Wednesday Spotlight with Brenda Novak

Hello and welcome to Wednesday Spotlight! I have a very special treat today. My featured guest is NY Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak! And with a gorgeous backdrop of rolling green hills, lilacs, daffodils and red rose bushes, Brenda and I are sitting out in the English garden, talking about her sixth annual auction to raise money for diabetes research. Let’s have a warm welcome for Brenda Novak! Hello, Brenda. How are you on this lovely spring day?


Brenda: I’m fabulous—so glad that spring has sprung. I love the longer days of summer. Having been raised in Arizona for ten years, I also love the sun!


Oliver struts out onto the terrace, pushing a silver caddy full of coffee, tea and hot chocolate, along with a platter of blueberry scones, plump strawberries and Devonshire cream. Gracing Brenda with his most dazzling smile, he asks, “What may I get you, Ms. Novak?”

Brenda: I’ll pass on the coffee but would love a hot chocolate and a blueberry scone or anything that comes with a bowlful of Devonshire cream.


Sharon: And coffee for me, thank you, Oliver. Brenda, your annual auction is such a worthy cause. With diabetes being so near and dear to my heart, I cannot encourage people enough to participate in this event. Can you tell us a bit about it?

Brenda: The auction is such a fun thing to participate in! It runs every May (May 1 – May 31st) in honor of Mother’s Day at
http://www.brendanovak.com/


This will be my sixth year hosting it. Together with my friends, publishing contacts, diabetes research supporters and fellow authors, we’ve raised $770,000 so far. Our goal for this year is to break $1 million.

Sharon: With America in the lead, there are more than 230 million diabetics in the world, and the numbers are rapidly increasing. I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at the age of six and developed diabetic retinopathy in my early twenties. This condition causes fragile blood vessels to grow and rupture in the back of the eye and can lead to progressive blindness. And as much as I kept up with all the latest treatments with my retinal specialist, I still lost the battle ten years ago. Blindness is just one of the many complications resulting from this devastating disease. At least half of diabetics will develop some stage of retinopathy in his or her lifetime. But what’s even more frightening is type 2 diabetes because it can go undiagnosed for long periods of time. Tell us about that.

Brenda: Since my son also has Type 1, insulin-dependent, diabetes I’m not as familiar with Type 2. The good news is that it can very often be controlled through diet and exercise. When it can’t, however, it progresses to Type 1, which comes with a whole host of side effects. Blindness you’ve already mentioned, but there is also nerve damage that could result in amputations, heart disease, kidney failure, etc. Diabetes affects every major organ in the body (and some that aren’t so major).

Sharon: What continues to amaze me is the mystery shrouding the cause of diabetes. When I was diagnosed all those years ago, doctors at Children’s Hospital were quite confident it was a hereditary disease. And while it is a factor, there is still a degree of uncertainty. Some of the symptoms I experienced were an unquenchable thirst, frequent urination and severe weight loss. As it turned out, my body was not producing any insulin, the hormone necessary to convert food and sugar into energy. But this isn’t the case with type 2 diabetes, is it? Can you explain to readers what insulin resistance is, and how new research suggests lack of exercise and obesity may be a contributing factor?

Brenda: My understanding of insulin resistance is simply what you might guess from the words—the body builds up a resistance so that more and more insulin is required to offset high glucose levels in the blood, or something is required to help the body utilize what’s being made. Hormones can cause resistance in Type 1’s. I know that my son’s insulin needs changing often because he’s going through puberty, a particularly difficult time for a diabetic.

Sharon: With your son having diabetes, how do you both deal with it and what is a typical day like?

Brenda: My son must poke his finger to draw blood (in order to test his blood sugar levels) 5-8 times a day. He wears an insulin pump which must be inserted subcutaneously every three days. Since the needle necessary to do that is a significant one, this isn’t always an easy task. Moving it around to different areas of the body is imperative to avoid sores and possible infection, but there aren’t a lot of places where a plastic canula is comfortable (the waistband of his jeans can rub it or bend it such that it doesn’t work properly, etc.). Although doctors often tell me that I should be able to get his numbers stable enough that I won’t have to get up and test him in the middle of the night, I find that I must do this for my own piece of mind—and am often glad I did when I find him dangerously high or low, either of which can kill him.

