Today, I’m sitting down for a virtual chat with the fabulous Monica Burns, so sit back kick up your feet, relax and read. 🙂

~*~*~

Question
Monica, tell us about Kismet.

Answer
Kismet is set in Morocco circa the late 1800s. It’s the story of Allegra Synnford and her handsome Sheikh Shaheen. They’ve both been betrayed by family members and are both incredibly stubborn people. And to date, the banana scene appears to be one of the most memorable scenes in the book. Although I certainly enjoyed the groveling scene at the end, which is very emotional.

Question
Can you tell us your call story with Berkley?

Answer
Sure, one October Sunday afternoon in 2008, I was playing with my new phone. Not a good use of writing time, but I decided to get cute and use When You Wish Upon a Star for my agent’s number. Keep in mind we email, she NEVER calls me. Nonetheless, I was pleased with my non-writing efforts.
The next day, I had a caller on hold and was trying resolve their issue with a colleague. Suddenly in the background I hear When You Wish Upon a Star playing. I ignore it. Seconds later, I connect the dots. With a loud gasp, I tell my colleague to handle the caller because my agent is on the phone! Now my cell phone was in my purse, which was locked away in a cabinet, and my keys were hidden under a stack of papers. Files flew into the air (okay not into the air, but my neat and orderly desk wasn’t so neat and orderly anymore) as I scrambled to find my keys. A moment later, I manage to bend the key in the lock. Makes it a little tough to open a cabinet. By the time I get to the phone, I’ve missed the call. I call back, and Deidre says she has news and to stay calm (she knows me so well).
The minute she says Cindy Hwang at Berkley is interested in my Sicari paranormal series, I let out this whoop that had my co-workers looking at me like I’d lost my mind. I remember trembling so badly I could barely hold the phone, and I was pacing like a caged lion trying to keep my emotions under control. Hard to do when there’s this incredible sense of elation surging through your body, which is almost numbing in its intensity. Cindy had asked to speak with me before finalizing things, and I was frantically trying to remember what was in the paranormal proposal we’d submitted.
You see, I’d put the paranormal aside to rework Kismet, and my Sicari heroes were a faint blip on my radar screen. Talk about terror. When we talked, I stumbled my way through the conversation, trying to appear knowledgeable about my series. Fortunately, Cindy forgave my cluelessness. Better yet, she loved my voice. Major swoon, and a short time after our conversation, Deidre called to say the offer was official.

Question
Do you have a favourite novel, one you were just sad to finish writing? If so, which book?

Answer
Assassin’s Heart, which will be released this September. It was so hard to let go of the characters. Lysander has to be one of my all-time fav heroes that I’ve written. He’s suffered so much, but he overcomes even more to have the happiness he deserves. The book also has a secondary story line in Ancient Rome that ties into the hero/heroine’s story in present day Rome. It was such a blast to write this book.

Question
You seem to like to write about Egypt, which is considered a rather exotic locale. What is the attraction to that setting?

Answer
Egypt has fascinated me since I was a kid. I believe in past lives, and I’m convinced I’ve been to Egypt, and I think it’s where I developed my intense fear of snakes. My phobia is so bad, that’s the only reason why I won’t go to the country. To hell with terrorists, it’s the snakes I’m terrified of. No Joke! But I will say that when I had the wonderful good fortune to see the King Tut exhibit, it was so emotional for me. It was as if I’d come home. Everything I saw looked so familiar. Even things I’d never seen in my research before. It was a wonderful experience.

Question
Who is your favourite author?

Answer
Oh gosh, my tastes in favorites tends to run more in terms of specific books as opposed to authors, but I love reading Dan Brown, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Katherine Neville, Baroness Ocrzy, Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Loretta Chase, Nalini Singh and Kresley Cole to name a few.

