Hello! It’s me, Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire. I’m here with a stash of pine nuts and my latest author interview. Welcome to the Jaunty Quills Shana Galen!

Shana: Jaunty, this is my blog.

Jaunty: So tell us about your new book, If You Give a Porcupine a Pine Nut.

Shana: Jaunty, you know that’s not the title. It’s If You Give a Rake a Ruby.

Jaunty: That makes no sense. Why would a yard implement want a ruby? You can’t eat rubies. Can you?

Shana: Jaunty, the book is about a courtesan and a spy. Fallon is the Marchioness of Mystery, and she wants to keep her past a mystery. Warrick is under threat of assassination, and Fallon holds the key to finding the hired assassin. She and Warrick meet when she finds him in her bed. She kicks him out, but he blackmails her into helping him.

Jaunty: And then they find the hidden pine nut treasure?

Shana: No. Then they have to delve into London’s underworld.

Jaunty: And that’s where the pine nuts are!

Shana: No. There aren’t any pine nuts in this book. Just rubies.

Jaunty: And the rubies taste like pine nuts!

Shana: No, Jaunty. There are no pine nuts and no porcupines in this book.

Jaunty: Shana, you know Kristan is my favorite, right? Are you even trying to compete?

Shana: No.

Jaunty: I don’t believe you. I’ve seen the cover of your book.

Shana: And?

 Jaunty: There’s a porcupine on the cover! Thank you, Shana!

Shana: No problem, Jaunty. Readers, I have no idea what Jaunty is talking about, but as a thanks for reading this interview, I’m giving one person who comments a copy of If You Give a Rake a Ruby. Let me know your favorite color on the cover of romance novels.

Jaunty P. Quills here, with an exclusive interview with a certain Kristan Higgins, here to talk about her book, THE BEST PORCUPINE! Now, from what I gather, it’s a tale of a certain spiky little fellow who sweeps a beautiful serving wench off her feet, am I correct?

KH: Pretty much, Jaunty! Except it’s about a human male, and there are no serving wenches, and I wouldn’t really say there’s sweeping. It comes out tomorrow. So exciting!

JPQ: I thought there was a porcupine in this book.

KH: There is. Take that, my fellow JQ authors! I did it again! Please note the following: Faith’s heart sat heavy in her chest. Like road kill, like a dead, stiff porcupine. Okay, that was a really pathetic image. Even now, the dead porcupine was resurrecting and giving her a reproachful look—I was just sleeping, dummy—but yeah, kind of.

JPQ: That’s the porcupine in the story?

KH: Mm-hm.

JPQ: Seriously?

KH: You’re welcome! Anyway, THE BEST MAN is about Faith Holland, returning to her hometown three years after she was jilted at the altar. Determined to finally get over the man who broke her heart, she’s equally determined to avoid his closest friend—their would-have-been best man—who knew all about the reasons why this marriage wasn’t going to work. As for Levi Cooper, he has no problem with Faith, other than the fact that she annoys him greatly. But you know how these things work. He doesn’t seem to like her, but deep down inside, he kinda sorta does. Like you and me, Jaunty.

JPQ: Yes, we do have that mysterious chemistry, don’t we? In fact, though I’m a little late for Valentine’s Day, I wonder —

KH: Back to me, Jaunty. One of the things I loved most in this book was the setting. Manningsport is in the heart of the wine-making region of New York, and a prettier place would be hard to find. A  tiny town on the shores of Keuka Lake, rolling hills, farms and vineyards and a really good restaurant. Who could ask for anything more?

JPQ: Are there porcupines up there?

KH: Who knows? This book is the first in the Blue Heron series. Blue Heron is the family-run vineyard owned by the Holland family. It’s my first series ever, and I’m wicked excited! And another first for me: Levi, the hero, is a veteran. In honor of that, a portion of the first week’s sales will be donated to Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit that provides a home away from home for the families of recovering veterans or service members. (Pre-orders count, too!)

JPQ: Okay, okay, you’ve got me interested, dead porcupines aside. Go ahead, post an excerpt. I’m going to drown my sorrows in a nice dry Finger Lakes Riesling.

KH: Thanks, Jaunty! You do your thing. Here’s a bit from the day Faith’s wedding fell through. She flees the church for home, only to find that her fiancé has sent his best man to see how she’s doing. (And she’s not doing real well.)

A quiet knock came at the front door. She jerked it open, out of breath.

Ah. The other man she hated. Levi Cooper, Wedding Destroyer. “You,” she hissed.

He was still in his dress uniform, his chest full of ribbons and medals. Mr. Hero. “Jeremy sent me to check on you.”

“Take me to the airport,” she ordered.

His eyebrows rose, crinkling his forehead a little. “I don’t know about that.”

“Do what I say, Levi,” she said.

“Listen, you’re probably not—”

“Shush. Just take me there.”

Her father came up on the porch. “Faith, sweetpea, I was just coming to check on you. How are you, honey? This is such a shock, I don’t know what to—”

“Daddy, I’m going to San Francisco. Okay? I’ll call you when I land.”

