Tag: category romance

Congratulations Contest Winner

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Congrats to Elaine Carlini-Davis, my latest Sizzlin’ Summer Contest winner. Elaine, the prize, a signed copy of my Scottish Medieval Blaze, Bound to Please will be on its way to you as soon as you email your contact information to me at [email protected].

Currently underway: yet another chance to win a copy of Bound to Please. This time, reply to any of my blog posts between now and the end of August and be automatically entered to in. Random thoughts welcomed if not encouraged.

But, as they say, there’s more…

I just received my cover for Twelve Nights, the sequel to Bound to Please. Isn’t it pretty!?! Twelve Nights releases this December 2009 in time for Christmas. Sneak peaks, excerpts, behind-the-scenes snippets and related goodness will be posted “anon,” so please don’t be a stranger.

Hope

Bringing Back Sexy…A Romance Novel for Obama

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My fellow Harlequin author, Geri Krotow’s World War II set category romance novel, A Rendezvous to Remember, may be sitting on the presidential night stand “as we speak.”

The recipient of said signed book is Michelle, not Barack, though he definitely gave it a thumbing through. “This looks sexy,” he said.

The President thumbing through yes, a romance novel.
The President thumbing through yes, a romance novel. Photo:Kristi Stephens

Not only is the First Lady making The White House a waddle-free zone for the first time in fah-ev-ah–or at least since Jackie Kennedy’s day–but apparently she’s making the Free World safe for yes, popular fiction.

For the juicy rest of the story, including more photos, read Wax Creative founder, Emily Cotler’s report for The Huff Po.

Hope

Congratulations Contest Winner!

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Congratulations to Maribeth Curry, my first (but not last) Sizzling Summer Contest Winner. Maribeth, please email me your snail mail information offline at [email protected] and I’ll get your signed copy of Bound to Please in the mail ASAP.

Didn’t win this time ’round? No worries. Sizzling Summer Part II starts up today through July 18th. Same prize, a signed copy of Bound to Please, and once again, to enter all you have to do is post a response to the following new question:

What is your favorite guilty (or not so guilty) summertime pleasure?

Hope

Cover Model…Colbert?

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Last night I was an audience member of The Colbert Report with buddy Maya Rodale. Both longtime fans of the show, we were thrilled to be seated in the VIP audience seats (row #2!!!) where we would be up close and (hopefully) personal with our hero.

Hope with Maya before the taping.
Far right, Hope with Maya before the taping.

We were, we did, and I’m happy to rapport…oops, I mean, report, that satirist Stephen Colbert did not disappoint. Fresh back from broascasting in Iraq and with the buzz cut to show for it, in all…truthiness, Colbert is even funnier in person than on TV–and that’s saying a lot.

We’d been schooled by staffers that Colbert would come out for an audience Q&A prior to the taping and that we should all be ready with a question.

With or without hair, Colbert looks g-o-o-d. Photo courtesy of www.colbertnation.com.
With or without hair, Colbert looks g-o-o-d. Photo courtesy of www.colbertnation.com.

And I was ready, oh how I was ready…

Remember back in 2007 when Harlequin put out the word that the company was searching for manly “real men” to pose for their covers? Colbert caught wind of the campaign and announced on the Colbert Report that he was waiting for Harlequin’s call. “All right, the ball is in your court, Harlequin.” To prove it, he posed with an intern for several spoof covers–as a lusty pirate, a dude ranch cowboy, and a corporate mogul.

Flash forward to June 16, 2009 otherwise known as Last Night. Before I knew it, Colbert was being introduced. He shot out from the black stage curtain. The buzz cut threw me at first but only for like thirty seconds. In person and behind-the-scenes, Colbert isn’t just witty and funny.

He’s also absolutely gracious and dare I say…hawt!?!

