The Buzz on LOVE AT THE TOP

LOVE AT THE TOP, my trendy contemporary romance novel, gives a modern-day twist to a fairytale setup: Millionaire Marries Working Girl. Nowadays I would use: BILLIONAIRE Marries Working Girl, but what’s a few extra million in today’s economy?!

The characters, Alex and Cassidy had to meet without her knowing his true identity and that she would soon be working for him. This was an intriguing challenge. What needed to be in place so that Cassidy wouldn’t recognize Alex when she first saw her boss Mr. Hayden-Smith? What kind of person did she need to be for Alex to fall in love with her? All these factors add spice to the story.

Artist’s rendering of a possible cover pre-9/11/2001

I truly enjoyed writing LOVE AT THE TOP, and imbuing the book with New York City’s living pulse, along with experiencing the joys and sorrows Cassidy and Alex face, plus laughing at the antics of the comedic characters. Novel Books, Inc. soon picked up this frothy tale.

UNWILLING TO LOVE AGAIN: Ever since her divorce, Cassidy Romanelli is reluctant to trust another man. A chance meeting with a bearded stranger, Alex Smith, causes her to have second thoughts. But when she finds out Alex is really her new boss, multi-millionaire A.E. Haydon-Smith, can she learn to trust her heart instead of her head?

THE WOMAN OF HIS DREAMS: On holiday before assuming his new position, A.E. Haydon-Smith meets the woman of his dreams only to discover she prefers his riffraff personae rather than who he actually is. Will he be able to win over the reluctant Cassidy and heal her wounded heart?

What if a lonely woman's dream man turned out to be her arrogant, new boss?

Amazon.com

LOVE AT THE TOP earned Best-Seller status on several sites including 5 star standing on Amazon.com. My book was also selected as a finalist in the prestigious EPIC Awards (now EPIC eBook Award) for Best Contemporary Romance.

After the publishing house closed, Awe-Struck Books (Mundania Press) picked up LOVE AT THE TOP, where it is still available for your reading pleasure, also at Amazon.com and other internet sites.

But maybe LOVE AT THE TOP will move again in the near future. Stay tuned!

This book is part of the Romantic Contemporaries line.

Here are some fabulous reviews:

4.5 STARS!! Susanne Marie Knight has written a wonderful feel good story with LOVE AT THE TOP. Even the secondary characters are amazingly endearing. I loved the idea of a wealthy man living as a commoner. Cassidy's openness and obvious concern for others makes her a wonderful character. She was so willing to go out of her way for a complete stranger. Alex and Cassidy make the perfect couple. Alex just has to convince Cassidy of that. You could almost hear Alex's mind whirling as he tried to figure out how to get through to Cassidy. This book was a pleasure to read, and I'm sure I'll read it many times over in the near future.--Romance Junkies

LOVE AT THE TOP is a surprisingly romantic tale of two strangers meeting in the park and a relationship developing quickly. Alex and Cassidy are both strong, in-depth characters that are a joy to get to know. I found myself cheering for them as they struggled with secrets, past hurts, and demanding jobs to discover love. Their rollercoaster relationship reminded this reader of normal everyday people, who struggle daily with problems. A true Cinderella fairy-tale romance, LOVE AT THE TOP brings tears and laughter to all romance readers. Ms. Knight captures romance perfectly from first glance to the finish line so to speak. For an outstanding romance, order your copy of LOVE AT THE TOP. I highly recommend it.--Word On Romance

Romantic and sweet, LOVE AT THE TOP is a truly heartwarming romance that plays up a romance between people who at first seem like total opposites but quickly, both the reader and the characters see that it is what is beneath the surface that truly makes them compatible. Alex is a charming rogue who aches for Cassidy. readers will enjoy his pursuit of her because he is so tenacious about it, while at the same time being funny and sexy and very much in love. Susanne Marie Knight has written a humorous and tender love story that will please all romance fans.--Fallen Angel Reviews

LOVE AT THE TOP is a fairytale of a romance with an old fashioned hero. My heart fluttered when I met Alex. I melted when I met Mr. Hayden-Smith. Ms. Knight has penned a delightful romantic romp. LOVE AT THE TOP is a short, fast-paced read, and I highly recommended this charming story be read on a spring day while sipping iced tea.--Romance Reviews Today

I had so much fun reading LOVE AT THE TOP. The storyline of a rich man and working girl is hard to resist. I loved Alex’s character, even though he wasn’t honest with Cassidy. Cassidy is stubborn because of her past experience but I fell in love with her character also. The secondary characters and the wonderful dialogue made this a book that kept you laughing until the last page.--Scribes World Review

