First Impressions

by Peggy Jaeger

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GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Family Practice Doctor Clarissa Rogers’ first impression of Padric Cleary is biased and based on gossip. The handsome, charming veterinarian is considered a serial dater and commitment-phobic by his family and most of the town. Relationship shy, Clarissa refuses to lose her heart to a man who can’t pledge himself to her forever.

Pat Cleary, despite his reputation, is actually looking for “The One.” When he does give his heart away, he wants it to be for life. With his parent’s marriage as his guidebook, he wants a woman who will be his equal and soul mate in every way.

Can Pat convince everyone – including Clarissa – she’s the only woman for him?

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Excerpt:

 

She sent a quick text, thinking he would read it when he woke in the morning.

Home. Long day. Sorry I couldn’t text before now.

When she plugged her phone into the charger, it pinged.

Patient okay?
She typed back: Thankfully, yes.
 Are you? he immediately replied.

“I would be, if I could get you out of my head,” she muttered.
Tired. She typed.

I missed you after you left. Everyone did, but me most of all.

“What are you doing to me?” she asked the phone.

Crawling into bed now. ’Night.

Get some sleep. Talk 2morrow.

Clarissa snuggled under the comforter, and as she was about to close her eyes, the phone pinged again. She reached for it and laughed out loud.

What are you wearing?

Pat. Go. To. Sleep.

I can’t. I keep seeing you whenever I close my eyes.

“Oh, dear Lord.” A seeping warmth dropped through her system.

I am not sexting you. I’m too tired right now.

Does that mean you’ll sext me some other time? He added two emoticon faces with smiles, their eyebrows rising up and down suggestively.

Stop. Please. I need sleep and you’re making me laugh.

My intent was to make you as frustrated as me, not laugh. My ego is bruising again, Clarissa. Want to come over here and kiss it better?

“The man is too much,” she told the empty room.

I’m powering down now. Go to sleep. Friend.

She waited a minute to see if he’d reply. When he didn’t she put the phone back into the charger. Exhaustion took over, and she was asleep almost instantly.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

Her current titles, available now, include SKATER’S WALTZ and THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, books 1 and 2 in her 6-book The MacQuire Women Series, published by The Wild Rose Press.

Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.

Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.

In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks

Pinertest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger

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Peggy was kind enough to agree to an interview with me today 🙂

What do you write?

Sensual contemporary romance novels about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

What genre do you favor?

Contemporary because I’m most comfortable in the here and now.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t have one defining moment when I knew writing was it for me. I always wrote – I had a diary as a young child and instead of writing tales about my day and the people in it, I invented stories about other people and the situations they found themselves in. As an only child I had a very well defined fantasy life that came out in my writing.
What do you think is the best way to publish these days?

Hard question. I don’t know if there is one best way. It depends on the type of writer you are and what you want to get out of being published.  I opted for the traditional publishing route because I knew I didn’t have what it took to publish on my own. I wanted to surround myself with the people who knew best what to publish and how – and that just wasn’t me. But I totally understand the writer who is so passionate about their work they want to be involved in every aspect of it from the cover design to the editing to the distribution. I’d rather write and leave that other important stuff to the pros. I know in my heart and brain they will do a much better job that I ever could.

What are your favorite genres to read? Why?

In addition to contemporary, I am a diehard Regency fan. I won’t write a Regency story because there is just too much detail you have to get right from the get-go. I’d rather read all about the era and live vicariously through the heroines. There were so many rules and regulations on everything during that time. Very different from today. I enjoy reading about heroines who break those rules and thrive, plus find their HEA in the end.

Do your characters talk to you?

Sometimes. I’ve been told be people that I have a good ear for dialogue; it sounds natural and flows like normal speech should. I chalk that up to my characters “talking” in my head and then me just putting their words on the paper. I’ve had characters tell me when I’m taking them in the wrong direction as well. That can get a little Steven King-y creepy at times!
How do you approach starting a new book?

Great question. For me, character ALWAYS comes first. I will see someone interesting looking in a restaurant, or the mall, or anyplace I happen to be and start to build a history around them. Once I’ve got my hero and heroine set, I construct a conflict for them and go from there. Occupations are really important to be so I try to give my characters interesting jobs as well.

What is your writing process?

Since I retired in April, I now have the time to devote to my writing like I always wanted.  I approach it like the best job in the world – which it is.  5 days a week I write for 8-10hrs. On the weekends I do 3-5 hours on average each day on my blogs – I have 2. I write every day. Every, Day. No matter what. To me writing is like breathing, I need to do it to survive. Once an idea takes form in my brain I plot the story out using Deb Dixon’s GMC method (Goal, motivation, conflict.) I have a dry erase board to list those three items for the h/h and I refer to them frequently. I also have my characters mapped out on index cards so I can remember their “look” details. After that, well, it’s just a matter of getting it all down on the laptop. First draft is quick and filled with grammar mistakes. Second and third clean those up as best as I can.
What are the best writing books or blogs you’ve ever read?

These are my go-to books when I’m having creative issues or need a boost. They are dog-eared and the print is fading.

G.M.C. Goal, Motivation, Conflict by Deb Dixon

Show, Don’t Tell by William Noble

Showing & Telling by Laurie Alberts

The Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, Mignon Fogarty

The Romance Writer’s Phrase book by Jean Kent and Candace Shelton

The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi ( a must have for any and every writer!!)

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, 11^th edition by Jane Strauss, Lester Kaufman and Tom Stern
What are your non-writing hobbies, or what do you do to relax?

I have over 100 cookbooks so when I tell you I like to cook and bake, believe it. I bake for my husband on Fridays, enough muffins, etc. to last him the weekend –he’s a big grazer! I make a home cooked meal from scratch 6 nights out of the week and we usually go out to dinner one weekend night – if we can. Some weekends that’s impossible because of his work schedule, so there are times I cook every day and night for us. Please don’t think I’m complaining – I’m not. I lovelovelove to cook. In fact, while I’m typing this, I’ve got a batch of blueberry scones in the oven. Smells like heaven in my house right now.

What was your best date ever?

The first date my husband took my on when were courting was a day trip flight to Boston. I’d never been on a plane before nor to Boston, so we flew the old Freddy Laker People’s Express Shuttle from NYC to Boston for the day. We toured around the historic town and wound up having dinner in the North End. Then we hopped a flight back to NYC because he had to work the next day. How’s that for a first date?? Set the tone of our entire courtship and marriage right there.
Navy SEAL or cowboy?

Can’t I have both??
Chocolate or chips?

Again….why not a combo?
If you could have a superpower what would it be? Why?

I think I’d like to be able to tell when someone is lying to me. I can dig on Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth. I’m the kind of person who cuts to the chase – no bulls**t in any conversations I have. I know that doesn’t make me sound politically correct, but I really don’t have time for chitchat and cocktail chatter. Get to the meat of the convo and don’t lie to me. I’ve been lied to – repeatedly and horribly – by someone I trusted. I would like to never be in the position again of having to defend or condemn someone for it. Knowing right away would eliminate the heartache associated with lying. ‘Nuf said.
Fancy restaurant or picnic?

Picnic, always!
Beer or wine?

Neither – I don’t drink alcohol. My drug of choice is Diet Mountain Dew!
Favorite author?

Nora Roberts
Smooth or hairy?

Again – a little of both is perfect!!

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Peggy Jaeger will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn host.

Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway