Category Archives: Interview
Calisa Rhose with Heather Kinnane and her Faery Dreamy novel #fantasy #MFRWauthor #interview
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Heather Kinnane, who is sharing her book, A Faery Dream: Nerida’s Story with us!
Please show Heather some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
Hi everyone!
I’m an Australian writer of sweet and steamy romantic escapes. My books always have a happy ending, because there’s no guarantee of getting that in real life, and sometimes it’s just nice to know things are going to end well. I have three children, and a very supportive husband who is the only reason I’m able to find enough time to write books! He also provides the inspiration for my heroes. 😉
Author Bio: Heather Kinnane is the author of the romantic fantasy series, ‘A Faery Dream’, and the steamy menage series ‘Seeking Satisfaction’. She lives in Australia with her husband, children and pets, in a house in the bush. When she’s not writing she’s usually avoiding the housework by reading, gardening, or soaking up the natural world. Sometimes she’s lucky enough to be visited by echidnas, sugar gliders, or wedge-tailed eagles.
Okay, let’s begin.
My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?
Ha – my writing space is often a corner of the couch, too! I am trying to be a little more organized this year though, so I’ve reclaimed the small upstairs office from my children (who discovered all the arty and crafty bits in the cupboards and took over), and am enjoying having a bit of space where I can spread out and know I (mostly) won’t be disturbed.
For a lot of writer’s it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Titles and names are so difficult for me! It’s very rare that they just fall into place, mostly I spend ages agonizing over them, and changing them a billion times before I settle on something. I’m envious of those who can find names and titles easily. Wish it were contagious!
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Keep writing. It’s a bit cliché but honestly – the only way to be published is to keep going. Perseverance is the key.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
I’m not sure I know how to answer that one! So tricky! Like you say – there’s a constant shift – always new things to try. And then you have to be careful that the trying new things doesn’t steal away precious writing time (with three kids any moment I can get to myself is precious – I’ve got to be careful how I spend it!). I guess this answer is a bit the same as above – just keep writing. If you’re writing good stories, the readers will find you (eventually).
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
It would be great to meet Stephen King! I love his work – The Dark Tower in particular is one of my all-time favourite series.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Autumn
Favorite food? Chocolate
Well done! And for those who question her answer, CHOCOLATE IS A FOOD GROUP! 😉
Okay, Flash four. Ready? What are you working on now?
I wrote a novella during Nanowrimo last year, and I’m working my way through that at the moment… it’s a re-telling of the old Scottish Ballad of Tam Lin – awesome heroine saves her lover from the Fairy Realm. I’m pretty pleased with how it’s going, so far.
What are you sharing today?
My newest release is the third in my ‘A Faery Dream’ series – ‘Nerida’s Story’ – though this one is focusing on a different character, so it works as a stand-alone too.
Nerida’s whole life has been focused on preparing for one thing – to be Consort to the King of Faery. She’s kept herself distant, awaiting the day when the King would be found and she would take her place beside him.
But there is no King. Instead, Nyssa is now Queen, with Kellen, Nerida’s brother, as her Consort.
Nerida has never felt so lost in her life.
When Imradon appears, he brings out feelings Nerida thought she’d never experience. But fighting against a lifetime of conditioning is hard, and then there’s the big question: does she want a partner, or is she just looking for something—anything—to fill this terrible emptiness?
A Faery Dream 3: Nerida’s Story, can be read as stand-alone or part of the series.
Where can we find you and your books?
Nerida’s Story can be found here:
kindle: www.amazon.com/Neridas-Story-Faery-Dream-Book-ebook/dp/B079CBMJWN/
ePub: www.books2read.com/u/3nOA08
My website: www.heatherkinnane.com
My amazon page: www.amazon.com/Heather-Kinnane/e/B00ELDPLZ6/
Where will you be next?
I’m hanging out on Twitter at the moment www.twitter.com/HeatherKinnane
But you can also find me on Patreon (www.patreon.com/HeatherKinnane) – with lots of deleted scenes, and early glimpses of what I’m working on, and plenty of other things too. 😊
Thank you so much for playing along Heather! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Thank you so much for having me Calisa! I had so much fun – already looking forward to catching up again next time. 😊
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose welcomes Science Fiction author Kayelle Allen #MFRWauthor #interview #scifiauthor
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for the first Tuesday Round-Up interview of 2018 in the Round Pen.
I couldn’t imagine a better guest to kick off the New Year and I’m thrilled to welcome a multi-talented guest today, and my friend. Kayelle Allen is sharing her book, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire with us!
Please show Kayelle some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
I’ve been published since 2004. In 2006, as a response to questions from friends for marketing help, I founded Marketing for Romance Writers, a peer-mentoring group open to the entire literary community. MFRW is now a large online author peer-mentoring group, and provides no-cost training in book marketing skills as well as free promotional services for its members. In 2009, I opened the Romance Lives Forever blog for authors. The site now has a reach of over three million. I teach workshops online, and I’m an invited speaker at numerous online conferences. I’ve been a featured speaker at Outlantacon since its founding and hold an honorary lifetime membership there. I was a board member for Gaylaxicon, and have been a panelist at DragonCon and a featured guest at NerdaCon. My books have won multiple awards, including the EPIC eBook Award for Science Fiction Romance, and one was a finalist in Fantasy. My motto is “romance lives forever” and my books include unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion. I’m married to my personal hero and we live in the metro Atlanta area, near our three grown children and five grandchildren. My husband and I are both US Navy Veterans. We met while on active duty in Memphis, TN.
I still don’t know how you do all that you do! You are a true inspiration, Kayelle.
Okay, let’s begin. My writing area at the moment is my lovely (if more than a lot cluttered at times) office/craft room in the solitude of the second floor of our house, where I rely on my laptop to take me to new places. Sometimes I take the laptop for a walk downstairs when the solitary life of a writer gets to me. What does your writing space look like?
