Jane Beckenham's Weblog

Two contracts in one day!

janebeckenham — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:48:26 +0000

Exciting news!At last I can shout it out.January saw me offered two contracts – and would you believe it, both on the same day! Red Rose Publishing have offered me a second contract. This is for No Sex Necessary, a contemporary romance set here in New Zealand. The second contract was from Cerridwen Press which is part of Elloras Cave for a time travel/romance set in the time of Henry 8^th, tentatively titled Love in Waiting. So I’m very pleased with the start to the new year. Here is an excerptNo Sex Necessary

She sensed him at first. Bold and assessing. A lion on the prowl. Swiveling in her chair, Tara searched the vast marble lobby of Charteris Developments for the man responsible for the unrestrained panic channeling through every fiber of her being.Dark chocolate eyes, deep and mysterious stared blatantly back, the stranger’s interest apparent. One ebony brow arched and the corners of his full mouth curved upwards slightly. It sent a prickling awareness creeping up her spine, when she should be thinking of something else—and definitely not lust! The hunt for the dreaded dollar should be foremost in her mind right now, not eye candy.The air around her thickened with a scandalous lustful heat. Palpable. So real, she believed she could almost reach out and touch it.The man picked up his briefcase and her gut clenched into a rigid knot. She swallowed hard. Surely he wasn’t coming her way. Sparks of heat cascaded through her veins and the hairs on the back of her neck tingled. Flustered, she quickly turned away and yanked her jacket across her chest as if to protect herself.From what…or should that be whom?

The answer was easy. From herself.

Happy reading everyone. Jane Beckenhamwww.janebeckenham.com

One week into 2008

janebeckenham — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:12:36 +0000

Okay, January 7th 2008 already. What have I done, achieved.Zilch, baby. Nada. Oh, well, i tell myself that’s okay, i’m still in holiday mode, but then how long does that particular mode go on…all year long? But then my friend Melody Knight, who also writes as ND Hansen-Hill has done brilliantly. In the 1st five days of this year, the lady was offered 3 – yes 3!!! book contracts. Hows that? Brilliant I say. She’s a writing machine. All power to her. And so…as six a.m. filtered through the curtains and hubby hauled his cute butt out of bed ready for a new day at the coalface, I decided it was time this gal got her (cute! yeah right) butt out of said bed and placed it firmly at the computer face. That done, it’s now 7 a.m. and I’ve finished the edits of my current WIP – an historical set in the time of the Huguenots fleeing France – late 1600s – This mind you was editing that should have been done a loooong time ago. But hey, it’s done and i can move on to new things. No – not back to bed.Writing. Creating. I don’t think i’m in the same groove as i was in 2007, but i’m there. Sort of. Trying. And isn’t it the trier that gets there in the end, hopefully winning the race?So, if you’re like me and not quite into the productive business of non-holiday action, then come on, what’s stopping you. Get moving,. Okay, you can do it slowly, but move. Start now!Happy reading everyone. By the way Hiring Cupid was nomianted as Reviewer’s Choice on Love Romances. Was thrilled with that. Makes all the hard work worthwhile.Jane Beckenhamwww.janebeckenham.com

Santa has come early

janebeckenham — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:08:11 +0000

Jingle bells to everyone. Am so excited. I lurrve Christmas. and of course down here in NZ it’s summer time. Though I must say our weather isn’t exactly summer yet. Warm and humid, but a bit too much cloud and rain for my liking!

But too bad, i’m too happy to worry about the weather. Santa came yesterday! A courier dropped off my print copies of He’s The One! Oh it looks so yummy. Hero Cade Harper is definitely hunk material. Mind you, so is his brother Zane. His story is in the pipeline!

Check it out at Fictionwise

Here’s a brief teaser for ya!

Happy holidays one and all

Jane Beckenham www.janebeckenham.com

HE’S THE ONE ..:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

By Jane Beckenham

From Linden Bay Romance

She knew that to Cade Harper, she must have seemed like a prim little girl, about to be bad.

Without speaking, Cade opened the car door and she slid in, careful not to get too close. However, once seated Taylor wasn’t so sure accepting his offer was a good idea. The interior was small and far too intimate and only served to fire her wayward hormones.

In clipped tones, she gave him her address and retreated into silence.

As the car eased out of the car park, excitement, fear and anticipation all rolled into one coursed through her veins. It forced Taylor to focus on emotions she’d never experienced before and she felt totally inadequate. Nothing in her life had prepared her for Cade. Being engaged to Rob held nothing on being taken for a ride by Cade Harper.

And there lay her problem.