Sharon: While there is still no cure for diabetes, the risk of complications has gone down considerably due to the treatment. When I was diagnosed, there were no glucometers to keep tabs on sugar levels. Testing blood sugars several times a day is key in determining the amount of insulin needed. This alone made a huge difference in my life, eliminating the guess work. Exercise is vital in keeping glucose numbers at an ultimate level. But there is also a down side. Sugar levels can drop rather quickly, can’t they? Can you tell us what can happen and what to look for with low sugar attacks?

Brenda: When my son goes low he gets very ill and shaky. He can’t think straight and may cry for no reason. It’s almost as if his “emotion bell” has been rung. If he goes *really* low, he can’t see or control his body and could lapse into a coma. The scary thing is that, the longer he has the disease, the less likely he is to be able to determine when he’s “going low.”

Sharon: So balance is the key, and not always an easy thing to achieve. Stress and excitement can cause levels to skyrocket or bottom out. Diabetes presents a challenge every minute of every day. Brenda, can you tell readers what a normal blood sugar should be and how easily one can be tested for the disease?

Brenda: A normal blood sugar should fall in the range of 90-110 or so (some can be as high as 120). A simple urine test can determine the presence of diabetes.

Sharon: Isn’t it time to find a cure for this devastating disease? This is why I commend Brenda for her efforts in raising money for research at her annual auction. Let’s make this year a huge success. What are some of the things people can do to help?

Brenda: I’m all for a cure. The great thing about the auction is that it’s a win/win situation for those who are as anxious as we are to find a cure and those who have no particular tie to diabetes at all. There are so many great items up for auction. Just having people go on and buy the gifts they’d normally buy elsewhere would help a great deal--and it should be exciting for the recipient of such gifts because we have so many unusual items on the auction (like getting your name inside a Christine Feehan book, an author who’s hit #1 on the NYT many times, or maybe lunch with Catherine Coulter or Diana Gabaldon). The auction offers many one-of-a-kind opportunities. It also offers fabulous business opportunities to published and aspiring writers. Every major publishing house has editors who have donated their time to do a read (consider a manuscript for publication). Some have even promised to respond within twenty-four hours—which is unheard of in the publishing world! Another way to help is to spread the word—tell friends and family and encourage them to get involved by either donating an item or shopping at the auction.

Sharon: And can you give us the date and address of your auction one more time?

Brenda: The auction runs May 1 – May 31st at

http://www.brendanovak.com/

Sharon: Thank you so very much for being my special guest today, Brenda! I wish you much success. I’ve donated several copies of Echo of a Raven, the book about my personal struggles with diabetes. Let’s all work together and make it happen.

Oliver waltzes onto the garden with a bouquet of red roses and hands them to Brenda with a sweeping bow and a big smile.

To learn more about Brenda and her amazing auction and books, visit her website:
http://www.brendanovak.com/

Author Roast and Toast

Hello and Happy Friday! Come join Oliver and I, along with Hywela Lyn and Mary Ricksen for a Medieval Banquet with Margaret Blake. Quite regal and we are saluting St. George.
http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Spotlight with Sharon Donovan

Hello! I have exciting news. Charade of Hearts has been contracted with Wild Rose Press Crimson as part of the Jewel of the Night series to be launched in November. And none other than Oliver is the romantic hero. Here’s a sneak preview.

scuba diving off the coast of Diamond Head with her diving partner on a quest to find a family heirloom, underwater photographer Dominique St. John witnesses his brutal murder and photographs it, ensnaring her in a deadly jewel ring. And when the investigating officer turns out to be her partner’s identical twin, a man she knew nothing about, her life becomes a Charade of Hearts.

Welcome to the world of greed, intrigue, deception and murder. And at its core is a blue diamond worth millions.

As honest as his twin was corrupt, Honolulu Homicide Detective Oliver Carvalho must convince Dominique that her diving partner and best friend was a crook. In a race against time, Oliver must rescue Dominique from a ruthless killer. But his biggest challenge proves to be mending a broken heart torn by betrayal that can only be redeemed by love.