“Wait a second, sweetie, slow down,” he said, glancing at Levi. Why? Why glance at the guy who ruined her wedding and kept Jeremy’s secret, huh? “I think you should stay here, baby, with your family. This is a tough, tough day, but we’ll get you through it.”

“I’m going to San Francisco. I have tickets,” Faith said.

“Faith—”

“I—I—I—I have to get out of here, Dad,” she stammered, the hyperventilating starting up again. “I’ll just go to San Fran. Remember Liza? My friend from college? She lives there, so I won’t be alone. I’ll call her. She’s really fun. Okay? Call you later.”

“Now, Faith this doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“Daddy, I need to get out of here. I’m going.”

“All right, all right. Settle down. Just…if you want to go, give me a minute, and I’ll pack some things and go with you. Okay?”

“No. I’m going alone. Right now. I have to get out of here or I’m going lose it, Dad.”

Her father looked startled. That’s right, Daddy, she thought irrationally. Don’t mess with me right now.

“Well, I’ll drive you. Don’t be silly, baby.”

“No. He’ll take me. Won’t you?” She narrowed her eyes at Levi, wishing looks really could kill.

Levi cleared his throat. “Is that all right, Mr. Holland?” he asked.

“Don’t ask him,” Faith snapped. “I’m giving you an order, soldier. Get to it.”

“Watch it,” he muttered.

Hope you like the book, gang! To order it, click any of the links below, and remember that your purchase this first week (and your preorders) will benefit the wonderful Fisher House Foundation!

xox

Kristan

http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Man-Kristan-Higgins/dp/0373777922

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-man-kristan-higgins/1112406285

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780373777921

http://www.booksamillion.com/product/0373777922

It’s the beginning of a new year and time for all those Best Of lists. My Jaunty Quills want to let you know some of their bests from 2012. These recommendations are not to be missed. Add pine nuts to each, and they’re even better!

Terri Brisbin has a suggestion for Best TV show of 2012—IMHO “Once Upon A Time” is the best TV show of 2012. It draws on familiar mythology and fairy tales, tweaks and twists them, makes characters come alive and shows the power of true love, too. How could a romance author not love a series that does all that?!

Robyn DeHart says, Okay I’m probably jumping on the proverbial bandwagon here, but the best new website of 2012 was Pinterest! I love being able to have a visual collection of recipes and ideas for my house and my biggest obsession, organization ideas! Long before this lovely website came along I used to cut things out of magazines and put them in photo albums, having a way to store ideas of cool things to do. This makes it so much easier and everything is in one tidy location and I can sort to my heart’s content.

Personally, I like to pin pictures of pine nuts.

For Best Book of 2012, Shana Galen recommends THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass–romance, mystery, intrigue, royalty…what more could you want?

Best chocolate of 2012. Okay, I say this as a professional chocolate taster (or as close as one can get to being a professional chocolate taster). I love Lindt, Ghiradelli, Godiva. I love me some of the Whitman’s Sampler, and I love Hershey. White chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, malted chocolate balls, chocolate Santas…I think I probably eat chocolate every day, and I have no intention of stopping. But the best chocolate I tasted this year was in Seattle at Fran’s Chocolates. A salted milk chocolate caramel that tasted like angel tears and unicorn kisses. Try them. I command you. And happy new year! –Kristan Higgins

In 2012 Cindy Kirk discovered J D Robb’s In Death series and was hooked! If you like a suspenseful tale mixed with a health dose of romance, Cindy recommends you check out this series.

Margo Maguire: My most amazing experience this year was surviving a nasty case of appendicitis, in spite of myself. On December 1st, I overcame my denial (yes, denial that I had a serious problem that wasn’t going to just go away) and went into the ER. Within a couple of hours, I’d had an appendectomy, managed to get past a crash in blood pressure, and a post-operative spike in temperature. I went home the following day and walked a quarter mile – and kept at it until I was up to my usual 2 miles a day. Thank heavens for modern medicine! And Hooray for the timing. I didn’t have to do any Christmas shopping this year!

Emily McKay has a recommendation for Best new recipe of 2012—

This is a great pot pie recipe if you:

a) love pot pies (and I do!)

b) are trying to eat more veggies (and I am!)

c) are trying to eat less meat (and, again, I am!)

or

d) just love ridiculously yummy food (duh, who doesn’t?)

I really can’t stress how yummy this was. The ingredients seem very humble, but somehow the result is amazing. You might be tempted not to make the crust yourself, but I urge you to try. I didn’t roll mine out, so mine looked nothing like hers. I just patted them into big fat circles and plopped them on top of the bowls. They weren’t pretty, but they weren’t around long enough for it to matter.

One question, Emily. No pine nuts?

Best 2012 Smartphone App: Christmas night, Nancy Robards Thompson and her family went to see the Les Miserables movie. While they were waiting in line to get into the theater, they struck up a conversation with the family in front of them. This is where they learned about a phone app called “Runpee.” It tells you the best times to run and er… do your business so you don’t miss anything important during the movie. Among other features, it even has a timer that makes your phone vibrate to give you the heads-up on when you can “go.” It’s available for all smartphones.

