Author, Michelle Betham has joined me today to talk about her heroes:

For my piece on heroes, I’ve chosen sporting heroes. And even though they may not be “heroes” in the true sense of the word, they can become someone that people look up to, someone that people call their hero. Someone that people aspire to. Sport, and the people who play it, have the ability to bring a nation together, to make us all feel good about something – take the London 2012 Olympics. How many sporting heroes did that create? How much did it pull everyone together in a common goal as we willed our athletes to do their best, to give everything they could. How much of an inspiration was that?

And then there was Andy Murray – another sporting hero, becoming the first British Wimbledon Men’s single’s champion in decades! He gave it his all in that final, and he succeeded. How many people did he inspire to pick up a tennis racket and have a go? A sporting hero can actually make us believe that we could do that too. That we can reach our own goals with a bit of guts and determination.

And how about moving over to Spain for another example of soccer sexiness - Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas. He’s a goalkeeper, so I’m assuming he’s good with his hands… 

Anyway, moving on… whether sport’s your thing or not, you really don’t have to like that sport to enjoy the scenery. You don’t have to enjoy your sporting hero’s, well, sport to have your attention well and truly grabbed. If you don’t know your throw ins from your free kicks it doesn’t matter – there are always men in shorts to keep you more than occupied…

And as for my ‘Striker’ series of books, they might be set against a backdrop of professional football, but they’re really not about the game itself. They’re definitely more about the sex than the soccer…

This summer, it’s time to play dirty…

Footballer’s Wives meets Jackie Collins in this sizzling scorcher of a summer read!

Available at all major online retailers from 5th June, following the link below:

http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/striker

And the second in the series, Extra Time, is due out 10th July. Thank you, Michelle, have a fabulous summer and good luck with your books.

I have the lovely AJ Nuest on the blog with me today, to try and find out what makes a hero in her eyes.

What Makes a Hero?
Huge thanks to Wendy Lou for hosting me on her blog today! I’m thrilled to be here to discuss a topic that is near and dear to all romance authors’ hearts—HEROES! Whoot!
Nothing gets a romance reader’s motor running like the perfect hero. Truly, writing a story that contains the ideal guy can make or break the success of a book. As such, there is always a lot of discussion about what makes a great hero amongst the author forums, blogs and loops that I belong to. Should we write our heroes as the Alpha male—make him bossy, controlling and unwavering in his opinion of what is best for his heroine? Or is the Beta hero a better choice—a guy who listens, meets his heroine with understanding and provides her a warm safe shelter regardless of the mistakes she’s made? Perhaps a combination of both Alpha and Beta (aka the Balpha) is the ideal option—a strong man who knows his own mind, but isn’t afraid to cry or show his tender side when the occasion calls for it?
     What occupation best says “romance hero”? Fireman? Billionaire Tycoon? A sword-wielding prince on a white horse or perhaps a brooding rock star? What about financial status or physical attributes? Should he have a good sense of humor or be filled with unfettered angst?
     However an author chooses to depict her hero—an attorney, a mechanic, a struggling entrepreneur—there is one, above all, I think it’s very important we remember to pay homage to in our list of swoon-worthy men…and that is the partner standing by the author’s side as she creates all of these make-believe characters. 
     You see, without that guy—the one who helps me through my ups and downs, listens to me rant about a bad review or helps me celebrate the release of my latest book. The man who works to support our family while I spend countless hours staring at the screen researching plot points or writing and rewriting…and rewriting…that important piece of dialogue. The husband and father who orders in pizza while I’m furiously working to meet a deadline, and then does the dishes and makes sure the kids get to bed at a decent hour. The man who tells me I’m beautiful, kisses me and loves me unconditionally…without that guy, I would never be able to chase my dreams, and that makes him a better hero than any I could ever write onto the page.  
     So, here’s to the husbands out there. The significant others and special men in our lives that are there for us without fail, after we right “the end” and finally sit back from the computer. They may not be perfect…but they got one thing none of our characters will ever have. They are real.

AJ writes wonderful heroes. I can say this; I've read all her Golden Key Chronicles books and fell in love with them from the start.

'When antiques restorer, Rowena Lindstrom, purchases an armoire containing a hidden key and a “magic” mirror, she believes the handsome warrior prince waiting on the other side is some sort of elaborate joke. Yet she cannot deny their connection seems bound by more than just the key and, as her love for Prince Caedmon grows, she agrees to join him in his realm.'

Rowena’s Key, the first of these stories can be found at:
Amazon Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/laqv8hj
Amazon.uk Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/jvkp8tw

This is followed by: Candra’s Freedom, Caedmon’s Curse and Braedric’s Bane.

The four novellas are now also available as one huge fantastic story (with bonus story): The Golden Key Chronicles.

Amazon Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/kyjgbaf
Amazon UK Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/kptthlf

AJ Nuest is a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a cornfield in NW Indiana. Her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day and laundry service, tolerate her lunacy. While she spends most days happily ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup has been percolating. The dogs have just informed her the cat is secretly vying for dictatorship.

Thanks for coming on and talking heroes with me today, AJ. And it's so true what you say about our long suffering husbands. :-)

You can find AJ's books in all good on-line retailers and reach her at the contact points below:

Website:  http://ajnuest.com
Blog:  http://ajbooks.blogspot.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest
Author FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest#!/pages/Tattered-Pages/259835887466
Twitter:  @AJNuest
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/ajnuest/boards/

With me today, I have the wonderful author, Carmel Harrington, all the way from Ireland. Welcome, Carmel, pull up a chair and rest your weary feet. You've been a busy bee these last few months, you must be exhausted. And I have just the cure... Let's talk about your ideal man.

