During this, one of our ‘free’ weeks here at 4F,1H, we plan on using some the time to have guests and promote their works. Today I am so proud to have as my first guest… author Tamara Leigh.
I met Tamara online as we are both food bloggers. I take a basic approach to teach people who don’t know where to start or who feel lost when faced with guests who have special needs. I try to give them basic knowledge for them to draw on and to build their confidence in all areas of hosting. [http://tonettejoycefoodfriendsfamily.wordpress.com/]
Tamara’s approach deals basics as well.She features non-complicated but more sophisticated foods and flavors; her dishes are always colorful and among the most beautiful I have ever seen!
Tamara Leigh’s romance novels are as lovely as her meals,(if often a little less spicy!). I knew she would be a good fit with the other Foxes and the Hound and I am pleased to introduce her to those of you who do not know her work.
I will let her dust jacket give her background :
Tamara Leigh holds a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. In 1993, she signed a 4-book contract with Bantam Books. Her first medieval romance, Warrior Bride, was released in 1994, followed by Virgin Bride, Pagan Bride, and Saxon Bride. Tamara continued to write for the general market, publishing three more novels with HarperCollins and Dorchester and earning awards and spots on national bestseller lists.
In 2006, Tamara’s first inspirational contemporary romance, Stealing Adda, was released. In 2008, Perfecting Kate was optioned for a movie and Splitting Harriet won an ACFW “Book of the Year” award. Both books were released as audiobooks. In 2009, Faking Grace was nominated for ACFW “Book of the Year” and RITA awards. In 2010, Leaving Carolina was featured in Target stores’ “Emerging Authors: New, Notable, Red-Hot Reads” section. In 2011, Tamara wrapped up her “Southern Discomfort” series with the release of Restless in Carolina.
When not in the middle of being a wife, mother, and cookbook fiend, Tamara continues to write. Recently, she returned to the historical romance genre with the release of Dreamspell, a medieval time travel romance. With The Unveiling and The Yielding, the first and second books in her new Age of Faith series, she once more invites readers to join her in the world of the middle ages.
Tamara lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and sons, a Doberman that bares its teeth not only to threaten the UPS man but to smile, and a Shih Tzu with a Napoleon complex and something of an eating disorder
WEBSITE:
http://www.tamaraleigh.com
http://www.thekitchennovelist.com
EMAIL:
tamaraleigh@comcast.net
A Tamara Leigh Fantasy Romance Novel
Dreamspell:
A TIME TO LIVE. A TIME TO DIE. A TIME TO DREAM.
Sleep disorders specialist Kennedy Plain has been diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. When her research subject dies after trying to convince her he has achieved dream-induced time travel and her study is shelved, she enlists herself as a subject to complete her research. But when she dreams herself into 14th-century England and falls into the hands of Fulke Wynland, a man history has condemned as a murderer, she must not only stay alive long enough to find a way to return to her own time, but prevent Fulke from murdering his young nephews. And yet, the more time she spends with the medieval warrior, the more difficult it is to believe he is capable of committing the heinous crime for which he has been reviled for 600 years.
Baron Fulke Wynland has been granted guardianship of his brother’s heirs despite suspicions that he seeks to steal their inheritance. When the king sends a mysterious woman to care for the boys, Fulke is surprised by the lady’s hostility toward him–and more surprised to learn she is to be his wife. But when his nephews are abducted, the two must overcome their mutual dislike to discover the boys’ fate. What Fulke never expects is to feel for this woman whose peculiar speech, behavior, and talk of dream travel could see her burned as a witch.
I hope you take the time to drop in with comments or questions for Tamara. She and I will be watching for your posts.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Welcome Tamara. Your story sounds wonderful and what a beautiful cover. Thanks for sharing with us.
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Hi Jillian,
I’m pleased to be hosted by 4F1H and the lovely Tonette–and thrilled with how well Dreamspell’s cover.represents the story. Wishing you a wonderful day.
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Thanks for coming in,Jillian.Everyone else seems to be away for the day. That truly is a ‘romantic’ cover if there ever was one!I hope you check out her recipes, as well.
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Hi Tamara! I enjoyed reading about you, and your books sound fascinating! Thanks for sharing the synopsis of Dreamspell, I’ll be looking forward to reading it.
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Thank you for dropping in today, Diane. Doesn’t “Dreamspell” sound particularly enchanting?…be sure to check out her food.I know Eric would like her spicy dishes!
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My pleasure, Diane. So glad you stopped by.
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Wow. Very impressive list of published titles with some very strong pub. houses. Congratulations!
I like the way you’ve constructed your titles: each (presumably in a series of sorts) with a diff. name yet similar & recognizable arrangement. Quite succinct and yet — when matched to the cover art — I’m sure gives a very strong notion of the content of each.
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Thank you, Jeff. After years of being traditionally published, I did pick up a few good nuggets 🙂 As for the cover art of the Age of Faith series, I had a lot of help from a talented–and patient–graphic artist.
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Just took a look at most of your other covers, Tamara. I think my fav. so far is “Leaving Carolina.”
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Yes, Leaving Carolina’s cover is one of my favorites, as is Restless in Carolina. As for Nowhere Carolina…not so much (those colors!). Unfortunately, though my publisher asked for my feedback they ignored it. Well, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad 🙂
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I knew you’d be interested, Jeff, as I knew Tamara would be perfect for a guest spot. Thanks for all the input.I hope some more are checking in without commenting.
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I’m sure more are reading than leave comments. But it seems to be that the overall traffic here at 4F1H has been significantly down over the past sev. months.
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That’s true….sadly.
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Gee, Tamara; you have been prolific! I had not noticed just how many books you have out….My TBR list grows….