Readers, your turn. What’s on your best of list?

CEO Jaunty Quills: Hello! This is Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire. Today I am interviewing author Mia Marlowe for a spot on my illustrious blog. No one gets on this blog without my paw’s up.

Mia Marlowe: Pleased to meet you, Jaunty. However, I must confess I thought the Quills referred to an elegant 18^th century writing implement, not a member of the rodent family. Oh, dear! I fear this interview may have gotten off on the wrong foot…or in deference to you, should I say wrong paw?

CEO Jaunty Quills: Deference to me? That’s the attitude I like.  Mia, tell everyone all about me—I mean, you. You’ve led an interesting life—rode an elephant, sang at Carnegie Hall, worked in Greenland. Have you ever blogged with a porcupine?

Mia Marlowe: Not even in my wildest imagination. And believe, I have a pretty good one. But in the interest of full disclosure, that list of accomplishments you reference on my website has one bald-faced lie in it. (Readers can click here to see if they can spot the whopper!)

CEO Jaunty Quills: Why should I hire you to blog for me? I have Kristan Higgins writing about me in all her books and Emily McKay and Robyn DeHart cooking pine nuts for me—well, they forgot to invite me to dinner, but that’s a small detail. Katherine Garbera offered me a vacation spot in England. What can you offer?

Mia Marlowe: I can arrange for my next Viking hero not to kill you and roast your little carcass over his camp fire. Oh, but you mustn’t consider that a threat if I’m not hired. I haven’t killed anyone in my books lately . . . unless they deserved it.

CEO Jaunty Quills: (gulp) That’s a persuasive reason. Ah…Your resume is impressive. But I’ve seen other impressive resumes, like Terri Brisbin’s. And, I ask you, what has she done for me lately? How do you intend to keep writing so many books and entertain a famous porcupine like me?

Mia Marlowe: Well, I didn’t want this process to sink to offering a bribe, but I do know a fellow who keeps exotic pets in his backyard. He’s got this really cute little female hedgehog. I’d be happy to arrange for the two of you to do lunch. Nothing fancy. Nice little salad bar, a few insects on the side and you’ll get her to lower her spikes before you know it.

CEO Jaunty Quills: Hedgehog? Hedgehogs are cute, I must admit.

Credit: Adam Foster

My subordinates, Margo Maguire and Nancy Robards Thompson, tell me I have to ask you something about your books or where our readers can find out more about you.

Mia Marlowe: I write historical romance for Kensington and Sourcebooks along with self-publishing ebooks with the gang from Rock*It Reads. I’m not locked in to any one time period. I’ve written stories set in the 9th century and the Victorian era (and most of the centuries in between!).  Love works whenever it’s tried. And speaking of love…I’d love to invite readers to visit my cyber-home. They’ll find my truly gorgeous covers, excerpts from all of my books and my active blog.

CEO Jaunty Quills: Last question, Mia. This one is extremely important. Cindy Kirk and Shana Galen can’t cook. Can you cook, preferably with pine nuts?

Mia Marlowe: My DH always says the best thing I make for dinner is RESERVATIONS.  We can always look for a place that serves pine nuts! Hmm… I’m not sure any of them will serve porcupines though. I’ll bring you doggie bag. Er, should that be porkie bag?

What do you think, readers? Should we add Mia to the blog?

Mia: Oh, please say yes everybody! I haven’t interviewed for a job for a long time and I think I really blew this one. If I’m going to make the Jaunty Quills, I’m going to need YOUR help!

Mia Marlowe’s work has been featured in PEOPLE magazine. One of her books is on display in the Museum of London Docklands next to Johnny Depp memorabilia. Her TOUCH OF A ROGUE was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Top Ten Romances for Spring 2012. But the accolade she really loves comes from her readers. Find her at http://www.miamarlowe.com !

Jaunty: Hello! It is I, Jaunty P. Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire, and I am here with yet another fabulous, poignant, and awe-inspiring interview. This time I have Shana Galen, author of When You Give a Porcupine a Pine Nut. Shana, how are you?

Shana: I was fine until—

Jaunty: I’m doing well, thank you for asking. Now to the important questions: do you think my fur looks a little drab? I was thinking of having it highlighted.

Shana: Jaunty, I really don’t care about your fur, and don’t point your needles at me. I have a lot of work to do and no time for your shenanigans.

Jaunty: My—? You authors! Always using those big words. You can just say how awesome I am in plain terms, Shana. You don’t have to use a thesaurus. Now, let’s talk about you.

Shana: Great. I have a book out this month.

Jaunty: Right. And back to me. Did you know there are two dozen porcupine species? Guess which one I am.

Shana: Jaunty, I don’t care.

Jaunty: Come on, guess!

Shana: Are we going to talk about When You Give a Duke a Diamond?

Jaunty: What’s that?

Shana: My new book. The one you’re interviewing me about.

Jaunty: I thought your book was about porcupines and pine nuts.

 Shana: No, you didn’t! You just want it to be about porcupines. It’s actually about a glamorous Regency courtesan who gets mixed up with some dangerous diamonds and an equally dangerous duke.

