Get Fresh With VAMPIRES! A lively Discussion & Celebration of Pop Culture Literature with Candace Havens, Rosemary Clement-Moore & Gwen Reyes

Fresh Fiction and Barnes & Noble presents...

Getting Fresh with Vampires

Saturday, November 14th @ 5:00 PM

Barnes & Noble Lincoln Park

Join Fresh Fiction’s Gwen Reyes for a lively discussion about vampires in
today’s literature & pop culture with Special Guests Candace Havens & Rosemary Clement-Moore

They'll be taking on the Twilight crowd and talking about vampires, Bella,
Diaries, Edward and much much more! Special treats available!!!

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Fresh Pick | DRAGONS PREFER BLONDES by Candace Havens

Caruthers Sisters #2
July 2009
On Sale: July 7, 2009
Featuring: Alex Caruthers; Ginjin; Jake
304 pages
ISBN: 0425227804
EAN: 9780425227800
Trade Size
$14.00

Fantasy Urban, Romance Paranormal

Buy at Amazon.com

Dragons Prefer Blondes
by Candace Havens

Fighting evil in four-inch Pradas...

Second in the paranormal series featuring the Caruthers sisters, party girls who save the world—between cocktails.

Alex Caruthers is a sassy socialite who knows when it’s time to turn in her dancing shoes and kick some serious dragon booty. But when Ginjin—the dragon warrior who’s tried to kill her numerous times—chooses her as his mate, Alex finds herself in a situation that’s too hot to handle.

For help she turns to Jake, head of Caruthers security—and a total hottie in a suit—and asks him to pose as her boyfriend. Their relationship might be fake, but Alex can’t deny that one touch from Jake makes her burn hotter than any dragon could.

Previous Picks

Sara Reyes | Author + Books + Video = Excitement?

I always tell people -- find something to do that connects with your passion in life and you'll be successful! And the rule has proved itself over and over again. My passion is books and reading. My talent, if it can labeled, is remembering what I've read and making connections. I connect readers with books. If I know someone likes a certain type of book: say historical with lots of sexual tension but with emotion, I'll say try Mary Balogh or Mary Jo Putney or Loretta Chase. Because those authors will make you weep, laugh and sigh. If someone likes gritty urban fantasy I point them to Kim Harrison or Kelley Armstrong because you'll find a fast paced action packed adventure in a world that is familiar and yet, not. Well, you get my drift. I'm fortunate as I read fast and I've read steadily for a loooong time!

Fun Books You Should Get!

But I've also been able to meet authors, and authors are wonderful people, especially after you get them to open up about their work. Then you can see the passion in their eyes and the emotion in their voice as they tell me about the twists and turns of their plots but usually and most importantly about the characters. It's a fascinating conversation and I never get bored listening.

This has been a week for authors and their passions. Last Saturday we had a signing with three funny and talented ladies -- Dakota Cassidy, Michele Bardsley and Candace Havens. Now, one-on-one they are all entertaining but you put them in the same room and they light up the place! They played off each other and engaged the audience in their back stories, their characters and the varied worlds they create. In the end we all spent more money than anticipated, but that's the fun of meeting authors.

But wait, we're not done ... read the rest and see how YOU can win some prizes this weekend!

Candace Havens | Superhero, Anyone?

I know, this a tough decision for any woman. I mean, it’s something I ponder at length. I’ve even dreamed about it on occasion. I feel like this is the time to really delve deep and figure out the answer to the question:

If I had a choice would I sleep with Superman or Batman?

In a perfect world, I’d get both. I mean, someone on. They are both super hot, even without their capes. My friends and I used to play this game Breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee. We’d pick celebrities and then say what meal we’d like to share with them. Breakfast usually meant a sleepover.

I’m saying straight up, with no reservations, I’d have breakfast with Superman and Batman. No problemo.

But like I said, this isn’t a perfect world, so I have to pick one. Let’s look at the con’s first. Superman, has so much strength, that one has to worry if he were to lose himself in the throes of passion, well, one might get squished. And there’s that whole faster than a speeding bullet. Fast isn’t always a good thing.

Curious to know the answer? Read on...

Candace Havens | Secrets and Siblings

I grew up an only child, and I really liked it. (Smile) Except for the fact that I love to play board games and cards, and I didn’t always have a playmate.

But I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of siblings.

That’s why there are four Caruthers sisters and one brother in my new book "The Demon King and I." I wanted to write about that interaction between siblings. I have first hand experience after watching my own children, but I also did some research by hanging around and learning to understand how my friends interact with their brothers and sisters.

Take my friend Shannon’s comment about how one of her brother’s dresses. We were Christmas shopping a few years ago and she talked about how she bought him some decent clothes so he would wear something besides a t-shirt and jeans. It was her subtle way of telling him to grow up. I didn’t realize it, until just this moment but that sort of ended up in The Demon King and I. (Please, don’t tell her.)

