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Friday, November 1, 2013

Romance is Bliss Event with Karen Erickson


Meet Bliss author, Karen Erickson.

USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read – sexy contemporary romance. Digitally published since 2006, she’s a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She is also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of new adult contemporary romance Monica Murphy.
Places to find Karen:
Site Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads Pinterest |

Why I Write Romance

*First, a huge thank you to Danielle at Ramblings From This Chick for having me here today!

From the time I was really young, I loved books, I loved to read. In Kindergarten, I was the most advanced reader in my class. In the fifth grade, I made up a story about my grandma’s cat that turned into a killer. As in, he killed the neighbor’s dog, the cows, the buffalo (yes, there was a buffalo in my grandma’s field, strange but true), and every creature that made him mad.

This probably disturbed my teacher greatly but she never let on.

By the time I was in high school, I was filling notebooks full of stories about my friends and me and the members of Duran Duran. Yes, we were all madly in love and touring the world with our famous band boyfriends! Those notebooks were passed all over the school. Kids I didn’t even know would come up to me and say, “Read your story. It was good.” I couldn’t keep track of those notebooks for months (though they’re all safely tucked away in a box in my garage now).

Once I graduated, went to college, started working, got married…you know, got a real adult life full of responsibilities, a lot of my fun writing time went to the wayside. I never finished anything anyway. I wasn’t disciplined. It felt like a pipe dream, one I would never truly pursue no matter how badly I secretly wanted to.

I even (and I still can’t believe this happened) stopped reading for years. Specifically stopped reading romances. I mean…really? How sad! But I had no time for that stuff. I thought I was over them I guess? Honestly, I don’t know why I gave up reading romances. I’m sorry I did. I made up for it later though, trust me.

Fast forward many years later and I’m home with my two youngest babies and looking around on the Internet. I came across the eHarlequin forum boards and went to the writing section. Next thing I knew, I was reading all types of romances. And I started writing again.

But this time, I would approach it differently. I would actually finish something (thanks to NaNo WriMo) and I’m telling you people, that’s what gave me the confidence to think, “Hey. I can actually do this. Maybe not very well but practice makes perfect. Right?”

Finishing a book is so important. I never had before, I’d always just written random scenes. Once I knew I could do it, I started to get even more serious (that first book will never be published – what a heap of junk it is).

Now, here I am with lots of romance books and novellas under my belt and I’m in no hurry to stop. I love writing romance. Love makes the world go round, doesn’t it? To try and recapture that first spark, the first look, the first kiss, the first…everything, is so much fun.

Plus I get to work from home in my yoga pants and search the web for hot guys, calling it research. Talk about an awesome job…

My latest book with the Bliss imprint is their holiday anthology with three other (amazing!) Bliss authors, STRANDED WITH A HERO (featuring LOVING MINDY, a novella that’s part of my Lone Pine Lake series.


STRANDED WITH A HERO is available November 11th at the following retailers:


Getting snowed in never felt so good as boundaries are crossed, opposites attract, and friends discovering more promise a Christmas no one will ever forget.

Loving Mindy by Karen Erickson

Mindy can’t believe she’s stuck with her ex–best friend—and the man whose heart she broke years ago—for the holidays, though the tension between them is more than enough to keep them warm. Josh Powers never forgot Mindy, but he can’t risk his heart a second time.

White-Hot Holiday by Coleen Kwan

Naomi’s sworn off men like Aaron—rich, cocky, and dismissive of holiday traditions. Aaron decided to spend Christmas in sunny Australia to avoid snowy New York, not to fall for the woman his best friend warned him away from. But when a volcano grounds him, Aaron and Naomi’s relationship becomes eruptive.
An Officer and a Rebel by Cindi Madsen

The last person police officer Nate Walsh expected to discover in a snowstorm is his brother’s ex and former town rebel, Kelsey Cooper. She’s his complete opposite and totally off-limits, but as they wait out the storm together, all he can think is how he wishes she’d stay forever.

Saving the Sheriff by Roxanne Snopek

Frankie Sylva was determined to free the captive reindeer, even if it meant risking her own life. Deputy Sheriff Red LeClair set out to save a stranger in a snowstorm, never expecting he’d be the one to be rescued.

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes |

Check out the Lone Pine Lake series:
Click for info.



Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:
  • 1 signed copy of Jane's Gift

To Enter: 
  • Please leave a comment or question for Karen.
  • US Shipping ONLY.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

**Don't forget to enter the grand prize giveaway!


Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Karen Erickson for sponsoring this giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

19 comments :

  1. All these stories sound great! Can't wait to read it! I love the idea of being stranded with a guy. Getting cozy and with nothing much to do besides cuddle.

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  2. Can I relax with these books now? They sound like they could pull you in on the first page! Thanks for sharing another great Author!

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  3. I loved a Janes Gift it was a really good book. I need to read Tempting Cameron.

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  4. Hi Dani and Karen! I loved reading this, Karen! And I LOVE your books!! All of them. Your heroines are women I want to be friends with and your heroes are men I... well, let's just say I crush on all of them! I am very glad you write romance. Thank you!

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  5. Definitely sounds like a must read. I love stories of exes who realize they are made for each other.

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  6. I stopped reading once I had kids....too much with 3 kids in 4 years! Thankfully I started back up in 2008 and have been happily reading since!

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  7. Hi Karen! Is there any characters in your books that are straight from your own life?

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  8. I've heard only good things about this book and I'm looking forward to reading it :)

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  9. I've read really good reviews on Jane's Gift and would love to win this book. Thanks for the contest!

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  10. I love the Bliss branch of books and this one sounds great! Looking forward to reading it!

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  11. I stopped reading, other than kids books, for quite a few years, too! I actually just started reading romance novels a few years ago & I'm addicted. Your books look really good!

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  12. I can't wait to read Jane's Gift!!! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  13. All the books look great! I laughed at the notebook filled with Duran Duran stories. I had a friend in high school who did the same thing! Those notebooks didn't make the rounds of the whole school though -- just a small group of friends.

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  14. being snowed in would certainly give characters a lot of chances to communicate

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  15. Can't wait to read this, total fantasy, getting stranded with a hottie!

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  16. Karen, do you prefer writing "regular" or NA contemporary romance?

    Barrie

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  17. Sounds like a great read!!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  18. I loved the story about your notebooks and school! I had a good friend who did the same thing and would share them with me during classes - us hiding the papers/notebook while we read it. :)

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  19. I can't believe I never read Jane's Gift *hanging head*. I thought I'd read all of your work. Must remedy this!

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