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Some authors write 2-4 books a year. My 17 published books span 19 years, but I think I do pretty well 🙂
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I’d say that is VERY good,Tamara…look at how many accomplish nowhere near your work! And , what quality are they pumping out, I might ask?
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Thank you for the encouragement, Tonette. I sometimes wish I was more prolific, but then I wouldn’t have been able to play cars and dinosaurs with my boys (now 19 and 15) and teach them to read before entering Kindergarten. I’ve been very blessed.
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I knew we were kindred spirits,Tamara! I have put my family first, always, too. Life flies by and children grow way to fast.I am working with what I call: “The Next Generation”,(grandkids.)
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They do grow too fast, Tonette. With one little bird out of the nest and the other only a few years from spreading his own wings, I treasure every smile and hug and conversation.
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Sorry – better late than never! 😉
Welcome Tamara!!! Great post, interesting Doberman, LOL, looooove the cover, love the title!
17 books – I am in awe!
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Thank you, Iris. It’s been quite a journey–exciting at times, but also frustrating. My husband’s not the only one who’s thinning 🙂
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Yes, Tamara, that sounds familiar .. LOL … Frustration is a big part in this business I suppose.
Thinning ? As in hair? Can’t be the waist, Tonette just praised your cooking 😉
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Oh, I wish it was the waist, Iris! I do so enjoy most of what I cook.
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LOL – yes …. we have “the thinning” as well, oh, hang on, hubby hasnt got any hair left to thin and mine is turning gray.
We were talking cooking/food last week (or the week before?) and discovered that we all rely on Tonette for good recipes. I’ve been wanting to check out her site more often, but …. life comes in the way 😉
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Definitely visit Tonette’s blog again. She has some wonderful recipes and tips. Now back to my previously scheduled revisions 🙂
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Tamara manages to keep fit! Yet so does my husband and he eats well, If I do say so myself!
I am glad you are all here to back me up;I think Tamara has done an excellent job and truly has a fine career!
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Ah, thank you, Tonette.
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Iris, not to toot my horn too loudly,(I’ll toot Tamara’s too!), but since you are not all that inclined to cook, you just may find some easy ways to please the family and yourself on our sites.
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wow … 17 published books in 19 yrs is fantastic.
I WROTE 7 complete novels in a bit under 5 yrs — 4 of those were completed in 2 yrs — but it took another 14 months to get two of the 7 published. The third is under contract and is still in content edits.
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My first 4 books were spaced six months apart and it nearly made me a goner. 9-12 months spacing is so much easier to handle. Congrats on your publication and best of luck with your edits.
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Thanks, Tamara. This next one, the third I wrote, will also be the third published.
My first published was the 7th I wrote.
Second published was the 6th I wrote.
My plan is to submit #4 for # 4. But we’ll see.
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Keep ’em coming, Jeff!
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I’m gearing up to release the third book in my new medieval series this May. The first two books and half of the third were written years ago when I transitioned from the general to the inspirational market and hoped to bring my medieval romances with me. It turns out medievals don’t do well in the inspirational market, and so…enter contemporary romance. When I decided to dip my toes in the waters of self publishing last year, out came Dreamspell and those 2-1/2 Age of Faith medievals. So thrilled to have found a home for them!
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We wish you continued luck,Tamara.You are FEARLESS in changing horses, so to speak, branching out and even going from traditional , large publishing houses to self -publishing! You have courage, my Friend, but obviously it is well thought out and planned for success! I hope you keep checking your email, we often have stragglers coming in later on down the road. Thank you so much for honoring me with being my first guest.I hope you picked up a few new readers and food-enthusiasts,(we’ve been trying to help Jeff here…can open a package but that is about it.He is on a gluten-free diet).
I know you found a few friends and colleagues!
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well now, I can do more than open cans.
why just this afternoon I invented that new dish: Egg Salad & Tuna with Turkey Bacon Bits
ha.
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Thank you for having me over to visit Foxes, Hound, and followers–and for your encouragement. I wouldn’t say my self publishing adventure was well planned, but I’m learning and taking chances I would never have believed possible for me. Have a wonderful weekend, all! And, Jeff, there are some wonderful meals that come out of a can. My Cheater’s Chicken and Dumplings…yum! I’ll have to share that one on my blog 🙂
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Come visit us any time, Tamara…I know you are a busy lady but if you have a minute, drop in.We have some fun here.
I have been trying to get Jeff to guest on his experiences going gluten-free on FFF; we’ll make him a food-blogger yet!
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Absolutely, Tonette. It’s been fun 🙂 Come on, Jeff, give us some gluten-free tips…
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OK, here are my general Gluten observations:
Gluten appears in nearly everything, incl. pill coatings, so it’s very diff. to get away from.
For the most part, if a food tastes good, it has some amount of gluten in it.
Once they strip away all the gluten, the result is usually pretty awful.
Fruits, veggies, brown rice, and most corn products are okay.
Now you see, Tonette, that’s not enough for a guest blog … and that’s about all I know.
LOL
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Groan. I think I’d better stick with gluten. I do so like food that tastes good–reaaaaally good 🙂 Meaning, of course, it’s treadmill time.
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I do the stationary bike for 40 mins & what I call the arm-cycle for antoher 40. Plus some machines. 3 times a week.
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Pleasure to have you on here, Tamara, and thanks for Tonette for this interesting Guest Fox …. I would’ve loved to participate more in the conversation, but we’re having our long w/end in Oz and with the heat we’re kinda out at the lake non-stop
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Nice to meet you, Iris. Have a nice Sunday!
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I admire you people with your good knees…and other joints!
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