You've found the home on the net for romance writer, LaVerne Clark. Thanks for visiting! :)

I write suspense and light fantasy/paranormal set in the beautiful country of New Zealand. A land of myths and magic, Aotearoa (Maori for Long White Cloud) has always been a storytelling nation and it is my pleasure to share mine with you.

Make yourself your drink of choice, stay a while and feel free to leave comments. I love to meet new friends.



Heartpounding suspense and fantasy Downunder



Saturday, May 26, 2012

Guardian of the Jewel on SALE!

Woot!!!
I'm excited to announce my first novella is on sale at my publisher's website for the rest of this month. Perfect preparation for the release of Affinity next month don't you think?

$1.88 American for the download - what a bargain!
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=4283


BLURB

After coming to terms with the brutal death of her husband by unknown thugs half a world away from New Zealand, Amy Hamblin concentrates on bringing up their son alone, struggling to make their dream of an action-adventure tourism venture a success.

When a dark, dangerous-looking man knocks on her door late at night claiming to be a guest, the safe, quiet life she’d created is suddenly anything but...

Gabriel Ryan’s task of finding the priceless blue diamond Amy’s husband stole from an organised crime ring, is made all the more difficult by the attraction that sizzles between them. Playing a role had never been so hard, and now, with a ruthless killer on the trail of the missing jewel as well, he needed his wits about him to keep them all alive.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Rebecca Lee Smith - Tour Stop

Please help me welcome The Wild Rose Press author, Rebecca Lee Smith to Novel Natterings.



Rebecca will be giving away a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host with the most comments (excluding the host's and the author's).
Stop in on other stops in her tour to increase your chances of winning! Thanks Rebecca!
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/03/virtual-book-tour-dance-to-die-for-by.html


Welcome Rebecca! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I live with my husband in the beautiful misty mountains of east Tennessee. I have been everything from a tax collector to a stay-at-home-mom to a house painter to a professional actress and director. I love old movies, hanging out at the local pub (especially on Trivia Tuesday), and travelling. A Dance to Die For is the fifth manuscript I completed before selling.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think it was when I finally typed “The End” on the first book I wrote. That book, which never saw the light of day, taught me I could write a book and finish it. It showed me what it took, intellectually and emotionally, to write a book, and gave me the confidence to believe that if I could finish one, I could finish two.
Great answer! Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

I spent years working in the trenches of professional and community theater. When my kids were small, and I couldn’t leave them every night for rehearsal, I needed another creative outlet to keep me sane. I had always been a great reader, and as far back as grade school secretly wished I could check out a book with my name on the cover as author. It wasn’t easy, because I really didn’t know what I was doing. But once I started writing, creating characters in my head became addictive.

I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

In my case, “The Call” was an email. Previously, I’d gotten very close to publication with two other books. A well-known publisher asked for revisions on one of them, then kept the revised manuscript for thirteen months and rejected me with a form letter, so I had become pretty jaded about the whole submission process. I kept writing and sending things out, but after years of rejection, I had stopped expecting the heavens to open. When I read the email offering me a contract for A Dance to Die For, I read it three times, then burst into tears. My son heard me crying, and came rushing in to see what was wrong. I just kept pointing at the computer screen. Then we both started laughing. What a day! It still seems unreal.

*Big grin* A day to remember for sure! What drew you to write romance?

I’ve always loved romantic suspense. I’m sure it’s because of all those gothics I devoured in my youth. My books tend to gravitate more toward mystery than suspense, probably because I love puzzles so much, but I have to scare the bejezus out of the heroine at least a few good times during the course of the book, or it isn’t any fun at all. I love romantic comedies, too, but when I write, I find it easier to propel the plot against a mystery/suspense backdrop and keep the conflict alive between the hero and heroine.

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Butt in chair, hands on keys. And plotting. I drive myself crazy plotting.

What are you working on right now?

I’m revising a manuscript I wrote a couple of years ago when my mother was ill. At the time, it seemed very disjointed because I was distracted and tired, and my mind wasn’t firing on all cylinders. I wrote the entire book except for the last two chapters and shelved it. Since I’ve gone back to it, I’ve changed quite a few things, including the heroine’s personality, and feel I’m finally on the right track. I’m also working on a contemporary romantic comedy, but, as usual, a dead body is lurking somewhere in the shadows, threatening to make an appearance.
Who wants to read the blurb and excerpt of A Dance to Die For? Me too! Here they are:

BLURB:
Annabel Maitland believes in destiny and following her heart—Trent Sheffield realizes his destiny is to believe in her.
Annabel destroyed her Broadway dancing career trying to save her friend Quinn's life. Convinced Quinn’s death was no accident, Annabel follows a clue to a North Carolina mountain inn and discovers that everyone who knew Quinn—the real Quinn—wanted her out of their lives, including the sexy innkeeper whose laid-back charm and megawatt grin take Annabel's breath away. The physical attraction between them is undeniable, the cerebral attraction irresistible. But trusting her heart means ignoring evidence that plants him firmly on the list of suspects.
Determined to keep his family’s financially strapped inn afloat, the last person Trent needs working for him is a stubborn, impossibly long-legged dancer whose sharp wit and silver eyes keep him scrambling to stay on his toes. He's falling hard, and he wants to trust her, but Annabel's connection to his ex-fiancĂ©e makes him question her motives at every turn. When a string of mysterious accidents threaten Annabel’s life, they must unearth Quinn's killer before it's too late. But what if Annabel was the target all along?
EXCERPT:
Something zinged past Annabel.
It cut and ruffled the new growth of hickory leaves beside her shoulder, like a bird soaring through the trees at warp speed. Her head jerked around. Trent was running toward her with his arms airborne, his beige raincoat ballooned behind him like a cape.
He pushed her off the path, then hit the ground sideways. He slid into the underbrush, shoulder first, and roughly pulled her down on top of him.
Another high-pitched crack echoed across the meadow.
Trent's hard body jolted beneath her.
He enveloped her in his arms and rolled her to the side, pressing her head into his broad chest. The musky scent of his aftershave mingled with the pungent tang of dried weeds and earth sent her senses into overload. The weight of his muscular thighs pushing against her equally muscular thighs sent a shudder pulsing through her. “It's okay,” he whispered. “I've got you.”
They lay motionless in the tall warm grass, side by side, for what seemed an eternity. Until the only sounds she could hear were the soft, protesting whir of insects and the rapid, steady thumping of his heart.
Annabel lifted her head and stared at the line of dark stubble along his chin. “What the hell was that?”
“Probably a poacher.”
“A poacher? Are you serious? Here?
He loosened his grip on her shoulders. “The forest across the road belongs to the inn. There's no fence. All we can do is post No Hunting signs and hope for the best.”
“So, how do your guests feel about dodging bullets? I bet this place stays packed.”
Ooo! That sounds wonderful! Where can we find you and your books?