I have a basement office that permits me to step away from everything. I use a desktop computer but sometimes go out for coffee and take a tablet with me. My room’s pretty cozy. I hole up there for long periods when I’m writing.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. For others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
I rarely struggle with character names. They pop into my head with complete backstories. I can’t explain that. It just happens. For example, I needed a name for a character who was a staff member for my empress. I couldn’t keep writing “her assistant.” So I looked around the room and happened to spy a notepad that had the brand name “Elite.” I thought he’d be elite indeed, so I named him Alitus. The moment I had the name I knew a backstory and description. He actually ended up getting his own book.
I only know of one other author who can do that. Amazing.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Two things. 1. Don’t quit. Anyone can start writing. It’s those who keep going who finish the book. 2. Study the craft and learn the skills needed. Don’t expect an editor to polish your work. You polish it. Let the editor buff to a shine.
Great words of wisdom!
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Relationships with readers. You have to get out and meet people, not only in person but online. If you’re not willing to use social media, you are crippling yourself. Likewise, go to other authors’ readings at bookshops. Network. Support other authors. That’s how you get your name out there.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
JD Robb. I’m such a fan of her work.
You and me both! Or rather, Nora Roberts in my case. 🙂
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Panther (ooh! An answer as unique as you.)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Yes
Favorite food? Chocolate
Well done! An all-seasons gal. 🙂
Okay, Flash four. Ready?
What are you working on now?
I’ve started on book 3 of the Bringer of Chaos series, Watch Your Six. Readers know Six is a character in the stories. The only human on the planet at this point. Everyone else is immortal. But I’m also making notes on at least three other books at the same time. I focus on writing only one, however. Notes is all I make on other projects.
I should probably take notes from you!
What are you sharing today?
When the immortal Pietas is marooned on a barren world with no food and few survival tools, he knows it could be worse. He could be alone. But that’s the problem. He’s not.
Half a million of his people sleep in cryostasis, trapped inside their pods and it’s up to Pietas to save them. He can’t release one at a time. It’s all or nothing. He’s facing over five hundred thousand hungry, thirsty, homeless, immortals all looking to him for answers.
It’s not all bad. The beautiful telepathic warrior he’s loved for lifetimes is at his side. He’s bonded with a sentient panther. He hates humans but the one dumped on this planet with him has become a trusted friend.
But before Pietas can build shelter, figure out how to grow food, or set up a government, he must take back command from a ruthless enemy he’s fought for centuries. His brutal, merciless father.
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever…
***
Amazon and in print. Free on Kindle Unlimited
http://amzn.to/2ABIcCI
Review this book on #NetGalley https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/127569
Where can we find you and your books?
Website https://kayelleallen.com
Romance Lives Forever Reader Group https://kayelleallen.com/bro/
Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/
Instafreebie https://www.instafreebie.com/discover/author/5186/kayelle_allen
Amazon Author page http://amazon.com/author/kayelleallen
Where will you be next?
For any who want to meet me, I’ll be appearing in person at OutlantaCon mid-May. www.outlantacon.org I hope to have some local events in the Atlanta area as well. Join my reader group and you’ll be first to know where I’m going.
How fun! Wish I could be there!
GIVEAWAY
Here is a free adult coloring book to download and print, based on my characters. It contains original art. I hope you enjoy it! http://bit.ly/color-pietas
Thank you, Kayelle!
I’d like to ask a question of your readers if I may. When you visit an author’s website, what two things do you look for? (Example, book covers, bio) I’m updating my website and I’d love to have some feedback on that. Thank you! https://kayelleallen.com
Thank you so much for playing along Kayelle! It’s always a joy catching up with you. Wishing you much luck with your books and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again soon.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose~Tuesday Roundup Features Leanna Sain #mfrwauthors #magicalsuspense
Friday Fanfare Welcomes:
Leanna Sain – Half-Moon Lake
How did the writer’s journey begin for you?
My novel writing journey began at a Halloween party where I saw the “Gate to Nowhere” (the title of my first novel) and the stories just keep coming. My “Gate” books have stacked up numerous awards, from Foreword Magazine’s Book-of-the-Year to the Clark Cox Historical Fiction Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians. My fourth novel, WISH, is a stand-alone, YA crossover.
My Southern romantic suspense or “GRIT-lit,” showcases my plot-driven method of writing that successfully rolls the styles of best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, and Jan Karon into a delightfully hybrid style that is all my own. Regional fiction lovers and readers who enjoy suspense with a magical twist will want my books.
Tell us three things about you-the writer-readers wouldn’t typically know.
- I’m one of the fastest goat-milkers I know.
- I’m terrified of heights
- Wasp/Hornet spray stuns a rattlesnake so you can kill it (voice of experience talking here), but you have to unload the whole can on it.
Well, I know what I’m reaching for next time I see a rattler! LOL
It all began when…
It all began when my husband and I were doing a furniture delivery down in the Nantahalla Valley. The kudzu inspired it.
Where did you get the premise for this book?
I was on a ‘twins’ kick. I wondered about something bad happening to one twin that resulted in their death and the psychological trauma causing amnesia in the remaining twin.
Interesting. What stands out about this story that made writing it different for you?
It was my first book written in 1st person. I actually wrote this one before Red Curtains (the first book in my GRITS series). Everything is in Kate’s POV. It was so much fun I decided to do all the GRITS books in 1st person too.
Were there any difficult challenges or special subject matter you came across while writing this book?
No difficult challenges, but since kudzu plays an important part in the story, I had to do a lot of research about the plant. I wove what I learned into the story. There’s more to it than just an invasive vine.
I thought that said invasive wine. I was about to grab my glass! 😆
What about this book would make us want to read it more than others of similar taste?
