1. Tell us your latest news.
First of all thank you for having me as a guest on your site. I am very excited about my newest release Captured In Lies.
In Book Two of the In Lies Series Jack and Caroline are faced with insurmountable odds and we get to meet sexy Bomb Squad Commander Dane Kendrick. Dane will become embroiled in Jack’s tumultuous life and meet his beautiful sister, FBI Agent, Lucy Weaver. Although they meet under less than ideal circumstances the sparks fly leading to a passion that explodes off the page, literally. Read on to see what’s in store in Captured In Lies…
Just before Thanksgiving and after a passionate honeymoon in the Caribbean, Jack and Caroline Weaver return home to D.C. to start their new life together. Approaching their house Jack’s cell phone rings and the violent explosion that follows will change Jack’s and Caroline’s lives forever. The Emperor is back and he wants revenge.
Jack, reeling from what has just happened to the love of his life, is anxiously awaiting word from the doctor when he gets another call. The relentless Emperor now has Lucy, Jack’s sister, strapped to a bomb, somewhere in the city and in order to find her he must play a deadly game of scavenger hunt. The stakes are upped even higher when The Emperor places another bomb in Boston knowing that the sexy ex-SEAL with the maverick reputation can’t be two places at once. How can Jack find his sister, keep his wife safe, and stop the destruction of American lives?
Jack will be forced to trust a former military comrade, hunky Bomb Squad Commander, Dane “Boomer” Kendrick. Dane must go after Lucy while Jack heads to Boston. When Dane locates Lucy and arrives on the scene there is an instant attraction, despite the fact she is set to explode in less than 3 minutes. Can Dane and Lucy defuse the bomb and save Lucy’s life? What about defusing the passion that begins to grow between them? Will Jack be able to stop the deaths of innocent Americans without losing those most precious to him? It’s hard to know who to trust if you’re Captured in Lies.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
I have a cool story about that. I was toying with the idea of writing a book, as I’d always written short stories prior to that, and I went to work one day and had a conversation with a very good friend of mine. Chuck told me I really should write that novel and he and I discussed this book entitled The Weekend Novelist. The next day he brought in a gift card to Barnes and Noble and told me to go buy that book and to write that novel. Well that is exactly what I did. That one never got published but it set fire to the fever that’s been driving me for the last 10 years. Now I have 4 novels published and 1 short story.
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
You know I’ve been asked this question before and I just have to be honest. I have about a million favorite books. To ask me to pick just one would be impossible. I am also finding so many new writers that are very entertaining. I look forward to more favorites.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
I work a full time job during the day so most of the time I try to write one hour a night and on the weekends. I would love to do it full time but until your readers make me a best seller I’ll just have to keep plugging along! LOL I normally write from 7 pm to 8 pm in the evening and whenever I can fit it in on the weekends. I have an office in my house that I run away to and disappear into my imagination. Sometimes the time runs away with me and I look at the clock and its almost midnight. I love those nights, but I’m not sure my family does! LOL
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
This is a good question. The toughest part for me are the love scenes. I do not write erotica and really enjoy leaving something to the imagination for my readers and that makes it tough. Writing loves scenes without making them sound too Victorian or cheesy is hard. I’d welcome any advice!
6. Do you have a favorite author?
My favorite author is Nora Roberts. I want to be her when I grow up in Author Land. Her characters are so compelling and her story lines are never the same. I also love her In Death series written as J.D. Robb. Her dialogue is witty and fresh and I can visually picture her characters. I hope to inspire my readers the same way.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
When I got the notification from Solstice that I was being published I was so happy that I danced around the kitchen all day. I called EVERYONE I knew and no one was home. Sealed In Lies was my first book published. It had about three working titles before I finally settled on that one. It started out as Runaway Hostage and someone told me it sounded like a runaway teen story, so then I changed it to just Hostage, and that didn’t really seem right either and then one day it hit me. Sealed In Lies is a play on words from the main character who is an ex-SEAL and he lives a life of lies. So does Caroline and you see how that all plays together as the story unfolds.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Oh gosh, that is like asking me to pick which one of my children is my favorite. I love all my books and all my characters. I like the In Lies Series because Jack and Caroline are just so perfect together. She’s a Georgia Beauty Queen learning how to kick butt and he’s an ex-SEAL learning how to survive in a civilian world where he’s constantly being chased by his enemies. They are just so good together. On the other hand I really love Destiny Dove in the Haunted Destiny book. She’s a teen who learns she has the gift of seeing and speaking with ghosts and how she deals with this new “gift” is something to be admired. She’s a tough kid.
It is just really hard to pick a favorite. LOL
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
You can find me at www.kellyabellbooks.com and I love to hear from my readers. Please stop in for a visit.
10. Where can they buy your books?
You can buy my books at these fine places
www.solsticepublishing.com
www.amazon.com
www.smashwords.com
11. Anything you would like to add?
Thank you so much for having me today. I enjoyed my visit. Readers, let me know what you think of my books after you read them! I’d love to hear from you.
you.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Peter Glassborow
AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Tell us your latest news.
