Guest Author & Giveaway: Tawna Fenske featuring Making Waves
Wednesday, August 24
I happen to really love Pirate Romances...it's like my "dirty little secret" kind of love :) And I often lament that there aren't more Pirate Romances published these days...let alone one that is not a historical, ie a contemporary setting. That's like finding buried treasure, my friends because it almost never happens. I like them so much that I'm seriously considering dedicating a whole week to a variety of outstanding ones.
So, when I heard about Tawna Fenske's debut novel, Making Waves, I was excited for two different reasons. (1) Pirate Romance-like, and (2) after reading the cover quote, "Hilarious, a wild, sexy romp with a fresh, fun take on love" I thought to myself that I might have found an Contemporary Romance author that I could love, much like I love Jill Shalvis' sexy fun romances. Who wouldn't want more of those?
Tawna Fenske is my guest today to share a bit about her "Piratebitch" of a romance, Making Waves
:) Read and enjoy!
Every manuscript I’ve written has a working title that bears little resemblance to the finished title stamped on the cover of the book. Though I’m delighted with the title for Making Waves, that will never be the book’s name in my mind.
To me, it will always be Piratebitch.
That’s what I called it from the day I first began crafting the manuscript, and it’s how I continue to think of it even when all the reviews refer to the book by its real name.
Piratebitch – er, Making Waves – is the story of a guy who spends his life playing by the rules as an executive for the world’s largest shipping company. When the boss screws him over in a shady layoff, Alex decides he’s had enough of the rules. He makes a plan to reclaim his life, pension, and dignity by sailing to the Caribbean and intercepting the boss’s illegal diamond shipment in the most dysfunctional pirate mission in history.
Reviewers have dubbed the book a “pirate farce,” a description I think is pretty accurate. One thing I wanted to do with this book is take the traditional pirate romance cliché and turn it on its head.
But that’s not to say I think pirate romances deserve mockery. On the contrary, there’s a reason they’re so popular. There’s something appealing about a guy who breaks all the rules to get what’s owed to him. There’s something sexy about the element of danger. There’s something hot about a take charge man with a great set of pecs and a cutlass in his trousers and—
Is it hot in here?

In fact, she urgently wants to belong to the misfit pirate crew, despite the fact that they’re clearly more suited for the boardroom than the poop deck. She hasn’t found a career that holds her interest so far, and piracy seems like a viable option. Getting into the spirit of her new career, she turns up in one scene wearing an eye patch fashioned from a pair of black thong panties.
But Juli also embraces some aspects of the pirate crew cliché. She loves the idea of belonging somewhere, even if it’s with a band of corporate castoffs attempting a high seas diamond heist. She’s inspired by the camaraderie and mentally stimulated by mission.
She’s stimulated by a few other things, too, something this book certainly shares with pirate romances of yore.
What do you find most appealing about pirate romances? Are there elements of those tales you’d just as soon see take a walk off the plank? Please share!
And happy sailing to all of you! Arrrr!
Juli has trouble fitting in, though she’d prefer to keep the reasons to herself. But when she mistakenly stows away on a ship of misfit corporate castoffs, her own secrets become the least of her concerns.
He knows plotting a diamond heist may be considered unusual behavior…
But Alex isn’t feeling very normal when his unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb. Meeting Juli doesn’t do much to restore normalcy to Alex’s life either, but it sure is exhilarating!
As Alex and Juli bare their secrets—and a whole lot more—they find that while normal is nice, weird can be wonderful.
Read an excerpt
Congratulations Tawna on your debut, and thanks for being a guest at Seductive Musings today! If you'd like to learn more about Tawna Fenske and her "Bombshell" path to publication, you can find her at her website www.tawnafenske.com, Facebook, Twitter, and her blog "Don't Pet Me, I'm Writing"...kind of like "Don't Feed the Animals" ;)
To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Making Waves
, her publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca would like to giveaway a copy of the book to TWO piratebitches, er lucky Musings followers. Here's how you can enter to win...
Ways to earn entries:
- Mandatory: Answer the questions Tawna asked readers in her post and leave her some general comment love. (more than "I'd like to win".) (good for 1 entry)
- Mandatory: You MUST be a Google Friend Connect (GFC) follower in order to be eligible to win (unfortunately an email subscriber, or subscription in Google reader, and a follower are not the same thing so make sure you are signed up as a follower if you'd like to win this book)
- Just For Fun: Since National Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming up (Sept 19th). Tell me what your Pirate Name is after taking the What's My Pirate Name Quiz? (Mine was Captain Charity Flint...I'm likin' it...ARRRR!)
- If you have a blog, or even if you don't, you can earn extra entries by telling your friends. If they successfully enter to win and mention that you sent them you can each earn extra entries. You can blog about it with a link to this post, post it on Facebook, Twitter, email...or even word of mouth (good for 5 entries for the referrer and the commenter for each friend) . Please note that to earn the points they must mention your GFC name so that I can match you.
- Purchase any item from the Seductive Musings Amazon store by using this link, or the Amazon widget contained within this post and email a copy of your purchase receipt to me no later than the deadline to enter (email available in sidebar). Sorry purchases made prior to this date do not apply, and link contained in this post must be used. No faxes or snail mail copies are allowed. No purchases are necessary to win. (good for 25 entries, or 50 entries if a purchase is made from the featured author's available titles)
How to enter:
- You can choose to enter as many different ways that you want, but please place all of your entries in ONE comment
Rules and disclaimers:
- This contest is open to US & Canada addresses only.