Question
Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Answer
Pantser, hands down. I do have to do a somewhat detailed synopsis that sort of keeps me in line, but most of the time the synopsis and the book look like two different stories. It’s scary to be a pantser because if you back yourself into a hole, you have to find a way out. I still remember how I got my h/h locked in a tomb in my book Mirage. Took me three days to figure out how to get them out of that particular pickle. I was sweating bullets then because the only other option was to rewrite about 20 pages! *gasp*

~~~

Kismet
Author: Monica Burns
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pub. Date: January 5, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1420104332
352 pages

Raised in a brothel at a young age, Allegra Synnford quickly learned that survival meant taking charge of her destiny. Now, a renowned courtesan skilled in the pleasures of the flesh, she chooses her lovers carefully—vowing never to be vulnerable to any one man. Until a mesmerizing Sheikh strips that control from her…

Sheikh Shaheen of the Amazigh has been hiding from his past for a long time, but not enough to forget how another courtesan made him abandon his life as the Viscount Newcastle. It’s why the yearnings this dangerous temptress ignites within him are so troubling. Worse, thoughts of Allegra pervade every fantasy, threatening to undermine his cover. With old enemies circling, experience tells him he must resist her charms at all cost. In fact, he’s betting on it. That’s a risky wager when it comes to a woman of pleasure. But Allegra has her own reasons for playing games…with a man who can’t afford to lose.

~~~

Question
What was it like moving from Samhain to Berkley?

Answer
Actually there’s not that much of a difference with the exception that Berkley is larger and has a stronger distribution channel. Berkley recently switched to doing revisions online, and that’s been a bit of a challenge for some of the staff. My editor said she envied me for my ePub experience and knowing how to work with Word’s Review feature. She said there was a definite learning curve when she was so used to working with paper. Berkley does design my ads for me, but I still do all my own advertising just like I did for my eBooks. They do have someone who organizes book signings for me with chain bookstores, so that’s nice I don’t have to worry about that.

Question
Will you continue to write for an epublisher?

Answer
Absolutely, I like the steady income that I get monthly. The minute I have time, I’ve got a story I want to rework for Samhain. It’s a historical that didn’t sell to NY, but I love the story line. I work a day job full-time and write full-time, and my writing speed is moderate. I wish I could write faster, because I’d be churning out lots of eBooks in between fulfilling my NY contracts. Maybe when I quit the day job. But I adore Samhain, and I’m thrilled to still be a part of their stable of authors. Chrissy Brashear is one of my publishing idols!

Question
What is next for you, and when will readers expect to see it out on book shelves?

Answer
My next book is the start of my paranormal series Assassin’s Honor, Book 1 in the Order of the Sicari series. Emma Zale is an archeologist who has the ability to read antiquities and know where they came from and see who owned the object. She stumbles onto a secret order of assassins known as the Sicari. Ares, one of the Sicari leaders is the man who pulls her into the Order to protect her from the telepathic Praetorians, the villains in the series. The heroes have telekinetic abilities with a Roman bloodline going back to the time of Alexander the Great.

Question
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

Answer
The real question is WANT. Would I want to change my name? Answer – no. I picked my pen name out at the age of 9. I strayed from that name when I returned to writing eight years ago. I picked a really pretty, nondescript name. Nothing happened, until one day I remembered my childhood pen name, decided to give it a shot, and in six months I had my first ePub contract and an agent and I finaled in the RWA Golden Heart. That nine-year-old kid knew what she was doing.

Monica, thank you for joining me today. As always, it was a pleasure. 🙂  You can find out more about Monica and her books on her website: http://www.monicaburns.com.

Monica will be stopping by during the day to answer questions so fire away, and she has kindly offered up copies of Kismet to 2 lucky commenters.

**Drawing is open to residents in US and other countries. Void where prohibited. Shipping/handling fees for shipment of book OUTSIDE the US is responsibility of winner. International winners may pay the required postage via PayPal. To ensure as many readers as possible have a chance to win a copy of the book, Monica awards only one book per reader, per household.

historicals
By Authors, Giveaways, Interviews57 Comments on Monica Burns ~ Kismet

57 Replies to “Monica Burns ~ Kismet”

  1. Monica, I love the fact that you believe you lived a past life in Egypt. My grandmother was convinced she had, too, and after she saw the King Tut exhibit, she had the same feeling of connection you talked about. Pretty cool! I’m a big believer in past lives myself. I’m pretty certain I lived in Elizabethan England, and of course, I was filthy rich! LOL

    Incidentally, I’ve been to Egypt, and I never saw any snakes. 😉 It’s a fascinating country, and I’d love to go back some day.

  2. Hello, Monica & Beverley! Monica, I didn’t realize that you and I share a Virginia conncection until I read your website and blog. I live less than an hour from Roanoke, which is the “big city” for folks from my home area. You are a very interesting and courageous lady!!!

    Since you write such deep, dark and delicious protagonists, are you envisioning the man who would sweep you off your feet if you were the heroine? Who is the very first “hero” who made an impression on you?

