Welcome, Jamie Grey

Thank you so much for being here, Jamie.

1: What genre do you write? I usually write YA Fantasy, but I’ve been known to branch out into Sci-Fi as well. 2: How long have you been writing? Since I could read. I used to make up little books for my mom with illustrations and everything. But I finally got really serious about writing three years ago, found some critique partners and started working on craft. 3: What do you like the most and least about writing? I love first drafting – I love the feeling of getting the words on paper, of building a world and getting to know my characters. My least favorite thing about writing is revision. I’m a perfectionist, and it takes me forever to get through the story and get things just the way I want them. 4: What do you for fun and relaxation when not writing? I’m a Henna artist – also known as Mehendi. I paint designs on people’s hands and feet with henna paste. It stains the skin and leaves a beautiful design for a couple of weeks. I’m also a gamer – so I spend plenty of time online or on my favorite console shooting at aliens and killing dragons. 5: Which authors do you like to read? Such a hard question – I’m a bookworm, so I love to read everything and anything. I’ve been on a YA Kick lately, so I’ve been devouring books like The Hunger Games and Across the Universe. But I’m also a huge romance fan – Sarah MacLean is my new favorite author there. And of course I’m a huge fan of anything paranormal or Urban Fantasy – Ilona Andrews and Seanan McGuire are my favorites. 6: Tell me about your current novel, where I can find it? Here’s a short blurb about my short story, Princess for Hire: After winning his kingdom in a legendary poker game twenty years ago, Princess Mina’s father loses the kingdom just as easily. Now alone and penniless, Mina must rely on her sword to support them both. When the princess-turned-mercenary is offered a contract to save a prince that will pay enough to keep her father in luxury for yet another year, she and her business partner snap up the deal. Dragons and all. It will be available from MuseItUp Publishing on March 1st 7: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors? I think the biggest thing is getting your butt in the chair and getting something on paper. I know it has been said before (I think by Nora Roberts) that you can’t fix something if it isn’t there. Get your story on paper, and then find some good critique partners to give you feedback on what you come up with. Every piece of feedback will help you grow as a writer. 8: Do you base your characters on real-life people? I’ve never based a character on someone I’ve known in real life. They usually come to me already formed. Which some days is a blessing, other times, not so much! 9: How did you come up with the idea for this book? I wanted to write something that was a bit of a twist on the typical Prince rescues beautiful, helpless Princess story so often seen in Fantasy and that dealt a little with changing gender roles and expectations. Somehow, Princess for Hire was born from that. 10: What are you currently working on? I am working on a full length YA novel set in Japan. It’s a contemporary fantasy about a Dragon, and the two girls from two different eras who must save him. 11. Where can we find you? Website? Blog? My website is http://www.jamiegreybooks.com and I have a blog as well – http://www.jamiegreybooks.com/blog Thanks so much for having me on Roseanne!

I'm on blotgtalk radio tonight

I'm chatting tonight on Kat's Blog Talk Radio show at 6 pm est. We'll be

discussing Stranger On The Shore, my first book releasing from Muse It Publishing Inc. tomorrow, March 1st. Join us in the chat room at www.blogtalkradio.com/katholmes1212 or call in directly. The number is 619-393-6798. I hope to see you all tonight.:-)

Book Review - Unveiling His Princess

Unveiling His Princess Cinderella has nothing on Princess Natalia. Betrothed to Prince Bennett

from birth, the time for the wedding approaches. But her wicked stepsister, Antonia had other ideas. She wants Prince Bennett for herself. After all he was soon to be king. Antonia’s plan was to impersonate Natalia and went so far as to lock Natalia in a closet, besides taking her clothes and maidservants to Bennett’s palace. Ms Below weaves an adventurous fairytale as Natalia tries to undo her stepsister’s plan. Natalia only hopes she’s not too late. Kept me reading from the first sentence on. I recommend this book. **** Unveiling His Princess is currently available from Liquid Silver Books -- www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/unveilinghisprincess.htm

Six Sentence Sunday

Stranger on the Shore will be released Tuesday, March 1st. from MuseItUp Publishing http://tinyurl.com/4q96vtn. Check back then for a chance to win a free copy. Taking a step closer, he raised his hand to her hair. She drew back, moved to the side. The cocky grin irritated her, even as it aroused her. Desire flashed in his eyes. He wanted her, no doubt about it. “Sleep well?” he asked.

Blog Tour

Join me at : http://www.heatherhavenstories.com/heathers_blog_this_and_that as I kick off my tour for Stranger on the Shore - Oh, don't forget to leave a comment.

