ebook of the month :: writing by colour

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL Paperback ::  ebook

Writing by colour

I talked last week about how my heroine was all wrong when I first started writing this book.  The vision in my head as I wrote was very red.  Red lips, red lingerie, red velvet.  Like chocolate covered strawberries, hot, sexy, decadent.  Here’s the collage I was using while writing.

 Yet it wasn’t working.

So I took down the collage, stripped away the heroine, and started afresh.  Let a new heroine appear on the page.  And suddenly the book took on a whole new colour.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but when reading the book I get such a sense of yellow it’s like looking at summer.

Chelsea makes Damien think of sunshine.  She’s blonde.  He drives a yellow Austin Healy.  The book ends in the Yarra valley, surrounded by hills covered in yellow grape vines, over which a bright yellow hot air balloon floats across the sun-drenched sky.  And again, none of this was on purpose.  It just happened.

I tend not to question where this inspiration stuff comes from in case it stops coming!

The excerpt:

 Then he and Chelsea were alone, hidden from view of the rest of the restaurant by the angle of their table, a large potted Ficus and the clever lighting.  Their booth was cramped.  But intimate.  Low candlelight flickering from an alcove on the rendered wall above shot waves of gold through Chelsea’s hair, and created shadows beneath her lashes, her nose, and full lower lip.

Simply looking at her he felt anything but unaffected.

A waiter with an eyebrow ring and three more through his nose came back with their wine.  Damien did the whole sniff, sip, thumbs up before they were each poured a healthy glass and the bottle was left in an icebox nearby.

Chelsea fussed with her dress, her hair, the placement of the napkin in front of her and said, ‘There is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.’

Damien leant his elbow on the table and his chin on his palm.  ‘This should be good.’

Her hands fluttered to her lap, but she gave him direct eye contact.  All golden light and sunshine and radiant energy.  He could have snuffed out the candle and his senses would have told him exactly where she sat.

Re-released as part of the PASSIONATE PLAYBOYS collection.   
Paperback collection.  Buy the eBook.  Buy from iTunes.  More about the book

ebook of the month :: the middle of the book panic

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL Paperback ::  ebook

The middle of the book panic

So I was about halfway through the writing of this book when I realized it just wasn’t working.  I liked the hero just fine, in fact Damien was perfectly dreamy!  But the heroine was just all wrong.  Too strong, almost, too forceful, too red (I’m a visual writer so that makes perfect sense to me ;)).  They were fighting against one another instead of falling towards one another.  And something had to be done.

So I made the big – and scary! – decision to start again.  With a whole new heroine.  Was a big risk.  But I reckon it paid off.   My big scary heroine was replaced by Chelsea, a serious girl with a plan and a past and the sparks just flew!  Lucky girl.   (And if you want to know what "colour" she is to me, come back next week for more!

Til then, I give you – Chelsea and Damien.

The excerpt:

 

Chelsea watched as the fiftieth dark suit in eight minutes rounded the corner.

But this one was a half head taller.  A couple of inches broader.  Dark hair gleamed under the created lamplight.  And the length of his strides meant that people simply got out of his way.  She wasn’t sure it was Damien, but at the same time she just knew that it was.

He neared.  He was even more beautiful than she remembered.  More blessed by the gods of all things extraordinary.  Through the noisy crowd their eyes caught and held.  Pacific blue, she thought with an internal sigh, like the ocean at night.

‘Hi Damien,’ she said.

‘Chelsea,’ he said as he stopped in front of her.

She must have swayed towards him, or maybe it was an optical illusion, but he suddenly felt closer.  And then he was leaning in towards her.  She instinctively lifted her cheek for a friendly peck, but instead his lips landed square upon hers.  She blinked in shock for a good second or two before his mouth began to move over hers.

As her eyes flittered closed her hand fluttered up to land gently upon his chest.  His arm slunk around her back to pull her closer.  And right there, in front of a street full of bustling pedestrians, everything floated away, leaving only the taste of him, the scent of him, the feel of his heavenly lips.  Her hand curled into his shirt, and she hoped against hope that would be enough to keep her from collapsing in a puddle at his feet.

When the kiss broke her eyes opened.  A small smile lit his, creases fanning out from the edges.

‘Well what do you know,’ he said, his voice low, rumbling, pure sensuality.