            www.rebeccaleesmith.com

            www.thewildrosepress.com

            www.amazon.com

            www.barnesandnoble.com

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your new release with us Rebecca! I'll be seeing you out and about on the rest of your tour!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Sinful Sirens Bloghop Winner...

And the winner is....


Laceyblossom!!!

Congratulations Lacey - and thank you to everyone who joined in the fun. My first bloghop was a huge amount of fun :)

Lacey - you have mail ;)


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Sinful Sirens Blog Hop Giveaway

Today, I'm taking part in my very first Blog Hop! How exciting!
Feel free to tweet and share to your hearts content :)




Below you'll see a number of other blogs all taking part too - and all doing a giveaway of some sort!

I'm giving away one PDF copy of my romantic suspense novella, Guardian of the Jewel, to one lucky commenter.


BLURB
After coming to terms with the brutal death of her husband by unknown thugs half a world away from New Zealand, Amy Hamblin concentrates on bringing up their son alone, struggling to make their dream of an action-adventure tourism venture a success.
When a dark, dangerous-looking man knocks on her door late at night claiming to be a guest, the safe, quiet life she’d created is suddenly anything but...
Gabriel Ryan’s task of finding the priceless blue diamond Amy’s husband stole from an organised crime ring, is made all the more difficult by the attraction that sizzles between them. Playing a role had never been so hard, and now, with a ruthless killer on the trail of the missing jewel as well, he needed his wits about him to keep them all alive.

This is an International giveaway so please leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky person chosen.

Winner will be contacted at the close of the blog hop - May 21th
Good luck - and don't forget to visit another few blogs listed below for more goodies to win :)


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Entangled Publishing's HOT new line - Dead Sexy

I'm very excited to be a part of the big cover reveal for DEADLY SECRETS, LOVING LIE by Cynthia Cooke.

Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies is the first book in Entangled Publishing's new romantic suspense line, Dead Sexy. What a cover huh?? And check out the blurb below (once you're finished gazing at that beautiful cover)  :)


Blurb:  
 Family secrets must be kept, and painful wounds must be ignored.
After an all-out assault by a vicious terrorist bent on destroying her entire family, a former government agent must break the strict rules she has always lived by when she emerges from hiding to reluctantly accept the help of her all-too-sexy ex-lover. Running a deadly race against time, they rush to rescue her kidnapped sister, find her missing father, and bring the notorious villain to justice. But nothing ever goes as planned. Bullets fly, danger abounds, and their passion reignites even faster than the lies are flowing. But their stubbornly held secrets just might spell the end of their rekindled love and hopes for the future...as well as their very lives.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/tags-on-product/B0082ZE10U/ref=tag_dpp_cust_edpp_sa
Connect with Cynthia at the links below:



Sunday, May 6, 2012

And the Winner Is...

Tiffany Allee!!!

Woohoo!! Congratulations Tiffany and judging by what you write, Affinity is the kind of story you'll (hopefully) enjoy :)

Happy reading!

Thanks everyone for joining in the fun and helping a girl out :)

Friday, May 4, 2012

Cast Your Vote - Be in to Win!

Okay people - serious help needed here please - AGAIN :)

I have the author photos back and have whittled them down to a few, but need your help to decide. I THINK I know which one (okay - make that two) photos I like best - but I'd really like to know your thoughts.

I might even be persuaded to give away an advanced PDF copy of my June 27th release, Affinity.
Check back on Sunday night (around 9pm Pacific Time)to find out if YOU are the winner.
Thank you so much!!

Let the voting begin.... :)

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3


Photo 4



Photo 5

Photos 1,2,4,5 Taken by Graeme Skinner
Photo 3 Taken by Ali Kimber-Bate 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Wild Rose Press turn 6!!


Pressies anyone? Stop by any of these links and be in to win!

Today is a Birthday Celebration!
It's our birthday and you get presents! Happy 6th Birthday to the Wild Rose Press. Spend the day with us on the Wild Rose Press blog, the Wilder Blog, the Editor's blog, the Black Rose Blog, on facebook, and Twitter.
You could win a Gift Certificate to
The Wild Rose Press stores or the grand prize- a Kindle Fire!
Winners today will be drawn from those at our party stops. So follow us, leave a comment, share our tweets, be our friend on FB and celebrate with us.
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/WildRosePress
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheWildRosePress
The Wild Rose Press Blog http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/
The Wilder Blog http://wilderroses.blogspot.com/
Behind the Garden Gate Editor's blog http://behindthegardengate.blogspot.com/
Black Rose Blog http://twrpblackrose.blogspot.com/