  3. I love your call story, Monica! I’m sure you’ll never forget that. Your book sounds wonderful, and what a beautiful cover! Congratulations.

  4. Great interview! Monica, congrats on the release of KISMET! I’m so looking forward to reading this story.

    I love that you’re using the pen name you chose at the age of 9 and that you got a contract so soon after you started using it. A bit of kismet, perhaps?

  5. Hi Monica & Beverley
    What a wonderful review I enjoyed reading this today, your book sounds good I’m looking forward to reading it.
    Thanks for being here today and congratulations!
    Penney

  6. @ Gannon The fact that you DIDN’T see any snakes does not mean *I* wouldn’t. LOL I’m a big believer that we call things to us, sometimes as lessons, sometimes just out of our fears. So I’m just not willing to take the risk, and trust me, I am a BIG risk taker. LOL

    As for my past lives, I’ve actually done a past life regression session where I was taken through three lives. NONE of them were pleasant. And all three ended violently. One I was a maid in a French aristocrat’s household and because I was loyal to the family I had my head taken off apparently. I didn’t get that far in the regression because the monitor of the session had to wake me up because I was in so much distress. It would explain why I’ve NEVER been able to have anything around my neck, necklaces, turtlenecks, etc.

    I would LOVE to have met your grandmother! She sounds like she was awesome. My grandmother was pretty cool that way too.

    @Virginia C – WHERE outside of Roanoke do you live? I grew up in the Roanoke area, so I’m fairly familiar with the area. Newcastle? Fincastle, B-burg, Christiansburg? It’s a beautiful area. The I met the DH at the Cave Spring corners Kroger store. He asked me out in the checkout line. LOL

    As for heroes…an alpha hero and I would tear each other apart. I’m incredibly alpha, which is why my BETA husband and I are such a great match. He only gets frustrated with me 25% of the time. LOL As for a hero that’s made an impression on me….I’d have to chose a hero from history and there are three. Jefferson, Lincoln and Patrick Henry. Jefferson because he was such a brilliant intellectual, Lincoln because it’s thought that he as manic depressive (bipolar) and Patrick Henry because any man that passionate in the orator’s box HAD to be passionate elsewhere!! LOL

    @Devon Thanks, I know I won’t forget that first NY contract story. There are moments you never forget. And I love my cover too. Rich and sumptuous.

    @PJ I am TOTALLY convinced of Kismet with that pen name. I still remember when I was writing at 9 that I would see the name on the shelf. Just forgot it for many years, but when I did remember, oh what a difference a name can make. LOL

  8. And yes, isn’t the cover absolutely gorgeous!

    Welcome Monica!!! Very excited you’re here. Tel me this, how hard and/or tiring is promoting a book? Sometimes I think it take more out of you than writing the darn thing. LOL

  9. Congratulations Monica! Kismet’s story line sounds interesting and I can’t wait to read it! And I love the cover!

  10. Promoting a Book??? Bev, you’re killin’ me here!! ROFL IT’s exhausting. Let me give you an idea of my daily schedule.

    Up at 5-5:30am to get ready for work and write for 2-2.5 hours,
    Daily commute and work day with an hour of writing at lunch. I obviously have time to comment on blogs at work. I don’t know what I would do if that wasn’t possible. I guess I just wouldn’t.
    Back home by 6-6:15pm. DH fixes dinner while I walk on the treadmill for 1/2 hr (I WILL take these pounds off).
    Dinner with family by 7pm
    In my office by 7:30pm where I multi-task. I answer email, write blog posts, check on ads, etc. all while playing a chess game or two with Baby before she goes to bed at 8:30pm.

    I work up until bedtime, which is usually between 10-11pm (depends on whether I really need a laugh which then feeds my addiction for reruns of The Nanny).

    Repeat schedule for the next four days until the weekend when I get to sleep in until 7:30am. then I spend the day in my office writing, researching and promoting. It will be nice when I can make enough money off my books to stay at home and write full-time

  14. Monica, what is your favorite genre to write in and which one haven’t you tried yet that you would like to give a shot?