Six Sentence Sunday

I've been out of town the last few weeks, so I've missed Six Sentence Sunday. But, I'm back now and I've added six sentences from my book Stranger on the Shore, which will be released from MuseItUp Publishing March 1st. http://tinyurl.com/488jm2p

The sound of his whistling came through the door as Jordan tried to work. Unable to concentrate, she paced the room. The memory of his lips intruded on her thoughts. Where did the man come from and why did he attract her. She didn’t much like the idea, but there it was like it or not. She was definitely attracted to him.

Interview with Lisa - personal assistan to Joanna Moore-Reed from the Pendulum Swings

Good Afternoon one and all, I am Paige Turner, of Turner Talks. Today we have with us the former upstairs maid at the Moore-Reed Estate, now personal assistant to Joanna Moore-Reed herself, and one of the co-stars in the upcoming sizzler, THE Pendulum Swings, by multi-talented author L.J. Holmes. The Pendulum Swings is due to be released by Muse It Hot, the erotic side of Muse Publishing, Inc.


Allow me to welcome Lisa to my show. Come in, have a seat Lisa and let’s get started. For those in my audience who do not know the back story, and if there really ARE any of you out there who have not been following this story, where HAVE you been loves, let me explain.

Joanna Moore-Reed was in a very serious car accident almost a year ago now and rumor is she came back from it a truly changed woman. Lisa, we have had ample reports on how “Nice” the new Joanna Moore-Reed is, but you’re here to tell us about her BEFORE the accident.

What kind of a woman would you say she was, and please be honest? You do know we have Ms. Moore-Reed’s assurance she is totally behind this interview.

Yes, she is. What exactly do you want to know?

The dirt of course. We’ve spoken to those who went to school with her and knew her before she married Jason Reed. They tell us, well, to be honest, they tell us she was a royal bitch…their words not mine. Was she…a bitch?

She was a driven woman, yes, and could be difficult.

Difficult? Is that another way of saying “bitch”?

Well she was not what you might call “tolerant”. She grew up in a wealthy family, but I don’t think there was an abundance of affection, or even tenderness in the Moore household. Her father was a big man, but not a nice man. I think Ms. Moore prior to finding Mr. Reed was trying to find something more than her own parents had, but didn’t know what to do with it when she DID find it.

Not long ago there was a rumor circulating that the Reeds were headed for divorce. What happened to change their minds?

I assume you are talking about early in their marriage?

Oh My! My staff MUST be slipping. I hadn’t heard about THAT time, just the time before the car accident that landed her into the hospital and her miracle transformation. Now that you let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, tell us about both.

I’m only telling you about these events because Mrs. Reed herself wants me to dispel all the rumors and let the truth speak for her.

If that were true, why did she send you instead of coming herself? What is she hiding that she’s hoping I won’t be able to pull out of you?

I may tell you that further on during this interview, but for now I’d just rather stick to the topic we all agreed on. You want to know what Mrs. Reed was like before her car accident. In a word, disagreeable. She liked being in control. It was in many respects an obsession. Her relationship with her parents, particularly her father was contentious. He’d expected a son; he got Joanna instead. He wanted the Moore name to continue on, as it had for generations; he got Joanna instead. He wanted her to reshape herself into the son he’d expected; he got the maven of the fashion page.

Jason Reed, a well respected architect in his own right, worked his way up from virtually nothing. By the time Jason and Joanna met, he wasn’t a society star, but he was not a poor man either. He was hired to design the blue prints for the Moore Memorial Woman’s Shelter in honor of her late Mother.


She’d been hurt by just about everyone in her life before, so trusting him didn’t come easy for her, but she did fall in love and marry him.

Sadly you cannot love others when you hate yourself, and she did hate herself. I don’t know if her self-loathing was because of her father’s attitudes and brain-washings…I’m not a trained therapist, but if I had to make a guess, I would say she never got past how much her father loathed her for not being the son he’d wanted.

Yes, I’m sure, but let’s get to the meat please. Tell us about the near divorce…you did say early in their marriage?

Yes. Once they were married, she started acting like she’d bought and paid for Mr. Reed so he’d better do what she wanted when she wanted and how she wanted. It was a most distressing time for the household.

You’re little more than a child. You were there when this was happening?

Oh Yes. The cook and chauffer are my aunt and uncle. When my own parents died, I went to live with them at the Moore estate. I’ve lived there since I was twelve.

Then you really DO know the inside dirt. Please…continue
Mr. Reed isn’t a man who’ll put up with being ordered around. He told Mrs. Reed that he was filing for a divorce.

But they stayed married.

Mrs. Reed was pregnant. There was no way Mr. Reed was going to divorce her with their child on the way. Mr. Reed is such a nice man. Mrs. Reed did not suffer through morning sickness, her burgeoning belly, swollen ankles, and non-stop peeing…ooops…am I allowed to say that?

Of course. Our censors are less stringent today. Think nothing of it. Continue.

Well let me just say everyone walked around on eggshells, but then Miss Mandi was born…and ohhhh what a precious beauty she was.
I cannot picture Joanna Moore-Reed as a mother. I’ve seen the photos and the footage of her doting over the baby, but was she really like that?
Please know that I would not be sharing any of this if Mrs. Reed hadn’t told me to herself. My loyalty to her and Mr. Reed is absolute.
Yes Dear, of course it is. Are you going to answer my question, or are you going to continue qualifying your reasons for being here? My audience appreciates as do I how difficult coming here and answering these questions must be for you, and trust me you are doing great.

You’re right. She wasn’t a very involved mother to Mandi. The nanny was really the person raising the child when Mr. Reed was at work. When he was home, he stepped in and did everything for the baby.
Jason Reed changed diapers?
Oh my yes! He also fed Mandi, bathed her, got up with her at rocked her back to sleep. He was a very involved father.
So tell us when divorce came up again?
The night of the accident. Mrs. Reed was in a bit of a temper. She had this party to go to and wanted to rest before it. Mandi was teething and her cries were keeping Mrs. Reed from sleeping. Mr. Reed came home and refused to go to the party. He was going to stay home and rock the little one and try to comfort her. Mrs. Reed went ballistic. Mr. Reed left, promising he’d be speaking with his attorney. Mrs. Reed tried to stop him, but he just brushed her off. She popped open a whiskey bottle and in a short time down a good three quarters of the bottle, swore she was going to bring him home, got into her car, and drove into the Pioneer Tree.
The new Joanna Moore-Reed, did she come about because of the head injury she suffered?
Who knows? Maybe coming so close to death made her realize how lucky she is and how much she has to be thankful for. All I know is she now gets down on the floor and romps with the little one, and she’s turned the estate into a place where laughter and joy ring out.
Are Mr. & Mrs. Reed happy together now?
That I cannot answer. You’ll have to wait until March 1st and buy L.J. Holmes’ book, The Pendulum Swings…and I believe our time is over.

Wait. You hinted at something. The reason you’re here answering my questions instead of Mrs. Reed.
Yes I did, but you should get the book. Then you’ll have all your answers!

The Day the Music Died

I remember this day well. These were three of my favorite singers. When : Always February 3rd The Day the Music Died Day commemorates the untimely death of singers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. These three Rock singers died in an airplane crash on February 3, 1959. at the height of their popularity. Every generation has their music idols. These three were among the top of the 1950's generation. Those who grew up in the fifties mourned the premature deaths of their music idols. Memorials and remembrances occurred for years. Today, there are many websites memorializing their deaths, and detailing the events before and after the tragedy.

Groundhog Day

When: February 2nd each year

Groundhog Day is celebrated in the U.S. each year on February 2nd. On this day in mid-winter, the groundhog awakens from a long winter's nap, and goes outside of his den to see if he sees his shadow. This tradition is big on an otherwise cold and dreary mid-winter's day. According to legend, if the groundhog sees his shadow (a sunny morning), there will be six more weeks of winter. He then returns to his den and goes back to sleep. If however, he does not see his shadow (cloudy days), he plays around outside of his hole for a while. If he does not see his shadow, spring is just around the corner. The Groundhog's Day tradition travelled long ways. It comes from German roots. German immigrants brought the tradition with them from Germany. As they settled in hills of Pennsylvania, they began the tradition of using the Groundhog to predict the the arrival of Spring. The tradition is based upon Candlemas, the day that is the midpoint between Winter and Spring. A famous Candlemas poems goes: If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, Winter will not come again. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is the site of the annual Ground Hog event. Our little rodent friend (yes, Groundhogs are classified as rodents) is called Punxsutawney Phil. There are a few other "predictors" around the country, but they all pale in comparison to Phil's ability to predict the remainder of winter. For the Record Phil sees his shadow about 9 out of 10 times

Two for Tuesday and Creative Romance Month

Since it's Creative Romance Month, I thought it appropriate to combine it with Two for Tuesday. I debated which book to take my two paragraphs from and decided I'd take them from A Second Chance, which is due to be released in June at MuseItUp Publishing.http://tinyurl.com/4bp5tsa



Christine peered through the crowd, spotted her daughter and hurried toward her family. She couldn't help but smile, her grandchildren's faces looked like a breath of fresh air among the busy travelers.

Hello, who's that tall, handsome man next to Lisa? Not another fix-up, she hoped. She let out a low groan. When was her daughter going to learn she didn't want a mate? Her life was fine just the way it was.