I think my characters are just more believable and although it’s a suspense/mystery, it’s a FUN read. I made myself laugh…out loud. Plus Levi is just plain HOT!
LOL!
What do you want readers to take away from this book?
I want them to love the book so much that they can’t wait to go out and get all my other books.
Tell us about the finished book. Is there anything special we might not know after reading it?
When Kathryn Dorne is summoned to Half-Moon Lake for the reading of her father’s will, she discovers a shocking truth: everything in her life—including her name—is a lie.
Learning that her name is Katelyn Eubanks is only the first surprise. Second, she had an identical twin sister who drowned at the age of nine. Since Katelyn can’t remember anything prior to that age, it seems more than mere coincidence. The biggest surprise is that her father, a man she never knew existed, left his entire estate to her, enraging other would-be heirs.
With her unremembered, but closest childhood friend, Levi, as well as help from the estate’s deaf-mute gardener, and the outspoken cook, Katelyn searches for answers to questions that have plagued her all her life, but doing so, opens the proverbial Pandora’s box. As her memories return, so does the terrible danger she escaped fifteen years earlier.
I hope readers get their curiosity piqued when the story mentions Half Moon, the Cherokee Indian medicine woman, and the MacKinlay family (see the Gate to Nowhere Trilogy).
Where can readers find you and your books?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/half-moon-lake/id1241572035?mt=11
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/half-moon-lake-leanna-sain/1126450434?ean=2940157456566
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/half-moon-lake-1
Is there anything else you want to share or add?
I love talking to book clubs or women’s groups. If your group is within an hour or two of western NC, I’d love to come see you. Contact me at http://www.LeannaSain.com
I wish I lived closer! Thanks for visiting Leanna!
K folks, it’s a nasty, rainy day here in Oklahoma, and I don’t have a fireplace. So, I’ll gift one commenter with a copy of my ebook Risk Factors if you share this post on FB and Twitter then post both direct links in comments. I’ll draw the winner Sunday night.
Dodadaghovi~
Calisa Rhose invites Eve Rabi to Friday Fanfare #mfrwauthor #scandalous #suspense
THE OTHER WOMAN – a betrayed wife takes on the other woman with scandalous results. By Eve Rabi
How did the writer’s journey begin for you?
My writing career began with a nightmare. Okay, I know this sounds cliched, and you’ve heard this before, but it’s true. I had a nightmare, and I was so terrified, I couldn’t fall asleep again. I didn’t want to fall asleep again. I started writing Beast of Mexico – Gringa, then went on to write 27 other books, including The Other Woman. Bad dreams, I realize, can be handy to creative people. These days, I’m no longer afraid of bad dreams. I say bring it on.
Tell us three things about you-the writer-readers wouldn’t typically know.
- I like to dance like no one is watching. I dance often, almost every week.
- I like to eat like no one is watching – I’m a foodie, what can I say! My idea of good food is a chocolate burger for breakfast.
- I hate housework. Despise it. I am a widow, but I reckon I could do with a wife in the future, not a husband. Then, I’ll have so much more time to write!
Chocolate Burger *snort* Love it!
Where did you get the premise for this book?
With The Other Woman, I was inspired by life. We all know of a woman who has stolen someone else’s husband, destroyed a family, shattered dreams and went on to live happily ever after. It’s hurtful, and often the poor wife is left behind with little, while the new wife replaces her with ease and lives happily ever after. The wronged wife is supposed to quietly move on, despite being gutted and robbed by another woman. It’s downright unfair, isn’t it? Well, I wondered what would happen if the wronged wife fought back, took revenge? As I started writing, the story flowed and it became a hit with my readers. If you enjoy a good revenge romance, then this is the book for you. It’s a fast-paced, gripping, sexy, romantic suspense read.
What stands out about this story that made writing it different for you?
It was fun to unleash a wronged wife with nothing to lose, on a woman who has everything to lose. Unleash her on a sultry seductress who can turn any man’s head and who is not used to losing. In The Other Woman, the wronged wife does not pull back. She goes there, and does things we wouldn’t dream of doing. She is reckless and the destruction she wreaks on the other woman is mammoth and stressful. Stress can seriously affect a marriage, but can it also affect a lover’s illicit romance? See for yourself when you read The Other Woman.
What about this book would make us want to read it more than others of similar taste?
Well, if you’re bored of the everyday same ol’, same ol’ boring romance, or if you aren’t into just erotica, if you enjoy reading on the edge of your seat, you should read The Other Woman. If you enjoy laughing and crying while falling in love, then you should read The Other Woman.
Here’s what an Amazon reader had to say, “I could not put this book down, I finished it at 2:30 in the morning and I had to get up for work @ 6:30. However, it was worth every yawn I had during the day @ work. Read it and you will see why.”
What do you want readers to take away from this book?
Revenge is a cool fantasy. However, sometimes, on the road to revenge, you can pass a field of daisies. Stop, take a moment and run through the field. It may change your life. Change your path for the better.
Tell us about the finished book. Is there anything special we might not know after reading it?
The story was so popular with my readers, I went on to write a few sequels to it. I promise, you will enjoy them. In fact, The Other Woman, as well as the sequels have an overall five-star rating on Amazon U.K. and Amazon AUS. I’ve had several book clubs read it and tell me how enjoyable it was. It’s a topic for debate as well – was the wronged wife justified in what she did?
Shouldn’t she just have walked away with her head held high? A debate best carried out after a few glasses of wine.
***
Question: A seductress steals your husband, rips apart your family and shatters your dreams.
You:
a) Wish them luck, and walk away with your head held high (because that’s what society expects you to do)?
b) Quietly seethe, but accept that there is just nothing you can do about it (because it easier for everyone if you do nothing)?
c) Dig up dirt on the bitch (because someone like this would undoubtedly have dirt), use it to sabotage their relationship, then sit back with a glass of Pinot Grigio and watch them burn?