    Margay

  15. @jcp if by “I’ve never read one…yet” you mean a book by me, you’re in good company. LOL I’m still relatively low on the radar scale with readers. I’m hoping that will change soon. *grin*

    @Danielle Thanks for being intrigued enough to add Kismet to your TBR list. And between the cover and the banana scene, I don’t know which is more popular! LOL

    @Margay Fav genre to write. That wouldn’t have been a tough question to answer two years ago. I would have said hands down historicals. Now, I’ve found that I can actually write a paranormal, I have to admit that they’ve a way of making me stretch and enhance my story telling capabilities. I’m not sure that there is another subgenre that intrigues me enough to write in at this point in time, but down the road it might pop up. For the moment, I’m so busy with my current contracts I’m not sure which way is up or down anymore. LOL

  19. @Rebekah Thanks, I hope readers find it a satisfying read

    @wherepassionleads – There it is again, someone else loving my cover. LOL I love it too, but it’s a bit of a different take on the old school covers. Notice that SHE’s the one on top and in control of him. I LOVE that aspect of it!

  20. Hi, Monica! I live in the beautiful mountains of Alleghany County, VA : ) We also have a Kroger store, but no one interesting has asked me out in the check out line! Darn! Thank you for answering my question. Your response was a delightful surprise! You are the ALPHA! Your three marvelous males, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Henry should be combined into a single heroic character for one of your upcoming books. Please make him a tall redhead like Jefferson! Have you ever visited Monticello, Jefferson’s home outside Charlottesville, VA? If not, you must make the trip. It’s an unforgettable experience for a history lover : )

  22. @Virginia C…Ahhh the Blue Ridge mountains. As a kid, my parents took us camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway on a regular basis. I’m very familiar with Peaks of Otter, Otter Creek, Rocky Knob, Dan Meadows, plus all the state parks. And I’ve been to Monticello several times. I keep meaning to take Baby there, just haven’t found the time (see schedule above) LOL And wow! I hadn’t thought about making my three heroes into one! What a terrific idea. One of the things I love most about Jefferson are his inventions. That clock over the entry way at Monticello is incredible.

    Have you been to Wmsbrg? I’m not a big fan of Civil War history, but Richmond has a lot of historical sites as well. Edgar Allan Poe house is one and Hollywood Cemetery. I’ve not been in years. I need to make an appt to take Baby this spring. It’s beautiful then. Yeah I know, how can a cemetery be beautiful? Well one just has to experience the peace of it. LOL

  24. I’m lovin’ that cover! Harkens back to the old-school romance novel covers (which made me look twice), but with a modern twist. 🙂

    Thanks for telling us about your past lives…I find it a fascinating subject and was wondering how you found someone to regress you?

  25. @Julie Thanks for kudos on the cover. As for past life regression. I live in Richmond about 1.5 hrs from VA Beach, which has a very large metaphysics community. The Edgar Cayce Research Center is there as well. I had a friend who hooked me up with the regression therapist (not sure that’s the right word). It was about 12-13 years ago, so I don’t even remember the gal’s name. I’m sure you could do a search online for past life regression and once you have some names, you simply ask for references. The more the better.

  26. Enjoyed reading the comments.
    My question for you is As a writer, what is the most important thing you always take with you in your purse other than your driver’s license?

  27. Hi Monica, again. ^^

    Your book still sounds wonderful. ^^ Knowing that your are a Star Wars/Star Trek fan are you ever going to write a sci-fi romance or one that takes place on an alien world?

    Melissa

  28. @Joye – My pen drive. It’s backup up online, on my main PC on my laptop and my external hard drive, but my pen drive is always with me. When we were living in Roanoke a few years ago, Baby got a little too curious about those click lighters for fireplaces and she set the laundry room on fire. I put the fire out and then got her, the dog and myself out of the house. As I waited for the fire dept, I suddenly remembered my other “babies” I raced back into the house (STOOOPID) and grabbed my purse, which ALWAYS has the pen drive in it unless I’m backing it up and then it goes back in the purse. LOL The DH thought I was insane when I told him.

    @Melissa You know, Margay asked a question about a subgenre I’d not written in, and I don’t know HOW I could forget sci-fi. I’m not sure I have it in me. I’m hoping that one day in the future I’ll be able to partner with my nephew in writing a screen play for him to direct, whether we’d do sci-fi or not would be his call. It could be action adventure which I think I could do, but not having romance in it would be a stretch! LOL

  29. Hi Monica, great interview! Your book sounds fabulous and I can’t wait to read it! I love reading historicals. Do you enjoy the research part of writing and what type of books do you read the most?

