It’s Jax Cassidy’s first mission for L.O.S.T.—one that will give the former cop who went rogue a chance to prove herself. Her assignment: gain the trust of assassin Marcus Cross . . . eliminate him . . . then take down Marcus’s mentor, Joseph Lazarus, a man with a bold eye on the White House. But the woman who’s known by her team for being a femme fatale succumbs to passion, only to discover Cross’s deadly secret. He’s a vampire, and Joseph Lazarus is his creator.

Left for dead by his platoon in the violent hills of Afghanistan, special ops sniper Marcus Cross was given a second chance at life. His newly heightened skills make him the perfect killing machine, and as Lazarus’s right hand man, he’s quickly rising to the top of his dark empire, purging enemies with speed and precision. Only when dangerous beauty Jax Cassidy is sent to bring him in does he begin to question Lazarus’s motives and his own actions. But when Jax’s life is threatened by the one thing that can destroy them both, Marcus must make a bitter choice—her death or his.

Karin is giving away an autographed copy of ENEMY LOVER and a special mug to one lucky commenter. Winner will be chosen at random on May 14th and will be contacted via email. Please provide this info if you wish to be included in the drawing.

I’m very excited to have debut paranormal romantic suspense author KARIN HARLOW visiting Romance Divas for so many reasons. She’s already getting spectacular reviews and I’ve become an instant fan since her first book features the heroine who totes my name. How cool is that? And I didn’t even need to win a contest to be immortalized.

Seriously, if the cover is any indication of what’s in store for the series…it’s going to be HOT! Let’s give a big, warm welcome to Karin Harlow!
Thank you, Jax for the invite. But more than that, thank you for your very cool name.  Whenever I see your name, I think, hey what’s Jax doing here? It’s kind of weird but in a very wonderful way!

What propelled you to take that leap and become a romance writer?

I read THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER in 8^th grade!  I was hooked on romance from that moment on.  I started to write my own romances in high school, and it carried over off and on through the years until I finally thought, I can do this.  I want to do this.  I’m going to do this!  It took a lot of hard work and many rejections, but here I am.

How challenging has it been for you to market this series as a debut author?

Getting the word out.  Building an audience.

Pretty darn challenging! Trying to convince readers to take a chance on me with their hard earned cash is no easy feat.  Trying to convince readers ENEMY LOVER is a damn good book without coming across as a pathetic pool of goo is even harder!

What is the best advice for debut authors to focus on in terms of marketing themselves?

Go viral.  A few years ago it was scoffed at.  Now?  It’s paramount to success.  Create buzz and ride the wave as long as you can and that means a lot of work.  For me it’s no sweat hanging out at blogs and chatting.  I love to chat about romance and this industry.  I like people. So it’s a happy task.

ENEMY LOVER is the first book in your new L.O.S.T. series. Could you please tell us about the book and how you came up with the concept?

The L.O.S.T. series was pitched as The Dirty Dozen meets Mission Impossible with a paranormal twist.  The idea was sparked as my husband watched The Dirty Dozen for the umpteenth time.  Thank goodness I was sitting there.  I thought, how cool would it be to bring those guys into the 21st century and make them cops? Bad bad cops who have strayed way over the line. What if they went up against vampires they had no idea existed.  Voila, Last Option Special Team as born…

What do you love most about this series?

I can do anything.  My L.O.S.T. operatives are the best of the best and the baddest of the bad.  I never make excuse for them.  I love being able not to do that!  These stories are big.  A lot is on the line.  Like the White House. And the paranormal element?  How sexy are vampires?

You know you’re going to get this one….Why did you decide to choose the name Jax Cassidy as a heroine?

Jax Cassidy is a very cool name.  I envy you.  I knew Jax by name before I knew her by character, and she came to me almost instantly with the name.  All attitude and kick ass.  But also deeply damaged.  If I ever got into trouble, Jax Cassidy is the first person I’d call.

In fact, are you an author who has to have names clearly defined before starting a project?

I do.  Most of the time.  With Marcus, I knew everything about him except his name.  It wasn’t until I was writing his first scene that he told me who he was.

Or do you put placeholders on name?

Very rarely do I put a placeholder on my three main character’s names.  Names are very important, so I am very selective. But sometimes, like with Marcus, I had to let him reveal it.

Do you have any writing rituals you follow?

Nope.  I just put by butt in the chair and write.

Any superstitions when working on new projects?

None.

What is the most extreme or spontaneous thing you’ve ever done and did it impact your life in any way?

Took off to California from the east coast with my then boyfriend who became my husband 28 years ago with nothing but a few boxes.  Not one single regret either.

What is the biggest misconception about romance authors that you’ve come across?

That we’re bored housewives.

Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

Don’t quit submitting.  It’s really rough and tumble out there right now.  Hang in there.  It will come to those of you who want it bad enough to do the work and stay in the game.  Go home and you lose.

Any last words for our readers?

I promise you will not be disappointed if you pick up a copy of ENEMY LOVER!