Ms. Knight has taken a familiar premise and created an enjoyable fast read. Warm-hearted characters with legitimate concerns and carrying familiar baggage take this book out of the ‘cutesy’ range and into the realm of warm tenderness that leaves the reader with the warm fuzzies.--Road To Romance

LOVE AT THE TOP is a light-hearted romantic story that you could read within one day. A nice tale of “Millionaire Marries Working Girl” and somehow a fairy tale comes true.--Love Romances

LOVE AT THE TOP is a nice tale. The hero, Alex, is attractive. I am looking forward to reading more of Susanne Marie Knight’s work.--A Romance Review

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For those of you who enjoy reading about tidbits from my life that appear in my books, I also worked in downtown Manhattan as Cassidy does, and in addition, one of my jobs there was in a personnel (now Human Resources) department. I would often wander the streets on my lunch hour, usually eating a pretzel or a knish.

Walking down Broadway to the park by City Hall, Cassidy shielded her eyes from the bright sun. She was glad she’d changed her mind about lunch. Her office's four walls had seemed to close in on her. She had to escape to the outside, to the sunlight.

Her stomach rumbled, so she stopped at a street vendor's stand and bought a steaming hot pretzel and a Coke. Not much of a lunch, but it was better than being stuck in her office.

One of the wonderful benefits to writing is that I can indulge my imagination and travel wherever my story takes me. With LOVE AT THE TOP, I traveled back home to New York and I also got to “visit” Denver!

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A side note: I first conceived LOVE AT THE TOP when the World Trade Center towers were standing tall, majestically silhouetted against the other Manhattan skyscrapers. Symbolically, the towers stood for LOVE AT THE TOP, just as Denver the mile-high city stood for LOVE AT THE TOP. I dedicate my novel to all of us who have lost loved ones on September 11th, and to future generations who can never experience the beauty of the towers firsthand.

Now that you know the buzz on LOVE AT THE TOP, I hope you enjoy Cassidy and Alex’s story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!  

The Buzz on GRAVE FUTURE

GRAVE FUTURE, my paranormal romantic suspense novel, has a very interesting history. If I had to choose one word to describe the book itself, I’d pick “persistent.” As you read on, you’ll understand why!

GRAVE FUTURE was first conceived for a New York publishing line that had the theme: Is he going to kiss her or kill her? In other words, the hero needed to be a mysterious character. Maybe he was good, maybe he was bad.

The good news was that the publishing line liked it. The bad news was that it folded before GRAVE FUTURE had a chance. Then Dreams Unlimited acquired the book and published it in 1999. Although I’d written a few books before GRAVE FUTURE, this is my first book published.

GRAVE FUTURE’s Cover With Dreams Unlimited

DRAGGED INTO DANGER. When Jocelyn Hunter is stranded in an isolated cabin with an antagonistic stranger, she has no idea of the danger that awaits her. Will she be able to discover Dan’s dark secret and can she convince him to set aside his obsession and listen to his heart?

OBSESSED WITH REVENGE. Federal agent Dan Ferguson is haunted by his desire to bring a killer to justice. When innocent Jocelyn unexpectedly comes into his life, his first thought is to get her away from the danger lurking in the shadows. Can he overcome his reluctance to accept her help and finally admit his growing love for her?

GRAVE FUTURE soon gained best-seller status, garnering a Gottawrite.com Award Winner Favorite and many 5 star reviews including Euro-Reviews and Amazon.com. Unfortunately, that publisher went out of business, but GRAVE FUTURE was soon picked up by LTDBooks.

What if a Shakespeare-quoting ghost found a way to avenge his death?

Again, my paranormal romantic suspense was on a best-seller list. But this publisher also closed its doors. However, Awe-Struck eBooks (Mundania Press) acquired the book and reincarnated GRAVE FUTURE where it has remained for your reading pleasure!

An innocent tourist is stranded in an isolated cabin with a hostile stranger, an eerie fireplace, and a Shakespeare-quoting ghost.

Amazon.com

Print book available at www.susanneknight.com/orders.htm

But maybe it’ll move again in the near future. Who knows?! Now you can see why I think GRAVE FUTURE is persistent!

This book is part of the Uncanny Paranormals line.

Here are some fabulous reviews:

If you love the combination of a good mystery with a twist of paranormal, you’ll enjoy this book. Although a fairly new writer on the scene, Ms. Knight could certainly compete with some of today’s top writers. The characters are vivid, the plot holds you until the last page and the author is a rare gem.--Gottawrite.net. Picked as a GottaWrite favorite!!

