Or do you think you're to nice?
As odd or rude as these questions may sound, I just finished
reading the best advice-for-relationship books I've read in
a long time. This book is not only informative and funny, I
have a feeling you'll find some of yourself in a chapter or two.
Sherry provides compelling answers to the tough questions
women often ask:
-Why are men so romantic in the beginning and why do they change?
-Why do men take nice girls for granted?
-Why does a man respect a woman when she stands up for herself?
Full of much-needed advice, hilarious real-life relationship
scenarios, "she says/he thinks" tables, and the author's
unique "Attraction Principles," Why Men Love Bitches gives
you bottom-line answers. It helps you know who you are, stand
your ground, and relate to men on a whole new level. Once
you've discovered the feisty attitude men find so magnetic,
you'll not only increase the romantic chemistry in the
relationship-you'll gain your man's love and respect with
far less effort.
Sherry Argov is host of her own radio show on KRLA, which airs
in more than forty cities in California. Her work has been
featured on shows such as The View and The O'Reilly Factor,
as well as national publications such as Esquire, Complete
Woman, and Woman's Own. She also writes for two newspapers
in the Los Angeles area, where she resides.
I'll be happy to be included in your new newsletter. I hope you'll
also mention my upcoming silent auction for juvenile diabetes. My
son has this disease, and I'm doing my best to help raise money to
find a cure.
The auction will run on my website beginning May 1st - May 31st.
I have reads by acquiring editors from some of the biggest publishers
in New York, conference packages, critiques by very reputable agents,
autographed books galore (some from NYTimes bestselling authors),
airline tickets, autographed Kings Basketball stuff, stays at the
Hilton in Sacramento and the Hyatt Regency in L.A.—tons of stuff,
and I'm acquiring more every day. I hope you'll tell your friends
about it. Check it out at www.brendanovak.com.
Now, for your questions.
*What made you decide to become a romance writer?
When I caught my daycare provider drugging my children with cough medicines
to get them to sleep while I worked as a loan officer, I quit my job to stay
home with them. I couldn't trust anyone else with their care—but I had to
do something. My husband's business was failing, and I was losing the house,
everything. That was when I picked up Jude Deveraux's KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
I was looking for a brief escape from the stress and worry—and found the
inspiration to become a writer! Since my favorite book prior to that time was
JANE EYRE, romance seemed the ideal genre.
*Out of all the wonderfully compelling stories you've created - which one is
your favorite?
This is a really tough question because my favorite is always the book that
I'm about to write—the new idea burning to see the light of day. LOL If I
had to choose among my already published novels, I'd have to say A HOME OF
HER OWN. Lucky, the heroine, hit a tender spot for me, and a lot of the plot
set up came directly from my own family, so I had very personal connections
to this book. TAKING THE HEAT would be my other favorite (if I can pick one
Superromance and one romantic suspense
and it was truly the book of my heart, at the time.
*Which one of your heroes is the one you fell in love with the most, and why?
My favorite hero is Booker Robinson from A FAMILY OF HER OWN. I love his
hard, crusty shell and the tough image he portrays. It nicely contrasts
his very tender and caring heart. I enjoyed seeing him do things that
other people didn't expect and how the heroine slowly came to realize
what a gem her really was—despite the fact that he'd once served time.
*How long had you been writing before your first sale?
It took me about five years to teach myself the craft (although I'm *still*
learning) and to finish my first book, which was a historical called OF NOBLE
BIRTH. This manuscript finaled in the Golden Heart, twice, which helped me
to get an agent. Subsequently, that agent sold the story to HarperCollins.
Until I met Paula Eykelhof, my editor at Harlequin, I always thought I'd
write historicals. It's interesting the twists and turns a career can take.
*What do you like the most about being a romance author? Would you consider
your recent MIRA stories general fiction - or is romance still the focus?
I love being able to share the ideals that are most important to me with
others, and to connect with them. It's very rewarding to receive mail
from women who say your stories have touched their lives. I like that
each book is different from the last, too. The creativity involved in
this business is both fulfilling and addictive! I consider my HQN stores
romanctic suspense. I think all my stories will have a central romance
because writing romance is what I find interesting and enjoyable.
*What do you like the least about being a romance author?
The stress! LOL Deadlines can be difficult to work with, especially when
they get tight. I had to write four complete novels last year, and do quite
a bit of traveling, which meant I had to work very hard. Juggling that busy
of a career with five children can be a real challenge.
*What story are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?
*Did you have a mentor or a favorite author you looked up to before you
became published?
I was an eclectic reader before I became publisher, but I've developed
several favorites since. If I had to pick just one, it would be Susan
Elizabeth Phillips. She packs so much sincere emotion into her books and
is an absolute master at characterization.

As guest speaker, I was woefully unprepared for a lecture the next
day. I hadn't even prepared a speech.
After a refreshing shower, ready to settle in, I realized
some very strong coffee was in order.
I looked at the clock. Midnight.
I could call room service, but I really needed to stretch my legs
before I sat at my laptop all night. The bar always had coffee, didn't it?
I didn't want to wrinkle my suit, and a terrycloth robe
seemed a little too earthy for a midnight stroll into the lobby.
So, I threw on my tan trench coat and cinched the belt as I stepped
into the closest pair of shoes—three inch red pumps. Well, no big
deal—I was only going to the lobby. Who'd notice?
