Saturday, February 2, 2013

Day 2: Celebrate Amore


 Jessica E. Subject

Cate: Yay, Jessica's here to help us Celebrate Amore. Jessica, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Jessica: Hello Cate! Thanks for having me back during the month of love! Hello everyone! For those who don’t know me, I write science fiction romance and contemporary romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. I may throw in a sexy clone, or an alien or two. My stories are set both on Earth and in space, present day, and in the future. Besides being an author, I’m also a wife, and a mother of two chatty kids who love to read. I love to read, and I dance to music in my kitchen when I’m supposed to be doing other things.

Cate: What do you love most about Valentine’s Day?
Jessica: I absolutely love the color red. And it’s everywhere during Valentine’s day. J And it’s also a wonderful time to show the person you love just how much they mean to you.

Cate: Do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory?
Jessica: I can’t say that I have a favorite one. They have all been special.

Cate: Do you have any romantic Valentine’s Day traditions?
Jessica: It depends on what day of the week Valentine’s Day fall on. My hubby always brings me roses, which are my absolute favorite. Always have been. And then when the kids are in bed, we have special time to ourselves. ;)

Cate: Aw, so sweet! Tell us about your latest release, and where readers can find it online.
Jessica: Accidental Romance is part of the new The Challenge series at Decadent Publishing. Here’s a little bit more about the series:
Challenge: A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking.
In every life, there are challenges, boulders in the flowing stream of existence. From the physical, to the psychological or emotional, nobody is immune. No one gets through life intact, but the challenge is not to avoid damage, but to work through, past or around the things that make life so difficult. 
We all know people who do this—live fulfilling lives in spite of the difficulties they are forced to deal with. 
The Challenge series is about characters who do just this—and the people who love them. Challenge is a romance series with a twist. The “challenge” takes a central role in the characters’ romance.

It is available here:

Cate: Such a great theme for a series! Care to share a blurb or excerpt?
Jessica: Thank you! Here’s the blurb and an excerpt:

At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true?

Excerpt:

A million needles pierced her wrist. She had to get away from the fire. Leanne flicked open her eyes, screaming, longing for the agony to stop.
White walls surrounded her. Machines beeped. Taking in the new scenery, she closed her mouth, the pain forgotten. Bags filled with clear liquids as well as blood hung from a metal pole. She followed the tubes from the bags into her left hand. Was that where the burn came from? She glanced at the other arm, the end of which was wrapped in thick bandages. The image of spinning blades and her mangled flesh flashed before her eyes. She screamed again, tears falling down her cheeks. This can’t be happening.
Bodies rushed into the room, many in scrubs. With her vision blurred, she didn’t recognize anyone. All strangers. She was in the foreign place by herself. A nightmare. Has to be.
“Shh, calm down, sweetie. You’ll be okay.”
A familiar voice. She glanced to her other side to see her mom standing beside her, her eyes glassy. She held her hand, but Leanne couldn’t feel it, only the throbbing which had returned to her other one, the one that was…gone? She groaned, turning on her side, and pulled her knees up to her chest.
“Mom, is it really…?”
She brushed her fingers over her forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. You need to rest.”
“It hurts so bad.”
“I know.” Her mother stroked her face again. “But the nurses will help it go away.”
“Leanne,” one of the nurses hovering around her said. “I want you to take deep breaths and count backward from ten.”
“Ten.” She sucked in air and cried out in agony.
Between clenched teeth, she continued. Anything to stop the pain. “Nine.”
Ice traveled through her veins. “Eight.”
The throbbing slowly ebbed away. Seven.
Darkness swept over her and pulled her down with it.

Cate: Whew, intense. What inspired you to write about the theme?
Jessica: After being asked to write for this new series, it took me and my muse some time to come up with a story that would work. I was talking about accidents with my husband (who used to work on a farm as a teen) and he mentioned a farmer he knew who had lost his fingers when a bull stepped on them. From there, I asked what other types of accidents can happen on farms. And Accidental Romance was born.

Cate: Love the idea of finding something positive in a tragedy. Anything else you’d like to share?
Jessica: Thank you again, Cate, for having me back on your blog! It’s always a pleasure to visit. Readers who want to know more about me and my books can find me here:


Cate: Jessica's going to make your Valentine's Day extra special! Be sure to leave your email address.
Jessica: Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing about Valentine’s Day for a chance to WIN an ebook copy of any one of my backlist titles, plus swag from my new releases. Contest is international. Winner will be notified by email February 5, 2013. Good luck!

Cate: Thanks for joining in the party, Jessica! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.