Excerpt:

The fog in her head slowly cleared. She was on assignment in Hawaii, photographing the shipwreck that had taken her mother’s life. And while she’d been shooting pictures, Roberto had been scouring the ocean floor for her mother’s blue diamond. Her stomach tightened and cramped. It was all coming back. By some miracle, Roberto had managed to find the necklace. And just as they were about to surface, a diver came out of nowhere and stabbed him. Her eyelids flew open in shocked horror. Her heartbeat tripled, causing the soft beeping to crescendo to an ear-splitting shriek.

“Easy, Ms. St. John,” a nurse was at her side checking her vitals while a younger nurse adjusted the monitor.

“Roberto!” Dominique screamed, her voice a nasally squeak. Frustrated and annoyed, she yanked the tubing out of her nose and tried again. “My diving partner? Is he here? Roberto Carvalho?”

The woman’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Ms. St. John. I really don’t know anything about your partner. You were the only patient brought in by emergency helicopter. You’re at the Honolulu clinic. You have the bends from ascending too quickly.”

She needed to find out about Roberto. Who would know? Then it hit her. The owner of the charter boat. He would know. Dominique recalled him hoisting her onto the charter, removing her wet suit and then what? She remembered hearing a helicopter a split second before passing out. And she vaguely recalled telling him Roberto had been stabbed by a diver. Dear God. Killer sharks had been thrashing toward Roberto, jaws chomping. The words came out in a strangled moan. “The owner of the charter? Is he here?”

The nurse shook her head. “He stayed for a while to make sure you were all right. But he had to leave. But there is someone anxious to speak to you when you feel up to it.”

And that’s when Dominique spotted him, big as life, framing the doorway to the small room. He was fine; he’d survived the shark attack. His name caught in her throat. “Roberto! You’re alive! How…”

He strutted toward her, his narrow hips swaggering as he closed in on her, stirring her blood with a primal lust she had never felt. And those dark, broody eyes, so alive with passion, like fiery comets. She reached for him with her free hand. “Dear Lord, you’re safe! Thank God.”

He loomed above her, his lips pinched into a thin line. “I’m sorry, Ms. St. John, but I am not Roberto. He flashed a badge. “I am Detective Oliver Carvalho, Honolulu PD, Homicide. Roberto Carvalho was my identical twin brother.”

CHARADE OF HEARTS

COMING IN NOVEMBER FROM WILD ROSE PRESS CRIMSON! PART OF THE JEWEL OF THE NIGHT SERIES. STAY TUNED FOR COMING ATTRACTIONS.

Don’t want to miss out on release dates and contests? Want to keep up with Oliver’s debut as a romantic hero in a romantic suspense? Sign up for my newsletter today!

http://www.sharonadonovan.com/

Sharon Donovan

Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith

Author Roast and Toast

Looking for Oliver and I? Well, it's Friday, so we are hosting over at the Author Roast and Toast. And it's a beach party with Sara Humphreys. Come on over and join the fun!

http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Spotlight with Debra St. John

Hello and welcome to Wednesday Spotlight! My featured guest today is Debra St. John, and we are chatting about her latest release from Wild Rose Press.

WILD WEDDING WEEKEND

The parlor has been transformed into a makeshift game show studio. With the magnificent Chicago skyline as the drop back, the remarkable Sears Tower and futuristic marina come into view. Soft lighting casts the leather sofas and cherry wood floors in a dreamy glow. Oliver, donning the role of Master of Ceremonies, looks quite debonair in a black tuxedo. When the doorbell rings, he plucks a red rose from the vase of Waterford crystal and saunters off, humming the Dating Game theme song.

Sharon: Hello, Debra! Congratulations on the release of Wild Wedding Weekend. I’m sitting here thrilled to pieces to interview you about it. I’ve just read the excerpt and must send Oliver out for my copy.

Debra: Hi Sharon. Thanks so much for having me here today! I had so much fun writing WILD WEDDING WEEKEND, I hope everyone has as much fun reading it.