The shout-out for questions came. I tucked a copy of Bound to Please beneath my bum and shot my hand up in the air. Colbert turned my way. Our gazes met, stuck like glue–contractor glue, not the schlocky kind the rest of us buy. My heart kicked into a canter (if in Regency England) or fired full throttle (if in modern day Manhattan). Regardless of era, my sub-A cup bosom was heaving like a mother f…Well, I was having a hard time catching my breath. My mouth went dry, bone dry, whilst/while other parts of me went instantly damp, drenched you might say…

And by “parts” I mean my palms.

“Yes?” Colbert asked. He strode my way, his wingtips devouring the studio floor separating us.

He stood before me now, all virile satirist and questing eyes. It was, I knew, my moment of truthiness. I gingerly slid the copy of Bound to Please from its hiding place ‘neath my…nether parts and handed it over to him. Our fingertips brushed. Ah, sweet bliss…

I whetted my parched desert dry lips. “I’m um…um…” Dash it, who the devil was I!?! “Oh, right, I’m Hope Tarr, I write romance novels for Harlequin Enterprises and I want to know when you’re going to be the cover model for my next steamy Harlequin release.”

Bound to Please bound to be better with...Colbert!?!

Witty repartee ensued–from Colbert, that is. I’d spent myself on the introduction. Fortunately my chained cover hero, his tussled tartan, and yes, the ever so subtle shout line on the cover, “This guy’s a sure thing!” were all grist for the comedy mill. He even posited potential titles for his Harlequin cover debut.

It was heady stuff, titillating times, but there were other audience members with questions to consider and well, I knew I mustn’t be greedy. I let him walk away, not into the sunset but into the strobe lighting. It’s for the best, I’m sure and yet…

Goodnight, Nation.

Hope

Sizzling Summer Contest, Call for Posts

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Okay, so far we have four great posts to get the beach ball rolling, but we also have two weeks to go before I announce the first winner of a signed copy of Bound to Please. If you haven’t already, take two ticks and post your response to:

What do you like best about summer?

Could be a childhood memory, could be a random (or not so random) musing about summer in general. It’s your call.

Hope

Sizzling Summer: New Contest

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Summer is beach read season. If you’re bound for the beach or even a beach towel somewhere outside, I want to give you a copy of Bound to Please to bring with you.

Look for TWELVE NIGHTS, the sequel, December 2009.

When I was a kid, summer meant smelling the charcoal of barbecue grills being fired up, getting to stay up that precious extra hour, and playing flash light tag until the neighborhood mom-on-duty all but dragged us inside. (“Mom, just five more minutes, pul-ease!“)

Since my move to Manhattan, summer has a different resonance but resonate it does–strolling through street fairs, picnicking in Bryant Park on free film nights, and lingering at outdoor cafe tables long after the plates are cleared.

Summer is for fun. And just for fun, every two weeks through the end of August, I will give away a copy of Bound to Please to one lucky commenter on my blog. Unlike my usual contest, there’s no excerpt to read, no right or wrong answer to give. Instead every two weeks I will post a new blog post calling out for a specific comment. All you need do is pipe up and post. Once the winner is announced–you–email me with your snail mail address, and I’ll send you your copy of Bound to Please. That’s it.

Hope (Far L) at Coney Island last summer with RWA/NYC friends, including Karen Cino & Elizabeth Mahon (Far R).
Hope (Far L) at Coney Island last summer with RWA/NYC friends, including Karen Cino & Elizabeth Mahon (Far R).

Already have Bound to Please? If so, let me know, and I’ll donate your contest copy to Share The Love and brighten the day of a woman transitioning from tough times.

As my friend and StL founder Maya Rodale says, “everyone deserves the pleasure of a good story.”

It’s a big online world made smaller when we all keep in touch.

Happy Summer!

Hope

Congratulations Contest Winner!

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Congratulations to my mid-April contest winner, Amira H of Humboldt, Nebraska. Amira’s prize package, a signed copy of Strokes of Midnight, my contemporary Harlequin Blaze and Vanquished,the launch to my historical “Men of Roxbury House” miniseries, is en en route to her “as we speak.”