Answer: C. Oh, totally C.
Meet Scarlett Smyth. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, has a rocking body and has an above average IQ. She brags that she can ensnare any husband or taken male, and …she often does. She also is ambitious and has a penchant for anything expensive.
When the shrewd and ambitious temptress lays eyes on Bradley Murdoch, she believes she has found her dream man and a ticket to the high life she’s entitled to. There are just two problems:
1) Bradley is married to Rival. Happily at that.
2) They have children. Adorable little girls.
Do those facts deter Scarlett in any way? No, not at all. She is determined to steal Bradley, smoothly replace Rival in his life and show him how to really live life.
In a calculating move, the seductress (she is so good at seduction, she is even penning a book on it) befriends the quiet and unassuming Rival and worms her way into Bradley’s life.
There’s more: To expedite things, Scarlett the mistress, engineers a way to wipe Rival out of the picture – sends the clueless wife on a “vacation”.
But Scarlett may have underestimated her opponent. When Rival realizes the extent of the betrayal, she decides, even though she lacks Scarlett’s genius IQ, not to turn the other cheek. In fact, she is determined to win back her husband, believing that he is a good man who is simply mistaking lust for love. She believes that someone like Scarlett has to have skeletons in her cupboards and she begins to snoop around, anything she can use against the other woman, anything that can help her exact revenge.
What Rival doesn’t realize is: no one crosses Scarlett and gets away with it.
Now, the betrayed wife and the other woman collide.
***
The result is another gripping suspense thriller from bestselling author Eve Rabi. This suspense mystery & psychological thriller is #FreeOnKindleUnlimited.
Sounds scandalous and delicious!
Where can readers find you and your books?
Here are the links to The Other Woman:
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1E3KGa7
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BeLcB5
Amazon Aus: http://bit.ly/1IXc5up
Amazon CA: http://a.co/8PjNEuy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24490383-the-other-woman
Is there anything else you want to share or add?
Yes, I would like to thank the lovely Calisa for allowing me to grace her delightful blog. It has been an absolute pleasure being here.
Also, I would love for you guys to drop by my website and check out my books.
For a limited time, I currently have four free books available. Grab them now!
Website/blog: http://everabi.wordpress.com/
Author Bio:
Eve Rabi is the author of 28 crime and suspense novels, three screenplays and more than half a dozen short stories. Inspired by the likes of Sidney Sheldon and Gillian Flynn, her tales are bold, scandalous, controversial. They’re also peppered with romance and humor. To quote an Amazon reviewer: “When you pick up an Eve Rabi book, forget sleep. She writes gripping page turners that will keep you reading till the very end.”
In her spare time, Eve likes to dance like no one is watching. In fact, she also likes to eat like no one is watching.
For more of Eve Rabi’s works, click on any of the links below:
Website/blog: http://everabi.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eve.rabi
Twitter – https://twitter.com/EveRabi1
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/everabiauthor/
Google + – https://plus.google.com/111560859015561071911
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/everabiauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/everabiauthor/
Amazon U.K.: http://amzn.to/14vFE8r
Email:everabi2012@hotmail.com
I absoLove your answers, Eve! I can’t wait to read this one! Thank you for visiting my Ranch and sharing, and I hope you’ll return one day.
Dadodaghovi~
Calisa Rhose visits with Eve Rabi- You gotta read! #mfrwauthor #tuesdayroundup #interview
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully, inspirationally talented! guest, Eve Rabi, who is sharing her book, The Other Woman with us!
Please show Eve some real Ranch love on her first rodeo at the Ranch!
Before I get to the nosy bits, tell us a bit about you.
First of all, thank you for allowing me the privilege of appearing on your delightful blog, Calisa (awesome name, by the way!).
Aw, thanks Eve! I love your name too.
I am a full-time author – 28 books, 5 screenplays, and a handful of short stories waiting to be published.
I am a hopeless romantic, but I also dig romance with bite. I can’t handle the same ol’, same ol’ vanilla romance and I’m not that keen on erotic.
So, I write romantic crime and suspense stories with humor.
I am inspired by the likes of Gillian Flynn, Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham and basically stories with themes of revenge in them.
I have two know-it-all daughters, a Pomeranian named Li’l Bow Wow, who failed obedience school (but I love him anyway) and two cats who know how to open the fridge and steal food. (They’re obsessed with food, I tell ya.)
Love the Pom’s name and it sounds like your cats take after you! LOL Now if you can train them to open your wine… 😉
In my spare time, I like to dance like no one is watching, much to the chagrin of my daughters. (I used to teach Latin American dancing when I was younger. And thinner.)
I also love music, all kinds, even rap, heavy metal, head-banging crap – I just love and appreciate music, so I go to lots of concerts. Just saw Adele recently.
I’m into fashion and make-up in a huge way, and if I wasn’t writing books, I’d probably be a stylist or a make-up artist.
I hate housework, so alas, I do not have a spotless house. My car isn’t spotless either. If you want to see me in a bad mood, stick around while I clean up – I turn into a rabid banshee.
However, if it scores points with you, my wardrobe is color coded – shoes, jewelry, bags – all neatly arranged and color coded. See where my priorities lie? I’m screwed up, you can say it.
I live to write and I’m happiest when I am crafting a story. If I don’t write, I get cranky and go in search of chocolate and junk food.
Okay, I’ll begin the inquisition now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?
Well, Calisa, I do have a nice office, all rigged up with charts etc, but when I write, I tend to move around my house – the dining table, the patio, over my treadmill and my bed! I love slipping under the covers with my two cats and my Pomeranian lurking around while I hammer away at my keyboard. Right now, it’s winter and it’s cold and rainy, so under the covers in my bedroom is the ideal place to be.
