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Dominic Stamp—Nikko to his very few friends—has had enough interference from TV newbies. And when Stacy climbs out of the car in Montana, he’s not convinced she’s even old enough to drive, much less produce his show. But he can’t deny that the long-legged blonde with the stubborn will and the dazzling smile whets his appetite. And as Stacy proves her talent with the crew and the budget alike, Nikko vows to prove to her that love is on the menu for both of them .
Excerpt
This couldn’t be the new executive producer.
She looked like an intern, barely out of college, not the seasoned television producer Teddy Davis had emailed him about.
The one he’d emailed back saying he neither wanted nor needed.
Hair the color of champagne fell just below her shoulders in a soft cascade of waves and ripples. Even in the heat and humidity engulfing them it looked fresh. Her face was a perfect heart, a tiny dip in the center of the hairline bifurcating her brow into two perfectly aligned sections, her flawless chin falling into a delicate point. She had one hand out to shake his, the other shading her eyes from the strong and harsh afternoon sun, but underneath her fingers he was able to make out a pair of sloe-shaped eyes in a deep, forest green.
Taller than average but small boned, her legs took up most of the lissome body. With her lips held together in a tight line, she reached him.
“I’m Stacy Peters, Mr. Stamp.”
He stopped and planted his feet, his gaze shifting to her outstretched hand and then back up to her face without taking it. Her eyes narrowed into a determined glare and it looked as if she wasn’t going to back down until he shook it. With reluctance, he did.
Like the rest of her, her fingers were narrow and thin as they coiled around his.
A blast of heat instantly warmed and calmed his entire body like a few shots of his favorite Irish whiskey did after a rough and painful day. The subtle aroma of vanilla floated to him, filling his senses with the sweet fragrance. The persistent, throbbing ache in his left leg the liquor helped chase away was momentarily forgotten with his hand rooted in hers.
Interview
How to handle negative criticism
If you aspire to be a published writer, realize that not every person is going to like everything you write. Reviewers and critics are a necessary part of releasing your words into the book-reading world, whether you are a traditionally published author, or you self publish. There will always be those people who read your books who simply don’t like, or don’t agree with, what you’ve written.
And they will let their followers, friends, and any one else they can round up, know it, so if you don’t want to wind up prostrate on the floor of your bathroom sucking your thumb and clutching an anxiety blanket, you need to develop a thick skin.
My skin has been a foot thick since I was a kid. As the only child of divorced parents in my entire elementary school I was teased, tormented, verbally taunted, and physically bullied daily because my mother’s last name was different from mine. This was in the 60’s where divorce wasn’t the accepted moral norm it is today. Add in that I was wicked smart and the teachers all liked me, and that daily cruelty increased exponentially from year to year.
I learned early on the benefit of ignoring the verbal and not lashing back with heightened emotions and tears–something those mean kids wanted—and when the attacks became physical, I defended myself in the best way I knew how: with my words. As a kid, cutting someone off at the knees with a snarky sentence was powerful. As an adult, with the wisdom that comes with age, not so much.
I still deal with negative criticism from reviewers and readers the same way I did back then, though, and basically just ignore the nastiness. I don’t feed it with verbal retributions or cruel counter-comments. There are just some people who feel the only way they can bring themselves up is to put someone else, or their work, down. And if you notice, the people who do criticize you or your work, are usually not writers themselves, but wish they were.
The other day on my Instagram feed, I had a great quote posted: “Whoever is trying to bring you down is already below you.” Think about that. Negative criticism, the kind that is meant to belittle, wound, and humiliate someone, is most often always said from a viewpoint of jealousy. Jealousy for your success. Jealousy for the fact you have done something the critical person has not: had a book published. Jealousy for the fact you are living your dream.
Zig Zigler has a great quote about negative criticism that puts it all in perspective for me: “Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” I’m pretty chubby, so I can take a nip and a bite or two and still keep standing tall.
So, I handle all the negative criticism I get by not fueling or stoking the fire of the negativity. I simply let the person have their say and go on with my life, secure in the knowledge that I’m getting paid to do what I love: write. And they are not.
About the Author
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
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.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader's Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
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
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
Giveaway
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
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