CRIMSON ROMANCE

Danger! Cosmetics to Go: A Q&A with Mira Manga, Author of Lush’s First Book

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It’s not so unusual, a beauty brand branching out into the world of publishing — sure, Bobbi Brown’s got several titles to her name. So when the call came to have a chat with Mira Manga, whose book, Danger! Cosmetics To Go is a look at the origin story of the Lush brand, I certainly wasn’t going to say no.

Particularly as another one of my hats is that of books editor for the Herald. I like to mix things up in the column, and especially like having the chats with other* authors. The Q&A with Mira can be found here, along with reviews of some other beautyfull books.

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*Other authors? Yes, indeed! THAT MAGIC MISCHIEF And it occurred to me that I have been talking about my most recently published novel, That Magic Mischief, many times this week. So, here ’tis! Available for download for whatever digital reader you currently own, this is a contemporary romantic comedy set in Brooklyn, but with Irish interest (as in the hero) and a paranormal aspect as well (as in a Pooka).

I’ve also got two more! Drama Queen and The Fidelity Project are also available for purchase from the Ether — and I reckon I was talking about all my titles because: thank God for digital! I’m especially fond of it as regards these two: printed in a short run, they would have disappeared entirely if not for the Advances of Modern Technology.

Something{s} for the weekend, so?

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Win a Copy of That Magic Mischief via The Romance Reviews

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Register here to get in with a chance to win a copy of my new novel, That Magic Mischief, on 7 March! THAT MAGIC MISCHIEF

In honour of their second birthday, The Romance Reviews are offering a month’s worth of great giveaways. I’m delighted That Magic Mischief will be involved! Here’s the synposis again, and the TRR site will provide a link to the hint that will help you solve the multiple choice question.

What was the point of being a witch if Annabelle Walsh couldn’t manage a spell to fix her broken heart? Okay, maybe calling herself a witch was pushing it — but as a dedicated dabbler in all things metaphysical, she figured she could, at the very least, speed up the healing process. Dumped out of the blue by high-powered banker Wilson Monroe, her boyfriend of three years and nine months, Annabelle’s hopes of walking down the aisle seem remoter than ever, and springtime in New York had never looked so dismal.

With the help of her dearest friends in the world—cool, calm and collected Lorna, and fiery, feisty, foul-mouthed Maria Grazia — Annabelle tries to pull herself out of the dumps by crying her eyes out, getting smashed on girly drinks, and working the odd spell. An idle wander into an unfamiliar new age shop adds the bit of magic in her life that she’d been looking for, in the form of a Pooka — an interfering, mischievous spirit determined to turn Annabelle’s life around, mostly by turning it upside down.

Suddenly, Annabelle hasn’t got time to brood, and her career as a journalist begins to take off; in fact, it’s during a brainstorming session for an off-off-off-off Broadway theatre production that she meets tall, dark, and handsome Jamie Flynn, an Irishman in New York who seems to be keen at first sight, if not in love quite yet. As Annabelle gets her life back on track, she starts to see the difference that a real life, a real career, and a real man can make … and all it took was that magic mischief.

Visit theromancereviews.com for more info, and for their T&Cs. Good luck!

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And follow @Crimson_Romance for more great titles!

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Guest Blogging at Crimson Romance: Consulting the Oracle{s}

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THAT MAGIC MISCHIEFBlogging for somebody else is a weird sensation. It’s kind of like riding someone else’s horse while they’re watching, which in my case, the one time I did it, made me feel really self-conscious and nervous.

I had a bit of that when I blogged for the wonderful lovelygirliebits, but after some deep-breathing exercises and couple of knuckle-cracks, I got down to business and it was fine.

You may think that ‘writing is writing’, but it’s kind of not.

One of things that my heroine, amateur witch Annabelle Walsh, learns is that ‘magic isn’t magic’. By that, she — I — we? We mean? Anyway, the point is that everything that happened to her, post-heartbreak, had as much to do with her desire to get over it, as did her own deep-breathing exercises and knuckle-cracking, which came in the form of burning bunches of sage and interacting with a supernatural creature from Irish mythology. Slightly different for me, then.

So, writing isn’t writing: I have a very different approach to critiquing a stage play or an arts exhibition than I do to reviewing a serum or a facial. Working on a new novel is different from trying to adapt one into a screenplay, and posting on my horse blog, I found, was a universe away from writing my horsey-divorcey memoir.

It’s a matter of practice and discipline, and getting used to having to try on different techniques. Despite the nerves, I was delighted to contribute this piece to the Crimson Romance Editors blog. Go have a look!

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Have you read That Magic Mischief? There’s a giveaway on this blog that’s about answering a question to win a great prizes… and there are more to come… just so you know…

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Win a copy of That Magic Mischief from The Romance Reviews!