Wherever I write, you can be assured, it’s messy, with coffee cups, used crockery, discarded socks, tissues and … chocolate wrappers! Yep, I’m totally undisciplined and messy, which annoys my daughters, who, by the way, are OCD when it comes to cleanliness. Can you believe it? Some people say it’s a good kind of OCD to have, but I dunno; it’s like living with your mother-in-law.
You know, I actually do have an office now. A lovely craft room-slash-office-slash-sewing room my husband fixed up in the spare bedroom. I didn’t have it for so long before now. I just keep forgetting to update this question to reflect that! LOL But I still end up in my cozy recliner most of the time.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Oh, I find coming up with titles hard. I struggle with it.
However, I love naming my characters – unusual and meaningful names. I usually change characters names by the end of the book, as I find that as I write, the character often takes a different shape.
I come from a family of unusual names, Skye, Raine, Storm, Flame, Ruby, Iris … to name but a few, so my characters have names like Rival, Arena, Drover, Burn, Bridie …
Ooh! I may have to steal some of those names! My daughters are Calais, Keri and Stephanie Merie. We also have granddaughters; Andee, Mackenzie, Nikkia, Kaia and Safira Lyric. If we get another grandgirl someday her name will probably be Daisy Rain (after my mom, Daisy). My niece named her children Kallen (the only boy in the family!) and Kaisly. I LOVE unique names!
Ok. What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Don’t stop writing. Listen to your critics, sure, but don’t take their advice all the time. Believe in your story. If you like it, chances are your readers will like it too.
Also, be nice to other writers. They aren’t your competition and they can help you. Support them and they will return the favor.
This is SO true! Much more than I expected when I first began writing and reaching out.
I have some awesome author friends across the globe, who I have never met in person, but they are always there for me, and vice versa. Especially when the Internet trolls attack (which is usually another unsuccessful author hiding behind her computer screen).
Unfortunately, also true. 😦
I’m lucky to have these great authors in my life. One of those kind and caring authors is the lovely Lisa. M. Owen. She rocks. Even her fiancé, a former marine named John rocks.
Lisa is very lovely. She’s been here a time or two I believe. 🙂 The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
This is just my opinion:
The competition is greater than ever and a number of authors are forced to get full-time jobs to pay the bills. To avoid this, I believe that you should take your book to the readers. Cross promote with other authors and share their work.
Facebook groups are good too. However, promoting takes time. If you can get some help with promoting, you will score. Writing and publishing books is a business, and if you’re not spending eight hours a day on your business, chances are you will not be as successful as you’d like to be.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
Well, I’d love to have dinner with Chelsea Handler and Ellen. Why? Because they are funny, smart women. I would serve lots of vodka and tequila shots, of course. Then I’d encourage them to drunk-dial all the people who pissed them off in life.
Don’t you think that will be a fun night?
Oh, hell yeah! 😆
I’d record the evening, of course.
Now, I’ll ask questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Cats – I am one step away from being a crazy cat woman. (Calisa cuts in-You and my sister!) But I’m an animal lover, so I love all animals, really.
Our mixed breed Boxer had 5 pupies five weeks ago and I want to keep them all! My daughter’s Chihuahua just had 6 babies today…and I want them too!
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter?
Summer – love the long, warm days where you can end it with a tall glass of sparkling white wine.
Favorite food?
A chocolate burger – I’m a junk food lover, what can I say?
Definitely need that recipe, Eve! Well done! 🙂
Moving on. What are you working on now?
I’m working on a sequel to The Other Woman – a betrayed wife takes on the other woman.
It’s a story about love, lust, betrayal and revenge. Big revenge. Huge!
For those readers who enjoy romance with bite, this will be the series for you.
As one Amazon reader put it, “If you’re tired of the same old boring romance, same old plots, try this author’s books. They’re romance with twists and turns that will keep you glued to your kindle.”
What are you sharing today?
The Other Woman – A betrayed wife takes on the other woman with scandalous results. (Romantic crime and suspense)
Question: A seductress steals your husband, rips apart your family and shatters your dreams. You:
a) Wish them luck and walk away with your head held high (because that’s what society expects you to do)?
b) Quietly seethe but accept that there is just nothing you can do about it (because it easier for everyone if you do)?
c) Dig up dirt on the bitch (because someone like this would undoubtedly have dirt), use it to sabotage their relationship, then sit back with a glass of Pinot Grigio and watch them burn?
Answer: C. Oh, totally C.
Meet Scarlett Smyth. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, has a rocking body and has an above average IQ. She brags that she can ensnare any husband or taken male, and …she often does. She also is ambitious and has a penchant for anything expensive.
When the shrewd and ambitious temptress lays eyes on Bradley Murdoch, she believes she has found her dream man and a ticket to the high life she’s entitled to. There are just two problems:
1) Bradley is married to Rival. Happily at that.
2) They have children. Adorable little girls.
Do those facts deter Scarlett in any way? No, not at all. She is determined to steal Bradley, smoothly replace Rival in his life and show him how to really live life.
In a calculating move, the seductress (she is so good at seduction, she is even penning a book on it) befriends the quiet and unassuming Rival and worms her way into Bradley’s life.
There’s more: To expedite things, Scarlett the mistress, engineers a way to wipe Rival out of the picture – sends the clueless wife on a “vacation”.
But Scarlett may have underestimated her opponent. When Rival realizes the extent of the betrayal, she decides, even though she lacks Scarlett’s genius IQ, not to turn the other cheek. In fact, she is determined to win back her husband, believing that he is a good man who is simply mistaking lust for love. She believes that someone like Scarlett has to have skeletons in her cupboards and she begins to snoop around, anything she can use against the other woman, anything that can help her exact revenge.
What Rival doesn’t realize is: no one crosses Scarlett and gets away with it.
Now, the betrayed wife and the other woman collide.
