Tuesday Ebook Spotlight and a California Flashback: The amazing authors Lauren Royal and Glynnis Campbell

When writers decide to tackle the enormous task of penning a novel, it's a long road of learning, writing and then rewriting and getting beaten down and rising to start again. Not for the faint of heart. What keeps us sane in this arduous process is friends, people who not only keep you company but read your books and offer solid advice, share vital information and support you in all that you do.

A 2001 group book signing with the three of us participating.

I'm lucky in having two awesome friends, Lauren Royal and Glynnis Campbell, who have done all of the above. We three were published at the same time and met on the Internet in a group called the Tobeez, which stood for To-Be-Published. It was a list serve of several authors sharing information about what to do when you get published.

When I moved to Los Angeles, Lauren and Glynnis and I hooked up and shared lunches, writing chapter meetings and book signings. Some people called us the Three Muskateers. In 2001, we attended the Romance Writers of America conference together in New Orleans, when Glynnis was a finalist for the prestigious Rita Award. Since New Orleans is my home town, I got to proudly show them around.

Glynnis Campbell, Lauren Royal and me
at the RWA convention in New Orleans, 2001.

When I recently felt at the end of a rope and wondering which way to turn regarding my novels, they took me to lunch and taught me all about the world of e-publishing. 

So, on this Tuesday Ebook Spotlight, I want to highlight these two special people — and I have spotlighted their books before. They are both best-selling and extremely talented historical romance authors. And guess what? They have free or close to free books to download right now.

First up is Royal's "Lost in Temptation," a Top 10 bestseller and book one in the Chase Family Series. Although it's part of a series, it also stands alone. 

Here's the book description:

England, 1815: The eldest of three sisters, Lady Alexandra Chase has always done what was expected of her. But when the man she's loved since her girlhood returns from a long spell abroad, she quite suddenly finds herself hoping the fine lord her brother has picked for her won't propose. She decides that if he does, she'll quite improperly turn him down—that is, until the man of her hopes and dreams informs her he has no intention of marrying her.

The last time Tristan Nesbitt saw Alexandra, he was a common man with no hope of ever wedding the daughter of a marquess. Seven years later, he's now Lord Hawkridge, which should make him eminently suitable for the woman who long ago captured his heart. But a dreadful scandal has tarnished his name in England—a scandal so horrid that marrying Alexandra would ruin not only her flawless reputation but her whole family. For Alexandra's own good, he must fight his relentless desires and stay far away...

Next is Campbell's "The Reiver," available to download for only 99 cents.

Here's the book description:

Rogues, rapscallions, knaves, scoundrels, hellions, scallywags, blackguards, outcasts, and firebrands. They may be villains, but they're irresistible, and sometimes the right hero can steal their hearts and help them mend their wicked ways.

Raised by her abusive uncle, Cristy Moffat will do anything to impress her brawny cousins, including reiving the neighbor's cattle…until she steals the wrong cow and is caught in the act by the new laird. Brochan Macintosh has his hands full, repairing his tower house and raising his motherless twins. But when his plans to trade Cristy for his cattle go awry, he wonders if he wants to ransom her after all. Can he tame her wild ways and give her a family to love, and will Cristy be the one to heal his loneliness?

So, what are you waiting for? Two great discounted books for summer reading.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.