Re-released as part of the PASSIONATE PLAYBOYS collection.   
Paperback collection.  Buy the eBook.  Buy from iTunes.  More about the book

ebook of the month...the magnate's indecent proposal

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL ::  ebook

The book:
  

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL is out this month as a part of the gorgeous "Passionate Playboys" collection.  I mean look at that.  Or maybe I should be saying, "Look back over here!!!" This is also my magic book.  Here's why:

WINNER BEST HARLEQUIN PRESENTS 2008

Romantic Times BOOKClub Reviewers' Choice

WINNER BEST MODERN HEART 2008

Cataromance Reviewers' Choice

DESERT ISLAND KEEPER

All About Romance

The excerpt:

 

‘So what do you know of animal print dog collars?’ the stranger on the phone asked.

Damien's eyes flew back open.  ‘Because...?’

‘That’s why I’m trying to track down Chelsea London.  But I’m now wondering if you’re opinion might be just as valid.’

He checked his watch.  This day was fast slipping away form him.  ‘Unfortunately my only experience with animal print anything has been with the underwear variety.’

‘Yours?’ she asked.

‘That I cannot say for fear I might incriminate myself.’

She paused, and he sensed she was searching for a way to keep him on the line.  With a sigh she said, ‘Alas I have other phone calls to make, hopefully with as much fun but more success.  Good day to you, Mr Halliburton.’

‘Same to you.’  He snapped the phone shut and stared at it for a few seconds as the world continued to walk on by.

Right.  So in the past hour he’d had a woman fall into his arms, one flash her g-string at him, another whisper a suggestion in his ear that would have been more fitting for a key party, and yet another flirt him into intimating he was wearing zebra print undies beneath his Hugo Boss trousers.

For all the female attention he was getting today it was like the women around him had some kind of radar.  Like the only time in his thirty-two years on this planet he wasn’t seeking out any kind of co-ed companionship, it took no kind of effort on his part to have it rolling towards him in waves.

Women... he thought.  Can’t live with them...

Re-released as part of the PASSIONATE PLAYBOYS collection.   
Paperback collection.  Buy the eBook.  Buy from iTunes.  More about the book

pillow talk ~ collaging

Danielle asked: What about collaging? So here's what I've found:

Collaging for writers is pretty much just what it sounds like - get a bunch of magazines, a pair of scissors and some paste and pretend you're back in kindergarten! Only rather than sticking random stuff anywhere, find pictures that speak to you, that give you the same "feeling" the story you're writing gives you.

To me that's the most important thing. That a glance at the collage puts you in the exact right mood for that story. Which is why the right collage can help you no end and the wrong collage can be a disaster!

I spent a long time writing a book about Damien and Monica before I realised it just wasn't working. The book fit the collage to perfection - all dark, and red, and moody and sexy. I loved the collage, and hated the book. It just wasn't me. I made a radical decision to rewrite using a completely different heroine - Chelsea - and it fell together like nothing else I've ever written. Not so much dark, red, and moody but bright, yellow and real. From that near disaster my most popular book THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL was born. (You can buy the eBook here.)

Collages are also great for giving you nuggets of inspiration. This was my collage for MILLIONAIRE TO THE RESCUE. The heroine Brooke is a yummy mummy and her casual loveliness came from the relaxed images I stuck here. Danny's refined elegance came from the picture to the left. As did his dog ;). From these random pictures that spoke to me I also got Danny's preferred nightcap and much of his character growth in the book from the "No more Mr Nice Guy!" quip. This collage worked great for this book.

I guess the most important thing is to take your inspiration wherever you can find it. If it doesn't work for you then get the thing out of your sight!

Anything else you'd like to know, ask away. Though if its the answer to life, the universe and everything I'm afraid Douglas Adams got there first!

UK re-release # 1

Out this month in the UK is the first of two re-releases as part of great triple collections.

First up is the PASSIONATE PLAYBOYS collection. I mean how ridiculously gorgeous is that cover? Humona humona!

My contribution is THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL which is probably my most loved book to date. The number of letter and emails and kind reviewed for this book was overwhelming to say the least.

It was a Waldenbooks bestseller, a Romantic Times top pick (after which it went onto win the Reviewers' Choice award for Best Harlequin Presents of 2008), the Cataromance Reviewers' Choice winner that same year and rated a Desert Island Keeper at All About Romance.

And just to top it off my good friend Nicola Marsh has a wonderfully bright sexy story inside as well. Such a treat!

book ~ blog ~ buy

desert island keeper

I just got the nicest email!

Turns out some terribly clever ;) reader picked up my THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL at the library of late and loved it to bits. So much so so made it a Desert Island Keeper at the fabulous All About Romance website.

