Whoohoo, It's Almost here! Dishing Up Romance

Cassie's at it again! If you've been wondering what happened to her after you finished reading Cupid's Web, then this is the book for you. And If you like to cook, don't miss out on the 30 plus recipes I've included. This is the first book of my Chef's Toque Series which will be available February 1, 2012. The good news though is that it's up for pre-ordering at Barnes and Noble at a very discounted price. If you're so inclined to purchase a copy, now is the time. Cut and paste this link into your browser.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dishing-up-romance-carolyn-hughey/1034191232?ean=9780803474598&itm=1&usri=dishing+up+romance

How Indie Are You? - Today's Quiz

Here's my Monday quiz! Let's see how you fare

How Indie Are You? - http://www.blogthings.com/howindieareyouquiz - What do you end up getting on this one? Cut and paste the above link into your browser.

Here's my results: You are 56% Indie.
You're pretty indie, but you don't make a fuss letting everyone know.
You just do what you like. You enjoy many types of things - from trendy to bizarre.

Let me know how you made out.

The Last Witness at a reduced price!

Amazon just lowered the price of The Last Witness by K. T. Roberts, my alter ego. Check it out!

Friday Before Christmas!

Christmas is only two days away! Can you believe it? The time has flown by at record speed this year and I can't believe it's almost New Years.

I've been extremely busy writing. I've finished One Menu, which is now being proofed by my hubby, and I'm editing my next novel, Magnetic Attraction, a story written a few years ago that I'm breathing new life into by adding some pretty hot scenes.

JORDAN ROMANELLI has issues. She wants it all—like loving and being loved; the flowers, the candy, the romance, and please, a relationship that doesn’t end in disaster. That’s not asking too much, is it? Apparently so.

Discovering her boyfriend of three years is a two-timing dirt-bag isn’t
her idea of the happily-ever-after kind of relationship. And while she’s getting even, who could have predicted she’d have a chance encounter with an Italian stallion who will ultimately teach her how fate, friendship and passion all contribute to “having it all” or will someone else take her place?


Magnetic Attraction will be available on Amazon sometime in January, but I'll announce it.

And speaking of celebrating, here's a fun link to find out what your Christmas Elf name is this year. Check it out at http://www.jokesunlimited.com/christmas_elf_name.php. I did it and mine is Sunny Tum Tums. LOL

Okay, so now you have to share by telling us what your Elf name is. Click on the word 'comment' right below this post.

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!

Monday's Fun Pop Quiz

Starting today, I will be posting a fun pop quiz from Blogthings. I wish I could tell you how genius I am for coming up with this idea, I have to be honest and tell you my Bud, Gina, is the one who uses this on Monday's, and since I think it's a great idea, here it is. :-) Have fun!

The question? Do you find it easy to love?

http://www.blogthings.com/doyoufinditeasytolovequiz/

Meet Detective Zach Gerard!

I thought I’d try something different today by posting an interview with one of my lead characters in The Last Witness. His name is Zachary Gerard and he’s a homicide detective. This interview will give you some insight into his personality and why he does and says the things he does.

How old are you?
Zach Gerard: I’m 34.

Are you married?
Zach Gerard: No, not yet. Ten years ago, my grandparents and father banded together trying to push me into marrying who they thought was the perfect woman for my career in the family law firm. I did date her for a while, but the only thing we had in common was affluent families. Mom saw right through her phoniness, but she didn’t have much control over what those three said and did. When I announced I was enrolling in the Police Academy and I wasn’t interested in defending criminals or marrying the woman, they said I’d never amount to anything and I’d be removed from the Will.

Did that upset you?
Zach Gerard: It upset me that they tried to control my life, but just because Pop and my dad are high profile attorneys didn’t mean I wanted any part of it. They defend these scumbags, and I put them behind bars. As for being cut from the Will? Money doesn’t buy happiness.

Are you married now?
Zach Gerard: No. Being in law enforcement, it’s hard to have a relationship with anyone other than someone in the same profession who understands the demands placed upon you.

Where do you work?
Zach Gerard: At the 21st precinct in the NYPD as a Detective 3rd class.

So you’ve worked your way up the ladder?”
Zach Gerard: I have and I don’t intend to stop there.

Is your attitude toward your goals to show your father you have made something of yourself?
Zach Gerard: I’d have to say that’s part of the reason, although I know I’ll never get his approval no matter what I do.

Are any other people living with you?
Zach Gerard: No one, and that’s probably a good thing because I have frequent visitors, if you know what I mean.

Do you have any regrets about the estranged relationship between you and your father?
Zach Gerard: My only regret is that Mom died while Dad and I were still angry at one another. I should have mended our fences for her sake, but I’m sure she would have seen through our strained interaction with one another. She’d devoted her life to me and the one thing I could have done for her, I failed. Dad and I acknowledge each other with a nod when we’re in court.

Do you have any siblings?
Zach Gerard: I’m an only child. But I’ve always thought if I did, it might have taken the pressure off me with my father.