 Jaunty: Snooze. Did you know porcupines can live on their own at only two months of age. Tell your Baby Galen that!

Shana: Jaunty, I’m just going to post the links to the book and the blurb, okay?

Jaunty: Are you saying this interview is over? No one tells me when my interviews are over.

Shana: Do you have another question?

Jaunty: As a matter of fact–

Shana: About my book.

Jaunty: Oh.

Shana: Ahem.

Jaunty: This interview is officially over. Go out and buy When you Give a Porcupine a Pine Nut.

 Shana: (bangs head on desk) Never mind. Here’s the info about When You Give a Duke a Diamond, the first in my Jewels of the Ton series. And tell me your favorite jewel for a chance to win a copy of When You Give a Duke a Diamond. The contest is open internationally, and the winner will be posted on Sunday and notified by email.

He had a perfectly orderly life…

William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that’s the way he likes it. But he’s in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossip papers link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn’t begin to describe what happens next…

Until she came along…

Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It’s disruptive to have the duke who is the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William’s darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide…

Read an excerpt from When You Give a Duke a Diamond

See Shana’s inspiration on Pinterest

Buy the book!

Download Shana’s free app on Apple or Android

Happy 4th of July, everyone!  Jaunty P. Quills here! I love to celebrate my independence. You might say that every day of the year is independence day for me. So, to shake things up, I’m looking for a date for tonight to spark some fireworks of our own…if you know what I mean. (wink, wink)

So, hey, Quills who wants to spend some time with a hottie on the 4th of July?

Anyone?

Hello?

Kathy: Um, Jaunty, I think you’re kind of missing the point of this holiday. Do you understand what the nation is celebrating today?

Jaunty:  Yes, ma’am! It’s a day of independence.

Nancy: Well, Jaunty, that’s almost right. It’s our nation’s birthday. The anniversary of the day in 1776 when we declared our independence from Great Britain. You’re supposed to be patriotic today.

Jaunty: Patriotic?

Shana: Yes, Jaunty. Patriotic. You know, wear red, white and blue as a symbol of the colors of the American flag.

Kristan: That’s right. My favorite part of the Fourth, or any national holiday, is hanging out our American flag. It covered the casket of my biological grandfather, a man my dad didn’t get to know. But the flag is beautiful; the red is so rich, and the white has an ivory hue to it. We hang it from our porch; it’s huge and hangs from the porch ceiling almost to the ground. I like to think about the grandfather I didn’t know; we don’t have many facts about him, but we know he was brave and loyal; he escaped a POW camp and rejoined his unit. They liberated Dachau. So on the Fourth, especially in this day and age of political bickering, it feels good to start the day off remembering the many times our country has come to the rescue.

Jaunty: Kristan, I can I come over and help you hang up the flag.

Kristan: I’ve already done it, Jaunty. Maybe next year.

Jaunty: (snaps fingers in disappointment) Well, then Shana, how ’bout you? Do you already have plans?

Shana: As a matter of fact, I do. My plans for July 4th are to take Baby Galen to a parade and carnival, then to grandma’s house for swimming and fireworks. This will be her first year to see fireworks and a parade. My main goal is to avoid heat stroke when doing all that!

Jaunty: Sounds like you’re pretty busy.

Emily: Jaunty, isn’t it a little late in the game to be looking for a date for tonight? I think we all have plans with our families.

Jaunty: But…but…

Elise: Ah, Jaunty, I’m sorry. How about if we make it up to you by sharing some of our favorite memories? Then you can see why it’s so important for us to be with our families today?  

Jaunty: (Pouting, he nods).

Elise: I have a favorite 4th of July memory that I’d love to replicate with my girls. It was in the Houston area one summer when I was staying with my dad, and there was a special fireworks show at a park. An orchestra was playing (I wish I could remember the name of the piece, it was classical music we’d all recognize), and every time there was an important (big) moment in the music, fireworks would go off above us. I haven’t been able to find anything like that near us in Colorado, but this year we’ll be going to the 4th of July opening of a park a few blocks down from our house. It’ll be the first time the girls see a real fireworks show.

Robyn: I love fireworks!

Jaunty: Me, too, Robyn! We have so much in common. Do you want to be my date? (Jaunty wiggles his brows)

Robyn: Well, I don’t know about that, Jaunty. But the earliest fireworks I remember were being up on my dad’s shoulders at DisneyWorld when I was about 5. They were amazing. I love the noise and the lights and smell, all of it. Our kids are still too little to stay up that late (or not be afraid b/c of the loud noise) but I very much look forward to sharing fireworks with them when they get a little older. Happy 4th!

Margo: My 4th will be bittersweet. We have an old family farm that was built by my great-grandfather in 1890. It’s the home where my grandmother and great-aunt grew up, and all the grandkids spent countless days out there – climbing trees, swimming in the creek, running through cornfields, getting stung by bees [ouch!] and watching the Northern Lights. We had bonfires and stories, we caught snakes–

Jaunty: SNAKES?? (Jaunty jumps behind Margo).  Ewww! I hate snakes!!