I have my first book ‘A Fateful Legacy” published by Solstice Publishing. They also have short story ‘Weighty Words’ in their free fiction section.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
I remember writing my first story when I was thirteen. My father took one look at it and called it “Rubbish!”. He was my first critic, and it was rubbish. I spent the next forty years making up stories in my head or making rough notes sure that I could tell as good a story as those whose books I read. After all it seemed an easy life to make up stuff and get paid for it. About ten years ago I undertook a correspondence course in writing stories. My aim was to write action/adventure stories, but I seem to have ended up writing a ghost story based on a long love affair.
3. What is your favorite book and why?
I don’t have a favorite book as such. The first book I ever bought was ‘Spartacus’ by Howard Fast. And I still have it. My two favorite authors are Bernard Cornwell and C.J. Sansom but I will read anything that interests me from Sci-Fi to military history.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process
I write at all sorts of different times. Sometimes I squeeze in ten minutes at six in the morning before going too work. Any day off work or evening I try and write something. I also make notes during the day when something occurs to me. It might be a line of dialogue or a detail to the plot of what ever I’m working on. At might even be a weird sounding book title. If it is not required for what I am currently working on then I save it in a notebook in case I want to use it later. Some of the plot details in ‘A Fateful legacy’ were noted down well before I wrote the book and I came across them later when looking for ideas
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Grammar and spelling. Then there is the perpetual question when to stop rewriting something. I’m sure if left unchecked most authors would rewrite everything for eternity. Even after numerous rewrites it is still necessary to have someone professionally edit your work. When Kate Richards edited mine she saw a flaw in the plot that I had missed after three or four rewrites. Currently I have a problem with my computer because the man who fixed a problem on it decided to upgrade me to Windows 2007. Upgrade is supposed to mean improving but I have spent three weeks trying to get the word processor part to do what I want. Why is it labelled new and improved if it is harder to use? Bring back thick nibbed pens and carbon paper I say.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
As mentioned before Bernard Cornwell and C.J. Sansom are authors whose books I buy without even looking to see what the blurb on the cover says. They both write historical novels, but in totally different areas. Bernard Cornwell writes historical action books and C.J. Sansom writes a series of mystery/who-dunnits using the same character. I also like H.G Wells, but only his sci-fi stuff like War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. An ambition I have is to come up with some original theme as Wells did with those two books.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
A Fateful Legacy came about as I was thinking of writing a series of short stories about a ghost hunter. Or more accurately someone who released unhappy spirits from their earthbound haunts. That evolved into a story of several haunted houses that the main character inherits. That turned into the final book. In the book John inherits three houses spread across the UK. In each there are ghosts, sometimes form different eras. With the help of Kathryn, a psychic, he finds there is something common in each house, that of murdered lovers. John and Kathryn set out to free the spirits of the lovers.
Oddly enough it wasn’t until Kate Richards was doing the editing with me that I realised that if I had to give a label to the theme of the book I would have to call it a love story, spanning over a thousand years. Now it has come out my ghost/love story is in the thriller/mystery categories on the web sites. Now that I find confusing.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Obviously this one as it is the first published it is the favorite at the moment. But I have other books and short stories that I hope will see the light of day sometime. The short stories cover humorous, sci-fi and the paranormal. The finished books cover sci-fi, a historical action/adventure trilogy and two children’s books. The latter pair are perhaps my abiding favorite. They concern the adventures of a group of fairy dancers. However my fairies are not the normal sweety-pie goody-goody type fairies. They argue and squabble and if they have been drinking one of them is likely to thump you.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
www,peterglassborow.webs.com. As well as an intro to the book and a section of it to read there is a short story under the free fiction if you are interested. It concerns a would-be writer (where have we heard of one of them?) who is struggling with poor spelling and a cynical husband. To solve both these problems she sets out to buy a dictionary-a big one.
10. Where can they buy your books?
www.solsticepublishing.com is my company’s site. Also www.amazon.com and www.scribd.com/ and www.lulu.com and www.smashwords.com
11. Anything you would like to add?
If there are any other would be authors out there then please keep plodding on, but do it faster than me. From my first dream of being an author to being published took me fifty years with ten years of actively sending off submissions. To any readers who would like to read a ghost/love/thriller/mystery novel (delete anything non-applicable) then please try my book.
Thanks for the invite to be here.
1. Tell us your latest news.
I have my first book ‘A Fateful Legacy” published by Solstice Publishing. They also have short story ‘Weighty Words’ in their free fiction section.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
I remember writing my first story when I was thirteen. My father took one look at it and called it “Rubbish!”. He was my first critic, and it was rubbish. I spent the next forty years making up stories in my head or making rough notes sure that I could tell as good a story as those whose books I read. After all it seemed an easy life to make up stuff and get paid for it. About ten years ago I undertook a correspondence course in writing stories. My aim was to write action/adventure stories, but I seem to have ended up writing a ghost story based on a long love affair.