5 Stars! GRAVE FUTURE was a fantastic book to read! I enjoyed every page of it! A real “ghost” story, as you can read seldom nowadays. Susanne Marie Knight did a wonderful job writing this novel, if you ask my opinion! You couldn’t help but keep on wondering, the book contains one surprise after the other. If you think you have the answer to a question, you’ll notice soon enough as you read on that more and more questions (and answers) will come to baffle your mind! And then I haven’t even spoken about the “mystic” atmosphere you sense during the time you read this book... A real page turner combined with strong characters, a lot of mystery and a touch of love; this is a must read!--Euro-Reviews

Susanne Marie Knight sure knows how to create a book packed with mystery especially one with ghosts and a woman so drugged up she thinks she has worms in her hair. There were some funny scenes I liked, especially the Shakespearean ghost that keeps talking to Jocelyn. I especially liked Dan each time trying to keep cool when it’s obvious he’s attracted to Jocelyn. GRAVE FUTURE is definitely aptly names since the cabin is right next to a cemetery the thought of which will give you chills to the bone. This is a great book to pick up and read as it is filled with suspense ending with a scene that will make you jump.--Fallen Angel Reviews

Graveyards, secret tunnels, moldy smells, ghostly lights, and some frightening characters all make GRAVE FUTURE a creepy and scary romantic suspense. Jocelyn was hoping for days of relaxation but instead gets involved in a nightmare of fear; and Dan, hoping to get the goods on Perry for causing his cousin's death, is determined to find out the truth and put Perry behind bars. Both are interesting characters once Dan loses his surliness and readers meet the real Dan. The secondary characters are equally fascinating, Velma, who is mentally unstable, and her brother Perry, a drug runner who looks like an angel, but is evil personified. They both heighten the thrills and chills of the tale. The thought of living next to a graveyard is terrifying, but it certainly adds to the eeriness of this story. Reminiscent of an old gothic novel, but with a feisty heroine and a handsome hero in a modern setting, GRAVE FUTURE will provide several hours of reading enjoyment for readers of romantic suspense and/or paranormal romance.--Romance Reviews Today

The conclusion will get your heart pumping and maybe even raise the hairs on the back of your neck. For those of you who enjoy a modern-day romance with a good dose of a thriller mixed in, this book is definitely for you!--Writers Club Romance Group

GRAVE FUTURE is more intriguing than most romances, with elements of danger, and mystery that are sure to keep you guessing throughout. A story of love, death, crime, betrayal and intrigue that will keep you hooked right to the end.--Writers Exchange

A fun read with touches of the paranormal, suspense, and romance blended by talented author Susanne M. Knight to make for a well told tale that will keep you reading. Recommended for a dark and stormy night when the wind is howling down the chimney and the house creaks in response. Enjoy. I did.--Mysteryfiction.net

This story has a Gothic atmosphere to it. This adds to the feeling of fear and suspense with the author handles admirably. The sexual tension is well-done, as is the danger and fear the heroine experiences. Recommended for anyone in need of a well-plotted thriller with a romantic edge.--Scribes World Reviews

I felt that Knight did a wonderful job of meshing the transcendental threat into the story with it being outlandish. The slow development of Dan and Jocelyn’s relationship was especially believable. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an intriguing romance with some celestial interference.--Inscriptions Magazine

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I recommend GRAVE FUTURE to a variety of people. Anyone liking romance, mysteries, and paranormal should find this book interesting.--Sime-Gen Reviews

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In my books, I like to include a few experiences from my life. Since GRAVE FUTURE is a dark suspense, I used some background from my job at the federal Drug Enforcement Agency to enhance the novel. I also worked at a federal correctional facility, where my training on how to use firearms came in handy! In addition, I actually did get lost in the Poconos while looking for a friend’s summer home, and the car was, in fact, a yellow Triumph! My tiny car, unlike Jocelyn’s, fortunately survived the trip.

One more real life connection: GRAVE FUTURE features a fireplace that seems to be a gateway to Hell! One of the houses I lived in inspired (!) me to write this passage:

“Even the pitted black stones of the fireplace contributed to doom and gloom. A floor-to-ceiling ebony slab of hardened lava rock? She’d never seen anything so ugly or so full of misery. She fingered the gritty exterior of the stones. Nothing tranquil about these rocks. Propelled from the bowels of the earth, they seemed to harbor age-old secrets, age-old resentments.”

So there you have it. Get ready for chills, spills, and... a Shakespeare-quoting ghost. Who could ask for anything more?? GRAVE FUTURE's future is very bright, indeed.

I hope you enjoy Jocelyn and Dan’s story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

On Upcoming Non-Fiction: THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK

STAY TUNED! COMING SOON TO AMAZON.COM!

THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK: get the hands-on approach to the adventure of writing from award-winning author Susanne Marie Knight. A wonderful resource to begin your writing adventure! Updated! Coming soon electronically!

Learn by doing: plotting, characterization, point of view, dialogue, and much more. Stretch your imagination with writing exercises and examples from Susanne’s Romance Writing with a Twist!

THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK is your own personal passport into the joyful world of writing. Also including is the top-rated family-favorite short story romance “Happy Anniversary” to use as a guide as you analyze the topics. Take advantage of Susanne’s unique spin on the creative process.

Remember, writing is not just a job, it’s an adventure!

Print cover of 1999, 2006 edition

A few copies of this print edition are still available at www.susanneknight.com/orders

THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK:

A Hands-On Approach To The Adventure Of Writing

Soon to be available electronically at Amazon.com

Keywords: Reference, Writing, Creative Writing, Research, Publishing Guides, Fiction Writing, Genre Fiction, Writing Skills, Publishing and Books, Start Writing Fiction

Praise for Susanne Marie Knight and THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK:

A Hands-On Approach To The Adventure Of Writing

Susanne Marie Knight has been described as a formidable talent, a rare gem, and a talented, versatile author. For unprecedented adventure, turn the pages of THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK to see if you agree.

--Regency Fiction World

A wonderful reference resource for the beginning creative writer. The simple yet effective exercises included in THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK will entice anyone who might suffer from writer’s block.

--Norwood Book Reviews

THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK contains advice for writers at all levels. A must-have reference book. I’ll be referring to this again and again.

S. Girard, poet, author of Expressions... The Journey Continues

THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK is a writer’s best friend!

--C. Wiley, prepublished author

Susanne Marie Knight is a talented, versatile author whose books run from this light traditional Regency with a magical element, to time-travel, sci-fi romance, paranormal romantic suspense, mystery, and contemporary romance.

--Romance Reviews Today

Ms. Knight captures romance perfectly from first glance to the finish line so to speak.

--Word On Romance

Ms. Knight [does] a superb job of portraying truly delightful characters. Ms. Knight promises “Romance Writing with a Twist” and she certainly delivers.

--Road To Romance

If you would like to receive two of my dynamite pdf handouts from my appearance at Wal-Mart’s Words Are Your Wheels (Getting Started and Four Writing Exercises To Help You Get Started), email info@susanneknight.com, subject line: THE CREATIVE WRITING WORKBOOK Handouts, for the two pdf files. Thank you!

Happy writing!

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

Author Notes on “Adolescence”

I have to admit the origin of “Adolescence,” my coming-of-age science fiction short story is murky in my memory. I have no idea why I decided to write a tale about a teenaged alien’s angst. Maybe it was because I had my own young fleshling at home. Weird! Anyway, I do know that in 2002, I submitted this short story to an internet website no longer in existence--ShadowKeep--for consideration in their Qwik Fics line. The editor loved the story, saying it was very original and “I’ll never look at the beach creatures the same again!”

After publication, I was free to re-publish “Adolescence”. It’s almost 800 words and sells for $0.99. Yep, another very short story.

Short Story Alert: As with all of my *very* short stories, I’d like to reduce the amount, however 99 cents is the lowest I’m allowed to go on Amazon and Smashwords. Again, periodically Smashwords holds a sale, and I can set the price to free at that time, so do check on the link every now and then.

Never doubt an alien fortuneteller! Shandelle is a happy-go-lucky teenager who is preoccupied with normal teenager concerns. But what will she do when she learns that her perfect world will soon come to an end?

“Adolescence” then was offered at Fictionwise.com in the anthology LUCKY 13. After that site closed, the story was no longer available electronically, but still available in print from my website.

Thirteen delightful stories for your reading pleasure by Susanne Marie Knight

Artist’s concept cover

I’ve now re-released “Adolescence” electronically at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

What will Shandelle do when she learns that her perfect world will soon come to an end?

Amazon.com and Smashwords

This short story is part of the Fascinating Science Fiction line.

Here are two reader comments:

• “Cute story. You have the greatest imagination.”

and the editor’s comment:

• [Adolescence] is a very original story; certainly I’ll never look at the beach creatures the same again!”

Real life snippet: As I mentioned above, when I wrote this short tale, I had a teenager at home, just as Shandelle’s parents do. And if you’re familiar with parenting, complaints about mom and dad can be everyday occurrences! Shandelle is no different, as we see in the below comment:

Parents! What a useless breed! All they ever did was shake their pincers and moan, “Just you wait until it is your time.”

Shandelle snorted. Her time was now!

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I hope you enjoy Shandelle’s coming-of-age story!

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!