- You must be at least 18 years or older, or of legal age in your country
- The contest will end on August 27th at 11:59 pm EST and winner will be posted after they have been selected
- Winner(s) will be selected using Random.org
- The winner(s) will have THREE days from the date they are posted to provide a mailing address. If you do not contact me within three days a replacement winner will be selected. NO EXCEPTIONS
- The book(s) will be mailed directly from the publisher or author and no substitutions are allowed
- Winners will be subject to one copy per household, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, that you will only receive one copy of the title in the mail
- Seductive Musings is not responsible for prizes that are not honored, distributed in a timely manner, lost, stolen, or damaged during transit
- All giveaways are subject to change/cancellation without prior written notice
Good Luck!

*Seductive Musings is an Amazon affiliate and receives a very small referral fee for purchases made via the links on the blog and through the Seductive Musings Amazon Store. Read the full disclosure here.
15 Comments:
Glad I read this post or I might have never looked at your book ( the title just didn't grab me, but piratebitch does ha!)
I love some lovin on the high seas, everything about them. Guess that is why my name is Bloody Bess! (don't skip that its a good time!) hmmmm I think I need to go peruse my books and find a pirate novel now!
GFC follower Lexi
Eyesofblueice (at) gmail (dot) com
What do I like about pirate romances, in my pirate romances there is always the strong willed womand and the buff man. What's not to like about that, added extra they are on the sea and as you can see by my screen name, I love to dive.
My pirate name is :Captain Jenny Bonney and I have to say I love my description: Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!
GFC follower: loves to dive
lvs2dv at gmail dot com
I guess I like them because of the strong, sexy alpha captains, exotic locals and action. What I don't like is too much realism, especially in historical pirate novels. I don't need to read about vermin and stinkiness. Buzz kill!
GFC Anne38
Pirate name: Dity Anne Bonney (loved the quiz!)
acm05atjuno.com
What I like best about pirate romances is the hero always seems so forceful, demanding and sexy.
GFC Follower: Anita Yancey
Pirate Name: Mad Anne Kidd
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I love reading all different types of romance including pirates. I think pirates are alot tougher and they are heroes and handsome. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I haven't read a pirate romance in a while but I do like them. I think it's the idea of the ship being it's own little world with it's own rules and the excitement of sailing on the sea. I don't think I've ever read a pirate story set as a contemporary.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
It's been quite a while since I read a pirate book. My first was based on 2 actual women pirates though. I found it fascinating. I love the romance of it, the freedom etc..Not sure the reality matches what I envision though! Enjoyed the post & the book sounds really good..:)
I'm a GFC follower
Thanks for the great giveaway! I haven't actually read that many pirate books, but I love the idea of them breaking all the rules.
twigerina[at]hotmail[dot]com
This book sounds like it will be lots of fun to read. I think many of us enjoy pirate stories because they let us fantasize about bucking the system. Pirates operate outside the normal bounds of the law and society. The often do things many of us would like to see happen, but would never dare do. The pirates we admire are much like Alex, trying to get some justice from a system or someone who has done them wrong. We don't relate or agree with pirates like those of the coast of Africa who really are vicious criminals. We like our Robin Hood style pirates and seeing them in a modern setting will be an interesting twist.
Tawna, best of luck with the release of MAKING WAVES. A "pirate farce" sounds good to me and I'm sure there will be many others who agree.
My pirate name is MAD CHARITY RACKHAM. I liking it, too!
I am a GFC Follower, librarypat.
I've always loved a good pirate romance - I like the usual setting of the sailing ship and the Caribbean islands, the loyal crew, the sexy hero who's usually a good guy but has had some wrong done to him, and the feisty heroine who gives him a hard time. I can't think of any elements that I don't like, I think they're great. Having a modern setting is interesting and I'm looking forward to reading Making Waves to see how it all goes.
My pirate name is Mad Morgan Flint (Like the rock flint, I'm hard and sharp, but also, I'm easily chipped and sparky). Arr!
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
GFC follower
Great interview! The thing I find most appealing about a pirate romance is the mysterious vibe you get from reading about pirates. It's just so much fun to read! I think the Pirates of the Caribbean movies have influenced me too much!
I LOVE how this novel is modern. I'm excited to read it.
Thanks for the opportunity!
-Carly Waid
carlymartellowaid(at)yahoo(dot)com
My pirate name: Red Mary Flint!
Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!
This sounds like a great read congrats on the debut !
Love the idea of love on the sea, the dangerous element it usually has.. the more independent women, and of course the devastatingly, roguish hero ;).
pirate name -
Dread Pirate Kidd
gfc-pams00
pams00 @ aol.com
Great review.
I like pirate romance because it usually involves a damsel in distress and is saved by the pirate. The damsel may believe she can handle things on her on but the pirate, who of course is a bit of bad boy, saves her.
GFC follower-areeths
Pirate name-Captain Anne Reid..Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Even through many pirates have a reputation for not being the brightest souls on earth, you defy the sterotypes. You've got taste and education. Arr!
Wow, thanks for all the great comments and kind words about the book. It was a kick to write, and I'm so thrilled with the lovely reception its been getting.
By the way, those photos of me were taken at the Portland Pirate Festival in Portland, Oregon last fall when we were attempting to recapture the Guinness World Record for the most pirates in one location. Aaaar!
Tawna
Congrats on the release, Tawna! Making Waves sounds like a very fun read and I've read some great reviews on it, so I'm looking forward to reading this myself!
As for why I find pirate romances appealing, I think it's because I still haven't read a lot of pirate romances so the setting and everything is just something different, which makes it interesting, and of course, I have to agree that there is just something sexy about pirate heroes and the element of danger as well.
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
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