Osiyo~

Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.

I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented friend and sister Lyrical-Kensington author today. Gemma Brocato is sharing her book Exposed To Passion with us!

Please show Gemma some real Ranch love!

Before I get too nosy, tell us a bit about you.

Oh gosh, there’s not much to tell. I’ve always been an avid reader and used to think some day I’d like to write a book. I even purchased a word-processing typewriter when my children were little, thinking I might start then. But the kids took priority, so I waited until they were in high school to even try. Since then, I’ve started and not finished three novels, but more importantly, I’ve finished and published four. I live in Kansas City, root for the Royals and Sporting KC and have finally quit my part-time job in favor of writing full-time. Oh, I also hate yard work.

Yard work is the pits! lol Okay, I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones.

My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?

My writing space varies by season. Usually in the summer months I like to write at my kitchen counter. The area is sunny and bright and I love the light in the space. In the winter, I favor my upstairs office. The leaves are off the trees, so it’s sunny that time of year (I like sunshine). Plus, there is a fireplace that turns on with the flip of a switch. The only exception to the seasons thing is when I near the end of the book. I seem to write every ending sitting in a corner on my couch.

For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?

The character names come pretty naturally. They seemed to be whispered in my ear and then I’m stuck with them. The title never comes so easily. The entire time I worked on Exposed To Passion, it was named Light and Shadow.

What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?

I’d encourage them to take as many craft classes as they can and internalize the information. It will come in handy throughout their writing careers. I’d also tell them it’s a marathon, not a sprint. This applies to writing, finding a publisher and then finding success as a published author.

That’s great advice, Gemma. The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?

Perseverance and the ability to think quickly. Being able to focus on your writing during times of flux is important too. Keep writing, because things will change again in five minutes.

That must be my problem…slow thinking. LOL Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?

Louisa May Alcott. Little Women is the first full-length novel I remember reading. I fell in love with Laurie (he was my first book boyfriend). I’d like to thank her.

It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆

Favorite animal? Dog

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall

Favorite food? Chicken and Dumplings

I love chicken and dumplings! Well done! 🙂

Okay, Flash four. Ready?

What are you working on now?

I’m finishing up book 4 in the Five Senses Series and I’ve just begun a new project for NaNoWriMo. This one is based in a chocolate shop.

Ooh wonderful! What are you sharing today?

Exposed to Passion.

They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the light together?

Leading a vagabond life as a curator for a traveling photography exhibit translates to a lot of bad days for Rikki Salerno. But her trouble doubles when a careless high school student shoves her into a marsh. Being rescued by teacher Sam Kerrigan should have made things better, but Rikki’s inability to confess her true identity casts a shadow over their budding affair.

When Sam refuses an overly aggressive parent’s marriage proposal, she’s determined to ruin him. Not only does she doctor photos to make it look like Sam’s behaved inappropriately in front of students, she hacks the foundation website to reveal Rikki’s true identity. Faster than the blink of a shutter, Rikki’s focus changes from pursuing her full-color future to the black and white necessity of clearing Sam’s name.

***

Excerpt:

“Holy cow! Consider me seduced.” She didn’t recognize her own voice. Desire rasped through it, whispery and thick at the same time. Allowing her finger to slip from the steamy confines of his mouth, he pressed a kiss to her palm, then released his hold. She curled her hand into a fist around the kiss he’d left, hoping to hold onto the heat and lingering sensation.

“Oh, Jesus. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. It was too fast, wasn’t it? I mean, we only just met…but I thought, I mean, you seemed to want…and you didn’t say no. Christ, I’m so sorry.” Sam’s tone rattled with a misplaced apology. “I have no excuse. I’m a horndog.”

He eased her away from his chest and helped her to sit up, then pushed himself upright and scooted a respectful distance from her.

The apology in his tone and the loss of his body heat hit her like a cold slap. His words stung. He regretted kissing her. The tingly pulses zipping from her fingertip to her heart did nothing to tamp down the hurt. She hadn’t wanted him to stop. Normally the queen of snarky retorts, words failed her now.

***

Where can we find you and your books?

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Exposed-Passion-Senses-Gemma-Brocato-ebook/dp/B00MMMGY18

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exposed-to-passion-gemma-brocato/1120138660?ean=9781616506162

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/exposed-to-passion/id908402553?mt=11&uo=4

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hearts-in-harmony-1

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/exposed-to-passion

Kensington: http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/30951?category=313085

Social Media Links:

www.Gemmabrocato.com

https://www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato

https://twitter.com/GemmaBrocato

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7229886.Gemma_Brocato

http://www.wattpad.com/user/GemmaBrocato

https://plus.google.com/+GemmaBrocato/posts

Also By Gemma Brocato:

Cooking Up Love

Hearts In Harmony

A Winter Wedding

Where will you be next?

Tomorrow I’ll be visiting with Juliette Cross. Her novel, Soulfire, from Lyrical Press released the same day as Exposed To Passion. You can find me here: http://www.juliettecross.com/blog

Conversation starter – Now, I’ve told you about the book that inspired my interest in romance novels. Will you share your with me?

Rafflecopter Giveaway for one US Winner Only.

One Digital Copy of Exposed To Passion, One Leather Brighton London Flat Pouch, Assorted Picture Frames, $25 Amazon Gift Card, $15 Starbucks Gift Card. For one US Winner only. Prize package valued at $185.00

Runs 10/20/2014 – 11/20/2104

Click this link for  A Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for playing along Gemma! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.

Dodadagohvi~