Well I’m married to my ideal man,

Naturally!

...but he’s given me permission to build a fantasy replacement.  I’m taking this very seriously Wendy. 

I'm pleased to hear it. It's a serious matter.

One wrong choice and it could be a disaster! (my new favourite word, I’m using it all the time.) I’ll have the body of Josh Holloway.  I’m actually watching him this minute in his new show ‘Intelligence.’  I watched right up to the barmy end of Lost all because of Sawyer, he’s a lot to answer to!

Have no idea what you're talking about...*eyes looking shifty* ;-)

I’ll have George Clooney’s face, but as he was in the first Ocean’s Eleven.  That man can wear a tux. The voice has to be Owen Wilson, it’s like a slow caress, every time he speaks. 
Yes, that will do it.

Well I'm pretty confident you'll get a few votes for them, but what about your teenage life? Who did you crush on back then?

Ok, I’ll show my age here!  Paul Young and Martin Kemp.  The photos here were the very images that adorned by bedroom walls and also my folder for school.
My first LP (told you I’m old) was actually Paul Young’s No Parlez and I still have it! Pristine condition, must be worth at least a fiver on ebay ;)
I used to fantasise that Paul and I would get married one day.  Sadly our paths never crossed, before I could persuade him that he should lay his hat at my home.   

As for Spandau Ballet, I was one of their biggest fans and I’ll happily listen to their greatest hits any day of the week.  A few years ago, heavily pregnant - as in due any day pregnant - I went to see the lads when they did a reunion tour in Ireland.  My husband, a good man haha, paid a fortune for front row seats so I could be close to my childhood idols.  I could in fact almost touch Martin.  I did try.  He however, wasn’t having any of it and despite me giving him my best come hither look, (not easy with a bump the size of a yoga ball) Martin remained his steely cool self.  Have to tell you though, was much impressed with Tony Hadley, he winked at me and even gave my belly a wee rub.  I would have hit anyone else, but for one of the lads, well you’d have to turn a blind eye. 

Special circumstances.  So we know who you were dreaming about back then, what were you planning to do with your life, Carmel?

I actually wanted to be a writer or a competitive horse rider.  If I wasn’t writing in my journal, I was galloping around the lanes at home on my horse Mr Bojangles, thinking about stories I could write!

Carmel on horseback - there's a story right there! :-) And if you were planning on being a writer, then I guess you were reading a lot too. Could you give me three of your favourites?

So hard to pick just 3! Right, The Faraway Tree series, Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Little Women.

And your writing. One fabulous title under your belt and the next due out any minute. Childhood dream realised, I'd say! Do you want to tell us what's been going on?

My first novel Beyond Grace’s Rainbow was published in September 2013.  It is available in stores throughout Ireland, UK and US and foreign translation rights have recently been sold to Brazil! Rio Baby!
It seems incredulous to me that the countdown to my second novel- The Life You Left - hitting the shelves, (both real and virtual) has now begun!  PUB day just a few days away - 19th June! When I say PUB day, I mean publication day, but truth be told, I’ll probably find myself in our local for a drink at some point!

I'll bet! Good luck, Carmel and thank you so much for taking the time to drop by.

You can find Carmel at: Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Google+

And find her books here: http://carmelharrington.com/buy-links-for-carmel-harrington-books/

It is with fingers firmly crossed that I watch the release of my latest novel, By My Side. As a second book, the pressure is always on to live up to the first, so it is an anxious time for any author. It was a delight, therefore, that the team at Harper Impulse came up with one of my favourite things to put on my cover. I love Butterflies. I have them on everything. It's probably my main girly concession, not being a big fan of pink. So I thought I would show you some of my butterfly things to let you see how lucky this felt. By the way, blue is also my favourite colour!

I have fancy butterfly china, butterflies in the garden and a dress I bought in Singapore with butterflies all over it.

I have butterflies on the walls, on jewellery, on photo albums and even on (rather crumpled) clothing. I have one in the dried flower arrangement in my living room, but best of all I like to take photographs of them.

And my favourite ones are always blue!

I’ve been invited by the very talented Sue Fortin, to take part in this blog hop. You can read about Sue’s main character from 'Closing In' here: www.suefortin.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/my-main-character-blog-hop and I highly recommend the book.
   I also thought, as Sue herself did, that I would let my main character speak for herself.

What is your name and are you real or fictitious?
My Name is Kate, Katy Heath. Am I real??? Are any of us?
When and where is your story set?
My story is mainly set in the past, but not so long ago. It starts the day I met him, and is based in and around hospital life.
What should we know about you?
Well, I’m a nice person. I have been known to speak before I think, but I’m working on that. I’m a nurse. I also lived through a pretty tragic time in my childhood, but I came through it a stronger person. Now I want to help people. It’s a compulsion, really. I can’t help myself. Can I get you a cushion?
What is the main conflict? What messes up your life?
Men. Isn't it always? Well, ‘man’ anyway. He’s a surgeon, who I come into contact with at work. He can be a trial at times, but he’s a good man… deep down. It's the things that aren't said, that's what gets in the way for me.
What is your goal?
Good question… To be loved, I suppose; to find someone worthy of loving and to do some good with my life.

What is the title of the book?
By My Side.  And it’s available through all online retailers from 5th June.



Thanks for tagging me Sue, I’m now nominating Michelle Betham, HarperImpulse colleague and author of 'The First Christmas Without You'. She has the first of her football themed romances being released on the same day, 'Striker'.

http://michellebethamwriter.blogspot.com.es/

You can buy 'By My Side' from all major retailers now, using the link below:
www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/by-my-side