Oliver, still singing, wildly off tune, is behind the bar, whipping up a blender of strawberry daiquiris. And when he’s blended them to pure perfection, he sets the pitcher and chilled glasses on a silver serving tray and struts into the parlor, winking wildly at Debra.

At your service, love, and a large basket of your favorite munchies, Frosted Flakes.

Debra: Oliver you are a dear. (She pops a few sugar coated flakes into her mouth, gives a satisfying crunch, and closes her eyes with a blissful sigh.)

Sharon: Thank you, Oliver. (holds her glass to Debra in a toast) They’re perfect, aren’t they?

Debra: (She clinks her glass against Sharon’s.) Yes, indeed, they are. And the Flakes provide a sweet treat for my taste buds, and Oliver here (She winks at him.) provides the eye candy. Yum! What more could a girl ask for?

Sharon: So tell us where you came up with the concept of a game show for the theme for your latest book?

Debra: (Laughing a bit self-consciously, but still eyeing Oliver appreciatively.) I’d love to have a grand story to tell you about how the idea came to be, but to be honest, I really don’t remember the exact moment the idea came about. I just remember thinking, “Hey, what would happen if two strangers had to get married because of a game show?” Then, wa-la, a story was born.

Sharon: I love it! And the setting is Chicago, one of my favorite places. And that’s where you’re from. Such a historical city, and one I’m sure gives you plenty of ideas to write into your stories, right?

Debra: Chicago is a beautiful city, and while it’s home base for my characters, the main setting is the Caribbean. It’s there our hero and heroine succumb to the sultry allure of the islands and each other.

Oliver is back, pumping his biceps, his copy of Wild Wedding Weekend in hand. He smiles his beguiling smile. Might I have your autograph, sweetheart?

Debra: Oliver, darling, you may have anything you wish. (She winks again.) Anything at all.

Sharon: And while Oliver dishes out the charm, let’s read a blurb and excerpt:

Blurb:

All Abby Walker ever wanted was to live a normal life in her small suburban-Chicago house. After traveling around the world in her youth, staying put in one spot is a dream come true. But when she winds up on a game show as a favor to a friend, her life takes an adventurous turn she isn’t at all prepared for.

Noah Grant has put his small-town Indiana roots behind him. He travels all over the world, enjoying the freedom and adventure. He has no intention of settling down anytime soon, if ever. But then he finds himself married to Abby in a bizarre quirk of fate, and he realizes his life will never be the same.

Their passion flares as hot as the sultry Caribbean air. But is passion enough to turn their Wild Wedding Weekend into a lifetime of love?

Excerpt:

“I really am sorry.” Abby's mind whirled. The thoughts tangled. The Noah she’d spent the last couple of days with wasn’t anything like the man she’d imagined him to be. The man even he claimed to be. Who was the real Noah?

She didn’t have time to ponder the question, because he took both her hands in his, drawing her attention back to him. “Know this. While we’re married. For this week, this trip, this asinine show, I am committed to you.” He paused and raised one hand to tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear. “Totally. Completely. Committed. To you.”

With each word his voice and head lowered, until the last was a whisper against her lips. His hand slid around to the back of her neck, then up into her hair, unfastening the clip and tossing it aside. He tangled his fingers in the strands that fell free, using enough force to keep her from pulling away as he deepened the kiss.

Abby had no thoughts of moving even the slightest bit away. She wrapped her arms around him as the tip of his tongue teased the fullness of her bottom lip. When she opened to him and he dipped inside, she almost melted from the instant flood of liquid heat that suffused her body. The warmth spread to her limbs and made her pliant as, his mouth never leaving hers, Noah lowered them both to the bed.

Oliver swoons and passes out, a smile on his sweet lips…

Sharon: Wow, turn up the heat! I must have a copy, and quite obviously, Oliver neglected to purchase a copy for me in his haste. No raise for him. LOL Now, tell us about the main characters, Abby and Noah.


Debra: (Glances at Oliver’s prone form and fans herself with her hand.) Um, yes, it is a bit warm in here, isn’t it? (She blinks.) At any rate, Abby and Noah couldn’t be more different in the way they live their lives and what they want out of life. Of course, in the end, they realize what they really want out of life is each other.