She said, "You can attribute most of the book’s success to the writing, which makes it one of the wittiest stories I have read in a long time. Ms. Blake’s prose is a revelation. She lets the characters speak for themselves – no telling here, thank you very much – and their dialogue zips along in a demonstrable meeting of true minds. It’s funny. It’s zingy. It’s touching. It is, in other words, just plain good."

Awww, I love her too!!!

Check out the full review here.

Read more about the book here.

Buy the book here.

Or eBook it here.

out now in france & holland

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL is out this April in France under the fabulous sounding title: Un Brûlant Rendez-vous. How gorgeous is this cover? So evocative.

This is my fairy dust book. A hero I adored, a heroine I could so be friends with, and the kind of steamy hot love scenes that had my mum flicking ahead a dozen pages every so often ;).

It won the Reviewers' Choice Award through Romantic Times for Best Harlequin Presents of 2008. You can read all about the book on my website.

It's available throughout France online early, so grab yourself a copy here today! You can also graba copy online in the Netherlands under the title Ondeugend Voorstel.

breaking news!

Oh my...

I just found out that my novel THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL has won the RomanticTimes BookClub's Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Harlequin Presents of 2008! How super cool is that???

I am beyond thrilled, and so humbled that my little book was picked out from such a wonderful range of the msot intense, romantic, sexy, fabulous novels about. A big smoochy thanks to the reviewers at RT.

Here's what they had to say at the time:

41/2stars TOP PICK! "Ally Blake's The Magnate's Indecent Proposal starts with an amusing premise and quickly moves into an entertaining love-at-first-sight tale. It's full of humor, witty dialogue, a hero to die for and a heroine that's his match in every way."

The book's still available at eHarlequin.com if you'd like to have a read!

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

cataromance award!

I've just found out that THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL has won a Cataromance Reviewers' Choice Award as "one of the best books" of the last year. How cool is that!!!

This book was my first Waldenbooks bestseller, and gave me my first Top Pick from Romantic Times, so it has been some ride. And here is part of the fabulous review the lovelies over at Cataromance gave the book.

"Flirty and totally funny The Magnate’s Indecent Proposal will leave readers smiling and thoroughly entertained by its characters. Ms. Blake has penned an extraordinary story."

Awww... Check out the other fab winners here.

You can read more about the book here, or grab a copy from Amazon.

Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards

I've just found out that not one, but TWO of my books have been nominated in the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards! I'm flabbergasted, and so excited, and so proud to be in such illustrious company.

First up, nominated for Best Harlequin Presents for 2008 is THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL. It was a Waldenbooks Bestseller and an RT top pick. Here's what they had to say at the time. "Ally Blake's The Magnate's Indecent Proposal starts with an amusing premise and quickly moves into an entertaining love-at-first-sight tale. It's full of humor, witty dialogue, a hero to die for and a heroine that's his match in every way. "

It is still available on Amazon.

And up for Best Harlequin Romance is HIRED: THE BOSS'S BRIDE which is out right now in Australia and New Zealand! RT gave it four and a half stars as well and said: "Ally Blake's Hired: The Boss's Bride is as breezy, sexy and warm hearted as its remarkable heroine, and its hero is pretty special too."

As I mentioned it's out now in Australia and New Zealand, and is still available online in North America and the UK.

Here's the full list of nominees in each category:

Best Harlequin Presents

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL Ally Blake (Sep.)

BRIDE OF DESIRE Sara Craven (Dec.)

BOUGHT: THE GREEK'S INNOCENT VIRGIN Sarah Morgan (Aug.)

ACCIDENTAL MISTRESS Susan Napier (May)

BEDDED BY THE GREEK BILLIONAIRE Kate Walker (Nov.)

Best Harlequin Romance

THE BOSS'S UNCONVENTIONAL ASSISTANT Jennie Adams (Aug.)

HIRED: THE BOSS'S BRIDE Ally Blake (Oct.)

HER BABY, HIS PROPOSAL Teresa Carpenter (Jun.)

THE SHEIKH'S UNSUITABLE BRIDE Liz Fielding (Jan.)

THE HEIR'S CONVENIENT WIFE Myrna Mackenzie (May)

the 'magnate's' melbourne

Nicola Marsh and I parked in the city one recent night on our way to have dinner with a host of fabulous Harlequin authors.

The parking garage looked innocuous enough; grey slabs of concrete, reserved parks empty of the cars that lived in the during the day. The lift, much the same. And then it opened onto the lobby level and...oh my.

Marble floors, copper domes and double glazed tinted glass, and glossy granite, sandstone and bluestone as far as the eye could see. This was the kind of place where men in suits are born to work.