3. What is your favorite book and why?
I don’t have a favorite book as such. The first book I ever bought was ‘Spartacus’ by Howard Fast. And I still have it. My two favorite authors are Bernard Cornwell and C.J. Sansom but I will read anything that interests me from Sci-Fi to military history.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process
I write at all sorts of different times. Sometimes I squeeze in ten minutes at six in the morning before going too work. Any day off work or evening I try and write something. I also make notes during the day when something occurs to me. It might be a line of dialogue or a detail to the plot of what ever I’m working on. At might even be a weird sounding book title. If it is not required for what I am currently working on then I save it in a notebook in case I want to use it later. Some of the plot details in ‘A Fateful legacy’ were noted down well before I wrote the book and I came across them later when looking for ideas
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Grammar and spelling. Then there is the perpetual question when to stop rewriting something. I’m sure if left unchecked most authors would rewrite everything for eternity. Even after numerous rewrites it is still necessary to have someone professionally edit your work. When Kate Richards edited mine she saw a flaw in the plot that I had missed after three or four rewrites. Currently I have a problem with my computer because the man who fixed a problem on it decided to upgrade me to Windows 2007. Upgrade is supposed to mean improving but I have spent three weeks trying to get the word processor part to do what I want. Why is it labelled new and improved if it is harder to use? Bring back thick nibbed pens and carbon paper I say.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
As mentioned before Bernard Cornwell and C.J. Sansom are authors whose books I buy without even looking to see what the blurb on the cover says. They both write historical novels, but in totally different areas. Bernard Cornwell writes historical action books and C.J. Sansom writes a series of mystery/who-dunnits using the same character. I also like H.G Wells, but only his sci-fi stuff like War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. An ambition I have is to come up with some original theme as Wells did with those two books.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
A Fateful Legacy came about as I was thinking of writing a series of short stories about a ghost hunter. Or more accurately someone who released unhappy spirits from their earthbound haunts. That evolved into a story of several haunted houses that the main character inherits. That turned into the final book. In the book John inherits three houses spread across the UK. In each there are ghosts, sometimes form different eras. With the help of Kathryn, a psychic, he finds there is something common in each house, that of murdered lovers. John and Kathryn set out to free the spirits of the lovers.
Oddly enough it wasn’t until Kate Richards was doing the editing with me that I realised that if I had to give a label to the theme of the book I would have to call it a love story, spanning over a thousand years. Now it has come out my ghost/love story is in the thriller/mystery categories on the web sites. Now that I find confusing.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Obviously this one as it is the first published it is the favorite at the moment. But I have other books and short stories that I hope will see the light of day sometime. The short stories cover humorous, sci-fi and the paranormal. The finished books cover sci-fi, a historical action/adventure trilogy and two children’s books. The latter pair are perhaps my abiding favorite. They concern the adventures of a group of fairy dancers. However my fairies are not the normal sweety-pie goody-goody type fairies. They argue and squabble and if they have been drinking one of them is likely to thump you.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
www,peterglassborow.webs.com. As well as an intro to the book and a section of it to read there is a short story under the free fiction if you are interested. It concerns a would-be writer (where have we heard of one of them?) who is struggling with poor spelling and a cynical husband. To solve both these problems she sets out to buy a dictionary-a big one.
10. Where can they buy your books?
www.solsticepublishing.com is my company’s site. Also www.amazon.com and www.scribd.com/ and www.lulu.com and www.smashwords.com
11. Anything you would like to add?
If there are any other would be authors out there then please keep plodding on, but do it faster than me. From my first dream of being an author to being published took me fifty years with ten years of actively sending off submissions. To any readers who would like to read a ghost/love/thriller/mystery novel (delete anything non-applicable) then please try my book.
Thanks for the invite to be here.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tara Nichols is with us today
1. Tell us your latest news.
I just signed my thirteenth contract. This newest story is titled Island of Three, an erotic Ménage Amour, m/f/m, and will be published through Siren/Bookstrand. I also have two other, upcoming, shorter stories. One is Seamless, a very short and humorous romance coming out May 21st, 2010, through Breathless Press. The other is a story in the Spank! Anthology, (said to be released this fall), through Logical Lust. My first print book came out this year through Logical Lust with the Cougar Anthology, and I’m checking my mail every day anticipating its arrival.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
I’m not entirely sure what came first, either my own love for writing and telling stories, or the fact that my mother wrote and I saw that it truly was possible. My mother and I had a conversation about this very topic just last week, and she said it was always in my nature, that I used to go out into the woods back of the house and make lists, create fantastical characters, and horde a stash of pens high up in the trees from a very young age.
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
That’s a hard question. I have fallen in love with so many books for different reasons. I love To Kill a Mockingbird equal to A.C. Crispin’s Hans Solo Trilogy. Usually it is because of the characters that make me classify a book as a favorite, but in the case of The Great Gatsby, it was because of his finely honed writing ability.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
For me, anytime is a good time. Most of my daylight hours are spent at home with my four year old son, but even then I get stolen moments to catch a few ideas. Occasionally I get a whole day and the house to myself when a relative or my husband takes my son for the day. When that happens, my butt rarely leaves the chair. Otherwise, I write in the evening up until my husband gets home from work.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Finding time. If I had two days a week I’d feel a lot less stressed and maybe enjoy myself a little more (not that I don’t enjoy writing), just that I have a hard time meeting all my goals and that I should frequent yahoo groups more often.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
I have quite a few favorites, Barbara Pierce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Portia Da Costa, Gary Paulson… I could go on.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
My first published work was Oasis of My Heart. It came out in 2007 through Cobblestone-press. It is a sweeter romance with a bit of sizzle. Thanks to Deanna Lee and her advice on what the story needed, and the basic structure of a romance novel, I was offered a contract and screeched like a banshee through the entire house.
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/taranichols.htm.
Sadie Davies is running away for the second time in her life. She had been fifteen and in search of stardom the first time she ran away to the city. This time she is running from it.
