Today, I'm hosting a promo on Gina Conkle's contemporary romance release, Waiting for a Girl Like You (Kissables #1), as a part of the ongoing VBT. Also find an excerpt for your enjoyment. Note that Waiting for a Girl Like You is currently on sale for 99c!!
I hope you enjoy the guest blog accompanying this post. As for me, I loved it... but alas! My friends aren't always forthcoming with their crazy stories, and I don't bother pestering them in case I have to tell them a story of my own. :P Don't forget to comment below with your own reply.
I hope you enjoy the guest blog accompanying this post. As for me, I loved it... but alas! My friends aren't always forthcoming with their crazy stories, and I don't bother pestering them in case I have to tell them a story of my own. :P Don't forget to comment below with your own reply.
Gina Conkle will be awarding an Amazon Kindle Fire 7” to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour
When Real Life is Bolder than Books
Waiting for a Girl Like You is my first foray into steamy contemporary romance. The book features two hot novellas which get their inspiration from real life. Writing is full of “what if” scenarios. I usually get inspiration for historical romance from museums and reading non-fiction historical books. My Viking and Georgian romances turn into mind movies. But, my venture into hot contemporary romance had a very different start.
The seed for Mark and Abbie’s story (Proper Care and Feeding of a Broken Heart) came from a conversation I had with a friend years ago. She shared with me her crazy moonlighting job, working on an on-call basis at a brothel doing 50 Shades-esque jobs (and this was pre-50 Shades).
I was floored. My friend didn’t sugar coat the truth. My other surprise was how at ease she was with this second job. She eventually moved away and we lost contact, but I never forgot what she told me.
From that conversation, Mark and Abbie sprang to life. It’s one of the fastest stories I ever wrote. Yet, it challenged me. For some reason, I needed to write the story in first person point of view. I’d never done that before. It stretched me as a writer. Likewise, the sex scenes stretched me as a writer.
For me, physical intimacy between characters is like all other scenes in a story. They must reveal character. They must move the story forward. Lastly, they must be about the conflict and have internal/external conflict. If these elements are missing, you’re in danger of pumping out another gratuitous sex scene. I don’t like those. They’re not truthful. I skim them and think twice before buying another book from that author.
Writing this book, it was important for you the reader to go deep into the characters skin. It pushed me mentally and emotionally. Don’t worry! It wasn’t all intense (reviewers have mentioned I can write intense stories). There’s a fun cell phone scene between AJ and Jennifer in Anything But Safe. Plus there’s plenty of my trade-mark banter.
There will be a “what’s next” for Mark and Abbie and the same thing for AJ and Jennifer. There will also be a two book series about two brothers: one brother is a controlled venture capitalist and the other is a tattooed bad boy trying to reform.
Waiting for a Girl Like You prompted a strategy call with my agent. I’d been squarely in historical romance where I’ll stay. Now, though, we’re talking about a dip into the hot contemporary romance market. So, stay tuned!
Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Punya! I have a question for your readers: What’s the craziest real life story a friend told you? Or maybe it’s something you did…care to share?
-Gina
Waiting for a Girl Like You
Gina Conkle
(Kissables #1)
Published: December 13, 2016
(Two stories in one Book)
Proper Care and Feeding of a Broken Heart
Bookstore clerk Abbie is off-the-charts nervous her first night moonlighting in a sex-for-hire job. If she only kept her mouth shut…but nothing goes as expected, including the intense blue-eyed surfer who walks through her door. Mark wants to work out a few kinks —and leave the lifestyle for good. Past mistakes still haunt him, but sweet Abbie turns Mark’s plans upside down, and two broken hearts discover honesty is the hottest aphrodisiac.
Anything But Safe
Former trophy wife Jennifer wants to thrive again, but when her new life hits a speedbump, her unlikely hero is rough working man AJ. The woman he rescued is out of his league, but the two together are magic. Jennifer smooths his hard edges, and when she’s with AJ, her true, quirky colors show. A surprise threatens to derail the two who quickly learn…love is anything but safe.
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An Excerpt from Waiting for a Girl Like You:
Anything But Safe
Hot sun beat down on the rest of the world. It was August. Standing under the pepper tree, AJ was a tall, cool drink of water. Stained coveralls didn’t put her off nor did his tattoo and the rough cadence of his speech. Under the gruff exterior was a real man with a good heart. He visually devoured her every time they’d crossed paths around town, and last night was no exception. But, could she be content with a sex only fling?
“Well, that’s a relief.” Faint sarcasm edged his last word.
“What is?”
His steady gaze never wavered. “I thought you might be going in a different direction.”
She cocked her head. “Did you think I was about to give you the ‘let’s be friends’ talk?”
“I thought you were about to give me the ‘let’s hook up for sex only’ talk.”
“Oh AJ,” she said around hiccups of laughter. Her cheeks burned. She shook her head, a little dazed. “I…I don’t know what to say to that.”
“It’s not the first time a woman like you propositioned me.”
Eyes rounding, she laughed at the absurdity. “I’m not propositioning you.”
“Good because my answer would be no.”
She’d come for lunch and conversation of the talking variety. A kiss or two was more than welcome, but they needed to slow down, let things simmer. AJ’s forbidding frown told her some of Hidden Valley’s well-shod women had dallied with him, and he was having no more of it. The town was an eclectic mix of gated communities, small farm-to-table co-ops and wineries. A lot of working class people had lived here long before it was hip.
Hurt bloomed in her chest at the idea of any woman taking advantage of AJ’s goodness. Or his body. His past was likely more colorful than hers, but his flat out refusal to hook up intrigued her. He’d messed around in the past. What made him change his mind?
Did you enjoy the excerpt? Want a FREE copy of the next novella in the Kissables series?? Click Here!!!!
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2 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for sharing the great post :)
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