“So how come wedding planning? Don’t the couple and their families do that?” Cade asked as they drove through the silent suburb.

Her tension eased with a sigh of relief. This was her forte and at last she could relax. “In the past, yes. But today people want something different.”

“And you can give it to them?” he questioned. Although Cade drove, Taylor read the true interest in his expression. She smiled, and then chuckled with laughter.

“What?” And he gave her a comical expression, “what did I say wrong?”

“Nothing. It’s just the same expression I’ve seen many times before. The grooms would be happy with a tent and few beers, then the bride gets some ideas and it’s never the same again. Horrified groom versus excited bride.”

“So what do you do?”

“Dr Phil says, if the ‘wife ‘aint happy, then no one else will be either’. So seems to me there’s a bit of meeting in the middle to get it sorted.”

Cade looked suitably appalled, then refocused on the road. “And does it—get sorted I mean?”

“Mostly.”

“So what sort of weddings, besides expensive, do you conjure up for ‘happy’ couples?”

“Fantasy of course,” she said proudly. “I create fantasies and give the couple the dream wedding they’ve always wanted.”

Cade brought the Mustang to a halt right outside her house. The night-light switched on automatically. Taylor frowned. No necking on the doorstep. She’d have to get rid of that light first thing in the morning.

He switched the engine off and suddenly everything was silent.

“What about your dreams, Taylor?”

Being asked the questions…an author interview

janebeckenham — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:53:53 +0000

Just had a great experience of being in the ‘other’ seat, as I was interviewed by Joyce Anthony. You can check out her great questions and my…answers here. Would love to know what you think!

Mind you, i said I was writing …liar, liar.

I’ve hardly had a moment to write, life just gets in the way sometimes and I suppose at this time of year, it’s so true. Presents, parties, …too much to do, and not enough hours in the day. (A frown here)…Have I said this before? Think so!

Am trying to work out what I’m cooking for Christmas day. Of course down under it’s summer, so hard to think about slaving over a hot stove. But Pavlova is in store, so if you check back in the next few days, I’ll hopefully write up the pavlova receipe. It’s to die for, and absolutely no good for the figure!

happy reading

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com

Author gathering

janebeckenham — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:57:46 +0000

Such a lovely day yesterday. You know the kind, when you’re excited because you’re catching up with friends. Well I had a meeting scheduled with authors ND Hansen-Hill, Melody Knight and Yvonne Walus. We try and get together once a month, offically to talk about what we’re working on, but hey, when u get a bunch of gals together, it’s talk talk talk. Yvonne has just come back from South Africa, promoting her book Murder @ Work and told us all about it. While ND was buzzing with news that Harriet Klausner (a NYT reviewer!) has given her book Erratic a fab review… check it out here.

Me… i’m still buzzing too about the sale of my next book to Red Rose Publishing and the fab reviews of Hiring Cupidand He’s the One

Of course the festive season is coming up fast, and I’m rushing to get it all sorted, so that the days leading up to it are stress free – ha ha ha – I live in hope. Anyway, back to work!

Happy reading

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com

TGIF

janebeckenham — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:04:03 +0000

Yippee, it’s here. But come Monday morning, will you be able to say, it was a good one, you’ve done everything you set out to do, achieved it all?

Why is it, that every Friday night, I think ok, what do i want to achieve. In my list(yes sadly I’m a list maker), everything is about work. Housework, writing, cleaning, gardening (ugh! but the weeds are a mile high), more housework, and cooking the starving family. Did i mention housework.

So where is the relaxation in this time? Where is down time, fun, me time?

Nowhere, baby. Nada. Zip-o.

Sad…but true?

And why? Because like many women I forget about ME. It becomes all about THEM. Even the dog gets to relax.

So note to self… relax this weekend…and I’ll report back on Monday as to whether RELAX went to the top of the list…or not!

Happy reading…oooh, one thing I can finally relax about, coz it was bugging the heck out of me, i’ve finally got my web site updated…yay for me …well the lady that did it…. check it out… www.janebeckenham.com

Cya

Jane

i’ve figured it out

janebeckenham — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:59:23 +0000

Okay, I think i’ve finally figured it out. In today’s world, women are meant to be able to do it al…right? Well, I can’t. I’ve tried. But …okay i’ll have to admit it. I’m a failure in the superwoman category. Just can’t do it. Basically, I’ve gone gray trying, hence a very hurried trip to the hairdressers for the all over dye job! I can write, I can cook, clean, bring up the squirts, do a million and one things, but I just cannot do the techno stuff. Nope. No way. So as I say, i’ve figured it out. Get someone else to DO IT!

