Nerves. Nerves. How do you manage them?

Chatting with Mandy Nolan before kick-off

Today, I’m relaxed. My muscles aren’t tense. My mind isn’t racing. My heart isn’t hammering. 

This was not the case at 6pm last Thursday evening. I was sitting in a stool with comedian Mandy Nolan in the Byron Bay Mary Ryan’s bookshop watching the store fill with people. Of course, I was thrilled people had turned up for the launch of my book Sweet Seduction, but there were lots more people that I ever thought would come.  In the end about 100 people packed out the store.  They were standing three deep on the pavement.

Signing copies of Sweet Seduction

Mandy kicked off and within two minutes I had tears of laughter streaking down my face.  Mandy is so incredibly funny.  She’d singled out my husband and made him blush. I don’t think I’d ever seen my husband blush. Mandy had planned to chat for twenty minutes, but everyone was still laughing after three quarters of an hour.

I was then handed a glass of champagne and was installed at a table to sign books. And sign I did. Mary Ryan’s sold out of Sweet Seduction in about fifteen minutes. The whole event was a huge success. I was on such a high.

But, I hadn’t sleep for three nights beforehand as I was so nervous. I’ve done lots and lots of presentations in my life, but usually I’d been presenting about a product or a service, not about my own creative efforts.

Before I left for the launch, I meditated for fifteen minutes. I think I would have been a lot more nervous if I hadn’t. I learned to meditate when I used to work in big corporations to manage the stress. I pull this calming technique out of the bag whenever I’m heading for a stressful time (I know, I should do it everyday).

So, what tricks and tips do you have for managing nerves? I’d love to hear.

Together for the first time in one heartwarming volume.

The Convenient Bride: Sienna De Luca will do anything to save her family's hotel, and ruthless Italian businessman Antonio Moretti knows it. With problems of his own, he proposes a marriage of convenience that will secure his next business deal and save Sienna's hotel.

In keeping with her part of the bargain, Sienna travels to Venice with Antonio, who introduces her to a life of luxury and opulence. Antonio soon realizes he has vastly underestimated Sienna. Unexpectedly, she gets too close, and when she discovers his dark secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel . . .

Seducing the Secret Heiress: Diamond heiress, Charlotte Wentworth, is passionate about two things - cooking and her  fiancée, Paul. Until the day she finds out Paul has been unfaithful. 

Charlotte flees to Europe, determined to build her own life without her family's fortune. When she meets gorgeous TV producer, Gabe Grenville, she keeps her connections secret and soon finds herself the star of his new cooking show. But how will he react when he discovers Charlotte's true identity?

Available in print through Big W and other good book stores. Also from Amazon, iTunes and more...

Sunday Smooch with Jennifer St George

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from  Jennifer St George but first 

... the the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Sharlene. 

Can you please contact amy (at) amyandrews (dot) com (dot) au to receive your copy of The Most Expensive Night of Her Life.

And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Sweet Seduction.

Sweet Seduction brings together The Convenient Bride and Seducing the Secret Heiress for the first time in one fabulous volume which is now available in print as well as ebook.

The Convenient Bride

Sienna De Luca will do anything to save her family's hotel, and ruthless Italian businessman Antonio Moretti knows it. With problems of his own, he proposes a marriage of convenience that will secure his next business deal and save Sienna's hotel.

In keeping with her part of the bargain, Sienna travels to Venice with Antonio, who introduces her to a life of luxury and opulence. Antonio soon realizes he has vastly underestimated Sienna. Unexpectedly, she gets too close, and when she discovers his dark secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel . . .

Scene set-up: Sienna is bound up in a marriage of convenience with Antonio Moretti. Just before she cuts the wedding cake, she discovers the 'real' reason Antonio wanted the marriage and she's horrified. 

Sienna allowed Antonio to lead her to the enormous three-tiered cake. The crowd gathered around as they held the knife together and cut the first piece. Cameras flashed. The rich aroma of chocolate and cream fed the turmoil in her stomach. The noise, the crowd, the cameras threatened to close in on her.

‘I need some air,’ she said, rushing from Antonio’s side to the nearest door she could find. She stumbled into the long hall that led to the foyer. People turned to stare. Where could she go? She had to get away from the continuous scrutiny and the innocent faces of Antonio’s aunt and uncle.

Antonio pushed through the door. He came up close. ‘What are you doing?’

‘How can you deceive your own family?’

‘Quiet.’ He ground out the word. ‘Someone will hear you.’

‘You didn’t tell me your aunt and uncle owned the hotel.’

‘What does it matter? The facts are still the same,’ he whispered harshly, fixing her with stony eyes. ‘They read everything that’s written about me and believe every word. They won’t sell me Villa Paradiso because of those lies.’

