Giveaway & Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author, Francis Ray

Please make our special guest, NY Tmes bestsellins author, Francis Ray feel right at home here at Over the Edge. Ms. Ray has stopped by today to chat and give away a copy of her upcoming release, "IT HAD TO BE YOU".  To enter please leave Francis a comment including email.  giveaway is open to all and runs until April 11, 2010.  Happy Reading!

TITLE:   IT HAD TO BE YOU
AUTHOR: Francis Ray
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Paperbacks
GENRE: Romantic Fiction
RELEASE: April 2010
PRE-ORDER

From New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray comes a dazzling new novel of the Grayson family and their friends—a duo destined to make beautiful music together...


IT HAD TO BE HER


Most musicians would do anything to work with the hot, young record producer known as “Rolling Deep.” R.D. can pick and choose any artist he wants—and he wants Laurel Raineau. A classical violinist, Laurel plays soaring music that touches R.D. to his very soul. But the last thing Laurel wants is to work with someone whose exploits with the ladies appear in the tabloids every week.


IT HAD TO BE...WHO?


Not one to take no for an answer, R.D. keeps trying—and failing—to let Laurel know that he’s not the player he’s made out to be. So he introduces himself to her by his real name, Zachary Wilder, hoping to win her over. But it’s Zach who falls under this beauty’s spell. Now it’s only a matter of time before Laurel learns who the man she’s losing her heart to really is—but can she walk away from a passion that feels so right?

Read excerpt.

Get to know the Author of the Day.


CSM: Please help me welcome New York Times Bestselling author,Francis Ray to Over the Edge. Francis, my readers and I are so psyched that have dropped by to spend time with us. Thanks so much!






CSM: Tell us more about yourself.


First, thank you so much for the invitation. I'm thrilled. I'm from Texas, and graduated from Texas Woman's University with a degree in Nursing. I have one daughter who works with me as my research assistant. I love gardening and reading, and wish I had more time to do both.






CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I’m also a music junkie. When I’m writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What’s your sound track? What type of music is on it?


I listen to country music while I write. The songs tell a story of love, lost and found, the trials and tribulations of life. It reminds me that you have to live life to the fullest each day. It's a lesson that I have to remind myself of, a lesson that my characters have to embrace.


CSM: How would readers find out more about you?


I warmly invite readers to visit my web site at www.francisray.com. They can also find me on my social networks:


http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Francis-Ray-Official/150086851889?ref=ts


http://www.myspace.com/francisray


http://www.francisrayblog.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/readersoffrancisray/


http://twitter.com/Francis_Ray


http://francisray.blogspot.com/






CSM: When did you write your first book?


I wrote my first book, FALLEN ANGEL, in 1991. The book sold on Christmas Eve in 1991, and was published November 1992. Since then my publisher, St. Martin's Press, reissued the book as SOMEONE TO LOVE ME.


CSM: Where and when do you write?


Since I still work as a School Nurse Practitioner, I write in the evenings and on weekends. I'm fortunate that since I work for a large school district, I'm off during the year and in the summer.


I have a home office. When I write, I have lots of research material scattered around me, so the office is seldom neat - which bothers me, but I haven't found a solution yet.


CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?


The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale. I have an application on my computer, but I find more of a selection in The Synonym Finder. The book was a gift from two wonderful friends in my critique groups many years ago.


CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?


My advice would be that they not compare themselves to anyone. Focus on your writing, study the craft, write as much as possible and read widely. It goes without saying that they learn as much about the business of publishing as possible. Ebooks are coming into their own. Before signing a contract make sure someone knowledgeable has advised them.




CSM: What was the best advice someone gave you when you were starting out.


The best advice would probably be to keep writing no matter the obstacle. A rejection is just one person's opinion.




CSM: Tell us one thing that readers would be surprised to learn about you.


I think that one thing would be that I struggle with writing each book. I've finally accepted that the 'struggle' is my process.




CSM: What genre(s) do you write?


I write romance and women's fiction. My current romance is FOREVER YOURS. The current women's fiction is IF YOU WERE MY MAN.


CSM: Among that you've written which is your favorite book and why?


You've asked a very difficult question. Each books is special, because hopefully, each book tells a different story, and the reader learns something new. The mainstream book is THE TURNING POINT / TROUBLE DON'T LAST ALWAYS because the book touched on my own scare with blindness, but also the courage of abused women to leave their abuser.


For romance, I'll say FOREVER YOURS. I love the story because besides being a warm and passionate read, it clearly demonstrates it's what on the inside, not the outside that counts.

CSM: Tell us about your recent release, “IF YOU WERE MY MAN”.


IF YOU WERE MY MAN is an emotional story of two people afraid to love for different reasons who find themselves doing just that. The book is set in Myrtle Beach. The hero, Rafael Dunlap, is a hostage negotiator with S.O.R.T., the Special Operations Response Team of the Myrtle Beach Police department. Running from love just as fast as Rafael is Nathalyia Fontaine, a woman with secrets and the owner of Fontaine, an upscale seafood restaurant/bar in Myrtle Beach.











CSM: Tell us more about your upcoming St. Martin’s April 27, 2010 release, “IT HAD TO BE YOU”.


IT HAD TO BE YOU is about Zach "Rolling Deep" Wilder, a LA music producer who wants to produce concert violinist, Laurel Raineau's next album. Unfortunately, the tabloids have unjustly characterized Zach as a womanizer and party animal and Laurel wants nothing to do with him. Refusing to take no for an answer, he follows her incognito to Playa del Carmen. Neither expect the strong sexual attraction. Neither is prepared for what happens when Laurel learns Zach's true identity.


CSM: Any new projects, works in progress?


I'm working on the sequel to I KNOW WHO HOLD TOMORROW. The book takes a hard and emotional look at adoption. But before that book comes out I have two other books out this year. ONLY HERS hit stores August 03, and HEART OF THE FALCON follows December 07.




CSM: I want to take this time to thank Francis Ray for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.




Thank you. It was my pleasure.


Francis