And I have. Stephanie Booysen has just upgraded my web site for me. Loading stuff that should have been on there ages ago. We’re doing it in stages, the reviews need to go up next.

So i’d love you to take a squizz at it (look LOL) www.janebeckenham.com Let me know what you think.

and with that.. i’m off to do another thing i can do… go to work!

take care all

Jane Beckenham

Where love, honor and romance come together at the turning of a page.

www.lindenbayromance.com

Could God give us 30 hours a day… please

janebeckenham — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:17:07 +0000

You know there really is never enough hours in the day… or should that be sleeping is for wooses (is that a word?)

But you get the idea. The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride. Book release, new contracts, editing, new part time job which expanded somewhat, plus family commitments, helping teen study (like really that is going to happen), and on it goes. But isn’t there a saying about if you want to get something done ask a busy person…or is it do yourself. Anyway, busy is as busy does and this busy gal is busy busy busy. Trying to get another book underway and it is sort of working apart from the fact that the characters will not do what i want them to do. I want them to leave the store they’ve been inadvertently locked in, but oh no, somehow these two have conjured up a snow storm and will they leave…not on your nelly they won’t, but then i think they have an ulterior motive. Sex! That’s what it is. I mean think of all the places in a department store that could be …well you get the idea.

And so on my days…and nights go. Work, work- and i love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. I have a great hubby of nearly 25 years and 2 fab girls who we adopted from Velikye Luki, Russia 11 years ago. So yep, life is absolutely what you make it.

Hope you’re making yours just how you’d like it.

Happy reading to all

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com

What a fab review to wake up to

janebeckenham — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:48:55 +0000

Hello all, long time no write – that’s life again getting away, love it, plus i’ve just taken on a part time job and my writing time is decimated!

But today i had a fabulous email to wake up to. A review from The Romance Studio of a fabulous review for my new release HE’S THE ONE. Check out the review below.

HE’S THE ONE BY Jane Beckenham
Contemporary romance
Available from Linden Bay Romance
ISBN: 978-1-60202-071-9
October 2007

This was a beautiful love story which included all the necessary elements to make it close to perfect—an alpha male, an equally stand-out female, sensual dialogue, hidden personal agendas, and mind-boggling sex! How can an author go wrong with that scenario? The make up of the two main characters was dynamic and interesting. They were an exceptionally well-written man and woman who not only had succeeded in their own business, but also carried lots of baggage from the childhood into their current life.Taylor Sullivan had a great business as a wedding planner; she, however, had one specific problem. When her clients would ask her about sex, she had no experience. Then she met “Mr. Perfect-for-the-Job;” Cade Harper, the best man in one of her recent weddings. He owned a successful group of bars in the area and was, presently, planning a new business. Taylor approached this ‘love-em and leave-em’ man with her proposition! If he would teach her about sex, she would help him plan his new business. After all, neither of them did forever—right?

This plot was unique and interesting; I found myself drawn, immediately, into the book and had a hard time putting it down! The conflicts each of them lived with were not easily shared and, even though Taylor’s assistant, Nita, was aware of her brilliant family, Taylor was not eager to share her inadequacies. Cade had a younger brother and sister who he felt responsible for; they were very inquisitive about Cade’s relationship with Taylor, but he refused to share his feelings, as always.

I found that Ms. Jane Beckenham, although new to me, has great ability to share her story and kept my interest from page one until the very last! Though there were obstacles and conflicts to overcome, she continued to build the storyline to greater levels. The sensual scenes were well written and tasteful. The story had great sex, but an equally wonderful story. This is one for the “keeper file!” I absolutely loved it!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

So you can see how this made my day. He’s the One and my earlier book Hiring Cupid are availiable in both print and ebook at Linden Bay, Amazon and Ficitonwise.

Happy reading everyone.

Jane Beckenham

www.janebeckenham.com

How life gets away…

janebeckenham — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:34:54 +0000

It’s been a frantic week or so. And smack my hand for not blogging. But it seems things get dropped don’t they when life gets out of control as it does sometime. Mother has been in hospital, editors tossing urgent edits at me, agent wanting some chapters, housework…well that’s another story.

But the exciting news is the galleys (last edits) of my new release – HE’S THE ONE – are done. I’m so very excited. As i read the book, I couldn’t help smiling, laughing. That Cade Harper is one sexy hunk. He oozes charm from the page.

So keep an eye out for it at Linden Bay Romance

Sadly it’s not up on my web site, I’m challenged technically – horror of horrors in this 21st century, but i promise i’ll put it up next week, but in the meantime there is heaps you can check out on my web

Happy reading

Jane Beckenham