Midnight Train to Paris Release and Giveaway!

Today is the official release day for Episode 1 of my Kindle Serial novel, Midnight Train to Paris! You can find the novel on Amazon. 

I am so excited to share this story with you, my fabulous readers! This time, I'm taking you for a magical and suspenseful journey on the famous Orient Express Train, and we'll be making a few stops along the way: Washington, DC, Switzerland, The French Alps, 1930s France, and of course, Paris! I had an incredible time writing this book, and I hope you have just as much fun reading it!

Here's a little more about the book:

When hard-hitting DC reporter Jillian Chambord learns that her twin sister, Isla, has been abducted from a luxury train traveling through the Alps, not even the threat of losing her coveted position at The Washington Daily can stop her from hopping on the next flight to France. Never mind the fact that Samuel Kelly--the sexy former CIA agent who Jillian has sworn off forever--has been assigned as the lead investigator in the case.

When Jillian and Samuel arrive in the Alps, they soon learn that their midnight train isn't leading them to Isla, but has taken them back in time to 1937, to a night when another young woman was abducted from the same Orient Express train. Given a chance to save both women, Jillian and Samuel are unprepared for what they discover on the train that night, for the sparks that fly between them...and for what they'll have to do to keep each other alive.

Midnight Train to Paris is a magical and suspenseful exploration of just how far we will go to save the ones we love. 

To celebrate the release of Midnight Train to Paris, I'll be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and a Kindle copy of the book to one lucky winner, and 3 more winners will be chosen to receive Kindle copies of the book as well. To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below, and let me know if you have any questions.  

Also, if you already have a copy of Midnight Train to Paris, feel free to enter the giveaway, and if you win, you'll have your pick of one of my other Paris Kindle books! 

Over the course of the 8 week release, I'll be celebrating with guest posts and giveaways on some of my favorite blogs, so if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I'll be sure to announce my upcoming blog stops!

And, if you haven't heard of Kindle Serials, here's the scoop:

A Kindle Serial is a novel released to your Kindle in episodes, leaving you on a cliff-hanger each week so that you can't wait to read the next one! (Well, let's hope you can't wait, right?:) When you purchase Midnight Train to Paris, all existing episodes will immediately appear on your Kindle, and as future episodes are published each week, they will update automatically. You'll even receive an email from Amazon letting you know that the next installment is available on your Kindle.

If you'd like to see what other readers have to say about each episode of Midnight Train to Paris over the course of the 8 week release, you can participate in the Customer Discussions Forum on Amazon. I'll be popping over and responding to your questions and comments as well, so hopefully I'll see you there!

On June 18th, once all episodes have been released, Midnight Train to Paris will be released as a full-length novel in print and e-book. So, if you'd rather wait to read the entire novel at once, you can do that too. 

*Hint: The trick is to snap up the book at the $1.99 Serial price before it goes up a bit once the Serial is complete:)

Also, for my wonderful readers abroad, Midnight Train to Paris will be released on Amazon UK, France, Germany, and all other Amazon sites as a full-length novel this June. So, not to worry, it's coming to a Kindle near you very soon :)

I'm incredibly grateful to all of my loyal readers who've been patiently (and not so patiently!) waiting for my next Paris book release. I've been locked in my writing cave for months with visions of chocolate croissants, book signings, and train rides around the French countryside dancing through my head, so I am beyond excited that we made it to release day! Thank you for all of your support. Happy reading and bon voyage! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Midnight Train to Paris to Release on April 30th!

I am so excited to announce that my Kindle Serial, Midnight Train to Paris, will begin releasing on April 30th! You can pre-order the novel on Amazon now, and here is a little bit about the book:

When hard-hitting DC reporter Jillian Chambord learns that her twin sister, Isla, has been abducted from a luxury train traveling through the Alps, not even the threat of losing her coveted position at The Washington Daily can stop her from hopping on the next flight to France. Never mind the fact that Samuel Kelly--the sexy former CIA agent who Jillian has sworn off forever--has been assigned as the lead investigator in the case.

When Jillian and Samuel arrive in the Alps, they soon learn that their midnight train isn't leading them to Isla, but has taken them back in time to 1937, to a night when another young woman was abducted from the same Orient Express train. Given a chance to save both women, Jillian and Samuel are unprepared for what they discover on the train that night, for the sparks that fly between them...and for what they'll have to do to keep each other alive.

Midnight Train to Paris is a magical and suspenseful exploration of just how far we will go to save the ones we love. 


Have you ever heard of Kindle Serials? A Kindle Serial is a novel published in episodes. When you purchase Midnight Train to Paris, all existing episodes will immediately appear on your Kindle, and each week, as a new episode is released, it will automatically update on your Kindle at no additional cost. At the end of the eight weeks, you will have the full novel! 