***
The result is another gripping suspense thriller from bestselling author Eve Rabi. This suspense mystery & psychological thriller is free on Kindle Unlimited
“I could not put this book down, I finished it at 2:30 in the morning and I had to get up for work @ 6:30. However, it was worth every yawn. Read it and you will see why.” Amazon reviewer
Where can we find you and your books?
Eve Rabi is the author of 28 crime and suspense novels, three screenplays and more than half a dozen short stories. Inspired by the likes of Sidney Sheldon and Gillian Flynn, her tales are bold, scandalous, controversial. They’re also peppered with romance and humor. To quote an Amazon reviewer: “When you pick up an Eve Rabi book, forget sleep. She writes gripping page turners that will keep you reading till the very end.”
In her spare time, Eve likes to dance like no one is watching. In fact, she also likes to eat like no one is watching.
For more of Eve Rabi’s works, click on any of the links below:
Website/blog: http://everabi.wordpress.com/
Amazon U.K.: http://amzn.to/14vFE8r
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eve.rabi
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EveRabi1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/everabiauthor/
Google +: https://plus.google.com/111560859015561071911
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/everabiauthor
Instagram: https://instagram.com/everabiauthor/
Email: everabi2012@hotmail.com
If you would like to sample my work for free, try before you buy (I currently am offering four free books), then click on the link below:
Amazon U.K.: http://amzn.to/14vFE8r
Where will you be next?
I have a number of books in the pipeline with not enough hours in the day to write these stories. The one thing you can be sure of, is that, as a writer, I am here to stay.
Calisa, I would rather gift you another one of my books as a thank you for allowing me to grace your lovely blog. 🙂
I’m honored to receive one of your books! Wishing you much luck with your book(s) and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again soon. Maybe on UnCover Monthly?
Thank you so much for allowing me the privilege of gracing your lovely blog, Calisa. It was a pleasure and the questions were fun. 🙂
Thank you so much for playing along Eve! I loved your responses, great fun!
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose chats with Lisa Owens about Damaged #mfrwauthor #interview #tuesdayroundup
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my talented guest today, Lisa M. Owens, who is sharing Damaged with us!
Please show Lisa some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the questions, please, tell us a bit about you.
I am currently going back to school full-time to get my bachelor’s degree in psychology. But I still have plenty of time to write heart-stopping romance!
When I’m not working in my lovely new office upstairs, my writing area is my cozy recliner in the living room. What does your writing space look like?
That’s funny. I have a lovely new office space too. That’s where I spend most of my time writing. Sometimes I spread my computer and research out on the dining room table and write.
LOL I spend more time in my recliner because my office is secluded upstairs and I feel alone in the world if I stay in it too long.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
It seems to come naturally to me. The titles and characters come to me before the plot of the story does.
Mine usually do too. Wonder what else we have in common? 🙂
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Never stop writing. That was advice that was given to me and it has since proved to be worth its weight in gold. Never stop. No matter what people tell you or who tries to stop you.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Stubbornness. Refusing to give up. This is a tough industry and it’s hard to be successful but the one’s that are successful have one thing in common: they never gave up.
I agree wholeheartedly!
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
Eve Rabi. She has helped me in enormous ways as an author and I would love to meet her in person and tell her thank you.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Butterfly (Calisa says: That’s not an animal, so we’ll call it one. I love it!)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Winter
Favorite food? Chocolate
Well done! 🙂 So let’s share a bit.
What are you working on now?
A sequel to DAMAGED, titled DESTROYED
What are you sharing today?
Freedom isn’t free.
Staff Sergeant Austin Chandler learned this lesson well. Dealing with the devastating truth that his military career is over, he is discharged from the Marines and returns home from fighting the war in Afghanistan with battle scars he fears will never heal. But the truth is a bitter pill to swallow when he arrives at the airport and realizes his wife has abandoned him when he needed her the most. Broken in body as well as in spirit, Austin suffers not only from the slow-healing scars on his back, but also the wounds that her desertion has left on his troubled heart.
Until a chance encounter with a beautiful artist leaves him wondering if perhaps some things are meant to be. Trisha Morgan has secrets she is desperately wants to hide. With a troubled past and abandonment issues of her own, she fears love only leads to rejection and pain.
But can two wounded souls break through the battered barriers of each other’s hearts?
Where can we find you and your books?
https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-M-Owens-Author-Page-401065116637549/
Where will you be next?
Rosanna Leo
Nicole Strycharz
To celebrate the release of my fourth book this month, I am giving away four copies of my third book DAMAGED! To win a copy, all you have to do is include your email and tell me what you like about military heroes! The best answers will win a copy of DAMAGED.
So don’t forget to leave your preference and email, folks!!!
Thank you so much for playing along, Lisa! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
Adam Mann takes the Round Pen with Calisa Rhose #Tuesdayroundup #mfrwauthor #interview
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Adam Mann, who is sharing his book, Love in the Boondocks with us!
Please show Adam some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy 5-3-4 part of this interview, tell us a bit about you. What made you decide to write romantic fiction and do you find it difficult as a man in a woman’s world so-to-speak?
I have been married four times, as my previous work made it difficult for my wives to live with me. My first wife died, my second could not face the remoteness, my third had to get the marriage annulled as she had forgotten to get divorced, but for the last 20 years I’ve been happily married to a widow with three children, to add to four of my own, and now we have five grandchildren.
My goodness! Now I’m curious what you used to do for a living. 😉
Okay, moving on. I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones.
My writing area at the moment is a cozy chair in the corner of my living room, though I do have a lovely new office hubby remodeled just for me. What does your writing space look like?
I have a large chunk of my bedroom as my office, and in here I control internet WiFi, printer and scanner for the rest of the house. I am not a tidy worker, and tend to have reference books and peppermints scattered in any free space.
