All month long, ARe will be releasing a novella a day from some great writers
featuring romantic tales and a forward by author Charlaine Harris. The proceeds
will benefit the American Heart Association. In honor of this tremendous
effort, the Daily Dose will be featuring a Heart-to-Heart with several of these
authors, learning more about each one as we support this noble effort. What is
great about this is you don't have to wait for release day to order the stories
that captivate your heart, because ARe also offers a pre-order function!
Mari Carr and Mad About Meg
Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list and on her thirty-
fourth birthday, she set out to see that goal achieved. Now her computer is
jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends and many
of her books have been published. Mari found time for writing by squeezing it
into the hours between 3 a.m. and daybreak when her family is asleep and the
house is quiet.
Daily Dose: What is the most romantic thing that you've ever done?
Everything I’ve learned about romance has been due to the fact I’ve watched a
truly great one up close and personal for my entire life. My parents have a
genuine, beautiful marriage. For their fortieth wedding anniversary, I created
a slide show with pictures of all their years together and set it to Alan
Jackson’s song, Remember When. They both cried and they’ve watched it many,
many times since.
Daily Dose: What type of movies make you cry? When was the last time you
cried in a movie?
Oh gosh! Everything makes me cry. I’m far too sentimental! My favorite ‘sad’
movies are typically not romance stories, but more along the lines of friend
stories. Steel Magnolias, Forrest Gump, and Beaches all still have the power to
provoke tears!
Daily Dose: If could live in any century previous to the 20th, what century
would it be and why?
My introduction to romance was actual in the historical genre. I discovered
Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster novels. After that first book, I was bitten by the
bug of regency romances and I feel confident in saying I’ve read literally
hundreds of books from that time period. I’m fascinated by the early 19th
century in England. There’s just something so romantic about dashing dukes and
earls and balls.
Daily Dose: Share a little about why you chose to participate in 28 Days of
the Heart.
I saw the call for submissions and my immediate thought was FINALLY. I don’t
consider myself to have many talents and because I have a full-time day job and
two very active teenagers at home, my time is also limited. I desperately
wanted to be able to contribute something to very worthy cause. I lost both my
grandfathers to heart attacks, as well as a close friend of the family. To
think one of my stories could possibly help this cause is humbling.
Daily Dose: What do you enjoy reading? Can you name your five favorite
authors?
Romance, romance and oh yeah, romance. It’s safe to say I read what I write! I
would even go a bit farther and say the spicier the romance, the better. I have
lots of favorite authors, so limiting it to five is tough. I adore Diana
Gabaldon, Janet Evanovich, and Jayne Rylon’s romances. I also have to admit to
being a huge Harry Potter and Twilight fan, so JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer
would round out my five.
Daily Dose: Reading romance reduces stress and can help relax you from your
worries. Do you feel that writing romance helps you cope with your own worries
and stress?
I actually started writing romance when stress from work took over my life. I
went through a period of insomnia and to pass the wee hours of morning, I
started writing down my stories. I found the more I wrote, the less stress I
tended to feel. Writing is my ultimate escape.
Mad About Meg
If it weren't for bad luck, Meg Williams wouldn't have any luck at all. As if
traveling to a tropical island on Valentine's weekend in a nasty storm isn't
bad enough, she's doing it alone after finding her boyfriend in bed with
another woman. Enduring the trip from hell, she arrives on Eden Isle only to
discover that her hotel reservation has been lost and there are no vacancies
anywhere on the island. Disheartened, Meg heads for the hotel bar.
Rob Madison is used to being in the limelight due his wealth and power. Used to
being pursued by women for his fortune. When he meets Meg in the bar and
realizes she doesn't know who he is, he decides to spend the evening as a
regular guy. Discovering she doesn’t have a place to stay, he offers to share
his penthouse with her.
As the night progresses and their mutual attraction becomes apparent, Meg
wonders if her luck has turned, while Rob wonders if one weekend in each
other's arms will be enough…
Mad About Meg releases at ARe on February 16.
Mari Carr's books have been published at Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, and
Liquid Silver. To learn more about her backlist, please visit her website or join her Yahoo! Group to
join in the fun with other readers as well as Mari Carr!
Be sure to visit the Daily Dose every day this month as we celebrate the heart
with more great interviews and books for the heart! Monday, we welcome Marcia
James!
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