After buying a rundown farm house near where she grew up, Sadie plans to search for the family she abandoned so many years ago. Intending to keep a low profile she sets up for a simplistic, solitary life but with sexy, know-it-all, neighbor Dustin Reed she finds it rather difficult, and he’s as complicated as they come.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
I have a fondness for A Pleasurable Cure for Death, my second attempt at a vampire paranormal. Sebastian really appealed to me, but I also favor Secrets of Summer. I’d like to recapture the essence of both of the heroes in those stories in all of my future plots, but that of course would be typecasting them. I think, when it is finished, my all time favorite will be Black Leather, Crimson Cheeks. That is a novella length romance with a spanking theme, but it isn’t quite BDSM. It’s sweet and I really dig the characters, especially Julian. Sigh.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
My two main blogs are; http://tarasnichols.blogspot.com as well as http://tarasnichols.webs.com
But I am on myspace, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, fanpage, Romance Wiki and a handful of Nings, and yahoo groups as well.
10. Where can they buy your books?
My publishers so far are; Cobblestone-press, Breathless Press, Amira Press, Noble Romance, Siren Publishing, and Logical Lust.
11. Anything you would like to add?
(Blushing) Take care to read the heat level when selecting some of my books. I have a wide variety of stories from Sweet to burn-your-eyes-off, and I fear this can … surprise an unsuspecting reader.
I just signed my thirteenth contract. This newest story is titled Island of Three, an erotic Ménage Amour, m/f/m, and will be published through Siren/Bookstrand. I also have two other, upcoming, shorter stories. One is Seamless, a very short and humorous romance coming out May 21st, 2010, through Breathless Press. The other is a story in the Spank! Anthology, (said to be released this fall), through Logical Lust. My first print book came out this year through Logical Lust with the Cougar Anthology, and I’m checking my mail every day anticipating its arrival.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
I’m not entirely sure what came first, either my own love for writing and telling stories, or the fact that my mother wrote and I saw that it truly was possible. My mother and I had a conversation about this very topic just last week, and she said it was always in my nature, that I used to go out into the woods back of the house and make lists, create fantastical characters, and horde a stash of pens high up in the trees from a very young age.
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
That’s a hard question. I have fallen in love with so many books for different reasons. I love To Kill a Mockingbird equal to A.C. Crispin’s Hans Solo Trilogy. Usually it is because of the characters that make me classify a book as a favorite, but in the case of The Great Gatsby, it was because of his finely honed writing ability.
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
For me, anytime is a good time. Most of my daylight hours are spent at home with my four year old son, but even then I get stolen moments to catch a few ideas. Occasionally I get a whole day and the house to myself when a relative or my husband takes my son for the day. When that happens, my butt rarely leaves the chair. Otherwise, I write in the evening up until my husband gets home from work.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Finding time. If I had two days a week I’d feel a lot less stressed and maybe enjoy myself a little more (not that I don’t enjoy writing), just that I have a hard time meeting all my goals and that I should frequent yahoo groups more often.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
I have quite a few favorites, Barbara Pierce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Portia Da Costa, Gary Paulson… I could go on.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
My first published work was Oasis of My Heart. It came out in 2007 through Cobblestone-press. It is a sweeter romance with a bit of sizzle. Thanks to Deanna Lee and her advice on what the story needed, and the basic structure of a romance novel, I was offered a contract and screeched like a banshee through the entire house.
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/taranichols.htm.
Sadie Davies is running away for the second time in her life. She had been fifteen and in search of stardom the first time she ran away to the city. This time she is running from it.
After buying a rundown farm house near where she grew up, Sadie plans to search for the family she abandoned so many years ago. Intending to keep a low profile she sets up for a simplistic, solitary life but with sexy, know-it-all, neighbor Dustin Reed she finds it rather difficult, and he’s as complicated as they come.
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
I have a fondness for A Pleasurable Cure for Death, my second attempt at a vampire paranormal. Sebastian really appealed to me, but I also favor Secrets of Summer. I’d like to recapture the essence of both of the heroes in those stories in all of my future plots, but that of course would be typecasting them. I think, when it is finished, my all time favorite will be Black Leather, Crimson Cheeks. That is a novella length romance with a spanking theme, but it isn’t quite BDSM. It’s sweet and I really dig the characters, especially Julian. Sigh.
9. Where can our readers find you on the web?
My two main blogs are; http://tarasnichols.blogspot.com as well as http://tarasnichols.webs.com
But I am on myspace, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, fanpage, Romance Wiki and a handful of Nings, and yahoo groups as well.
10. Where can they buy your books?
My publishers so far are; Cobblestone-press, Breathless Press, Amira Press, Noble Romance, Siren Publishing, and Logical Lust.
11. Anything you would like to add?
(Blushing) Take care to read the heat level when selecting some of my books. I have a wide variety of stories from Sweet to burn-your-eyes-off, and I fear this can … surprise an unsuspecting reader.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Please Welcome Sky Purington
1. Tell us your latest news.
Thanks for having me! There’s a lot going on. My latest release, Darkest Memory (Vampire tale) is getting rave reviews. Its sequel, Heart of Vesuvius was just contracted. Very exciting! The third novel in my Scottish Trilogy, Sylvan Mist is due to be released June 18th, through The Wild Rose Press.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
Better yet…who. My mom. When I won the first Young Author’s Award given to a New Hampshire second grader (a long time ago!) she never forgot and urged me to pursue a writing career. I finally took her advice and further educated at 24 years old through multiple correspondence courses. She was right. This is what I’m meant to do!