Daisy Jane settles in with a good Hope Tarr book. Photo courtesy of Her Person, Rebecca G.
Daisy Jane settles in with a good Hope Tarr book--better yet, two! Photos courtesy of Her Person, Rachael G.

Here at hopetarr.com we pride ourselves on promoting compassion for all creatures great and small. “Animal-friendliness” is a big part of the brand for my books. I’m happy to report the critters are reciprocating in kind! Please savor these photos of Daisy Jane, the four-legged companion of my mid-March contest winner, Rachael G of Cairo, MO. Check out Rachael’s blog for more photos as well the dish on her latest reads.

Didn’t win this time ’round? Dinna fash as my Scottish historical hero, Ewan Fraser of Bound to Please would say. I’m offering the same great prizes through June, so if you didn’t win, there’s still time to head over to my Contest page and try your luck again. Someone’s gotta win. It might as well be…You.

Hope

(No Longer) Singing the Deadline Blues

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I hit “Send” on Twelve Nights, the sequel to my Scottish Blaze Historical, Bound to Please last Saturday at 5 AM. After three plus weeks of self-sequestering, I’m back to living like a biped human being–exercising again and washing my hair again and eating meals off an actual table.

Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Union Square, NYC. Hope could have used some of the Indian nationalist leader's renowned peace last week!
Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Union Square, NYC. Hope could have used some of the Indian nationalist leader's renowned peace last week.

Deadlining, not to be confused with mainlining (though admittedly there are similarities), allows writers to experience the duality of our natures. Think Devil-Angel, Jeykl and Hyde, The Ripper and…Jack. In my case, I go from being this fairly fastidious person to one who’s picking sushi rice out of her computer keyboard.

Deadlining puts me in touch with my inner adrenalin junkie. Deadlining is my NASCAR. I may not parachute out of planes or go on amusement park rides that spin faster than the classic carousel, but hop me up on caffeine and give me a week to write those last 20,000 words, and I’m a regular Evel Knievel. 

Random townhouse in NYC's West Village.
Random townhouse in NYC's famed West Village.

Now that the deadline drama is past, I’m living large–and enjoying spring in New York–at least until the revisions come in.

Hope

PS Check back in a few for my mid-April contest winner.

Lady Jane’s Salon, Monday, April 6th

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I’m still deadlining on the sequel to Bound to Please, but I absolutely had to take a wee breakie pooh to plug this Monday’s Lady Jane’s Salon. Guest authors are Alisa Kwitney/Alisa Sheckley, author of The Better to Hold You and our own Maya Rodale, who will read from The Rogue and the Rival. But as they say, there’s more…

Sarah Wendell of the crazy popular blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and author of Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches Guide to Romance Novels will be our guest emcee. How cool is that? (Hint: not really a question).

And yeppers, I’ll be there along with my founder buds: Maya Rodale, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Ron Hogan.

Otherwise program details remain the same: 7-9 PM at the uber swank Madame X. Admission is $5 or one gently used romance novel, all to benefit Share the Love, a nonprofit that reaches out to groups serving women in transition.

Okay, I’m headed back to Medieval Scotland for now, but so long as I can escape my “keeper,” I’ll see you there. 😉

Hope

March Contest Winner & Lady Jane Salon Update

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I’m back from my European rambles and pleased to do one of my very favorite things: announce my latest contest winner. Congratulations to Rachael G of Cairo, MO. Rachael’s prize: a signed copy of my single-title historical, Vanquished, and my contemporary category romance, Strokes of Midnight, is en route to her “as we speak.”

Didn’t win this time? No worries. The new contest is up and running, so please check it out. And remember, winners who may have read one or both of the prize books can always donate their copy to Share the Love and brighten the day of a woman working to rebuild her life.

Hope

PS I’m “deadlining” as we say in the biz, but I’m hopeful of posting the highlights of my vacation in the not too distant future, so please stay tuned.

PPS The next Lady Jane’s Salon is scheduled for Monday, April 6th, at Madame X.

PPPS! The New York Post recently gave Lady Jane more than a little love by covering our wintry yet well-attended March 3rd salon.