Heather Hiestand talks about The Bachelor and other novels

Welcome Heather, it's good to have you here today.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. For instance you have a young family, how do you manage to fit your writing round your family?
Because I have an active toddler I write in an easy chair in the living room while he naps. I have always enjoyed writing, but only considered myself a proffessional for the past five years or so. I've had seven novels published, plus a bunch of shorter stuff including my Valentine novella which is part of the Cupid Gone Wild Anthology.

When I wrote "The Bachelor", a novella in the Cupid Gone Wild anthology, I had no idea charity bachelor auctions existed outside books and movies. After all, I’ve never been invited to one, but they do exist!
For instance, you can check out http://bachelorauctions.com to see how successful an event was last year, raising money for an emergency shelter charity. Talk about high end!
I love this top ten list I found for a Jacksonville bachelor auction:

TOP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND
1. All proceeds support students with developmental disabilities at North Florida School
2. Audience participation is encouraged
3. Spend hundreds of dollars in one place and not feel bad about it in the morning
4. Pocket full of phone numbers
5. You might meet your future spouse
6. You might meet your future EX!
7. The only event in Jacksonville that you can legally bid on an escort
8. Best Silent Auction in Jacksonville
9. Group dates are encouraged
10. No strings attached... you don't have to take the bachelor or bachelorette on the date package you purchase…take whoever you want!
Want to set one up for your own charity? I found this primer consisting of a series of You Tube videos: www.ehow.com/videos-on_86_organize-bachelor-auction.html

In my story, the auction takes place in a more modest surrounding, a karaoke bar. But hey, Cupid can cause love to strike anywhere!
My bachelor and bachelorette both wound up at their charity auction by accident, but it worked out well for them! Thanks to Cupid’s arrow, what might have been a super hot one night stand turned into the love of a lifetime. Thanks, Cupid!
Blurb:
Abbie Harper didn’t mean to bid on the date, but one look at Jake Cordalys and she’s ready for red-hot romance. Jake isn’t looking for something complicated, but when Cupid is involved, all plans go out the window and romance flies in.
Excerpt:
Cupid's Report – In Progress
Cupid 1127 here.
I first encountered Unlikely Subject Abbie Harper on February 11th, while cruising Facebook for a most improbable pair to bring together. I would make an excellent personal assistant for you because I never, ever procrastinate. Also, I’m a thoroughly modern Cupid. Note my use of the Internet. I bet all the other cadets are out walking the streets. How archaic!
Every status on Abbie’s profile centered on her daughter. Clearly, she focused on family instead of herself, but I sensed longing beneath these updates for something else. This young widow needed to find love again, but my candidate would have to be right under her nose. Like someone in her daughter’s life.
Abbie had Friended the Vancouver, Washington school her seven-year-old daughter attended, and so I dug into the school’s Friend list. Who did I find, you ask? The most unlikely match for her of all – Jake Cordalys. Yes, the guy is as sexy as they come, and certainly has no trouble finding the ladies, but true love has eluded him so far.
Jake’s a substitute teacher in the school. Not a perfect match for Abbie. In fact, I’m certain no one but me could brew true love between a wealthy, young widow and a younger, poorer man, but I will make it happen. The impossible match!
Love this complicated takes time to sort out!
The Kindle link is: http://www.amazon.com/Cupid-Gone-Wild-Valentines-ebook/dp/B004LLIYO8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299198218&sr=1-1


I also write for Cerridwen Press and The Wild Rose Press as Heather Hiestand and Anh Leod for Ellora’s Cave, and have novels available at Cerridwen Press. Please see my website for information on print anthologies that are available with my romance and mystery stories!

I have seven novels published, plus a bunch of shorter stuff. The release date for my latest novel,Victoriana Adventure, from The Wild Rose Press is 13th April.
Blurb:
Marooned in backward Victoriana by a magical Christmas cracker, Ollie Brown wants to get home to modern Tacoma. The enticing girl who shelters him tempts him to stay in this alternate reality, but what does a nineteenth century princess need with a twenty-first century skateboarding chemist in a world where science is banned?
Princess Lenchen thrills at the chance to assist the handsome stranger who speaks of oddities like candy bars and “grinding.” Ollie offers a breath of freedom, but Lenchen knows he feels trapped and out of place. She reluctantly tries to help him find a way back to his world, though she longs to know more about him—and to escape her cloistered life in the widowed Queen Victoria’s court.
Every girl wants her own Cinderella story, even if she's already a princess—but if Ollie stays with her, will he be allowed to be himself?
For more information visit
My Website: www.heatherhiestand.com
My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heather-HiestandAnh-Leod/24271017921
Mt Blog: http://blog.heatherhiestand.com/