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
Okay, I’m about to tell you something I’ve never divulged anywhere on the internet. I suppose my all time favorite book was Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Somehow I got my hands on a copy of this when I was very young. I wore the book down to threads. Loved it. Since then, I’ve had lots of favorites. Many in the romance genre. Unlikely we’ve the time to discuss them all!
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
Hands down, I’m a night owl. When I first became published in 2007 my son was two. Writing at night was my only option. Worked for me. I pull a lot of inspiration from the night sky─the stars, moon, nature when it’s at its most silent.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Honestly? And this might sound odd. But remembering everything I’ve learned about writing as I go along. It’s incredibly easy to slip back into bad writing habits. Even when you find your ‘voice’ and writing style, you can not forget the basics. I often refer to it as ‘training your brain.’
6. Do you have a favorite author?
That’s somewhat of a loaded question. I love so many. Who do I drift toward because their writing moves me along at a solid clip every single time? I’d say Lisa Kleypas, Christina Dodd and Julie Garwood.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
My first published work was Fate’s Monolith, the first novel in my Scottish Trilogy. It was the beginning of a trilogy inspired by my husband’s clan and mine. They were intermarried for 300 years back during the medieval period in Scotland. What were the odds that he and I would meet one another now? *smiles* You can see how a romance trilogy was born!
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Yes, it will always be Destiny’s Denial, Book II in my Scottish Trilogy. This was the novel where I was able to bring my grandmother back to life. She became a character in my book!
9. Where can our readers find you on the web? Everywhere! At least it feels that way. *grins*. Just about all my locals can be found by Googling my name. The most important sites? My website (http://www.skypurington.com) blog (http://www.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com) and my Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skyromance/) Through these sites you can find me at a variety of places. I welcome new friends and followers at Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and Author’s Den.
10. Where can they buy your books? Lots of places. Here are a few. The Wild Rose Press (http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=sky+purington) Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=sky+purington&x=14&y=23) Barnes & Noble (http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=BOOK&WRD=sky+purington) and Sony (http://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=sky+purington&x=9&y=2)
11. Anything you would like to add? Yes. I’d like to add that I have ongoing featured authors at my blog. I’m all about promoting the talent out there. Right now my Spring has Sprung Blog Event is going on. This event highlights authors published the first half of 2010. So far it’s been a blast! The prize? A gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press and a free Ecopy of the book being discussed that week. Pop over to my blog (http://skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com) and leave a comment for a chance to win! Coming this summer, a blog event catering to authors who write about heroes out of the United Kingdom. Think Celtic, Regency, Highlander, etc.
Thanks for having me! There’s a lot going on. My latest release, Darkest Memory (Vampire tale) is getting rave reviews. Its sequel, Heart of Vesuvius was just contracted. Very exciting! The third novel in my Scottish Trilogy, Sylvan Mist is due to be released June 18th, through The Wild Rose Press.
2. What initially inspired you to become an author?
Better yet…who. My mom. When I won the first Young Author’s Award given to a New Hampshire second grader (a long time ago!) she never forgot and urged me to pursue a writing career. I finally took her advice and further educated at 24 years old through multiple correspondence courses. She was right. This is what I’m meant to do!
3. What is your favorite book? And Why?
Okay, I’m about to tell you something I’ve never divulged anywhere on the internet. I suppose my all time favorite book was Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Somehow I got my hands on a copy of this when I was very young. I wore the book down to threads. Loved it. Since then, I’ve had lots of favorites. Many in the romance genre. Unlikely we’ve the time to discuss them all!
4. Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
Hands down, I’m a night owl. When I first became published in 2007 my son was two. Writing at night was my only option. Worked for me. I pull a lot of inspiration from the night sky─the stars, moon, nature when it’s at its most silent.
5. What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Honestly? And this might sound odd. But remembering everything I’ve learned about writing as I go along. It’s incredibly easy to slip back into bad writing habits. Even when you find your ‘voice’ and writing style, you can not forget the basics. I often refer to it as ‘training your brain.’
6. Do you have a favorite author?
That’s somewhat of a loaded question. I love so many. Who do I drift toward because their writing moves me along at a solid clip every single time? I’d say Lisa Kleypas, Christina Dodd and Julie Garwood.
7. Tell us about your first published work.
My first published work was Fate’s Monolith, the first novel in my Scottish Trilogy. It was the beginning of a trilogy inspired by my husband’s clan and mine. They were intermarried for 300 years back during the medieval period in Scotland. What were the odds that he and I would meet one another now? *smiles* You can see how a romance trilogy was born!
8. Do you have a favorite of your own works?
Yes, it will always be Destiny’s Denial, Book II in my Scottish Trilogy. This was the novel where I was able to bring my grandmother back to life. She became a character in my book!
9. Where can our readers find you on the web? Everywhere! At least it feels that way. *grins*. Just about all my locals can be found by Googling my name. The most important sites? My website (http://www.skypurington.com) blog (http://www.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com) and my Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skyromance/) Through these sites you can find me at a variety of places. I welcome new friends and followers at Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and Author’s Den.