/ brightandbeautyfull / Leave a comment

In honour of their second birthday, The Romance Reviews are offering a month’s worth THAT MAGIC MISCHIEFof great giveaways, interviews, and chances to join in on a community that loves romantic fiction in all its many genres. {Unsurprisingly, I am often drawn to titles that feature cowboys. Go figure.}

I’m delighted That Magic Mischief will be involved! Bookmark the link above, and this one, too, as there’s a hint in the synopsis, below, for the multiple choice question that could win you a free copy of my new novel.

What was the point of being a witch if Annabelle Walsh couldn’t manage a spell to fix her broken heart?  Okay, maybe calling herself a witch was pushing it — but as a dedicated dabbler in all things metaphysical, she figured she could, at the very least, speed up the healing process. Dumped out of the blue by high-powered banker Wilson Monroe, her boyfriend of three years and nine months, Annabelle’s hopes of walking down the aisle seem remoter than ever, and springtime in New York had never looked so dismal.

With the help of her dearest friends in the world—cool, calm and collected Lorna, and fiery, feisty, foul-mouthed Maria Grazia — Annabelle tries to pull herself out of the dumps by crying her eyes out, getting smashed on girly drinks, and working the odd spell. An idle wander into an unfamiliar new age shop adds the bit of magic in her life that she’d been looking for, in the form of a Pooka — an interfering, mischievous spirit determined to turn Annabelle’s life around, mostly by turning it upside down.

Suddenly, Annabelle hasn’t got time to brood, and her career as a journalist begins to take off; in fact, it’s during a brainstorming session for an off-off-off-off Broadway theatre production that she meets tall, dark, and handsome Jamie Flynn, an Irishman in New York who seems to be keen at first sight, if not in love quite yet. As Annabelle gets her life back on track, she starts to see the difference that a real life, a real career, and a real man can make … and all it took was that magic mischief.

Visit theromancereviews.com for more info, and for their T&Cs. Good luck!

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And follow @Crimson_Romance for more great titles!

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Happy Bookday, That Magic Mischief!

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THAT MAGIC MISCHIEF Awww! You’ve been a glimmer in my eye since 2001. 2001! Yes, that is totally true! I got the idea for you when on a trip to the American Southwest, in Taos, a lovely town to be sure, but one that stretched even my credulity as regards all things metaphysical.

I had picked up a local free sheet, and the first thing that caught my eye was a column suggesting that one get one’s pals together for a past-life regression/séance slumber party. Oooookay, I thought, before I folded up the paper and put it the trash. That’s a bit much, even for me.

Because you see, TMM — I can call you TMM, yeah? — I believe in all sorts of things, I have consulted many an oracle in all my years, and I’m into angels and stuff… but that? Nope, too wacky, even for me.

But it did make me wonder, What would these people do if something actually did come over from the other side, or the outer dimension, or wherever? Like, what if after all the spells, all the incense, all the invoking, some class of supernatural creature did actually make itself known to somebody? What would that somebody do?

And then I starting thinking about what might trigger that off, what would be a thing in the life of a young, single woman living in… Brooklyn? Brooklyn! Well, it would most likely be romance-related or work-related. What if it was both? And what if the help she thought she was wanted wasn’t going to be the help she got? Even if it did all work out in the end.

And so you were conceived, TMM. In the dusty streets of New Mexico, in a manner of speaking. After several drafts and many pitches, the editors at Crimson Romance took you on, to my absolute delight.

Off you go , now! Have fun! And know that your movie rights are ready and waiting to be optioned!

XOXOXO

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That Magic Mischief is available as a digital download, where all good etheric tomes are sold!

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w00t! Pre-Order That Magic Mischief!

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THAT MAGIC MISCHIEFYay! Please feel free to go ahead and sign up for delivery of my new novel! The page is up on amazon.com, and here’s a link to amazon.co.uk<< which, admittedly, looks a little funky? Or is it just me?

You may also find ways to upload via Crimson Romance ebooks, B&N, iTunes. Sony Reader Store maybe? I made such a mess of my Sony account, I don’t even think I can go on and check to see if am I there.

Sure, why not go ahead and pick up my other titles as well? The .com link helpfully directs you to them. You know what? Buy the other Susan Conley’s book, too! Why not? That Susan Conley was on Oprah, and wasn’t my phone ringing off the hook that day? The phone that I could answer because I am the Susan Conley that is me, not her, and so I wasn’t actually on the fabled sofa?

The digital list price is $4.99; the Kindle version is $4.91 which includes VAT and free international wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet<< their bold and italic, because sure, who wouldn’t bold and italicise Whispernet?

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WATCH THIS SPACE for amazing reader giveaways of super fantastic, and dare I say, magical beauty products!