And if you prefer to wait until the entire novel is released, then you can do that too! The full length print novel will come out in June.

In other exciting Paris book news, Dancing with Paris is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will be releasing on July 16th! And, I just received the Advance Reader Copies this week! This is the first of my novels that I have actually held in my hands as a print book, and I can't even tell you how thrilled I am. To share the print book love, I will be giving away some of my advance reader copies on Goodreads. Keep a look out on Twitter and Facebook for an announcement.

Speaking of Facebook, I would like to give a shout out to the talented ladies at Duolit for spicing up my Facebook Author Page. They did a beautiful job with the cover photos and even added all sorts of fun buttons for newsletter sign up, and more!

And speaking of newsletters, my very first one will be going out on April 30th! If you'd like to sign up, just enter your email address in the box to the right underneath "Juliette's Newsletter." Huge thanks to all of you who've been writing to me since the release of Sleeping with Paris back in October of 2011 and who've been signing up for my newsletter all along. 

With all of these upcoming Paris releases, I have been spending some loooong days in the writing cave, and I haven't had much time for...well, really anything else but writing! So I'd also like to give a shout out to Annette at Jar O'Marbles for all of the help she's given me recently and to Emily from Blogaholic Designs for giving my website a new, beautiful look! And of course to the entire team at Montlake Romance for the amazing work they're doing to bring all five of my Paris books to readers this year!

Some of you may be wondering where Chocolate for Writers, which used to be the name of this blog, has gone. I wanted to make it super easy for my readers to find me, which is why I made the change, but don't worry, there will still be plenty of chocolate! In the past few weeks of deadline craziness, I have been surviving almost solely on Lindt chocolate truffles. Seriously.

Thanks, lovely readers, for stopping by to celebrate all of this release excitement! I cannot wait to share my new stories and with you...and take you on another trip to Paris! If you'll be in Atlanta this July, I will be signing copies of Midnight Train to Paris and Dancing with Paris at the RWA "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing on July 17th! I would love to see you there :)

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Sophie Moss ~ Giveaway and Cover Reveal for The Selkie Sorceress!

I am so excited to be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with one of my favorite authors and friends, Sophie Moss. Sophie's enchanting Seal Island Trilogy has a new, gorgeous look, and the final book in the series, The Selkie Sorceress, will be released April 25th! Thanks to Sophie for giving me an advanced reader copy, which I devoured!

So, without further ado, here are Sophie's new fabulous covers and a giveaway! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Upcoming Release: The Selkie Sorceress (Seal Island Trilogy, Book Three)

Author: Sophie Moss

Genre: Irish Fairy Tale/Fantasy Romance

Release Date: April 25, 2013

Book Designers: Blue Harvest Creative

The Seal Island Trilogy has a brand new look!

The Selkie Spell is on sale for FREE from March 15-19th

The Selkie Enchantress is on sale for 99 cents from March 15-19th

The Selkie Sorceress will be available on April 25th!

Book Description:

American detective, Sam Holt, has a knack for finding people who
shouldn't be found. When his last case almost killed an innocent woman, he swore
off detective work forever. But when that same woman asks him for one last
investigation--to find her husband's long lost mother--Sam cannot refuse. Sam hopes this case will prove to everyone on Seal Island, especially clairvoyant artist Glenna McClure,
that he has changed. But what Sam doesn't realize is that the closer he gets to
the truth, the more danger Glenna is in.

Glenna will do anything to stop Sam from finding this woman, even
if it means teaming up with a powerful sorceress she knows she cannot trust. But when the petals of a mysterious
night-blooming rose begin to turn black, Glenna realizes an even darker
force is at work. To protect the island and the people she loves, Glenna will have to face a
terrible curse that has haunted her all her life before the final petal fades to
ash.

Sophie Moss ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

To celebrate The Selkie Sorceress being almost here, Sophie is offering a HUGE giveaway this weekend! In addition to reducing the prices of The Selkie Spell (FREE) and The Selkie Enchantress (99cents) from March 15-19th, she is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Midnight Train to Paris Sold to Montlake Romance!

I'm so excited to announce that my fifth novel, Midnight Train to Paris, has sold to Amazon's Montlake Romance and will be released as a Kindle Serial this spring! 

As reported on Publisher's Marketplace:

Juliette Sobanet's MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO PARIS, the story of two young women abducted from the famous Orient Express train seventy-five years apart, and the hard-hitting DC reporter who must travel back in time to 1930s France to save them both, while resisting her attraction to the one man she's sworn off forever, to Kelli Martin at Montlake Romance, in a nice deal, by Kevan Lyon at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (World).

