Friday, February 19, 2010

Guest Blog and Catch of a Lifetime Giveaway with Judi Fennell

Hi and thanks so much for having me back to talk about my Mer series. The third story, Catch of a Lifetime, hits the shelves this month and has all the characteristics of previous stories: groan-worthy clichés that I hope make you laugh while you groan, puns galore, talking animals, humor, adventure, life-and-death scenarios, and romance.

"Romance?" you ask. "How can you have romance with all the rest of that going on?"

Believe me, I ask myself that question all the time.

See, I never started out writing humor. Trust me, if you ask anyone I went to school with if I was the class clown they'd laugh at you. Me? Funny?

Hardly.

So it was quite the surprise to see that my stories had more than a slight element of humor in them. I love getting the emails or reading reviews where the reader says that parts of my books had them laughing out loud. That makes me laugh. Because, really, I still have to sit back and shake my head at some of the stuff that comes out of my head.

How do I do it? The honest answer is, I have no idea. I've written and re-written this blog post over and over, trying to analyze it and I've realized that I better stop trying to analyze it. I was delving too deep into my own psyche and, really, it can be scary in there.

Just kidding.

Seriously, though, you know the old adage, if it's not broken, don't fix it? Yep, pretty much the same for my writing.

I don't know why what I write is humorous, other than to say that I write the stories I like to read and in a way I find enjoyable. Before my editor offered me a contract, I had no idea if anyone else found the same things funny. When she called me and told me how much she enjoyed the story and had laughed while reading it, it was a "hallelujah!" moment. Someone else had the same screwy sense of humor I do!

Turns out there are a lot of us with this wacky sense of humor. I love getting the emails where readers quote their favorite lines to me. Besides being really nice to hear, it's also incredibly validating. So many times, we're alone, sitting in front of our computer screen, staring at that blinking cursor, wondering, "Okay, what's next?" We have no idea if it's any good/sad/funny/touching/terrorizing/romantic/etc. until someone reads it and lets us know.

Thank you for letting me know that you've enjoyed the first two books in the series, and I hope you enjoy Angel and Logan's story.
Here's a sample:


***

“Okay, Angel, I know all about needing to prove yourself. But do you have any qualifications for child care? References?”

Oh did she. Sadly, they were all Mer-related. “One of my degrees is in child studies.” Human child studies, to be precise, but she knew better than to make that distinction. “As for references, well, word would get back and that would defeat the purpose of not calling, wouldn’t it? But I do have them.”

“One of your degrees? How many do you have?”

Angel headed down the length of the dock to where Michael was impatiently waiting for them.
“Just three. Child studies, Humanol—um sociology, and biology.”
Logan’s long legs caught him up to her quickly. “Hence the field study.”

“Correct. Oh, and a minor in basket-weaving.”

He stopped and grabbed her arm again, laughing. “Basket-weaving?”

“Yes. What’s so funny about that?” This time she didn’t need a reason to yank her arm from his hand. She’d worked damn hard to get her degrees. That course had opened up a world of information about textiles and early Human craftsmanship. “It’s quite fascinating.” She shoved off with the right foot, toes providing momentum. Or was it the ball of the foot? Damn, he’d made her forget the biomechanics.

“If you find basket-weaving fascinating enough to study it, as well as have all the drive to earn all those other degrees, I might have you tutor Michael instead of babysitting him.” This time when he caught up to her, he didn’t put a hand on her, thank the gods.

“Tutor? I don’t think that would be—”

“Relax, Angel. I was only joking. Michael’s looking forward to hitting the books when school starts.”

Now it was her turn to stop him. “You hit books? Why?”

Logan’s eyebrows went up. “You’ve never heard that expression?”

Oh, fish. She really had to watch her step—all of them. She plastered a smile on her face. “Now who’s joking?”

“Touché. So, we’ll work out a schedule for your field study and my work. Sound good?”

It sounded more than good. It sounded perfect. “Yes. Thank you, Logan. I won’t let you and your wife down.”

“My wife?”

“Rainbow? Michael’s mother?”

Logan rolled those brown eyes. “Rainbow, that is, Christine, is certainly not my wife, and if she hadn’t signed the birth certificate she pinned to Michael’s shirt before she took off, I’d be hard-pressed to call her his mother. Trust me, Angel, letting her down is the least of your worries.”

Michael stomped down the steps, his red sneakers flapping loudly on the planks. “Why do grown-ups always walk so slow? Rainbow never wants to hurry.”

Logan muttered something about Rainbow being in a hurry to get out of town, but low enough that Michael didn’t hear him.

Angel was sorry she had.

It was one thing to have to look at him clinically as a Human subject.

It was quite another to see him as a man.

© Judi Fennell, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2010



***

And I hope you enjoy the genie series that releases in January 2011, with I Dream of Genies. But, never fear, as I've said to my editor, it's a big ocean out there, and Mariana and Pearl are already chatting up their stories to me, so I hope to get those written in the future.