  30. I do love the sound of this book Monica WOW what a busy life yo lead congrats on the release

    Great interview Ladies

    Have Fun
    Helen

  32. Monica, I’ve done a past life regression, too, but I didn’t have anything quite so violent as yours. No wonder you don’t want anything around your neck. My MIL could never stand anything up against her neck either. I used to tell her she’d probably been beheaded or hanged in a previous life.

    Have you ever read the book MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS by Dr. Brian Weiss? It deals with past lives–incredibly fascinating!

    My grandma was pretty wonderful. I always found it interesting that she believed in reincarnation, because I’m certain she didn’t get that from her family. She was raised in the country in Mississippi and Louisiana–not exactly forward-thinking country. 😉

  33. @quilt lady I’m glad you enjoyed the inteview. I LOVE researching for my books. In fact, I’m often behind the eightball when it comes to deadlines because I put off writing to research. So I try to research as I go. This reminds me that I have to get back to the game plan.

    I have really eclectic reading tastes. I think action adventure would be my top reading choice.

    @Helen I’m glad the book sounds intriguing to you. And I’m sure my life isn’t that much busier than others. *smile*

    @Alexandra – don’t you love the colors!! I want to look as good as Allegra and have a blue slip of cloth over me like that! LOL

    @Gannon See, you’re probably right about the MIL. Most people think that past lives are all rosy. Most aren’t. I think there are happy ones though. I think I was happy in Egypt doing whatever it was I was doing, and I’m certain that I lived in the late 1800s. It’s a time period that I’ve been drawn to almost as strongly as my attachment to Egypt. I have read the Weiss book, *sigh* one more to add to my ever growing pile.

    I adored my grandmother (maternal). She has 180some IQ, taught school and taught me my grammar skills. I send out an annual Christmas letter, and she would grade it and return it with a grade. Over almost 10 years I slowly climbed the grading scale until I got an A+ from her the Christmas before she died. She was a gift that can never be replaced in my life. I miss her even more than my parents sometimes.

  34. Monica, what lovely memories you have of your grandmother. The grandmother I’ve been talking about was my maternal grandmother also. She was full of fun–my sisters and I used to go on vacation to the beach with my grandparents when we were little. And there was nothing we loved more than spending the night at their house anytime. My grandma taught us to cook …. and play poker. *g*

  35. Ok, so was your Grandma Italian??? My grandfather (#$**@^) left my grandmother when my Mom was 12 the @#$@#%^. Sensing some anger management issues?? I’m Italian, vendettas are a way of life for us. Anyway, my Dad was really good to my Grandmother, he always made sure she traveled on all our vacations with us. Actually I think Mom and Dad brought her along as our “Entertainment Channel.” She’d keep us occupied with finding all the states license plates. Looking for certain things on the road. Telling us stories. And OMG, that woman could cook.She taught my Mom. As she got older she became legally blind, but she didn’t let it stop her. I remember a family reunion where a group of us were playing Trivial Pursuit. Every time a question got asked, she’d answer it CORRECTLY, and everyone kept telling her (lovingly I might add) to either shut up or play. She’d been a birdwatcher when I was kid, and whenever I saw a bird I didn’t recognize I’d call her up and describe it and she’d know it, cuz I’d look it up in a book I had. I miss being able to do that. Sounds like we had grandmothers who were similar in nature and I think we were both lucky as all get out!

  36. Hi Bev! Hi Monica!

    My question might be a little stupid lol But did you notice that you’re fascination with Egypt and fear of snakes is very much like Indiana Jones? ;P

  37. Good evening, Monica.

    What is your opinion on book trailers? Do you think they help in book sales?

    Thanks.

  38. Congratulations on the release of Kismet! Have seen this book around the net and am looking forward to reading it.

  39. Hi Monica! I’m so excited to read your story. I love the fact that the setting is in Egypt. What an exotic and beautiful place to create a story.

  40. Hi, Monica! (waving madly) Hey everyone, Monica was one of my very first critique partners (many years ago) and I’m very happy to see her doing so well. Monica, my question to you is how you got your agent? I know a lot of writers who want someone in The Knight Agency…so what’s your secret?

    ~Phyllis~

  41. Monica, Kismet looks like a really great book! A big sweeping romantic adventure!! I’d love to win a copy of it!! I love Egypt too! 🙂

    I’m very grateful for this site because Beverley spotlights books and authors I wasn’t familiar with before. Now when I go to the bookstore I recognize the books and the authors and I already have an idea what the plot is!