Imaginary view of Paris from my writing cave

I have been deep in the writing cave these past few months working on this novel, and I cannot wait to share it with my readers! If you haven't heard of the Kindle Serials program, here's the scoop:

A Kindle Serial is a novel that is released onto your Kindle in episodes. When you purchase a Kindle Serial, all existing episodes will immediately appear on your Kindle, and as future episodes are published, they will magically update as well! Well, okay, it's not magic, but it is pretty cool. So, it's kind of like watching a TV show that you love. I'll leave you on a big cliff-hanger, so you can't wait to read the next episode, then you'll even receive an email from Amazon telling you as soon as the next installment is available on your Kindle! 

Once all episodes have been released, Midnight Train to Paris will then be published as a full-length novel, released in print and e-book. So, if you'd rather wait to read the entire novel at once, you can do that too. The Kindle Serials are super cheap, generally priced at only $1.99, so the trick is to buy the book at the lower price before it will be released as a full-length novel.  Don't worry, I'll remind you of this key fact when the book is released in case you forget :)




In other Paris book news, my third novel, Dancing with Paris, will be released by Montlake this July along with the re-release of both Sleeping with Paris and Kissed in Paris. AND (I know, there are so many Paris books, I'm beginning to get confused myself:), I am also writing the sequel to Sleeping with Paris, titled Honeymoon in Paris, which will be released by Montlake next winter. This book is super fun, flirty, and loaded with trouble for my very first heroine, Charlotte Summers.

So I know it' been a little while since my last release in February of 2012, but not to worry. I am cranking out books like it's my job . . . because well, it actually is my job now! Thanks to my fabulous readers, my amazing agent, and my spectacular editors! And of course my wonderful critique partners, friends, and family. It takes a village to write these books, and of course it takes yearly trips to France to load up on buttery pastries, wine, and chocolate for inspiration.

I'll be sure to post when I have an exact release  date for Midnight Train to Paris, but look for it to come to a Kindle near you this spring. In the meantime, check out the Pinterest board I have created as inspiration for this book. It will give you a feel for the novel, and you can see some of the actors I would choose to play my main characters. And please eat a chocolate croissant and have a glass of champagne to celebrate with me!

My Fabulous French Friend & Her Fabulous New Cover!

NYC skyline drinks with Marion Croslydon & Tracy Meyer

I first met Marion Croslydon at RWA Nationals in New York City in the summer of 2011. We roomed together at a hotel full of wild romance writers in Times Square, and amidst the madness, the fun, and the nerves, we instantly clicked. Besides being an amazing writer, Marion is also an incredible friend, and I'm so excited to be featuring her latest release and her brand new cover on my blog today!

Marion is a talented author of French origin who currently lives in London. Her debut novel, Oxford Whispers,  was released this fall, and she recently gave her fabulous book a gorgeous new cover! 




Here is a quick blurb about Oxford Whispers:

Madison LeBon is dead set against the dead. Her fresh start at Oxford University is a brand new beginning. She finally has the chance to turn the page on her psychic powers and cumbersome voodoo heritage. Snakes, dolls, ghosts, and spirits: Farewell . . . not quite.

When the tragic lovers in a painting-the subject of her first history class-begin to haunt her, she must accept her gift before life imitates art. The lovers warn her against their own nemesis, a Puritan from the English Civil War. Unfortunately, said nemesis is now going all homicidal on Madison.

College becomes more complicated when she falls hard for Rupert Vance, a troubled aristocrat and descendant of one of the characters in the painting. With the spirit of a murderer after her, Madison realizes her own first love may also be doomed . . . 
 And without further ado, the new cover!

I loved Marion's debut novel and can't wait for the sequel. Oxford Whispers is available on Amazon Kindle, so hop on over to check out this fun, mysterious new adult romance! You can find Marion on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Merci, Marion for the chance to partake in your cover reveal! Looking forward to seeing all of your future success...and can't wait for our next cocktail at RWA :)

RWA Nationals 2012 in sunny California with Marion & Sophie Moss

Kissed in Paris Nominated as a 2012 Best Digital Read!

Bonjour lovely readers! I just received some exciting news today: Kissed in Paris has been nominated as one of the top three Free Digital Fiction Reads of 2012! As you know, every so often, I run a free promotion on Amazon as a thank you to all of my readers for your support. The fabulous Free Digital Reads site has been polling fans for a few weeks now, and thanks to my amazing readers, Kissed in Paris is a finalist! 