10. Where can they buy your books? Lots of places. Here are a few. The Wild Rose Press (http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=sky+purington) Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=sky+purington&x=14&y=23) Barnes & Noble (http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=BOOK&WRD=sky+purington) and Sony (http://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=sky+purington&x=9&y=2)
11. Anything you would like to add? Yes. I’d like to add that I have ongoing featured authors at my blog. I’m all about promoting the talent out there. Right now my Spring has Sprung Blog Event is going on. This event highlights authors published the first half of 2010. So far it’s been a blast! The prize? A gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press and a free Ecopy of the book being discussed that week. Pop over to my blog (http://skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com) and leave a comment for a chance to win! Coming this summer, a blog event catering to authors who write about heroes out of the United Kingdom. Think Celtic, Regency, Highlander, etc.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Please Welcome Missy Martine
- Please tell us about yourself?
Well, let’s see, I’m a retired nurse and former small business owner. I retired from nursing back in 1995 and then went into medical management. I spent some years managing a pharmacy and DME supply company before opening my own medical billing service in Oklahoma.
I spent twenty years in a not-so-good marriage before finding the courage to move on with my life. I’d pretty much resigned myself to spending the rest of my life alone when fate stepped in and threw me a curve. I met what turned out to be the love of my life in a chat room in 1997 and we’ve been happily together ever since. He was living in Oklahoma and I was in Tennessee when we met online, and it wasn’t long before he talked me into moving west! He was every fantasy I’d ever had all rolled up into one, and a few I’d never even imagined! The man positively oozes sex appeal and romance, and to top it off, he’s a decade younger than I am! People tell me that makes me a real life cougar J
Hubby and I’ve traveled all over the world, and lived in quite a few places. He’s originally from England, and has family all over the Orient so we never lack for places to travel to. Right now, we’re living in California near the ocean. That’s a first for me, since I spent most of my life in the south.
We don’t have children together, but I do have two beautiful stepdaughters who are in school in Minnesota and Oregon. We do have three baby boys that have a special place in our heart. Their names are Beau, Midnight and Bubba! No, I didn’t give them those redneck names. J We rescued them from shelters and they already had names they answered to. Beau is part Himalayan and 10 years old, Bubba is part Bengal and only 3 years old, while Midnight is just a plain ole alley cat and 7 years old. They weigh in at 22lbs, 20lbs, and 10lbs – that’s a lot of cat for a 2-bedroom apartment!
- What’s new? Can you share something about your latest work?
As far as my writing, my newest release is “Discovering Her Wolfen Heritage.” Siren/Bookstrand released it on December 30th and it’s something I’m very proud of. It’s the first book in a trilogy called “A Wolfen Heritage.” The trilogy centers on a family of wolf shapeshifters and is an erotic, thriller romance. The reviews it has been getting are phenomenal! I couldn’t be more pleased.
The second book of the trilogy, “Denying His Wolfen Heritage,” is about ready to be turned into my editor, and it will be quickly followed with the final installment “Changing Their Wolfen Heritage.” Since I have to multi-task to stay fresh with my ideas I’m also working on a few others at the same time. There is the sequel to “Table for Three” called “Catch Her When She Falls,” and a paranormal, erotic thriller called “Screams on the Mountain.” I’m counting on 2010 to be a banner year for my writing!
As far as what’s new on a personal front, well I’m recovering from surgery right now, but doing quite well. I’d suffered from Pulmonary Hypertension all my life, and been on oxygen for the last year. On December 22nd, I underwent gastric bypass surgery to make sure I could lose a lot of weight very quickly. The idea was that the excess weight was pressing in on my lungs and heart causing problems. I’m happy to say that as of two weeks prior to my surgery, I’ve lost
- What was your inspiration to begin writing?
It’s going to sound a little strange, but my husband, as a sort of therapy, goaded me into it. I suffered a series of strokes in 2002 that left me unable to communicate for quite some time. We discovered, by accident, that I could type out what I wanted to say even when I couldn’t make myself say the words.
I was forced to stop working after the strokes, with the knowledge that I would probably never be able to work outside the home again. I recovered for the most part, but still have problems with short-term memory.
I spent a couple of years just watching daytime television and reading romance novels. I think I had sunk into the pits of depression about as far as I could go when he decided he had to do something to bring me back. He told me that I’d read enough of those “silly” novels by then to be able to write one myself, and he dared me to do it. I pretty much ignored him for the longest time, until he started wanting to know why I was afraid to try. He knew exactly what buttons to push because I started giving it serious thought. It wasn’t long before I began writing “Table for Three”
The inspiration for it came from my own life. She’s a woman who spent twenty years in an abusive marriage (same here), who takes a chance and finally divorces her husband (same here), and moves away to start her life over (same here). She meets up with two men who just might be the loves she’s been looking for her entire life! Okay, you got it, “same here,” except that my love is only one man and Cass got two in the book! I guess you can’t have everything J.
- Do you have a favorite author?
I have a lot of favorite authors, for different types of genre. For erotic romance it is Leah Brooke hands down, although Diana Palmer runs a close second! For paranormal romance it is divided between Dana Marie Bell, Annmarie McKenna and Stormy Glenn. If I’m in the mood for mystery then I turn to Mary Higgins Clark, and action adventure has me pulling out the Clive Cussler. With my taste in reading so varied, it would be impossible for have only one favorite author.
- What do you like best about that author?
