Friday, January 21, 2011

Guest Blog & Giveaway with Stephanie Rowe

Every once in a while, there's a moment in time, an experience, a revelation that shifts the direction of your life forever.

Mine happened about seven years ago. We were visiting my ninety-five year old grandmother for Christmas Eve dinner. It was a beautiful night of family and celebration, of warmth and love. But my grandmother, as she was wont to do, did a fantastic, flawless rendition of the Cranky Old Lady stereotype. As I sat across the table from her in my Christmas best, my heart began to sag for the wall around her heart that kept her from feeling any of the love surrounding her, or from joining in the laughter, or from even seeing what could possibly be good about that experience. And in that moment, I resolved that I would never let myself become that person, no matter how tough life became.

And tough life did indeed become for me. But I never forgot that night. I never forgot that moment when I realized that the most important gift we can give ourselves is the gift of humor. When life is crashing down around us, when things are spinning out of control, it's so tempting to scream with frustration, to think the entire world sucks. But the funny thing is, when we take that approach, the day keeps getting worse, we keep feeling bad, and before we know it, another day has passed us by, never to return, and we weren't there to enjoy it.

But when we can take a moment to pause, to release the weight in our hearts, and allow ourselves to giggle, to laugh, to see the lightness in the moment, then the things that seemed so bad suddenly feel a little more manageable.

Our souls want to dance. Or spirits want to laugh. Our hearts want to sparkle. And when they do, we feel so much better, even if nothing in our lives has actually changed. The miracle of laughter is powerful beyond words.

That is the gift I offer through my paranormal romances, both to myself and to my readers. The gift of laughter. Of a lighter heart. Sure, my stories are about people going through tough things. There is heartache, there is the cracking of souls, and there is passion driven by love so deep it awakes even the most damaged of hearts. But along with that is the unexpected twist, that moment when you burst out laughing, the kind of laugh that makes your whole body relax, that makes your mind and heart find peace, even if just for a moment.

When I write my stories, I put myself in the mindset of seeing the world from a place of joy and humor, and that mindset will often carry through my day, making everything seem a little brighter. If I can do that for someone else, make their day a little better, make things a little more bearable by giving them the gift of laughter…well, I can't think of a better reason to be a writer.

What happened recently in your life that made you laugh? A moment that brought an unexpected smile to your face? An encounter that called forth a deep-throated chuckle that still makes you grin when you think about it? Tell us about it. Share the gift of laughter.

KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK BY STEPHANIE ROWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2011

He needed a killer woman…

Blaine Underhill is one lucky man after having recently escaped a century and a half of imprisonment at the hands of an evil witch. Now he’s determined to save his still-enslaved friend, but in order to do so, he’ll need the help of one of the world’s most lethal women.

She was drop dead gorgeous, literally…


Trinity Harpswell is sick and tired of being a Black Widow. Having managed to go three years without accidentally killing anyone she loves, she’s one short week away from freeing herself from this killer curse forever.

When Blaine tracks her down and convinces her to help him, little does Trinity know that the next seven days are going to be murder!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Four-time RITA Award nominee and Golden Heart Award winner Stephanie Rowe is a nationally bestselling author, and has more than twenty-five contracted titles with major publishers such as HarperCollins, Dorchester and Harlequin. Stephanie has charmed reviewers with her unique blend of humor and otherworldly magic. She lives outside Boston, MA, where she is working on the next two books in the Soulfire Series: Touch if You Dare (July 2011) and Hold Me If You Can (September 2011). For more information, please visit http://www.stephanierowe.com/.



Want to win a copy of Kiss at Your Own Risk?

I have 2 copies to give away

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To enter leave a comment on this post

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Add up your entries and include in comment

Winner TBA Next Wednesday January 26

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooo oo I wanna win! :)

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Laceyinthesky

SiNn said...

awesome ness count me in
i love your site

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Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale said...

ohhh this is so great open to Canadians thanks so much!!

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This is so great thanks for the giveaway

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Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

I laughed most recently with my parents as we were talking about spray tan booths. My mother wanted to know what large breasted women did to get an even tan underneath. I suggested nipple rings and a rigging device and she pretty much spit coffee all over the living room.

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Sherry said...

This sounds like a really good book. The only thing I can think of is when I went out yesterday to get my mail and slid all over the driveway but I managed to not fall. I might not have thought it was as funny if I had fell.

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Anonymous said...

I've read a couple reviews on this one recently and it sounds good.

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Stephanie G
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Paranormal Haven

SandyG265 said...

My boyfriend always makes me laugh. He likes to be silly.

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Elena Gray said...

When my sister was in the hospital, humor was the only thing that got us through it. She didn't want to spend her last days with us crying over her, so we spent the time remembering happier days.

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JenM said...

I've read a few of Stephanie's books and they are definitely humorous, wild, and crazy. I'd love to win this.

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elaing8 said...

I really want to read this book.It sounds so good.

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Stephanie M said...

It looks like a great book.

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Estella said...

My young grandsons make me laugh.
I recently had foot surgery and had to wear an orthopedic surgery shoe.
My 3 year old grandson saw that I had on a tennis shoe and the orthopedic shoe and said "Grandma, you put on the wrong shoe."
This was funny to me because I am always telling him to get shoes that match.

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Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

My baby puppy makes me giggle all the time. Animals are such characters in their true honest to God nature. I love both of them - but the baby is my ham!

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tetewa said...

GFC follower +2 I've been hearing alot about this one! tWarner419@aol.com

Unknown said...

I can't wait to read this book! I would love to win!!

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Stephanie Rowe said...

Sweet, that is so funny! I love that you were laughing with your mom!

Sherry, or maybe it would have been even funnier if you'd fallen (assuming you weren't hurt of course.) 

Thanks, Stephanie G!

SandyG, men who makes us laugh are always good!

Cindy L, thank you for sharing. I'm glad you were able to find some happier moments to focus on in such a difficult time.

Thanks, JenM! I'm so glad you enjoy my books!

Elaing8, I'm so happy you're excited about the book!

Thanks, Stephanie! Wow, three Stephanies in one blog! Nice!

Estella, that is a wonderful story. Kids can be so funny sometimes!

Cecile, animals really are great examples for us. They simply don't worry about the little things, do they?

Heather, I'm so glad you're excited about it!

Kristen, SiNn, Tetwa, and Lacey, thanks for stopping by! I wish everyone could win!

Lisa (Lisa's World of Books) said...

I would love too win!

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Barbara E. said...

I have to give props to my son, he frequently says things that make me crack up, he has a great sense of humor. The biggest thing that brought a huge smile and great happiness to me was the phone call telling me I got the job - the great job I'd been waiting to hear about for two months. I was whooping and hollering, I was so happy.

Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
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Amy said...

Would love to read this!

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Witchy Woman said...

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I can't wait to read at my own risk! Kiss At Your Risk is such an orginial concept; it has me itchin' to get-a-copy.

Unknown said...

I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

*yadkny* said...

This one looks like a lot of fun... love the tat!

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Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

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my granddaughter is always good for a laugh, she was watching the Mickey Mouse clubhouse and explaining the dance to us
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

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Texas Book Lover said...

This book is on my tbr list! It sounds like a such a fantastic read!

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Julie S said...

Awesome. Count me in.

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Unknown said...

Sounds great!

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RFTC Blog said...

I am dying to read this book. It looks so good.

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booklover0226 said...

This does sound good. I'm adding Kiss at Your Own Risk to my must have list.

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Laura H. said...

I love this cover! Count me in!

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