Sharon: And you mention the Caribbean. I take it the game show sent them off to an exotic island for their wedding and honeymoon weekend? Where if you can tell us?

Debra: I sent Noah and Abby on a cruise through the Western Caribbean. They visit Key West, Cozumel, Calica, and Grand Cayman. It’s actually the same cruise my hubby and I took for our honeymoon twelve years ago.

Sharon: Ah, nothing better than first hand research. LOL Did you grow up on game shows such as the Dating Game and Love Connection?

Debra: They were definitely in my era, but I didn’t watch them much.

Sharon: I think no matter how the years pass, a dating game show will always win top ratings. Don’t you agree?

Debra: Absolutely. Look how popular shows like “The Bachelor” are these days.


Sharon: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? (Sharon gasps and clutches her heart) Not that writers have spare time, mind you. But on those rare occassions when you’re not promoting, editing or writing, what does Debra St. John do?


Oliver struts out with a huge cheese cake smothered in juicy red cherries. With a wicked wink, he slices a piece for Debra and feeds her a bite, waiting ever so patiently for her response.


Debra: (Closes her eyes on another blissful sigh.) Oh, Oliver, you do spoil me. (She opens her eyes and winks back at him.) Well, besides swooning over Oliver, in my free time I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, puttzing in my garden, or watching movies with my hubby.

Sharon: What fun! What’s next for you, Debra? What’s sitting on your hard drive now?


Debra: I have a book in the final editing stages with my editor at Wild Rose. THIS CAN’T BE LOVE is the spin-off of my first novel THIS TIME FOR ALWAYS. I’m also working on a new book about a couple who falls in love despite a lot of family obstacles.


Sharon: And we’ll look forward to them. Sadly, we are nearing the end of our interview. As you know, I adore legends and lore and superstitions. Can you leave me with a favorite of yours?


Debra: Hands down I’ll go with vampires. (She flutters her eyes coquettishly at Oliver.) Remember that party a couple of weeks ago when you were biting necks? (Her words trail off suggestively and she bares her throat in invitation.)

Oliver grins, his teeth transforming into glowing fangs…

Sharon: And finally, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Who do you fancy playing the role in a literary fiction or romantic movie? And last but not least, who would you want to play your romantic hero?

Debra: Wow! That’s a tough question. I’d have to say anywhere as long as my family and friends are there with me. Are we talking a movie version of WILD WEDDING WEEKEND? I’d have to say Kimberly Williams Paisley to play the part of Abby. And Matthew McConaughey as Noah. (I had originally based Noah’s looks on Brad Pitt, but he’s looking a bit funky these days with that scraggly goatee thing he’s sporting, so we’ll stick with Matthew.) Oh, and there’s a scene that calls for tuxedoed waiters. Perhaps Oliver would like to make his film debut? (She raises an eyebrow at him.)


Sharon:  Thank you so much for joining me today on Wednesday Spotlight, Debra. It’s been a pleasure, and I wish you great success with Wild Wedding Weekend. Can you tell us where we can purchase this book?


Debra: It’s available in print, e-book, and Kindle at various places. (The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.)

As the lights dim, Oliver sweeps Debra into his arms, gazing into her eyes as The Way You Look Tonight by Elton John floats through the parlor…


Bio:

Debra St. John has been reading and writing romance since high school. She always dreamed about publishing a romance novel some day.

Her debut release, "This Time for Always" is a Champagne Rose and Rosebud bestseller at The Wild Rose Press. "Wild Wedding Weekend" was released last week

."This Can't Be Love" will be her third title with The Wild Rose Press. She lives in a suburb of Chicago with her husband, who is her real life hero. Debra is past president of her local RWA chapter and has also served in the capacity of advisor, manuscript chair, and secretary.

Visit her at her website,
www.debrastjohnromance.com

. Or check out her posts on Sundays at the Acme Author’s Link,
http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

. She also posts on Thursdays at the Heroines with Hearts Blog,
http://heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com