‘Lies?’ She knew she should keep her voice down, but she couldn’t help it. ‘What is written about you is all true from what I’ve seen.’

His icy stare matched her own. ‘What? That I’m a womanising, hedonistic playboy?’ he bit out.

After seeing Antonio interact with his staff, she knew there was more to him than his shallow tabloid reputation, but anger consumed her. ‘If the shoe fits,’ she threw back at him.

A camera flashed nearby. Sienna jerked in the direction of the light.

‘Then let’s give them what they want,’ he said through clenched teeth before his lips claimed hers. Sienna felt her mouth explode with sizzling heat. His tongue forced her lips apart.. His teeth grazed her bottom lip as he deepened the kiss.

She willed herself to pull away but her mind didn’t seem to control her body.

His hands slid down her back pulling her close. Her breasts crushed against his chest and desire pooled deep inside her. She’d never been possessed with such fiery passion. She knew she should protest, push away, but his mouth ground against her, bringing her body to life as never before.

She pulled away, breathless.

‘Antonio,’ she breathed. ‘Not here.’

Without a word, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bank of lifts. She wanted to object but found she couldn’t. Or was it that she didn’t want to? Her emotions swirled in a wickedly seductive combination of raging desire and a huge dash of apprehension. She gazed into his dark eyes but looked away quickly. Determination mixed with lust shone in equal parts. What she felt and what she saw in his eyes scared her.

The lift arrived quickly and he pushed through the doors before they’d opened completely. Cameras covered their every move. He swung her round to reach the button for the penthouse.

‘Antonio, you can put me down now.’ She needed to escape his strong, hard body. It made her want what she didn’t want. Not with this man.

‘No.’ His voice was heavy with lust.

She tried to wriggle from his grasp, but he held her in an iron grip. ‘Put me down.’

‘No, you wanted me back there. Don’t deny it.’

‘No,’ she said, hoping her voice wouldn’t betray her lie. She couldn’t want this man. The man who forced her into marriage, forced her into deceit. ‘It was just for the cameras,’ she said, stiffening in his arms. ‘A fight on our wedding night wasn’t going to convince anyone this marriage is real.’

He placed her feet on the floor and held her steady until she found her balance on the four-inch heels. ‘Just an act?’ he asked, his black eyes searching hers as the lift doors opened.

She looked at him squarely. ‘Of course.’ If he touched her now, she’d agree to anything.

I hope you enjoyed the Smooch. I'm giving away an e-copy of Sweet Seduction. Leave an answer to the following question for a chance to win. The Convenient Bride is set in Venice, which is one of my favourite cities in the world. It has everything...fabulous architecture, romance, history, gastronomic delights, art, music and so much more. I would love to visit again and again. Is there a city you'd love to return to and if so, why? 

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Helen  Lacey will be posted!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver

My Connectedness Addiction

What am I going to do? My anxiety is escalating. 

By the time you read this I will be out of mobile and Wi-Fi range and will be for five days. Five days of no email, no mobile calls, no internet, no twitter, no facebook. Just writing those words have fired up my angst.

What if while I’m out of range, I win the lottery and they can’t find me and give away my millions? What if my editor needs my permission for global distribution and translation into 140 languages but needs that permission today or the deal is dead? What if Hollywood calls having heard about my writing and wants me to write a blockbuster for a million dollar advance? What if a meteorite hurtles towards earth and I’m the only one that doesn’t know about meteorite-proof bomb shelters? What if? What if? What if?

So why am I heading off into a dead zone? Well the paragraph above might give you some insight. I’m a bit of a worrier. Around every corner there could be danger. So, I’m off to a health retreat for some fun, fitness and relaxation. Five days of healthy food, massages and exercise. My idea of bliss.   

This will be me very soon!

But, mobiles and computers are banned (am going to smuggle mine in just in case they’re lying about the Wi-Fi).

I find it funny (and just a little bit sad) how much I’m worried about being out of touch. Not too many years ago I lived my life with perfect contentment without having the internet and email in my pocket. Now, if I can’t check my email regularly (every ten minutes!! Who said that???) little hammers of concern tap at my brain.

It my iPhone’s fault. Now I can carry all forms of communication around in my pocket, I’m addicted.

I’ll be away when this blog is posted, so I won’t be able to respond right away, but I’d love to know if you suffer this connectedness addiction. And what, if anything, you do to combat your dependence.

I’m now off to drink copious amount of freshly brewed coffee. That’s banned too, so I’m going to pre-load! Don’t think I’ll mention this when I arrive at the retreat!

Jennifer's new release - Sweet Seduction -  is out at the end of November. Pre-order now at Booktopia.