Advent Calendar Day 11 #WendyLouJones

Behind door 11 is Wendy Lou Jones.

When I asked Wendy if she'd like to come on my blog and share Richard Armitage, her reply was; "Share Richard Armitage? Are you mad?"

I think you'll like who she shares. Take it away, Wendy! 

Christmas Eve is my favourite part of the season. The crib service down the church followed by my meal - honey-glazed gammon with cloves and dauphinoise potatoes, with sprouts and red cabbage on the side. Yum. Then it's something silly on the telly with all the whole family gathered round, sweets and treats laid out on the hearth and a kind of subdued excitement all around. Christmas lights are on, everyone is happy and nobody is spoiled or tired or bored or grumpy, just happy knowing tomorrow is Christmas. before bed, the kids set out the snack for Father Christmas and as they tuck down for the night, their dad reads them the same story. Twas the night before Christmas...

That's the best part of Christmas for me, the calm before the storm; the bit where we are reminded of why we have it and for a little while, all is right.

And who would I choose to keep me warm this Christmas? Chris Evans, my latest hero from my WIP. He's definitely hot and like father Christmas, he can also fly. :-)

The Summer We Loved 

Forgiving yourself can be the hardest task of all.

Dr Peter Florin is the sexy bad boy of St Steven’s hospital. Despite his love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude, every woman still wants him – and nurse Jenny White is no exception. For one night she thought she saw the real Pete, but ever since then he’s kept his distance and so she has kept hers…

Only Pete is a man haunted by a dark childhood and a tragic loss, and as she watches him spiral down into despair, Jenny realises she might be the only one who can drag him back. So she does – at the risk of her own, already bruised and battered heart. For no matter what she tells herself, such a man is surely impossible to change – and even more impossible to resist.

A brand new emotionally gripping love story from Wendy Lou Jones.

Buy links:
http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/the-summer-we-loved/

http://wendyloujones.weebly.com/

HarperImpulse Author Spotlight - Wendy Lou Jones

Entering the second week of #HIFortnight, today I have Wendy Lou Jones on the HarperImpulse Author Spotlight.

Biography

My name is Wendy Lou Jones. I was born and raised in West Sussex, England and moved to Birmingham to study Medicine at University, where I was lucky enough to meet my husband. We now live in a little village in Herefordshire with our two grubby boys. I discovered a love of writing not long after my youngest son started school. And if you were to ask me what it was that made me make the switch, I’d tell you quite simply, that it started with a dream.

@WendyLouWriter

Website: www.wendyloujones.weebly.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/escapeintolove

Amazon buy link: www.smarturl.it/wendybymyside

Multi-store buy link: www.harperimpulseromance.com/books/by-my-side

By My Side – blurb

Betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, Lena is left empty; trapped under a weight of guilt and loneliness. Then, at her lowest point and when she needs it most, a mysterious stranger comes into her life with a tale of friendship, family, and finding love in the most unexpected of places…

Katy Heath is definitely not thinking of love when she comes across consultant, Adam Elliott, berating some poor patient on the ward one day. In fact it is Dr Peter Florin who quickly has everyone’s hearts aflutter with his easy smiles and practised charm.

Yet Katy comes to realise that there’s more to Adam than his determination to push everyone away and it’s not long before she finds herself longing to reach out to touch the man within, healing the pain of his past.

As Lena is drawn into Katy’s story, she begins to learn – just as Katy does - that the course of true love never did run smooth.

Wendy has a book trailer for her third book... Check it out below!

Advent Calendar - Day 3

Wendy Lou Jones is behind door number 3... 

Wendy is providing some Richard Armitage eye-candy for you. Who doesn't love Richard? He's got to be better than chocolate, right?