Also, I have a very cool give away for a lucky commenter today. A custom L.O.S.T. latte mug! But to be eligible you have to ask me a book or industry related question.

Thank you again, Jax for having me!

I wish you much success Karin in your new series and would love for you to come back for a visit! Ahem, I really think that everyone should run out and get a copy of ENEMY LOVER just for my name alone! LOL

A full time writer, Karin spins dark tales of suspense, love and things that go bump in the night. Drawing from her life as a cop’s wife, her stories resonate with authority and reality. When Karin isn’t writing, she enjoys traveling the California coast line with her husband and one or more of her four children or getting together in far off places with her writing buddies.

You can find Karin at:

www.KarinHarlow.com, www.facebook.com/KarinHarlow, www.Twitter.com/KarinHarlow

Would you tell us a little about yourself?

I write medieval romance for the Harlequin Historical line featuring characters born on the wrong side of the royal blanket. The Chicago Tribune called my work the “perfect balance between history and romance.” I call them “angsty historicals.” My fifth novel is out this month and I’m contracted for three more. After a long, hard struggle, I’m living my dream and couldn’t be more thrilled!

So tell us about your new book.

HIS BORDER BRIDE is my first story to be set in Scotland. This time, it’s my hero who is the royal bastard, the son of a much-hated prince of England and a Scots woman. A man without a country, he’s seen the worst that men can do, and done some of it. The heroine believes in the laws of chivalry and is sure this man has broken every one. While she’s drawn to him, she’s afraid of what’s inside of him—and of her own dark urges when she is with him. Here’s an excerpt:

From Chapter One
On the Scottish Border, 1356

Morning’s warmth had ebbed, and a chilly mist huddled in the valley and obscured the hills, reminding her of the dangers that lurked all around. The Inglis army might be far away, but the Inglis border was not.

That was her last thought before he rose out of the fog, a golden man on a black horse, like a spirit emerging from the mist.

A man without a banner.

A man without allegiance.

The hound barked, once, then growled, as if cowed.

The man’s eyes grabbed hers. Blue they were, shading as a sky does in summer from pale to deepest azure. And behind the blue, something hot, like the sun.

Like fire.

Any words she might have said stuck in her throat.

Next to her, Euphemia gasped, then giggled. “Where are you going good sir?”

Clare glared at her. The girl was hopeless. They’d be lucky to get her married before she was with child.

“Anywhere that will have me.” He answered Euphemia, but his eyes touched Clare.

Her cheeks burned.

Beside her, young Angus drew his dagger, the only weapon he was allowed. “I will defend the ladies.”

“I’m sure you will.” The stranger’s smile, slow, insolent, was at odds with the intensity in his eyes. “That’s a handsome dirk and I’m sure you could wield it well against me, but I would ask that you not to harm my horse.”

His tone was oddly gentle. Where was his own squire? “Who’s with you?”

“No one.”

“A dangerous practice.” Did he lie? An army could hide behind him in this mist. Her fault. She had ridden out alone and unarmed and put them all at risk. “Don’t you know Edward’s army still rides?”
He frowned. “Do they?”

His accent confused her. It held the burr of the land closer to the sea, but there was something else about it, difficult to place. Yet over the hill, in the next valley, each family’s speech was different. He might be a Robson from the other side of the hill, scouting for one last raid before the spring, or loyal to one of the Teviotdale men who had thrown their lot with Edward. “You’re not an Inglisman, are you?”

“I have blood as Scots as yours.”

“And how do you know how Scots my blood is?”

“By the way you asked the question.”

Did her speech sound so provincial to Alain? She winced. She wanted to impress the visiting French knight, not embarrass him. “What’s your name, Scotsman?”

“Gavin.” He paused. “Gavin Fitzjohn.”

Some John’s bastard, then. Even a bastard bore his father’s arms, but this man carried no clue to his birth. No device on his shield, no surcoat. Just that unkempt armor that, without a squire’s care, had darkened with rust spots.

No arms, no squire. Not of birth noble enough for true knighthood then.
“Are you a renegade?” On her wrist, Wee One bated, wings flapping wildly. Clare touched her fingers to the bird’s soft breast feathers, seeking to calm them both.

His slow smile never wavered. “Just a tired and hungry man who needs a friendly bed.” His eyes traveled over her, as if he were wondering how friendly her bed might be.

“Well, you’ll not find one with us.”

“I didn’t ask. Yet.”

Did he think she’d offered to be his bedmate? She should not be talking to such a man at all. “Well, if you do, I’ll say you nae.”

“I don’t ask before I know whether I’m speaking to a friend or an enemy.”

“And I don’t answer before I know the same.” Her voice had a wobble she had not intended.

“Are you a woman with enemies?”

“Three kings claim this land. We have more enemies than friends.”

“Aye,” he said, nodding, a frown carving lines in his face. He flexed his hand as if it itched to reach for his sword. “Who are yours?”