  43. Thank Bev for your site because you always highlight people’s work and it’s awesome to find out about different authors.

    I’m enjoying Monica’s stories of her grandma. I have a close bond to my G-ma (as I so call her and not for grandma. LOL).

  44. @Camille ROFLMAO I never really equated it that way, and I LOVED Raiders of the Lost Ark. Thanks for a great laugh!! I’m going to have to tell my nephew director-to-be that one! He’ll love it!

    @Tracey D. Book trailers. I think they can sell books, but not many at this point. However, I think they will eventually become expected of authors to have one. Where I really see them coming into play is in the stores. When a new Feehan book comes out, they’ll put it up on the screen like they do in Blockbuster or Best Buy. That will intrigue and create more impulse buys

    @Estella thank you for the congrats

    @Samantha Thanks for reading, and as you can tell by the book, I love exotic locales. I hope you enjoy the book when you read it.

    @Phyllis Hi there ladybug. Thank you for the good wishes. How did I get my agent? I think it was in the stars. Everything lined up perfectly. I targeted specific agents and Deidre was one of the ones I targeted. I got lucky and finaled in the Golden Heart, and I queried her with my book Mirage, citing the final. She happens to love historicals, and she fell in love with Mirage. I don’t think there’s really a secret, it’s more about timing and knowing what agent or editor likes what subgenres. My Sicari series made the rounds, but it was Cindy who totally got the premise. And I’m hoping readers see the same thing she saw come June.

    @sandra Thanks for the compliments. And isn’t Bev wonderful??!! She and I had been chatting online for a few months before we met at RWA National year. She’s a fabulous woman and her historical voice is wonderfully rich and luxurious.

    @chey I hope you enjoy Kismet when you get a chance to read it.

  46. Congrats Monica! I’ve only seen great things being said about KISMET. A very memorable title and cover!

  49. Monica, my grandmother wasn’t Italian. All the Italian blood comes from my husband, via his dad. 🙂 My grandmother was Irish, Cherokee, Welsh and a little bit of everything else. *g*

    LOL about your grandmother keeping you entertained searching for different state license plates. My grandma used to do the same thing! 😀 I’d say we were both very lucky with our grandmothers.

  50. I really don’t have a question to ask, but I will say that I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I’ve always had a thing about sheikh books. I find Egypt fascinating too, there is such mystery about it.

  51. Monica,
    I was drawn to Egypt for a long time. If a prior life does exist, I think it it would be more along the lines of an early archeologist rather than a really early Egyptian.
    Have read several reviews and a couple of excerpts, all good. Will be looking for Kismet.

  52. Monica,Thank you for the wonderful interview.I love your books i’m looking forward to reading KISMET

  54. @Peggy – ooohhhh, I love it when a reader says they love my books. Thank you so much!

    @librarypat I LOVE archeology. I even contacted one when I was writing my book Mirage where the herione finds the lost summer palace of Ramesses II. Turns out my research was on the money because the summer after I finished the book, they found the palace exactly where my heroine had said it would be! I was tickled pink with that revelation.

    @Linda I wonder why Egypt is so mysterious to us westerners. Perhaps it’s the beautiful monuments they left of what had to be an enormously rich culture.

    @Gannon, there’s a reason we’ve met. I think our grandmothers MUST be working behind the scenes! LOL

    @Debra G I am sooo looking forward to Lysander’s story being told. I am so deeply attached to it. So I’m hopeful readers will just fall in love with him.

    @Bev Hon, I threw my comment into German, which I never studied, but spoke when I lived in Germany for a year.I was UTTERLY lost. Hmm…didn’t try the French button. I took French in highschool and college. I can still figure out enough to have a passable understanding. LOL

    @Sue A Thanks for the compliments on the title and cover. I didn’t get the title until I remembered the musical Kismet, which was set in a harem. I believe the song Stranger in Paradise came from that musical.

  55. Carol, Another FAN!! I love it when I see someone who enjoys what I write. It’s a satisfying feeling. And thank you for the congrats. I’m thrilled to finally have broken one of those ceilings in the publishing biz. *grin*

  56. Hi Monica,
    Do you work on one book at a time or do you have several books in the works at one time?

  57. Hi Monica, I’m a huge fan. Do you plan to make Kismet into a series with any follow-up books? I’ve been reading great reviews and can’t wait to read it!!!

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