In GOLDEN NIGHT, the first book in the “Quest for the Golden Bowl” series, Lisa Claxton was portrayed as a troubled and disagreeable character, but I didn’t want to make her completely unredeemable.  There was a reason for her disagreeable temperament, but as she wasn’t the heroine, I didn’t delve too deeply into her psyche.  But I felt there was more to Lisa, that she needed her own story. 

Many questions needed to be answered such as what caused her to be this way?  Can she change and how?  So through the next two books, LONG HOT NIGHTS and ISLAND OF DECEIT, we began to see small changes in Lisa.  She developed from a character who lacked self-confidence and goals to a character who was willing to try even in the face of failure.

She’s hot on the trail of a thief...

When Lisa Claxton starts her own cleaning business on Paradise Island, she may finally profit from her talent for whipping a house into shape—in more ways than one.  A valuable Claxton heirloom, a golden bowl, is missing, and Lisa has tracked it down to a local home, which she quickly gets herself hired to clean.  But when she arrives she finds a dead body—and flees right into the safe arms of an irresistibly handsome man…

But she’s about to find so much more...

Injured Navy SEAL Brian Knight came to his grandfather’s house to recuperate.  He didn’t expect to be greeted by a frightened beauty—or to get mixed up in her scheme.  But Brian has to pursue the killer who invaded the house—and he’s determined to pursue Lisa as well.  Soon, the two are up against ruthless thieves whose intentions are more than deadly…

DEADLY INTENTIONS is the last title in the series.  The first three novels in the series are GOLDEN NIGHT, LONG, HOT NIGHTS, and ISLAND OF DECEIT.  Please visit my web page to find out more about my books and read an excerpt at: www.candicepoarch.com

As with Lisa, do you feel that we are often under tremendous pressure to perform well?  Do men and women do things against their better judgment hoping to please a partner, hoping a bad situation will improve if they gave in?  Do you know anyone like Lisa?

www.candicepoarch.com

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays!  I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. 

I look forward to the celebrating this time of the year with family. It’s also a time for giving and for change. 

Every Year I make New Year’s resolutions.  They can range from spending more time with my family to exercising.  Sometimes people make life changing resolutions such as finding a new job.  

Unfortunately, before the end of January, I’m back into my usual routine and the resolutions are forgotten.  

Resolutions are actually changes.  Change is difficult.  Analysts have recommended different tactics on how to keep  resolutions, but what works for one person won’t necessary work for the next person.

In my new book, Deadly Intentions (May 2011), the heroine, Lisa Claxton, started out as an objectionable character in Golden Night, the first title in the “Quest for the Golden Bowl” series.  Her persona has changed through the next three books until she can now be featured as a heroine.  But she isn’t your usual heroine. Not only is she faced with her own doubts during this transformation, but her family’s as well.

How many of you have tried to change some facet of your life and how were you able to accomplish this?  Please share some of your changes with us.

The other two titles in this series are Island of Deceit and Long, Hot Nights.

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Holiday season. Thank you for sharing with us.

Warmest Regards,

Candice Poarch

www.candicepoarch.com

When my son moved away, I asked him to try to spend either Thanksgiving or Christmas with the family.  He’s a fireman and single.  He usually works on Christmas so that his coworkers can spend that day with their children.  I recently asked him if he would come home for Thanksgiving this year.  He responded that he’d seen me only a week ago, what’s the big deal. 

Thanksgiving is a huge deal because it’s one of the few times during the year family members and friends come together and reflect. Gathered around the dinner table the conversation often veers to events from the past and family members who are no longer with us--which echoes the theme of my latest series “Quest for the Golden Bowl” – remembering and recording your family’s history.  (The final title in the series is DEADLY INTENTIONS --coming May 2011.  The most recent title, ISLAND OF DECEIT (June 2010) is still available as are the first two titles, GOLDEN NIGHT and LONG, HOT NIGHTS.)

Thanksgiving dinner is usually held at my home.  This year, I’m going to give everyone a blank book so they can record things they remember or some interesting information about family or even themselves.  After all, we’re making history as we go.

There should be at least one memory-keeper in every family. Hopefully that person will include these memories in anything they do and preserve the books for the future.

Please share some of your memories with us.  And have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

www.candicepoarch.com

Do you find yourself in a rut?  Doing the same old things.  Taking care of the necessities and rarely thinking about activities that will make your life more fulfilling?  Maybe you’ve even decided to put it off for some future date.  Many times those future dates never arrive.  Time has a way of creeping up.  I think this is especially true for introverts. 

I’ve wanted to get in an exercise program for years.   A couple of years ago, I joined one and nearly died half way through.  Needless to say, I never returned.  I started walking with a friend a few months later. She was more physically fit than I was.  She enjoys exercise in the morning and we started off walking four miles.  I collapsed on my floor for an hour afterwards before I had the strength to shower.  Needless to say, neither of those lasted.  But I still had the need to do something, so recently I joined a beginner’s yoga class.  I find that suits me more and I’m able to stick with it.  Now, your venture will be different.  Maybe you will take a dream trip with a friend.    

Sometimes one small step leads to another.  You meet new people, do different things.  My life was wrapped around my family and work.  But I think everyone needs “me” time.

The main character in my latest book, ISLAND OF DECEIT has no trouble plunging into new experiences.

When Barbara Turner went to Paradise Island to seek revenge on the scam artist who swindled her grandmother out of her life savings and then killed her, she never expected to find one of the most eligible bachelor’s—Sheriff Harper Porterfield— hot for her full-figured curves, especially since her method of revenge isn’t quite legal and she’s trying to stay under the law’s radar.

ISLAND OF DECEIT is the third title in the four book “Quest for the Golden Bowl” series.  Please visit my web page at www.CandicePoarch.com to read excerpts on ISLAND OF DECEIT, LONG, HOT NIGHTS, and GOLDEN NIGHT. In the fourth book, Lisa really gets shaken out of her comfort zone in DEADLY INTENTIONS (Coming May 2011.)

When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone and attempted a new venture?  Was it a positive experience?  Was it easier the second time?  Did you meet anyone who ultimately became a lasting friend?  Please share some of your stories with us.

Comment on this blog and you could be the winner of a gift from Candice Poarch!

An acquaintance once said to me he was a pillar of the community, but his children suffer because of his limited time with them.  After all, parents are their children’s first role models.  Yes, we can do great things, but let’s not lose sight of what’s really important—our families.  It’s one of the reasons I love writing romance.  In addition to the love interest, most of the books I write focus on the interrelationships of people in a community. 

So, how do you become a part of a new community if you are alone, or without a family?  Do you choose the location or does the community choose you?  The heroine of my latest novel, Island of Deceit, has no intention of becoming a part of the community where she has temporarily settled.  She’s there on a mission to exact revenge for her grandmother’s death.  However, the people of Paradise Island quickly draw her in.

If you had a choice would you stay where you are or would you become a part of some other community?  Do you think the “Mayberry” type of community still exists?  Would you choose to live there if it did, or would you prefer the “Desperate Housewives” locale?  I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Please comment on this blog and you could win a book by Candice Poarch.