Margo: Oh, Jaunty you’re such a hero. (Margo shakes her head). As I was saying…we played hide-and-seek, and watched my dad clean the fish he caught in the nearby lake. Then we fried them up and ate them for dinner. The farm is part of my aunt’s estate, and she recently passed away, so it will have to be sold. But this week, my extended family – my siblings and cousins - will be having a picnic there, just like we do every 4th of July. It’ll probably be our last one at the old place, and this will be our chance to go through all the old stuff in the attic, and the dressers and cupboards, and reminisce about all the great times we had out there.

Cindy: Ohh, Margo…I can see why it will be bittersweet.  But what wonderful memories…My fondest memories of the 4th of July center around snakes–

 Jaunty: What’s with all the snakes, ladies? You’re scaring me.

Cindy: No, Jaunty, not the ones that slither and have those beady eyes.  I’m talking about the small black tablets we used to light with a match (or a punk) and they billowed up in a long stream (like a snake) leaving black circles that were nearly impossible to get off the concrete driveway or sidewalks. Snakes smelled terrible, they didn’t do much, but I loved them.  And if I ever decided to buy some fireworks, you can bet snakes would be in the bag!

Jaunty: Cindy, I hope you have a very happy holiday with your… snakes. (Jaunty shudders).

Kathy: When I was 12 my entire extended family headed to Okeechobee and my grandparents’ house for the Fourth, we were surprised when we arrived that there was an RV and we all piled in to drive to Sebastian Inlet for a day of clamming, skiing and water fun.  When we got back to the beach all the adults shucked clams and we ate them until we were almost sick.  Then piled back into the RV and drove back to Okeechobee where we grilled out at this park by the lake.  When it was fireworks time we all climbed up to the roof of the RV and watched them while lighting our own sparklers.

Emily: I was born in St. Louis and lived there until I was five. I don’t have many memories from that time, but one of the few that I have is going to the Arch on four of July and watching the fireworks. I must have been about four. After the display, when we headed home, someone in our neighborhood was still shooting off fireworks and I can remember sitting on my sister’s bed watching out them out her window. This year will be the first year we take our kids to see the fireworks. They are only a little excited, but that’s because they don’t know what’s in store for them!

Terri:  The things I remember most about childhood 4th of July celebrations were the parades and festivities in the small town where I grew up. Oh, and the candies thrown by the people riding by on the floats! And the day would conclude with the “Miss Mt. Ephraim” contest and wonderful fireworks.

More recently, we did the same things with our kids in the small town where we live — parade, games in the park, “Miss Berlin ICCA” contest and fireworks to end the day . . . and lots of water ice to keep cool!”

Jaunty: Terri, if you’ll be my date, I’ll crown you Mrs. Jaunty P. Quills.

Terri: Jaunty, I only have one word for you: inappropriate.

Nancy: When I was young my brother and I used to spend summers with my grandparents. We used to always go to my Aunt Trisha and Uncle Jim’s house. We’d cook out and shoot off fireworks. What I anticipated the most was the homemade ice cream. Uncle Jim would sit in the yard and hand-crank the ice cream maker for what seemed like hours. When it was finally ready, it was always worth the wait. I can still remember how good that special treat tasted. To this day, homemade ice cream  always makes me think of the 4th of July.

Jaunty: It sounds like you all have some really nice family memories about the fourth of July. I’ll tell you what, since it looks like I’ll be a solo porcupine for this holiday, how about if I put in my dibs early for next year? Who’s going to be the lucky lady to be my date next fourth of July? Anyone…?

Hey! Where did everybody go?

(Jaunty turns in a full circle, shrugs)
Oh, well, it looks like the Quills are off to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Happy Independence Day, everyone! Have a fun and safe holiday!

JPQ: Higgins, you’re back, I see. Turning up like a bad penny…

KH: Yes, Jaunty, and thank you for having me! Always lovely to see you.

JPQ: So SOMEBODY TO LOVE is the story of a quietly heroic porcupine who has loved a certain hedgehog all his life and finally gets his chance when she loses everything and needs someone—namely me—to charge up on a white horse and save her. Correct?

KH: Well…

JPQ: Finally! Porcupine romance—Po-Ro, as I like to call it—is so underrated! It’s about time—

KH: Actually, the book is more about humans, Jaunty. Parker Welles has it all: great kid, beautiful home, interesting career, plenty of money. That is, until her career comes to a grinding halt, her father bankrupts her and she has to move. The only thing left she has is a decrepit house on the northern coast of Maine and a few weeks without her son to flip it. When her dad’s wingman comes up to help, she can’t turn away his help, as much as she’d like to. James Cahill has nursed a crush on Parker for years, but given his relationship with her dad, it’s no wonder she’s suspicious of him. He’s got a few weeks to change her mind, and he’s determined to make the best of it.

JPQ: So it’s not about porcupines?

KH: Well, no. But please note that the word “porcupine” is used on page 237 of my book. That’s you, babe.

JPQ: In what context? As handsome as a porcupine? As brave? As heroic? As—

KH: Actually, the quote is something like “James stared at her, his hands jammed in his pockets, from the back porch, irritable as a hungover porcupine.”