Hmm, well Leah’s books are the best of everything. They have romance, hot sex, drama and humor all rolled up into an interesting story. Once I start them, I can’t put them down. Diana Palmer’s “Long Tall Texan” series is a killer! It’s amazing to me that she’s been writing on it as long as she has, and still manages to bring back favorite characters and familiar story twists from time to time. I’ve never missed a one, and have them all in either hardback or paperback.
Dana Marie Bell’s “Halle Puma” series was what inspired me to want to create my own shapeshifter characters. She is a master at developing her characters and their inter-relationships. There’s so much humor, blended with the drama and romance that you’re literally kept on your seat during the story. Annmarie McKenna’s Mate series brought me my first taste of real suspense in a paranormal romance book, and her books “The Strength of Three” and “Blackmailed” were the first ménage books I ever read. They are what made me want to make “Table for Three” into a ménage. They had caused me to have so many fantasies that I had to put them down on paper!
Nobody can tell a mystery like Mary Higgins Clark, keeping you guessing and laughing until the end of the book. As for action adventure, Clive Cussler’s character “Dirk Pitt” is the modern day version of James Bond, only more interesting. When you throw in the fact that many of his underwater plots of sunken ships come from the real life experiences of Mr. Cussler, you can’t go wrong with his books!
- Do you prefer to write at a particular time of day or night? We’d love to know something about your writing process.
It’s a strange process really. I do my best thinking in the wee hours of the morning. I’m usually awake then because I suffer from insomnia something terrible. But the writing itself is only done during the day, after my husband leaves for work. I’ve found that I cannot write with him in the house hovering over me!
Because of my problems with short-term memory, all my books start as intricate outlines. I can do this anywhere because I do it on legal pads. I begin by creating all my main characters, giving them physical descriptions, personality traits, and defining their relationships to each other. I do some of the secondary characters at this time too, and of course add on characters later as needed.
Then I create an outline for the story itself. I don’t write out every word, but I do outline it scene by scene so I don’t forget anything. The outline will include any research I’ve needed to do to make the story more authentic. Once the outline is completed, I’m ready to start typing chapters.
- What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Writing the love scenes is the hardest part for me. Because of my memory problems I have to make sure that all the love scenes in the book don’t sound the same.
I suppose the strangest thing I do in my writing is for my love scenes. I keep an excel chart describing each love scene I write for any book, keeping track of the words used, positions used, and every other detail. It keeps me from being repetitious in the sexual encounters of the book. Crazy sounding I know, but it works for me. J
- What is your favorite of your works?
“Discovering Her Wolfen Heritage” is my favorite so far. I think it’s because it was a paranormal romance and it allowed my imagination to run wild. There are fewer rules when you’re creating an imaginary world with fictitious characters, and I like that part of the creative process.
- Can you tell us where readers can purchase your works?
All my books can be found online with Siren/Bookstrand at http://www.sirenpublishing.com/missymartine/
while “Table for Three” can also be purchased at Mobipocket http://www.mobipocket.com/EN/eBooks/eBookDetails.asp?BookID=253408 and on Kindle at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Table-Three-Siren-Publishing-ebook/dp/B0030WDJRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261953331&sr=1-1
http://www.bookstrand.com/node/805931
- What is the best way to reach you?
I can be reached through my website at www.missymartine.com
At my email address of: missymartine@comcast.net
On my Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000107833768
And at Twitter at: http://twitter.com/Missy_Martine
Thanks so much for having me as a guest; I’ve enjoyed telling you about myself! How vain does that sound? LOL If any of you visit my website please sign my guest book. I love to know when people have checked me out!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
This Week's Special Guest is Jana Richards
1). Tell us your latest news?
I’m very excited that my first novella, “Burning Love”, is being released by The Wild Rose Press tomorrow,
After causing three cooking fires in her apartment, Iris Jensen finds herself homeless. She lands on Riley Benson's doorstep, looking to rent a room in the beautiful old home he's restoring. It's only for six weeks until Iris leaves
Meanwhile, in Heaven, two angels watch over the young lovers. Angelica and Hildegard work in Heaven's Relationship Division, where angels match mortals with their soul mates. The angels believe so strongly in Iris and Riley’s love that they break Heaven's rules to help them. Can the the angels convince them their love will last a lifetime before time runs out?
Excerpt:
Riley looked into her beautiful blue eyes and her smiling face and did the only thing he was capable of doing at the moment.
He kissed her.
Maybe later, he told himself, when sanity returned, he’d think of a hundred reasons why pulling Iris into his arms, holding her tightly against his body, and plundering her soft, sweet mouth was not a good idea. But for now, right now, as she wound her arms around his neck and made tiny sounds of excitement deep in her throat, it felt exactly right.
Heaven. Having Iris in his corner made him believe everything was possible.
He stepped backwards towards the stairs, pulling Iris with him, intent on taking her to upstairs to his room. He suddenly tripped, nearly losing his balance. He glanced behind him and saw the object he’d stumbled over. A set of luggage sat next to the stairs, still bearing tags from the retailer.
“What the hell is this?”
Iris kissed his neck. “I’m sorry. I should have taken them up to my room.”
Iris had bought new luggage for her trip. Her plans hadn’t changed.
She’s leaving me.
The thought acted as effectively as a bucket of cold water tossed over his head. What was he doing? She was leaving in three weeks and didn’t plan to return. The calendar in the kitchen reminded him of that every day. Why start something that would only lead to heartache?