I’ve had a couple of “bedroom offices” over the years. For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Not life-shattering. I like writing and usually write 3,000 words a day, so about ten days for a novel, but not every day, say once a month. It also takes a week or two to edit and rewrite the novel, and another few days to decide on and design a cover.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Just put your head down and write. Avoid distractions like children and animals, and even wives who come to clean around you! Granddaughters only excepted from this rule.
Yes, it’s hard to ignore those little ones. LOL The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
I have to spend a lot of my time promoting my books, mainly on Twitter and FaceBook, but also as a guest on blogs like this.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
J K Rawlings – her imagination!
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word.
Favorite animal? Large dog
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Spring
Favorite food? Cheese, toasted mainly
Well done! 🙂
Okay, what are you working on now?
The Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo – a thriller.
What are you sharing today?
Love in the Boondocks:
Kim is divorced by her uncaring husband when she is working in a remote area, but she meets an attractive man and immediately her divorce is finalized she plans to make herself available hopefully for a long term relationship. Fair enough until you consider her working environment, the living conditions, and emotions, not to mention raging hormones!
Where can we find you and your books?
My website: http://www.adammannauthor.com/
Twitter: @adammannauthor
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/676005
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M72IO4W
I live and work in Vietnam. I used to be a specialist in sustainable development working with farmer families in remote areas, but now I’ve retired.
I would be very pleased to give any reader a FREE pdf copy of any of my books, in exchange for an honest review, at either Amazon or Smashwords. Readers can find my author pages on:
https://www.amazon.com/author/adammannauthor.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/adammannauthor.com
Thank you so much for playing along Adam! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come and visit again one day.
You’d be very welcome, but I should warn you that I live in a mountainous area in Vietnam, not too far from the Red River, although our roads are improving.
The scenery there must be amazing! Thank you for sharing Love in the Boondocks with us.
Dodadagohvi~
Note: This book may be slightly more than a level four heat rating, so you might want to buckle up before reading. 😀
Tuesday Round-Up welcomes Barbara Barrett with Keeping it Casual #mfrwauthor #romance
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my talented guest today, Barbara Barrett, who is sharing Keeping It Casual with us!
Please show Barbara some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the questions, please, tell us a bit about you.
Thank you, Calisa, for the warm welcome to the Ranch.
A little bit about me. I lived most of my life in Iowa, and since I’ve retired, I now spend my winters in Florida just outside the Disney Parks and my summers in Iowa. I started my college career majoring in anthropology, but when I realized I’d have to do field work to gain higher degrees in this area—you know, tents, bugs, no air conditioning, no Diet Coke—I switched my major to American History. My plan was to teach at the community college level once I received my Masters Degree, but when I could only get hired on a part-time basis, I took a job in human resources management with Iowa State government, although we called it Personnel Administration back then. My husband and I were both floor counselors in the dorm system our senior year in college. I met him in sensitivity training. The class focused on non-verbal communication. The thought freaked my future husband, so he spent his time making faces. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed at that point. It took running into him a few more times to convince me this was the guy for me. We now have two grown children and eight grandchildren.
When I’m not working in my lovely new office upstairs, my writing area is my easy chair in the living room. What does your writing space look like?
My writing space is my own private retreat in both locations. Both are comfy with either a loveseat or sofa for relaxing when breaks are needed. The walls of both are filled with pictures and items that are special to me. Framed photos of three of my favorite authors, Nora Roberts, Linda Howard and Janet Evanovich, stare down at me and provide motivation in my Florida office. I gaze out on six palm trees in the courtyard below. In Iowa, I look out on a boulevard. All day I see people walking their dogs, parents and grandparents with strollers and kids and adults on bikes, roller skates and skateboards. I love to watch all the activity. Some of the teapots and teacups I’ve collected over the years adorn two sets of wall shelves. Since it is just my husband and me, I enjoy long periods of uninterrupted writing time, which I cherish. But if I have to, I can be mobile with my writing space, since I use a laptop.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Most of my books have experienced more than one title prior to publication. I needed to get into the book, maybe even finish the first draft, before the essence I wanted to convey in the title came to me. I struggled naming the first book in my “Sullivan’s Creek” series. It features two architects with very different approaches to design who are forced to work together. At first, I focused too much on their occupation; I kept trying to find catchy ways to use “Blueprint.” Finally, I realized what really brings them together is the Salsa dancing class they teach together so they can learn more about their target audience, baby boomers. Once I came up with Saved by the Salsa, I’d set my course for the next two books in the series. I had my two titles before I had any stories for them. Tough Enough to Tango was released last year and Not Your Mama’s Mambo should be released later this year. But here’s a caveat: as much as I love those titles, finding covers has been a challenge.
My latest release, Keeping It Casual, just came to me, because that’s the whole point of the story, until the H/H realize what they have with each other is much more than casual. It was originally going to be titled The Escape Clause, because the first book in the series was titled The Sleepover Clause and I wanted “clause” to be in each title. But that just didn’t work for the second book. I wanted something “sexy” but not overtly sensational. After much thought, I finally arrived at Seduction on Wheels rather than The Travel Clause. I probably agonized over that one and Salsa the most.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
From others, never stop learning. With yourself, never stop analyzing your own work.
I recently attended a Michael Hauge workshop at the RWA Annual Conference in San Diego. I’ve heard him speak before on more than one occasion, but this time his words and writing advice struck me differently because I had more writing experience under my belt. When I returned home, I reread my current work in progress and, thanks to his class, realized why this manuscript wasn’t resonating with me. I didn’t need to rewrite the story, but I did need to add more depth to my characters. His advice was invaluable.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Don’t I wish I knew, but I’ll give this a shot. First, every writer needs to determine for herself what “success” means to her: having a bestseller, making lots of money, getting published, seeing your name online somewhere. I’m still at the point in my career when a heartfelt fan letter is much appreciated. I don’t need to know that I changed someone’s life, but it’s wonderful to learn that for the space of time it took them to read one of my books, they learned something or applied something I wrote to their own life or, and this is my favorite, I made them laugh.