Voting ends on Sunday, November 18th at midnight, so if you enjoyed the book, please consider popping on over to the site to vote! I so appreciate your support! Here's the link: 

2012 Best of Free Digital Reads

Also, to celebrate the news, I've decided to make Sleeping with Paris free for the next few days on Amazon Kindle, and Kissed in Paris will be on sale for only $.99 for a limited time as well! Enjoy :)

I would not be writing full-time and doing what I love every single day if it weren't for my readers, so I really cannot thank you enough for your support. Sending you all tons of Paris love and chocolate croissants wherever you are! Merci! 

***Update: On November 19th, Kissed in Paris won first place in the 2012 Best of Free Digital Reads contest! Thank you SO much to everyone who voted! This is a huge honor, and I'm so incredibly thankful :)

My last day in Paris, strolling by la Tour Eiffel with one of my best friends....sigh:)

My Next Big Thing

Fellow Paris-lover and author Amy Thomas invited me to share details about my next big project in a fabulous pay-it-forward author event, and after just finishing the edits on my third novel, I'm so glad she did! Amy wrote the delicious book Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate).

I will definitely be devouring a bar of chocolat as I devour Amy's book!

And without further ado...some details on my third novel, Dancing with Paris, which will be out next spring:

Where did the idea come from for the book? 

I've always joked that I must've been French in a past life because I have been in love with France for almost as long as I can remember. It was this seed of an idea that helped me come up with the concept for Dancing with Paris.
 
What genre does your book fall under? 

Like my other two novels, my third book is a cross between romance and women's fiction, but this one definitely has some extra spice! We have magic realism, time travel to 1950's Paris, and a murder mystery!

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

Oooh, this is fun. I would choose either Amy Adams or Christina Applegate to play my main character, Ruby. They both have the glamour, humor, and the beauty to pull off this role.

Then for Antoine, my hero, I would choose Jean-Pierre Martins. He played Marcel in La Vie en Rose, and I have written Antoine with this actor specifically in mind. Swoon.
  
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Dancing with Paris  is the story of a woman sent back in time to 1950's Paris to revisit her past life as the dazzling star of a scandalous Parisian cabaret club, where she must deal with murder, danger, and unexpected love. It's Midnight in Paris meets Moulin Rouge.
 
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Amazon's Montlake Romance will be publishing Dancing with Paris next spring. I'm represented by my wonderful agent, Kevan Lyon, of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
 
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It took me about five months to write the first draft. Then I had some major plot revelations and spent another several months re-writing the entire book! This is when I learned how difficult it is to write a mystery. Changing one little detail can change the entire story!
 
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Some other women's fiction authors who do a beautiful job of mixing magical elements into their characters' everyday lives are Cecilia Ahern and Allison Winn Scotch. Also, The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene is a beautiful story set in 1940's Paris that really swept me into this time period in France and was a wonderful inspiration to me. 

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

As mentioned, the idea that I must've been French in my past life inspired me to send my main character back to her past life in 1950's Paris. Also, I was a ballet dancer growing up, so I've always had a passion for dance and loved the idea of making my heroine a scandalous cabaret dancer in Paris. Another source of inspiration was the film Moulin Rouge. I absolutely adore the costumes, the dancing, and the songs, and I often listened to the soundtrack while writing this book.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

Dancing with Paris is magical, suspenseful, glamorous, sexy, and will take you to 1950's Paris. Hopefully this mixture of elements will hook my readers and keep them turning the pages!

Now I will be passing the torch along to four other fabulous writers!

Marion Croslydon, author of a brand new release, which I absolutely loved, Oxford Whispers. Marion and I met by rooming together at RWA Nationals in New York City and we clicked immediately. The only thing I don't like is that Marion lives in England and I live in San Diego . . . somehow we need to figure out a way to be closer! Marion is hard at work on the next book in the Oxford Trilogy. Can't wait to hear more about it! 

 




Cari Kamm, author of Fake Perfect Me. If Cari and I were to meet in person, I know we would get along because in the FAQ on her website she states that if she could eat one thing for the rest of her days it would be cheese. I am with you Cari. Can't live without it. I can't wait to read Cari's first book, and she has a new release out this December, so pop on over to her site to learn more about it!







Barbara Longley is a fellow Montlake author, and her latest novel, Far From Perfect, just came out last week! Congrats Barbara! I am absolutely in love with the pics of Barbara's cat and dog, Fred and Sophie, on her site. Just sayin. Can't wait to see what Barbara is working up next!



And last, but definitely not least...

Lauren Clark, author of Dancing Naked in Dixie and Stay Tuned is one of my sweetest, most supportive author pals. I loved Dancing Naked in Dixie, and can't wait to read her first novel too! I'm so happy I *met* her this year...and hopefully one day we will meet in person! Lauren has a few projects up her sleeve, so check her out to see what's next!