What were three things you liked to do when you were a child?
Zach Gerard: We had a mock courtroom set up in our basement and Dad and Pop would go down there and argue their cases. I learned a lot about the law watching them in action. Knowing his legalese tactics when he’s working a case has really paid off during the times I have to testify and he’s the opposing attorney.

During the holidays, Mom would let me skip school for a day and we’d go out shopping and then stop to see the Christmas tree lights at Rockefeller Center. Those meant a lot to me.

And, I guess lastly, for my birthday, Mom would let me take all my friends to a special place, like the Bronx Zoo or Central Park for the day and we’d celebrate with a big party.

What were you afraid of when you were a child?
Zach Gerard: Undoubtedly, my father. Once I learned to pretend I was in agreement, he eased up a bit.

Do you like your job?
Zach Gerard: I love my job and I’m very good at what I do.

What makes you happy now?
Zach Gerard: Being able to help the victims of a crime I’m investigating by putting the perpetrator behind bars for a long time.

What is your greatest fear?
Zach Gerard: Not being able to solve a case.

What would you change about yourself if you could?
Zach Gerard: I would practice more patience with others. I have a tendency to interrupt when they’re expressing their points of view by jumping to conclusions.

What is it that you have never told anyone?
Zach Gerard: I’m in love with my partner. She’s a hot looking woman with long red hair and a body that doesn’t quit, but she won’t give me the time of day. But I love a challenge.

What do you want?
Zach Gerard: I want to work my way to Police Commissioner, convince my partner we’re soul mates if she’d just let herself go, and I guess ultimately, have my father tell me he’s proud of me.

Thanks for stopping by today. The Last Witness is available on all the major eReader sites, i.e., Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony and Apple.

Interview with Detective Tate Kensington of the NYPD

The following is an interview with Detective Tate Kensington, one of the lead characters in The Last Witness, which is now on sale for every eReader available at Amazon, B&N, Sony, Apple. Non eReader copies can be obtained through me by sending an email to carolyn@carolynhughey.com

1. How old are you?
Tate: I’m 32

2. Are you married?
Tate: No.

3. What do you do for a living?
Tate: I’m a homicide detective in the 21st precinct in the NYPD.

4. Are you involved with anyone?
Tate: No.

5. You were involved with someone, weren’t you?
Tate: That was more than 10 years ago before he was married, but the precinct rumor
mill still seems to think we’re involved because he’s now my boss.

6. Are you still involved?
Tate: Absolutely not!

7. It must be difficult to work for him.
Tate: Actually it’s not. I have no desire to get involved with anyone, and certainly not a man who cheated on me and broke my heart when he found out his one-night stand was pregnant.

8. Does anyone live with you?
Tate: No.

9. Tell me about your parents. How well do/did you get along with them?
Tate: My father walked out on us when I was 15 years old—he said he couldn’t take it anymore, and that’s when my mother turned to drinking and a parade of men commenced. She was so drunk most the time, they’d beat the crap out of her and walk out the door.

10. Did you walk out on your mother too?
Tate: Sometimes I felt like it, but I never would have. She needed someone to look after her and I was all she had. I felt sorry for her because she was the type of woman who needed a man to make her feel whole. I don’t need a man to make me happy.

11. Is your mother still alive?
Tate: No, she died five years ago.

12. How many siblings did you have?
Tate: I’m like my partner, an only child.

13. Your partner has been asking you out for a long time. Have you accepted his offer?
Tate: Listen, you don’t think I actually believe him, do you?

14. I’ve been told he’s in love with you.
Tate: This is a man who’s a playboy with a flock of women that would make Hugh Hefner’s harem look like chopped liver by comparison. I don’t take his innuendos seriously.

15. Is he hot looking?
Tate: Oh yeah, big time.


16. What case are you working on now?
Tate: We found a victim, his head split open from a close range shot to the back of his head lying face down on the ground in Central Park in the wee hours of the morning. Fifty feet from him was a car rammed into the embankment, the woman was taken to the hospital, but when we went to check on her later in the day, she was missing and we haven’t found her yet.

17. What do you think happened to her?
Tate: My partner and I have no idea. I think whoever was trying to kill her found out she was still alive and went back to finish off the job.

18. What were you afraid of the most as a child?
Tate: Losing another parent and not knowing where I’d go. There were no other living family members. I would have run and hid somewhere to avoid going to a foster home.

19. Did you develop any fears as a result of your father leaving?
Tate: I did, but it wasn’t just that he’d left me, but all those men who constantly waltzed in and out of home, leaving mom passed out drunk, taught me men can’t be trusted.

20. How did you respond to the physiological and psychological changes in your life as a teenager?
Tate: I withdrew and built a wall around me. That wall is still there despite my partner’s attempt to break it down.

21. What makes you happy now?
Tate: Solving crimes and showing my peers I’m just as good as they are. Maybe even better.

22. What would you change about yourself if you could?
Tate: Learning to trust.

23. What do you want?
Tate: To be respected for who I am and if it’s in the cards, I’d love to have a relationship without the drama.