JPQ: (a long silence). Really?

KH: Yep.

JPQ: You said that?

KH: Yes.

JPQ: Oh, Kristan! Thank you!

KH: You’re welcome! This is the third time you’ve come up in a book, Jaunty. Can’t say that porcupine references are raining down from my sister Quills, can you? Anyway, I love a lot of things about this book, especially the challenge Parker has in front of her. She’s from a wealthy family, so when she’s reminded that she owns the house in Maine, she naturally expects something on the posh side. What she gets is much different. If I may, Jaunty…

JPQ: Sure. Why not? Since you put me in the book and all.

97 Shoreline Drive was on the ocean side of the road; the hill was steep as it rose from the harbor, and it was clear why there weren’t many other houses around—most of them had probably fallen victim to storms over the years.

The shack sat on cement pilings, a two-foot gap between the earth and the house. No basement, clearly. She walked around the house slowly, the grass up to her knees. Were there mice in there? Probably. She shuddered. She hated mice. Her father liked to dangle them over Apollo’s cage before dropping them to their doom.

Upon further inspection, she saw that the shack was—or had once been—an actual house, like something Nicky would draw–a square box with a triangle on top. The gray shingles had warped, pulling away from the side of the house like eyelashes, and great shards of paint peeled from the once-white trim. The roof was patchy and battered, complete with crumbling chimney, but at least there was some form of heating, she guessed. All the windows were boarded, and the aluminum screen door was off its hinges, leaning against a rusting front door. Clearly, people had tried to break in over the years—there were dents all around the door handle, and the small window pane was broken.  

“Bite the bullet,” she said aloud. “Time to go inside and view your inheritance.”

The key Thing One had supplied fit fine. Had he known this was her house? Had Harry? Think they might’ve given her a hint at what lay ahead?

Parker turned the lock, which slid open after some wiggling. The door was warped, however and stuck fast, so she shoved harder, using her shoulder. Once, twice, three times, and bam, it opened.

Pitch dark inside. She groped on the wall for a light switch and got lucky. Someone had turned on the electricity (or it had never been turned off), and a harsh yellow light momentarily blinded her.

Permanently blinded might’ve been better.

Parker closed her mouth, then opened it to swear, then realized that she didn’t know a word bad enough.

Aunt Julia had been a hoarder.

KH: So Parker’s got her work cut out for her! And I admit—I love this type of book, when a person goes to a strange town and takes on a big project. The help of a handsome, shirtless hottie never hurts. Thanks for letting me talk about my book, Jaunty!

SOMEBODY TO LOVE has already accrued some lovely reviews and honors, including a starred review in The Library Journal. It’s been called “quite possibly the perfect romance novel,” by reviewer Kat Latham, and Romance Junkies deemed the book “Kristan Higgins at her finest…charming and heartbreaking…utterly lovely from start to finish.”

A PORTION OF THE FIRST WEEK’S SALES (April 24-May 1, 2012, and that includes pre-orders) will go to Save the Children, a charity near and dear to Parker’s heart (and the author’s)! To order the book, please click whichever link you prefer.

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Somebody-Love-Kristan-Higgins/dp/0373776586

BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somebody-to-love-kristan-higgins/1106936650

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780373776580

BOOKS A MILLION: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Somebody-Love/Kristan-Higgins/9780373776580?id=5319306613459

Jaunty P. Quills here, having a chat with Kristan Higgins, who has rectified her mistakes of the past and finally written a porcupine hero. Kristan, welcome.

Kristan: Thanks, Jaunty!

JPQ: UNTIL THERE WAS YOU hits the shelves today, and I understand it features a certain smokin’ hot porcupine named Liam, who has returned to the town where he once rendered women helpless with love.

KH: Yep. Except that Liam is a human.

JPQ: Excuse me? I—a human. Oh. Well, Posey’s a porcupine, right?

KH: Yeah…no. All the characters are people. But really interesting people, Jaunty.

JPQ: Is that supposed to make me feel better?

KH: So yes, it’s the story of the return of the bad boy and the woman whose heart he broke a long time ago. Except that Posey and Liam never back then…she was a scrawny, awkward kid, and he was the bad-boy king of testosterone. But Liam remains the only man who’s ever broken Posey’s heart, and she’s less than thrilled to see him back in town again…with the same effect he had on her back then.

JPQ: I understand Liam has a daughter. Is she a  porcupine, at least?

KH: Well, sometimes, in the way that most teenage girls can be prickly.

JPQ: Great. Another metaphor. I’ll just make a noose here…don’t mind me.

KH: You bet, Jaunty. One of the things I wanted to do with this book was look at the Bad Boy classic and maybe twist it a little bit. We women love the idea that we can tame the Bad Boy and make him into a perfect husband, that true love can change the most difficult, wounded hearts. Sigh! But Liam’s tried that already. He really loved Emma, the golden girl of high school, and truly believed that he’d found his happily ever after. Didn’t work out the way he thought it would.

JPQ: So what about Posey? What’s her deal? Oh, sorry. I’m not at all interested. I’m busy hacking at my little porcupine wrists.

