dunk tank!), golfing, and best of all, a picnic on a private stretch of beach. PRIVATE being the important word here…

The only thing as good as the Valley in summer is the Valley in autumn, so you’re not going to want to miss the third book, INTO THE FIRE, coming in November. Cool nights, warm days, gorgeous colours and a bountiful harvest. Not to mention one heck of a hot firefighter who wonders if it's worth giving the woman who broke his heart a second chance.

We’re just coming off a really fantastic long weekend here, with summer temps and lots of sunshine. It was definitely a taster (I hope) of what’s to come in the weeks ahead – and how much I LOVE the summer. I’m looking forward to flowers blooming, camping, and lots of time in the pool. What’s your favourite thing to do in the summer? Private picnics on the beach, perhaps?

It seems like it’s been a long time coming but BREATHE came out in print this month! While I do a lot of reading on my ereader, there’s still something really special about holding an author copy in my hands.

I first got a glimpse of how gorgeous it was going to be at the Samhain signing at RWA Nationals in New York over the summer. ARCs had been done up for it and it was so exciting to sign it for the first time! And just a few weeks ago the “official” version arrived on my doorstep…beautiful! This is one of my favourite covers ever.

It is also one of my favourite settings – a winery in British Columbia in an area where we spent a lot of time over the summers. If you’ve ever visited the Shuswap area around Salmon Arm you know what I mean. There are so many good memories wrapped up in that place.

You can read an excerpt on the Samhain page for it for a little teaser…. and if you would like a signed copy just let me know by clicking this link and I’ll send you a signed bookplate you can put inside.

Now I’m off to wrap more pressies – the very last preparations for Christmas. How about you? Are you all ready, or do you end up going right down to the wire with shopping and prep?

One of the things I always wanted to be was crafty. I always admired those people who could whip up a perfect bow, use a glue gun without stripping off their epidermis, and draw anything that didn't look like a stick person.

Then I had kids and the pressure was really on. And then I discovered craft kits.

Some are harder than others. Last year we were defeated by a jingle bell ornament kit with 3 kinds of wire that just WOULDN'T cooperate. But this year we hit the jackpot when we went to Michaels craft store on a no-tax weekend – all their ornament and kids craft kits were on half price. It's easier now that the girls are older, too – more of a "doing together" rather than always needing to help. This past weekend we went crazy and if you look past the cut, you'll see the results of our handiwork!

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The net is all abuzz with reports from RWA Nationals, held a few weeks ago in New York. And with good reason. It was a fab time. It was only my second Nationals conference, and my first ever trip to New York. Lots of exciting things were going on for me too. I was up for a Bookseller’s Best Award (and ended up winning!), I gave a workshop, and I took part in three separate signings. It was wonderful and at times a bit surreal and always very, very rushed.

One of the best things about it was meeting the Samhain team. I couldn’t make the breakfast…the worst part of conference I’ve discovered is that you can’t be in two places at once. But I met the gang at the Literacy signing on the first night. When I got to my table, a lovely stack of SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER was on the table as well as gift cards for free downloads – woo hoo! Samhain had also provided every conference goer with pens and I made a point of signing with mine that night. And then one by one the Samhain peeps stopped by to make sure things were groovy. I finally got to meet Crissy – who bought my first ever book back in 2006. And Marty who is made of awesome. Tera and Lindsey – well, by the time everyone had stopped by the table I was feelin’ the love.

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While our friends are sunning themselves in gorgeous Cozumel (jealous? me? You bet!) we are looking after their dog, Belle. Belle is personality plus. She is smart – sometimes too smart. And also high energy. And we also have a dog and a cat. So during the week that we dogsit, the whole dynamic of our house changes.

It's quite interesting, really, and a great opportunity to open my brain to character study. Because dogs, like people, are complicated. It's not all about the dog's personality, you see. It's about that personality and how they act with other dogs/cats/people and in different situations. It is interesting to see the dynamic at HER house, and then see how it changes when she is in ours. Our dog also "changes" when Belle stays over…suddenly things like food, who "owns" the cat, crates, and toys become issues. It's kind of like having toddlers, actually. And for the most part, and since they are friends, they work it out by  themselves. It's interesting watching them do that, seeing the shift in balance of alpha dog/submissive…and also watching the cat rule the entire roost. Belle loves to play with the cat, but believe me, it's always on the cat's terms.

Characters are like dogs. They have distinct personalities, and they deal with situations in unique ways – sometimes guided by their personalities, and sometimes influenced by the people they interact with. As dynamics change, reactions change. It's really quite interesting when I sit down and think about it. In the meantime, it's lots of dog walks to keep the energy levels in check, lots of cuddles to ease the separation anxiety, and a watchful eye to make sure no one gets their nose too out of joint over treats and toys.

Donna

www.donnaalward.com

Twitter: @DonnaAlward