I left my hotel room and walked the short distance to the
elevator when it chimed. The brass doors slid open and the night
security guard was inside. His badge read M. James, but his body
said trouble—of the best kind. He nodded a greeting as I stood
on the opposite side. His penetrating blue eyes made my pulse
quicken, and I smiled to myself wondering if the M stood for mmm mmm good.
The man was pure testosterone.
I'm average in height for a woman—though a little taller in my
look-at-me red pumps—but I still had to tilt my head up to look at him.
A bit self-conscious, I crossed my arms remembering I was
wearing only three things—and two of them were on my feet.
M. James had a thumb hooked in his front pocket, the other
tapped lightly against his hip as the elevator descended. I
couldn't help but notice how well his pants melded to his long
legs and the way his navy jacket strained against the width of
his shoulders. I felt the urge to lick my lips.
He turned and smiled when he caught me staring. I shyly
returned his smile—when the elevator car stopped.
And that's when it happened...
The floor lurched beneath my feet. I'd have fallen face-first
right out of my spiked heels had it not been for his lightening-fast
arm that wrapped firmly around my waist.
The lights flickered twice. Then went out.
"Oh, no," I sobbed, feeling trapped and vulnerable.
Could he tell I had a life-long fear of the dark?
"Easy now, I've gotcha," he said. He voice steady and silky-smooth.
Despite the darkened space we shared, a sliver of light shown from
the patio ten floors down, casting shadows and light through the
glass wall of the car. Enough light for him to see that my jacket
had come loose as he held me against his hard body, exposing one
breast. A glimmer of heat flashed across his face when his eyes
met mine, and my shacking hands felt clammy as I gripped his arm
still holding me.
My breath quickened when his hand slid up from my waist and grazed
my naked breast. The exposed nipple became a hardened point, reaching
out, responding to his touch. His eyes reached my lips and I knew he
was going to kiss me. It had been months and months since I'd been
with a man, and I welcomed the feel of his lips as they fell hard
to mine with a hunger only quenched by heat and passion. A moan
escaped from my own throat and I could swear I heard him chuckle,
but I was too dazed by lust and heat to know for sure.
Soon, my jacket fell from my shoulders and fluttered to
the floor, leaving me blissfully naked.
I'd never felt so wanton in my life.
He offered me an approving smile, as he lifted me off the ground,
gently settling my hips against the railing. Then he smothered my
mouth with such demanding mastery I was unable to return the kiss
for fear of loosing my breath. I was pinned against his hard chest
and thought I might climax as his tongue made sweeping, swirling
motions inside my mouth.
"Hold on tight, I'm goin' down," he whispered, as I gripped at his
shirt for balance.
I should have been frightened, but the pulse pounded in my ears
and between my thighs like a bongo beat, and I felt nothing but
aroused anticipation—slick and wet with excitement. M. James
knelt between my bent knees, placing his warm mouth again my belly.
His lips were surprisingly soft against the tender flesh as he
nibbled his way down to my navel, to the hair at my bikini line,
and then... Oh yes—
I moaned softly as his tongue dipped between, and inside...
I held my eyes shut as a breath caught in my throat. He replaced
his tongue with one long finger, embedding it deeply, slowly into
the liquid heat of my body. A second finger soon followed. Then
everything was forgotten—my fear of the dark, the coffee, my
speech—all I knew was this very moment and the feel of this
delicious man's mouth and probing fingers caressing me. As my
eyes fluttered open, I saw him look up at me, watching every response.
"Do you want me to stop?" he asked with a sensual huskiness that sent
a shockwave from my clit all the way down to my toes.
And the way he looked at me— "Ahh..." All I could manage was a
whimpering sigh. The man had a true talent for pushing a girl's button.
His large hands grasped my knees, pushing my thighs wide. I threw my
head back and felt the cleft of tender flesh part, exposing my clitoris,
swollen and wet. His tongue whisked and licked against it—gently suckling
and tugging, flicking and teasing while he fingers stroked and probed
until I thought my head might shoot through the ceiling.
I squirmed to get closer to his talented mouth, but my hips were
trapped between the railing and his big body. Breathless, I arched
toward his exploring fingers as he buried a third, slowly gliding
upward, grazing at my G-spot, causing a deep shuddering gasps from
my throat as he increased the tempo and his mouth continued a fine,
subtle circling movement...
"Oh, yes! Right there, right there..."
My toes curled when I felt a climax building, causing one shoe to
fall with a clunk to the floor. He hummed against me and my inner
muscles contracted in response. My breath quickened and my heart
thudded in my chest as he stroked again and again switching from
licking to biting to suckling until I thought I'd die from the
pleasure, gasping and panting with the rhythmic motion of his
hand and tongue.
With one hand braced against the glass, my other grabbed a handful
of his hair, and held his head fast to my body as I came...
The intensity of the orgasm was so overwhelming, I screamed, not
caring if anyone heard.
When the spasms subsided, I opened my eyes just as the power hummed
back to life. The elevator immediately responded, and too soon,
buzzed when we reached the lobby level. I felt strangely awkward
and uncoordinated as he helped me with my jacket. I quickly cinched
the belt and frantically looked for my wayward shoe.
"I believe this is your floor, miss," he said with an irresistible
grin, handing me my shoe.
I smile, kissed him long and deep before I finally back up, looked
into his bright blue eyes and simply said, "Thank you."
All he said as the brass doors closed behind me was, "my pleasure." ~