Wendy says: 

Richard Armitage (be still my beating heart) sat 'By My Side' throughout the writing of this story, as he was my inspiration for the character, Adam Elliott. The story is set throughout the winter and reaches a peak around Christmas time, so I thought I would share it with you now. Not Richard, though, just the story; let's not jump the gun here. ;-) In fact, to be precise, he sat on my husband's chair, opposite me. Not in the flesh, it's sad to say, although my husband is probably grateful for that, but the picture my husband bought me for Christmas last year. I would talk to it while I was writing and say things like, "You wouldn't do that, actually, would you? What would you do?" 

It's sad, I know, but this is my cross to bear, and I do it so well. :-) So I rootled around on the computer and found a Merry Christmas picture from Adam Elliott and myself. Merry Christmas, everyone.

By My Side – Blurb

Betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, Lena is left empty; trapped under a weight of guilt and loneliness. Then, at her lowest point and when she needs it most, a mysterious stranger comes into her life with a tale of friendship, family, and finding love in the most unexpected of places…

Katy Heath is definitely not thinking of love when she comes across consultant, Adam Elliott, berating some poor patient on the ward one day. In fact it is Dr Peter Florin who quickly has everyone’s hearts aflutter with his easy smiles and practised charm.

Yet Katy comes to realise that there’s more to Adam than his determination to push everyone away and it’s not long before she finds herself longing to reach out to touch the man within, healing the pain of his past.

As Lena is drawn into Katy’s story, she begins to learn – just as Katy does- that the course of true love never did run smooth.

Hump Day Hot Seat: Wendy Lou Jones

Today I have Wendy Lou Jones in the hot seat! 

Wendy and I are newly acquainted writers, thanks to the lovely Harper Impulse publishing our debut novels. Also, Wendy helped me with the blog post title, hence it's called Hump Day Hot Seat.

I gave Wendy the same set of questions I gave Annalisa, so you can compare answers later.
So here goes... 

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
No. Definitely a late developer there.


Did you manage to get the first book you wrote published, or is it tucked in a drawer somewhere?
Tucked away. I’m reworking my second one at the moment and that has been a real eye opener as to how far I've come! Yikes.

What’s so special about your hero that makes your heroine fall in love with him?
Andy is honest, brave, tender, thoughtful, devoted to her and fit. :) What’s not to love?

Why do you like writing romance?
Falling in love, it’s just the best thing. The more longing and yearning, the better.

What do you read while you write, or don’t you?
I read less while I’m actually creatively writing, but it’s romance, of course.

Do you have a favourite author?
No. I try new people all the time. I find I get bored listening to the same style too much.

What advice would you give to new writers?
Read books on how to write, assess what you are reading and then go with your gut.

What things inspire you to write? Location, music, film or even in a book?
Situations give me the ideas. The Songbird and the Soldier happened because I wrote to a soldier in the Kuwait conflict; the book I’ve just submitted came from a dressing down I got from a consultant surgeon when I was a junior doctor and the one I’m working on at the moment came from noticing an unusually dressed guy at a ploughing match one day. But it is the music that puts me in the mood. I listened to James Blunt on repeat for a solid year whilst writing Songbird.

What is next on your agenda after publishing your (first) book?  The next book.


Chocolate or ice cream? CHOCOLATE!


Dogs or cats? Guinea-pigs.


Ha ha! Yes, my answer to that last question would currently be gerbils. Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Good luck with your debut book, The Songbird and The Soldier. 

About Wendy Lou Jones:

Wendy lives in Herefordshire with her husband and two grubby boys. She used to be a doctor (in a former life), but now spends her days dreaming up romantic heroes to fall in love with.

About The Songbird and the Soldier: 

Sometimes it’s when you least expect it, that something wonderful happens, but for Andy Garrington the timing couldn’t have been worse. Being sent halfway round the world to Afghanistan, Andy is prepared for a fight, but what he doesn’t expect is the most important battle of his life to carry on at home.

For Samantha Litton, running into her childhood crush at the pub one evening seems like good fortune. But when he is called away to war and she is left behind, things don’t seem quite so clear and Sam has to determine who is telling her the truth and who is playing her for a fool, when all seems fair in love and war. 

You can find Wendy Lou Jones on Twitter / Facebook