KH: Great question! Posey always feels a little…second best. Her brother’s a doctor, her cousin is a celebrity chef, which her restaurant-owning parents view as a Loaves-and-Fishes type miracle. She knows she’s grown up a lot since high school, but she’s not sure Liam’s any different from the playah he was back then. She thought she’d glimpsed a secret side of him, but his actions kind of erase that notion. Then again, maybe not.

JPQ: Go ahead. Give us an excerpt. You know you want to.

KH: I do! Thanks, Jaunty! You’re the best! Give us a kiss, will you?

JPQ: Absolutely not. And no hugging either, Higgins. Jeesh.

KH: Have it your way. So prickly today! Okay, to set the scene, here’s Posey, age 15, learning that Liam, age 17, will be working in her parents’ restaurant.

And then came that miraculous day when she tore into the kitchen of Guten Tag for her after-school strudel fix, and he was there. Him! Liam Declan Murphy! Was here! In her parents’ kitchen! She could smell him…oil and soap and just the slightest hint of something warm and spicy, like pumpkin pie.

Posey managed to close her mouth, abruptly aware that it was hanging open. Her backpack slipped from her limp fingers, alerting her mother to her arrival.

“Oh, hi, sweetheart! Liam, this is our daughter, Cordelia,” Mom said. “But everyone calls her Posey.”

“Niih,” Posey breathed. This was amazing! God so loved her!

“Hey,” he said.

“Liam will be working here in the kitchen,” her father said. “Washing dishes, cleaning up.”

“I…that’s…hi,” Posey said. Working here? Unbelievable! They’d become friends, she could see it immediately. They’d hang out, Liam would grin and talk about those dumb popular kids. They’d become BFFs…then, yes, she could see it so clearly, they’d fall in love. High school would be a dream of happiness. Prom queen, okay? No more invisibility, no more slinking through the halls. He’d wait for her to graduate, then they’d head off for the same college. Get married, have a house on the water, make out every single night. Oh, Elvis Presley, they’d sleep in the same bed!

JPQ: Okay. I admit it, I can relate. I once loved a certain beautiful porcupine from afar back in Minnesota, and we—

KH: Thanks for having me, Jaunty! Oh, and I’d love to give away a prize to someone who leaves a comment…how about this cute mug and a copy of MY ONE AND ONLY, in which I specifically use the word “porcupine.” Thanks, gang!

Kristan

www.kristanhiggins.com

www.Facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks

To buy UNTIL THERE WAS YOU from Amazon, click here

To buy from Barnes & Noble, click here

To by from a local, indie bookstore, click here

Hellooooooo, Jaunty Readers! It’s me, Jaunty P. Quills, P.E. (Porcupine Extraordinaire) I have returned from the land of Facebook to regale you with daring tales of my latest extremely courageous exploits. I—eek! It’s the New Jaunty Quill!

Secret Jaunty: *blinks at Jaunty behind purple mask* *flips cape dramatically* Hello, Jaunty. I, too, have been off on extremely courageous exploits. Adventures reaching far into Romancelandia! Escapades that will take your breath away! Dangerous missions that will—

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: How should we refer to you? Is Miss Secret Jaunty, okay?

Secret Jaunty: Yeah, Miss Secret Jaunty is fine. Actually…perhaps it should be Mrs. Secret Jaunty, as I’ve hinted that I am married. Wouldn’t want my husband to disapprove of my mystery name, you know.

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: So tell us how you like being part of the Jaunty Quills so far. Especially tell us how you like the JQ’s resident mascot—that cute, lovable porcupine.

Secret Jaunty: I love being part of the Jaunty Quills! Not only are the other authors fabulous, but the readers here are wonderful, too! *smiles* As for the resident mascot, I must tell you that I’ve recently tried to convince my daughter that bunnies are out and porcupines are in, but… Unfortunately, she’s not having it.

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: As you know, we’re having a contest and giving away 12 signed books and an Amazon gift card for $50. You’ve seen some of the guesses. Has anyone guessed correctly yet?

Secret Jaunty: Why, yes. Yes, they have. Wait, it is okay that I say that, right?

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: We already know you like listening to the oldies, you’re from Texas, you’re married, have kids, and like motorcycles (vrroom, vrroom—you should see my motorcycle!). Can you tell us anything else about yourself?

Secret Jaunty: Ooh, Jaunty, you have a motorcycle! No one told me this! I knew there was a reason you’re my favorite porcupine. Let’s see…something else about myself. I’ve never been outside the United States, which is a sad, sad truth. Well, unless you count the time my family drove across the border to Mexico to do some tourist shopping and my older brother almost got run over by a truck. There is that.

Something else…I was almost eaten by a great white shark. It’s true! My family and my aunt’s family went to North Padre (*ahem* apparently South Padre was not en vogue that year) for a vacation. While the adults MAYBE had a few too many wine coolers and MAYBE fell asleep on the beach lying beneath the sun, my brother and my two cousins and me drifted far out into the ocean on an inner tube. So far, in fact, we nearly lost sight of the land! I’m sure there were sharks nearby. I used to watch Shark Week, and I know they’re EVERYWHERE. Fortunately, my brother (who, that day, I was grateful had not been run over by that truck in Mexico) saved the day by swimming to shore, alerting my uncle to the fact that we actually needed help and no, we were not just waving hello from WAY out in the ocean, and we were all rescued. Of course, as a younger sister I don’t usually remind him that he saved my life once, because there was the time that he nearly killed me when we were riding a snowmobile…but that’s a story for another day.