I had no idea where we had landed - only that I looooved it - until we hit the street. And there I was by a bulding I had walked past many a time and admired from afar.

I give you 333 Collins Street, the building in which my Magnate, my Damien, my hero in this month's Harlequin Presents, THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL, peddles his wares.

Collins Street is known as the Paris end of Melbourne. Beautiful architecture, gorgeous high end shops, the most elegant hotels, foliage that looks delicate and pretty in summer and stark and austere in winter. It's one of my very favourite areas of a city I love. Thankfully for Damien Halliburton, I finally met a hero worthy of walking that hallowed road. Who knows what heroes may come to life now I know about that goooorgeous lobby!

To find out why Damien and 333 Collins are a perfect fit, check out an excerpt here.

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL is out now across North America!

buy it now at eHarlequin

Waldenbooks Bestseller ~ Romantic Times 4 1/2 star Top Pick

moving on up

My "The Magnate's Indecent Proposal" has moved up two spots on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list.

Come on friends, help him be the number one guy he so deserves to be!

Read an excerpt ~ Buy the book

a book a month across north america!

SEPTEMBER

Harlequin Presents

"THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL"

Waldenbooks Bestseller

Romantic Times 4 1/2 star review TOP PICK!

OCTOBER

Harlequin Romance
"HIRED: THE BOSS'S BRIDE"

Romantic Times 4 1/2 star review

NOVEMBER

Harlequin Presents

"A NIGHT WITH THE SOCIETY PLAYBOY"

For excerpts, reviews, and behind the scenes news, check out more about all of these books on my website!

come and get it!

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL is now available online in North America!!!

I am sooo excited as this is my first ever Harlequin Presents release. Harlequin Presents is such a popular, beloved category of romance novels, that I feel so proud to have been given my only little niche in the family.

But back to the book...

Romantic Times gave it four and a half stars! And said: "Ally Blake's The Magnate's Indecent Proposal (4.5) starts with an amusing premise and quickly moves into an entertaining love-at-first-sight tale. It's full of humor, witty dialogue, a hero to die for and a heroine that's his match in every way."

Buy online today from eHarlequin

the reviews just keep on coming!

Today I received the latest in a blush-inducingly long line of nice reader emails from people who've loved my current Aussie release, Sexy Sensation THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL. Which has really been such good timing, really, as I have just begun to tackle my next in the same line.

Here are some of the truly lovely things people have had to say:

5 stars, CataRomance
"Flirty and totally funny The Magnate’s Indecent Proposal will leave readers smiling and thoroughly entertained by its characters. Ms. Blake has penned an extraordinary story."

Heidi Rice, RITA nominated Romance Author
"Absolutely loved it. Phone sex, restaurant sex, dog shampoos and a really hot hero. What's not to like, right."

Joanne, Reader
"I just finished The Magnate's Indecent Proposal and I loved it! yep, it was great!! Loved the sizzling story line; the heat between the H&H almost burned up the pages."

Timna, Reader
"I read your latest book in one sitting – how addicted am I?"

Monique, Reader
"I just finished reading "The Magnate's Indecent Proposal" and I thought it was fantastic! I have to say it was the funniest romance novel I have ever read - and I've read quite a few over the years! If you add such warmth and humour to all your books, I can only imagine they'd be just as good as the one I just read.Thanks again for a great read!"

Ain't they sweet?

oops...

It's 6 days into July and I completely forgot to hurrah about the release of my third Sexy Sensation THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL in Australia and New Zealand! Must have been the heavenly scent of too much new paper on my desk that had me in a daze.

So...

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL

is out now in Australia and New Zealand!!!

There. Done. Phew!

If you want to see why people have called it "flirty and totally funny", "really hot", "sizzling" and "addictive", well then you're just gonna have to read it for yourself!!!

Grab a copy in any good bookstore in Aus/NZ, online in the UK, or if you're in North America it's a coming your way in October!

peeking out of the cave...

... to say that I've just stumbled upon my first ever Harlequin Presents cover!!! My heart leapt out of my chest seeing my name scrawled in that font on one of those iconic covers. Damiens' gorgeous and dark, Chelsea's pertite and golden. Spot on!

THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL will be out in North America in September. You can pre-order a copy here.

And to add to the excitement I just foud out the follow up book, all about the Damien's best mate Caleb, A NIGHT WITH THE SOCIETY PLAYBOY, is coming out in North America as a Presents in November! Woohoo!

Now back into the writing cave I go. My heroine tonight finally decided to play nice and show my what all the clues about her life she has been sprinkling through the book given me mean! Revelation!!!