No, this was crazy. Why couldn’t they take pleasure in each other for the next three weeks? Why should they deny themselves what Riley knew would be the best sex of their lives? Why was he throwing it all away?
Because he’d already lost too many people in his life.
And Riley instinctively knew that if he let himself get close to Iris, let himself love her, a part of him would not survive when she left.
You can look for “Burning Love” at The Wild Rose Press website at http://www.thewildrosepress.com
2). When and why did you begin writing?
Well, I read a few romance novels, loved them, and had the crazy idea that I could write one too. Little did I know how much work goes into crafting a novel! Now I’m completely hooked. This is what I’m meant to do.
3). What books have influenced your life most?
There are so many books, and so many authors. I love the books of Nora Roberts, Suzanne Brockman, Mary Balogh, Jo Beverly, and so many more. A good writer will inspire me to “up my game” much as a good tennis partner will help you to play better. I’m always inspired by a wonderful, emotional read that takes me on a journey.
Lately I’ve been influenced by a lot of research or craft books, as I work to take my writing to the next level. I’m currently working my way through Donald Maass’ “Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook”. The exercises really make me think about my characters and plot and how to make them something special and truly unique.
4). What are your current projects?
I’m working on a couple of projects at the moment. In my contemporary manuscript Welcome to Paradise,
I’m also working on a time travel historical set in
5). Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Finding enough time! I’d love to lock myself away for weeks at a time, just me and my laptop, someplace where I don’t have to cook, clean or go to my day job. But since that isn’t possible I have to carve out time in my day for writing.
6). Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I have several favorites but probably my all time favorite writer is Nora Roberts. I love the way she can bring characters and a setting to life. The writing is full of emotion and the plots are exciting. Her characters are often flawed, but they are always people a reader wants to root for.
7). When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always liked to write, and at one time in high school I thought I’d try journalism. That didn’t pan out and the dream stayed on the back burner for a while. In university I took a creative writing class, but it was more geared towards literary fiction, and I thought I wasn’t meant to be a writer. I honestly didn’t think of writing fiction again until many years later, when I started reading romance novels and discovered my niche.
8). How long does it take you to write a book?
Way too long! I am not what you’d call a fast writer. With revisions it probably takes me about a year to eighteen months. But I have been known to leave a partially written book lie dormant for several years before picking it up and finishing it, so it’s difficult for me to answer that question.
9). What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I try to devote two to three days a week solely to writing. After walking the dog early in the morning I’ll write until
10). Do you have any strange handwriting habits, like capitalizing all your “r”s or dotting your “I”s with heart (or anything like that)?
Does messy handwriting count? Probably my strangest handwriting habit is my tendency to lift my pen and leave a gap between letters in words. For instance, if I wrote “romance”, I might not connect the r to the o and leave a small gap between the two letters. I have no idea why.
11). What do you want to know about the future?
I would like to know if I am going to write a book or a series that will be a best seller. And then I’d want to know if I can afford to quit my day job!
12). Are you a morning person or a night person?
I am more of a morning person. If I am going to accomplish something, it will likely be in the morning.
13). Do you like thunderstorms?
I absolutely hate thunderstorms! My dog and I hide out in the basement when they get really bad. She’s even more afraid than I am!
14). What is the best way for readers to contact you? Email, myspace, twitter, etc?
The best way for readers to contact me is through my website at www.janarichards.net. I’m always available at my email address at jana.richards@hotmail.com Please check out my MySpace page at www.myspace.com/jana_richards
15). Anything you would like to add?
Just that I’d love to hear from readers! Please check out my website and take a look at the excerpts for my books. I’ve also got a contest running on my website until February 17 and some free short reads on my website. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
April Dawn
- Hi April, and thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in California
- What’s new? Can you share something about your latest work?
I am currently in the middle of a number of projects. I’m looking for an agent, and writing a number of books. The closest one to completion is The Piratess, a fun little novel about a female pirate, obviously enough. Lol
- What was your inspiration to begin writing?
The characters have always been there, but I started writing scenes when I was about 15 or so because they were compelling me to. Plus when I ran out of secreted romance novels, I could write my own scenes and tell myself a good story.
- Do you have a favorite author?
There are so many great authors (Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts, etc…) with so many great books out there, it is hard to pick. However, since you need one, I guess I would have to say Stephen King
- What do you like best about that author?
He has a great sense of timing. Things flow in his novels so that you can read four hundred pages and never realize it.
- Do you prefer to write at a particular time of the day or night? We’d love to know something about your writing process.
I write whenever the story hits me. The characters will just start talking, and I have to find some way to take it all down. If I don’t work when I’m inspired, I lose some of the best loved parts of my manuscript.
- What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Editing. It is fun to watch my work become tighter and better, but it can be tedious. Plus you can’t work on your newest manuscript while editing. You have to get that book back to the editor pronto.
- What is your favorite of your works?
Of my unpublished works, I have many. So many that they often fight for which will get to tell their story, and I slip back and forth between them. In fact, I have an espionage series that is doing just that right now. However, of my published works, I would have to say Crushing Desire. (Though my sister would argue for Bound by Love. :-D )
I have always been a sucker for a good crush.
- Can you tell us where readers can purchase your books?
- What is the best way to reach you?
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