About the Author

Judi Fennell is an award-winning author. Her romance novels have been finalists in Gather.com's First Chapters and First Chapters Romance contests, as well as the third American Title contest. She spends family vacations at the Jersey Shore, the setting for some of her paranormal romance series. She lives in suburban Philadelphia, PA. For More information, and a chance to win a romantic ocean getaway, visit www.judifennell.com.

Contest Time

2 copies of Catch of a Lifetime are up for grabs to US and Canada residents

Just leave a comment on this post with email info

+5 entries for being a blog follower

+5 entries for following on @RoxanneRhoads

28 comments:

Amanda Leigh said...

Sounds like a great book!

+5 blog follower

+5 twitter follower (NRSVampChick)

SiNn said...

Judi's books are awesome! awesome blog

+5 blog follower

+5 twitter follower (@bainesgoddess)

cait045 said...

I loved the first 2 books in this series and can't wait for the final book.

+5 Blog follower

SandyG265 said...

Sounds like a good book. I'm from NJ and I can't think of any other paranormal books set here.

Judi Fennell said...

Hi everyone! Thanks for taking a peek at the series - SiNn and cait045, sooooo glad you are enjoying the series!

SandyG265 (is that for February 1965? If so, it's a GREAT month/year if I do say so! :) ) - I set the first two stories there because I've been going to Ocean City (formerly Peck's Beach) since I was a kid. Seemed like the perfect homage, plus there are artificial reefs off the coast where I needed them to be for In Over Her Head.

Have fun "diving into the romance"!

Anonymous said...

I love the first book of the series. I cant wait to read more. This is my first mer books and I love it.

+5 blog follower

Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

Sounds like an awesome book...excited at the opportunity...=]

+5 blog follwer

+5 twitter follower (dolphynsecho)

dolphynsecho(at)gmail(dot)com

Karin said...

The book sounds really interesting.

+5 blog follower

karin.theisen [at] gmail [dot] com

Andrea I said...

Your series looks interesting and I'll definitely check it out.


+5 blog follower
+5 twitter follower(lillieblue613)

Estella said...

Your series sounds great!
I am a follower

kissinoak at verizon dot net

Judi Fennell said...

Hi ladies! Thanks so much for checking out my stories. There are excerpts and deleted scenes on my website.

tetewa said...

I'm enjoying this series and looking forward to the latest! +5 blog follower! tWarner419@aol.com

Van Pham said...

This book sounds really good!

thanks for the giveaway!

+5 blog follower
+5 twitter follower (vanpham88)

van p.
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sherry said...

I haven't ever read anything by this author but this sounds like a really good book. Do you have to read them order or will you lose something if you read them out of order?

sstrode@scrtc.com

Lexie said...

I've been looking forward to this!!

Angel is my sorta girl and she deserves some time out of the water XD

+5 blog follower

Lexie
Lexie.Cenni@gmail.com

Judi Fennell said...

Hi again tetewa! Sherry- you don't have to read them in order but you will find out how previous ones ended in later books only because time has gone forward in their world and they refer to past events. Bit you'll understand the story without reading previous ones

annalisa said...

All of the books in your series sound like fun reads! :)

blog follower

TOPSAIL246(at)aol(dot)com

TopWinger said...

Looks like an interesting read.

+5 blog follower

+5 twitter follower (topwinger)

Anonymous said...

I read Judi's First book, In Over Her Head and loved it. I recently got a hold of her second book and can't wait to "sink" and then swim along with all the fun under sea action!
Ruth G. Zavitsanos
www.ruthzonline.com

Curling up by the Fire said...

This sounds great!

+5 blog follwer

icewoman96 at gmail dot com

halukacy said...

Can't wait to read this series!!

+5 blog follower
+5 twitter follower (@halukacy)

halukacy@yahoo.com

Darkreader said...

Sounds like a great series to check out, more to add to my TBR pile. It just keeps growing. lol

Barbara E. said...

Judi's books sound so good, but unfortunately I haven't had a chance to read any of her series yet. I've got a couple of B&N gift certificates burning a whole in my pocket, so that should be taken care of very soon. :o)

+ 5 Blog follower

Judi Fennell said...

Thanks, everyone. Ruthz - hope you enjoy your next voyage into my world! Barbara, I think that's an *excellent use of your cards. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh how I love mermaids. I'm new to this series and author but it sounds great.

+10 follower on both

Aimee said...

Puns? PUNS? How have I never read these books? Please accept my entry. Thanks!
+5 blog follower
+5 I follow you on twitter @pixie13sweeps

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw.
+5 blog follower.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Please count me in.

+5 follower
+5 follower on twitter @iheartbkgossip

cindyc725 at gmail dot com

 
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