I watched as another friend interacted with her two sisters. That dynamic was very interesting because the middle sister, my friend, has become the peacekeeper in the family. There is this constant battle for her to keep everyone happy, though it seldom works out that way.

My two best friends, Shannon and Rosemary, have become like sisters to me. We even have our own little family dynamic, though I’m pretty sure we are much kinder to one another than most siblings. But we can talk about anything, which is something I love.

So I want to know about you and your siblings. Are you like my kids, who grump at each other constantly but when the chips are down they are there for one another? They both have this thing that they can give each other a hard time, but no one from the outside better say anything derogatory. So tell me. And do you share secrets with your siblings?

Candace Havens
www.candacehavens.com/

Sara Reyes | Readers 'n 'ritas...WHAT Did YOU Miss?

The inaugural Readers 'n ' ritas was a blast. Readers came from all over Texas and Oklahoma and it wasn't just for the Texas / OU game although their fans were in abundance as well! Authors came from as far as NYC. It's amazing what a gathering of like minds can do!

Cover Creation Checking out cover theories.
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

From the first panels we knew it was a hit -- I mean seriously, when women gather around the speakers table at 9am on a gorgeous Saturday morning and eagerly start discussing book covers along with examples of how a committee designed the cover for ECSTASY or enjoy a bit of show-and-tell with cat litter and dryer sheets you know it's at least to first base, maybe even second! And by the time the third workshop was over, we were all friends...the kind that talk to each other and even feel comfortable enough to disagree! The best kind of friends.

And learning about new authors and books is never a bad thing, even if you have to start early in the morning! Isn't that why they have hot coffee ready?

The Rowdy Table: Jodi Thomas and Dianna Love
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

After a morning of learning about taking care of your books (and removing stubborn stains, how to be a reviewer, the process between the most important element of a book -- the cover and melding friendships, it was time for lunch! Of course we had the "nice" tables and then there was the "rowdies!" With Jodi Thomas and Dianna Love as leaders, that table was the noisiest one during the lunch! I'm not sure why but could it be the charm of the ladies? They also seemed to have tons of fun!

Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love and Candy Havens
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Following lunch we had more workshops and even a little pampering at the Arbonne Pampering Zone. Getting to test out rubs, lotions and aromatherapy even while indulging in a relaxing foot bath! All gratis. It was heavenly!! And then there was the anticipation of the book trade. If you've never gone to a book trade you're missing out on SO much good stuff and hidden treasures. It's one of the fun things we do each month at our tea meetings: you bring in books you're ready to give to a good home and you find treasures in return. And best of all, there were other readers who could give you the scoop on new authors and books to try! From the look of bags and bags of books that went off to new found readers, a fun time was had by all.

Come on Dakota, we're waiting
The regulars are from left: Rosemary Clement-Moore, Dianna Love, Lauren Willig, Candy Havens in front, Jaye Wells, Michele Bardsley and then the stubborn Dakota Cassidy. I'd say it was the margaritas, but I know Dakota!! 
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

But then it was time for a little margarita therapy and snacks. I mean, seriously, after a day of meeting new friends, learning new books and techniques a girl needed some chips. salsa and MARGARITAS! Eventually everyone made it to our section of the lobby where delectables awaited and margarita pitchers were replenished. It was time to chat, sip and laugh!Then it was time for dinner and an evening of comparing notes, the drawing of the raffle baskets and the results of the silent auctions. No one went home empty-handed. After dinner we all made it back to the lobby to talk until it was time to collapse!

See you all next year...November 13th to 15th...for a whole weekend of readers and authors!

Sara Reyes
Readers 'n 'ritas
http://readers-n-ritas.org
Check out our Readers 'n 'ritas fun!

Candace Havens | Charmed & Dangerous

It may seem kind of silly but I love the character Bronwyn in the "Charmed & Dangerous" series. I’m beyond excited that the first book is coming out in mass-market paperback on Dec. 4. Hopefully that means more people will get to read about this amazing chick.

When I first conceived the idea of her, I wanted someone who was strong and didn’t take crap off of anyone. Bronwyn is certainly that. She’s one of the most powerful witches in the world, but you wouldn’t know it to look at her. I like that she has a little bit of an attitude, but she has a soft heart. That one minute she can be caring for an elderly man with Alzheimer’s, and the next she’s blowing up bad guys.

Bronwyn is also an adventurer who loves to travel. People ask me all the time if I’ve been to all the places she has – I wish. (Smile) I do a lot of research into places where I would like to travel, and then I send Bronwyn on her way. I like that side of her, where she can adapt to most any situation. She always manages to make friends, even in the most harrowing of circumstances.

People also ask if she is me. The truth is, maybe a little. She says and does things I wish I could. I have a rather warped sense of humor, and Bronwyn has certainly picked that up. Some of the attributes we share are dark hair, being short and complicated, busy lives. Though, I only love one man these days, I can certainly relate to Bron when it comes to her love life. So yes, maybe there’s a little bit of me in her, but she’s definitely one of a kind.

-Candy Havens
http://www.candacehavens.com/