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: Tell us about your most recent book. But change the details so you retain your ano…anony…

Secret Jaunty: Anonymity, Jaunty?

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: Right. So maybe you could call your hero Jaunty and your heroine Secret Quill. (flutters eyelashes).

Secret Jaunty: *stares enviously at Jaunty’s long, thick, luxurious eyelashes* *mutters* Of course, I can! *mutters again*

In my most recent book, my hero—Jaunty—and my heroine—Secret Quill—fall in love. As this is a romance novel, that shouldn’t be a big surprise. However, what really sets this book apart is that Jaunty and Secret Quill have both been married before, so this is a second chance at love kind of story. Neither Secret Quill nor Jaunty are looking to fall in love again due to what happened with their previous spouses, but you know that Jaunty… he just has a way about him (I think it’s those sharp shiny quills—they make him appear very debonair, you know), and Secret Quill can’t help but love him. Fortunately for Jaunty, he is successful at Romancing the Secret Quill, and they have a very wonderful and very beautiful happily ever after.

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: Have you figured it out yet, readers? One more question. Have you ever blogged with the Jaunty Quills before? Have you been a past guest?

Secret Jaunty: I have, indeed! Once in 2010 and once in 2011. *eyes Jaunty* Speaking of sharp shiny quills, since I’m part of the group does that mean I get to touch them now? *extends hand* Ow! Okay, okay, I guess that’s a no-no. Warning, readers. Never touch the quills, even if he does look adorable.

Jaunty P. Quills, P.E.: And that’s it, readers! Post your comments and guesses. Here’s a recap of the rules.

Everyone who guesses will be entered to win a gift certificate for $50 to Amazon.com. Those who guess correctly will also be entered to win a signed copy of a book from each of us (that’s 12 signed books!). In the unlikely event that no one guesses correctly, the first person who is randomly chosen from our secret Jaunty Quill’s posts will win and get to choose her prize.

We’ll reveal the new Jaunty’s name, and the winners on Sunday, October 2nd. So visit us all through the month of September, and don’t forget to comment on all of those Guess the Jaunty blogs to enter the contest!

Hello, it’s me, Jaunty P Quills, Porcupine Extraordinaire. The Jaunties are in New York with moi, and I thought you might like to know what we’re up to.

Catherine Kean claimed she wasn’t coming to the Big Apple, but she has been spotted—incognito, of course—sitting at the bar with La Nora. They were drinking whiskey and whispering. I heard something about an anthology.

Cindy Kirk, our resident wild child, interrupted the annual literacy signing Tuesday evening to serenade us with her rendition of Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” It was truly rousing.

Emily McKay crashed the Harlequin party with two men who looked suspiciously like Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones from “Men in Black.” The rumor is alien babies are the new hot thing. Perhaps that was the topic for Catherine and Nora’s anthology…

Janette Kenny showed the Quills how two-stepping is really done at the Pig and the Whistle Tuesday evening. She danced on the bar a la “Coyote Ugly.”

Katherine Garbera and I had lunch at a famous deli known for its pine cone sandwiches. We were spotted by none other than Woody Allen and Katie Couric. They asked if they could guest blog. Katherine said she might be able to find them a spot.

Kathryn Smith and I attended the Avon party and drank way too much with Eloisa James and Julia Quinn. There was a hot tub later…

And that’s where we met up with Kristan Higgins. This girl plays like she’s all sweet and innocent, but in a hot tub with Jaunty, all bets are off. Oh, and she wore her Rita dress from last year. It even looks good wet!

Margo Maguire took me sightseeing. We went to the top of the Empire State Building. I admit, I was sort of expecting a proposal from Margo because I know how she loves me. Alas, she made a futile attempt to throw me off the top.

I survived to have dinner with Nancy Robards Thompson. You may not know this about Nancy, but she has connections. We dined at a suite in the Plaza…in matching peignoirs. Mine was very masculine, of course.

Robyn DeHart invited me to have tea with her, and we brainstormed ideas for her next book. I promised I wouldn’t reveal too much, but I can give you a little info. It features a very sexy, peignoir wearing porcupine. We’re not sure about the title, but The Porcupine Tycoon’s Hot Tub is a contender.

Then there was Shana Galen. Shana and I are seeing Wicked together tonight. She thinks she’s going with Ultimate Sportsfan. Silly, Shana!

Last, but not at all least, is Terri brisbin, one of my favorite Quills. I interrupted her chatting with Anna Campbell and Teresa Medeiros. Something about working on a new idea together…But I insisted she escort me to the Statue of Liberty. Terri, ever chivalrous, agreed. But somehow we lost each other while waiting for a cab.

And now, Jaunty Readers, you have the full, truthful scoop from New York!