Let the countdown begin. . .#SpreadRumors

I'm a few weeks away from the release of my novel Rumor Has It. And I'm nervous. Here's the back story on how I came up with this plot.
There was this writer who'd been seeing a guy who was running for a political office. At the time, he had a female campaign manager. And he brought her to my —I mean that writer's— parents' house to discuss his campaign. All the while he was there, the writer saw there was something going on between the two that had more personal than business written all over it.

See, writers are magical and while plotting, they often see the truth. As it turns out, the writer was right. So, old boy was running for office and trying to portray this wholesome image, but behind the scenes, he was anything but.

He lost the election and my story was born.

Looks like putting a little truth in my fiction paid off. Here's what Publisher's Weekly thinks about my book:

 Rumor Has It
Cheris Hodges, Author
Hodges (Love After War) infuses this contemporary with complex and vivid love, friendship, and loyalty. Public-relations professional Liza Palmer is never off duty, so she ditches a wedding planning session with her best friend, Chante, and heads to the office of Chante’s fiancé, Robert, to discuss an idea for his North Carolina senatorial campaign. When Liza interrupts Robert having sex with a woman on his desk, she is outraged by his behavior, and then hurt by Chante’s refusal to believe her. Determined to expose Robert, Liza takes the juicy gossip to his competitor, Jackson Franklin, a handsome man who leaves her tingling and weak in the knees. Jackson refuses to play dirty politics, but he does want to get inside sassy Liza’s “mind, heart, and soul.” As rumors fly, damaging Liza’s reputation, Jackson’s hot and tender lovemaking claims her heart. With Jackson and Robert neck and neck, Liza has to make some difficult choices. The nonstop intrigue, romance, and smart dialogue will keep readers enthralled. (May)

I do hope you enjoy it just as much.
Be sure you preorder today!

Deadlines and day jobs. . .It's a hard knock life

Some times, things get in the way of life. And by things I mean books that are due, promotions at a day job that you may or may not like. And a horrible cold.

Ah, the life of a writer. Cue Annie and the orphans.


But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love it. Especially when I see all the amazing things my author friends are doing and when I'm on the cusp of releasing what has to be one of my favorite books:

 Rumor Has It

Cheris Hodges, Author

Hodges (Love After War) infuses this contemporary with complex and vivid love, friendship, and loyalty. Public-relations professional Liza Palmer is never off duty, so she ditches a wedding planning session with her best friend, Chante, and heads to the office of Chante’s fiancé, Robert, to discuss an idea for his North Carolina senatorial campaign. When Liza interrupts Robert having sex with a woman on his desk, she is outraged by his behavior, and then hurt by Chante’s refusal to believe her. Determined to expose Robert, Liza takes the juicy gossip to his competitor, Jackson Franklin, a handsome man who leaves her tingling and weak in the knees. Jackson refuses to play dirty politics, but he does want to get inside sassy Liza’s “mind, heart, and soul.” As rumors fly, damaging Liza’s reputation, Jackson’s hot and tender lovemaking claims her heart. With Jackson and Robert neck and neck, Liza has to make some difficult choices. The nonstop intrigue, romance, and smart dialogue will keep readers enthralled. (May)

Check out my radio interview about this book, here.

Road Trip to DC

Kianna Alexander and I hit the road yesterday and headed to Washington D.C.
We're in town for the What Is Love conference at the Library of Congress. Tuesday night started with a screening of the documentary, Love Between The Covers. And there I met Brenda Jackson for the first time in person.

What an icon and what a sweet lady.

The event is hosted by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Harlequin, a division of HarperCollins Publishers, is the lead sponsor. Additional support is provided by the Popular Romance Project; the Nora Roberts Foundation; the Romance Writers of America; and Berkley/NAL, imprints of Penguin Random House.

Romance fiction is the second-best-selling genre in the publishing industry, generating more than $1 billion in publisher revenues in 2013, according to Bookstats. Romance accounts for 21 percent of the adult fiction market.

What this conference has done is reinforced the notion that romance matters. I love how the various authors featured in the film, including that amazing Beverly Jenkins, talked about the importance of happily ever other and why readers are so drawn to genre.

We all want to be satisfied when we read. Romance is the only genre where the good guys actually win. And can we talk about romance readers?
You. Guys. Are. Awesome!
After the premiere it was dark and cold, Kianna and I had parked at Union Station and it was about a mile away from the Library of Congress. But a gracious reader offered us a ride back to the car because she didn't want us wandering around the streets of DC in the dark. That was so awesome.

And there's nothing like meeting the people who keep you writing, keep you on your toes and make you put butt in seat and hands on keys. Yep, I'm looking at you Johnathan Royal.

And I met Brenda Jackson! 
Check me out on Facebook for more pictures!
https://www.facebook.com/cheris.hodges
And don't forget to follow me on Twitter @cherishodges

Don't forget, #SpreadRumors!
Rumor Has It comes in April!

Liza Palmer couldn't be happier when her best friend and sorority sister, Chante Britt, and her closest guy friend, Robert Montgomery, hit it off. And she's beyond thrilled when they announce their engagement. Robert is an up-and-comer running for the North Carolina senate. Chante is a partner at a prestigious law firm. They're a power couple made in heaven--until Liza discovers Robert in a compromising position--with another woman. . .
Liza can't possibly continue to support Robert's campaign, much less let him marry Chante. But when she tries to reveal the truth, Robert pulls out every corrupt trick in the book--including turning Chante against her. Her only choice is to seek out his opponent, Jackson Franklin, and help him take Robert down. But to Liza's great surprise, Jackson won't play dirty--and Liza finds him irresistible. As sparks fly, personally and politically, Liza and Jackson may become a winning team in more ways than one. . .