Her eyes clashed with his. She should have asked him first. Where was his loyalty? To the Balliol pretender, recently dethroned? To David the Bruce still held for ransom by the Inglis Edward? Perhaps he had lied about his blood and was Edward’s man himself.

Next to her, the young girl sighed. “This is Mistress Clare and I’m Euphemia and I have nay enemies.”

“Euphemia!” Was she batting her lashes? Yes, she was. “Do you want us to be killed?”

“He wouldn’t do that. A knight is sworn to protect ladies, aren’t you?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, then turned to Clare. “Don’t treat him as an unfriend.”

“If I do, it’s because I have a brain in my head.”

If she kicked the horse into a gallop, could she outrun the man? Not with Angus and Euphemia in tow and Wee One on her wrist.

She lowered her voice to a whisper. “He looks like a dangerous ruffian, not a knight. He wears no markings and he’s wearing dirty armor with rust spots!” The man, if he knew the maxims of chivalry, cared little for them.

Euphemia shrugged and turned to the man. “You’re not dangerous and dirty, are you?”

Something darkened his face before a smile waved it away. “Well, that may depend on how you mean the words, but I’d say Mistress Clare has a gift for judging character.”

Excerpt from HIS BORDER BRIDE
Copyright © 2010 by Wendy Blythe. Gifford
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A…

You said a long hard struggle. When did you start writing?

Well, I started writing when I could hold a pencil, but I started writing seriously after a corporate layoff. One of the things they tell you when you are going through what is euphemistically called “a transition” is to evaluate your life and see what is on your list of things you’ve always wanted to do. “Write a book” was on still mine and I figured now might be a good time. Ten years and one layoff later, I was an ‘overnight success’ when I sold my Golden Heart finalist manuscript to Harlequin.

Why historical romance?

They say write what you read. I’m not sure that’s perfect advice. I read lots of things I could never write well, but I read, and love, romance and history. I found a pencil-written ‘manuscript’ not long ago of an historical novel I started at age ten! So the urge was there long before I acted it.

What did you do before you were published?

Some of what I still do. I started out in journalism, went into public relations, advertising, and then marketing and finally business consulting. I still juggle consulting work along with my writing.

How do you manage both? What’s your writing schedule? Is there a ritual?

On a normal day, (and there actually are a few of those), I write in the morning and do consulting work in the afternoon. I’m a believer in writing everyday. I show up at the computer at the same time each morning so the muse knows where to find me.

And I do have a ritual. When I start a book, I create a “soundtrack” to write by and choose a fragrance (buy a candle) that summons the story for me. When I push “play” and strike that match, like Pavlov’s dog, I am trained to make a cup of tea and open the file. No decisions. No waiting for the muse.

Habit can be your friend.

The soundtrack and candle also come in handy when it is time to do revisions or book promotion. They help me get back in the mood of the story, even if I’m immersed in another project by then.

So what inspires your stories? Where do your ideas come from?

History. Somehow, I can see human beings walking around in the midst of those events. For HIS BORDER BRIDE, for example, I read about the English invasion of Scotland in which they reputedly burned down a church full of people who had sought sanctuary inside. My book opens with the hero, standing in front of such a church, with a torch in his hand.

What authors influenced your work?

I always start with Anya Seton, who wrote Katherine. I loved that book and it’s amazing to see that my lifelong interest in the English royal family, legitimate and otherwise, particularly in the 14th century came from that story.

Who do you like to read?

There are so many great authors out there, it’s hard to name just a few, but Laura Kinsale, Penelope Williamson, and Megan Chance always make my “aspirational” list. I love Deanna Raybourn’s work. And Madeline Hunter. And newcomer Courtney Milan. And I do love a good suspense. Lisa Gardner and Tami Hoag are two of my favorites when I’m in that mood.

Well, I’d better stop here. You see the problem.

Have you any parting words of wisdom?

Know why you write what you write, beyond the desire to be published. I do not downplay fame and money! I’ll happily accept more of both. But when you are sitting at the keyboard facing a blank screen, those aren’t the things that bring forth your most authentic work. It’s the soul you bring to the page that connects to the reader. That’s what brings them back for more.

And thanks for having me!

How about you? What’s the reason you write? I’ll give a copy of HIS BORDER BRIDE to a commenter!

BLYTHE GIFFORD is the author of five medieval romances from Harlequin Historical. She specializes in characters born on the wrong side of the royal blanket. With HIS BORDER BRIDE, she crosses the border and sets a story in Scotland for the first time, where the rules of chivalry don’t always apply. Here’s a brief description:

Royal Rogue: He is the bastard son of an English prince and a Scotswoman. A rebel without a country, he has darkness in his soul.

Innocent Lady: Daughter of a Scottish border lord, she can recite the laws of chivalry, and knows this man has broken every one. But she’s gripped by desire for him—could he be the one to unleash the dangerous urges she’s hidden until now?

Blythe loves to have visitors at:
ww.blythegifford.com or  www.facebook.com/BlytheGifford

Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ®and T are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited and/or its affiliated companies, used under license. Copyright 2010 ■ Author photo by Jennifer Girard