Jori for the WIN!

I didn't mention this on my blog last week, but Torn Canvas was an InD'Tale Magazine RONE Award finalist for best New Adult book--and the awards ceremony was Saturday night (my birthday).

What a shock it was on Saturday night when my friend Danyelle Ferguson (who accepted it for me and won in her own category for Sweet Confections) who posted this picture on Facebook! I was at a writing retreat and we all started squealing.

I have to mention how much I loved my main character in Torn Canvas, Jori Virtanen. He was sooo flawed because of something awful that happened to him as a teen. In many ways, he became like the monster who perpetrated the wrong on him.

Yet that wasn't who he was. This story is his journey out the misery that was created for him and then he unknowingly embraced. It's very much a story of redemption.

And a love story.

With pirates.

And painting.

Danyelle said I really needed to prepare an acceptance speech. I thought it was a waste of time, but I'm really grateful now that I took her advice. Here's what I had her read for me:

I cannot express how thrilled I am to have won this award—crazy considering I’m a writer, right? I’m sad I couldn’t be there in person, but I want to thank my friend Danyelle Ferguson for accepting on my behalf. 

I’d like first to honor my fellow nominees. I know what goes into the crafting of a book, and I value their hard work and dedication. Thank you!  

Others I want to thank are those involved with the RONE awards—the reviewers, the fans, the judges, and the staff at InD’Tale magazine, who make this all happen. I’d like to thank my critique group who helped me shape this story, but especially to my editor Katharina Brendel who, with her insightful questions and observations, helped me see how this story should be told.

I’d also like to thank my husband Edward for his undying support and encouragement. I couldn’t have a better fan. I couldn’t do this without him. 

This award means the world to me. We writers are readers first, and it’s our love of storytelling the fuels our tales. Thank you all!"

Um. Yeah. I had a great weekend.

How about you?

Monday Meandering

Two weeks until the official release of Torn Canvas. The paper copy's actually already available. But don't tell anyone.

I've decided to maybe be a little more focused on my Monday randomness. I like what Emily King is doing over at her blog and sharing on Mondays a little of what she's been up to.

I've gotten through a couple of books this week. One was by Karey White. You might recognize her as one of the Ripple Effect series authors.

It's called My Own Mr. Darcy and is also a finalist for a RONE award. I totally know why. Great book. This is my second book by her. I will be reading more.

I read another one that I will not name because I didn't like it. Total bummer of a story, so it wasn't the kind I like. Lots of other people may love it.


With family visiting from China again in July, I decided to be part of an unofficial June summer NaNo group. I've begun work on Safe Harbors #3. The working title is Swing Vote. This story will have a lot of political overtones because of the nature of the story. The main character is Marc North, who is the younger brother of Lyn North from A Change of Plans. He's a former Marine who ends up in Utah to help a buddy who wants to start up a helicopter sightseeing business. I chose Utah because the state's amazingly scenic but also before I'm VERY familiar with the election laws.

Already the story's going in a little different direction than I've been imaging. That's something I love about writing new words. I may think I know what path I'm going down, but the trip is so lovely I often find myself wandering other ways.

Torn Canvas Launch Date and a Nomination

Two big events for me today!

First, now that I've set the release date for Torn Canvas, it's time to show my purty cover.

Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Jori struggles to make a new life for himself as an artist while evading the press. They expect a hero, but he knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast.

Olivia Howard’s given up a normal life for her job, and the sacrifices are finally paying off. The twenty-six-year-old talk-show host’s ratings are heading to the top of the charts. Her dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, but the studio wants mind fluff—like interviewing hot model Jori Virtanen. When Olivia learns the guy helped rescue passengers on a cruise excursion from kidnappers, she knows this is the story she needs to make her case. The only problem is the hero was injured, and now he’s disappeared.

The more Olivia learns about the man behind the scar, the more intrigued she becomes. But Jori is no girl’s happily ever after. Once she finds him, Olivia has to free his heart and heal the beast.

Funny story about the cover. 

As my cover designer (Melissa Williams aka author Michelle Argyle) and I worked out the details, I struggled a little with that dang open shirt.

Yes. Torn Canvas is an adventure romance (like A Change of Plans).

Yes, I chose this picture because of a scene in Torn Canvas.

But I also write clean romance. I didn't want to lead any potential readers astray. Don't ever mess with a reader's expectations by giving them a cover that makes them think a clean romance is going to be steamy.

I looked at the first design (very similar to the above but the title banner was opaque). I saw that navel and thought, "Um ...."

So, Michelle moved the banner lower on the cover to hide the navel. Oh, great. Now the guy's nipple was prominent. Ugh! That was worse.

So, navel or nipple?

Uh, clean romance here. The navel won.

The official launch date for Torn Canvas is June 16th.

If you'd be willing to help with the blog tour, the signup is here.

And thank you!

Second--as if this post isn't long enough--I have one more favor to ask.

A Change of Plans has been nominated for a RONE Award, and the voting for my category is THIS week. You need to sign up with InD'Tale magazine to vote, but it's free and painless.

My category is New Adult, and you can find it here. I would love your vote!

To the right is the review that won me the nomination.