I write because I have to write…for myself. It gives me great joy to bring my imagination to life on the computer screen. Every book is a journey that starts with a protagonist desiring something they don’t have or cannot do without overcoming what at the start appears to be an insurmountable challenge, and it’s up to me to guide them to a satisfactory end.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
For romance novels, I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet Kathleen Woodiwiss. I never imagined myself writing a romance novel until I read Shana and then The Flame and the Flower. Yes, she wrote of damsels in distress who needed the strong alpha male to help them save themselves, but she also conveyed deep emotion that touched the heart and made you want to root for the heroine up until the last page. And to be frank, her sex scenes struck another kind of note that made you keep reading long after midnight.
For mystery novels, I would have liked to meet Dame Agatha Christie. Where Woodiwiss focused on emotion, Christie highlighted the cerebral. Figuring out whodunit before the end of one of her mysteries was a favorite pastime, because her heroes, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, in particular, used their “little gray cells” to discern motive and then apply it to means and opportunity to solve the case. I’m more a fan of the mystery than the suspense or thriller.
It’s time for some fun! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? spring
Favorite food? pizza
Well done! J So let’s share a bit.
What are you working on now?
Not Your Mama’s Mambo is currently in galley stage and hopefully will be out before Christmas because it ends on that holiday. I’m also working on a new series, yet to be named, that features different types of cable interest shows.
What are you sharing today?
Today I’m sharing from Keeping It Casual.
Talent manager Alex Appleby needs Geoff McKenna’s help. Her vicious client is threatening the reputation of Alex’s television-star father if Alex can’t convince her stepsister to go along with the client’s demand. Alex turns to Geoff to make the case to her sister.
Geoff has his own proposition for Alex. Thus far, his case of multiple sclerosis has been mild, but he’s unsure of his future. When his girlfriend pushes for a stronger commitment, he enlists Alex as his new pretend love interest so his girlfriend will break things off.
When they discover they actually are attracted to each other, they agree to keep things casual, since Alex is only in town briefly and Geoff isn’t interested in anything serious. But fate intervenes as their feelings deepen. Alex must decide whether to relocate to Iowa from LA, and Geoff must place faith in his future.
Excerpt:
Around a hundred miles, he turned onto I-29 to go north.
He pulled off at the first exit and headed for a fast food place. This had been fun. Best time he’d had in days. He sat back and slapped his thighs.
Alex returned an “I-told-you-so” look.
In response, without giving it further thought, he gripped her shoulders, brought her toward him, and kissed her.
When he released her, she breathed out, “That was unexpected.”
“For me, too. But not at all unpleasant.”
She remained only inches away, her breath grazing his face. Her eyes didn’t leave his. Without uttering a word, she invited him to return to the scene of the crime. So he did. Big time.
When she didn’t back away, he increased the pressure on her mouth, drew her closer, his arms encasing her, his right hand massaging her back. His left hand remained at her waist, awaiting its destination.
Though spontaneous—yeah, there’d been some kind of vibes going on since Pella, but it wasn’t like they’d been flirting or engaged in more serous sexual byplay—neither seemed shocked nor turned off by their actions. It was like they’d both been waiting for some sign from the other since the day they first met.
When had he last made out in a car? Not since college. Maybe even high school. Forgotten how the intimacy of front seat lip lock could give a guy such guilty pleasure. Could send his insides into overdrive, even in broad daylight.
Broad daylight. Right. Get control of yourself, man.
Where can we find you and your books?
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2aXZvG9 (This is new and could use your likes.)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/bbarrettbooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/barbarabarrett7/
Buylinks:
The Wild Rose Press (paperback)
Amazon (digital) Amazon (paperback)
Where will you be next?
August 31, www.zarawestsuspense.com/blog
September 9, Nancy Fraser Blog, “Reading Other Genres”
September 12, Burlington Community Library, 3-4 p.m.
November 17, Authors Bare All, www.casimclean.com
Here’s a question from me to your readers: For a romance novel (steamy but not high heat) what grabs your attention on the cover that gets you to read the book?
Thank you so much for playing along, Barbara! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents ~ Shatterproof by KK Weil #mfrwauthor #tuesdayroundup
Osiyo~
Welcome KK Weil to the round pen today! She’s sharing her new book, Shatterproof, and I’m asking her a few random questions. KK also has a special offer at the end.
Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I’m very excited to be here.
I’m thrilled to have you! Let’s get started.
What is your writing routine?
As soon as my kids leave for school, my computer goes on. My coffee sits next to me and if the weather is nice, I either work outside or open all my windows. Fresh air inspires me. Usually, I take care of any “business” first, like social media or communications with other authors. After that, I dive into writing. What that means depends on the day. It might be picking up where I left off and spewing out tons of words or maybe I just go over what I did the day before and tweak it. Of course I find the days when I get more pages out to be more productive, but both kinds of days are necessary. I work until the kids come home, which often means losing track of time and neglecting everything else that needs to be done. And then my computer goes back on when they go to sleep.
Which comes first for you—plot or characters?
It depends. For my first book, At This Stage, I knew the premise of the plot before anything else. I developed my characters around what I wanted to happen in the story. In my new release, Shatterproof, my hero, Griffin is a character from the first book. I fell in love with him while I was writing At This Stage, and I knew I wanted to give him his own story. Shatterproof developed entirely around Griffin, so in that case, character definitely came first. In the book I’m working on now, I started with a general idea of the plot, but was having some trouble with my heroine. Then I used a character sketch to get to know her better and then everything started flowing like magic.
What aspect of writing comes easy to you? What is difficult?
For me, the most natural part of writing is the story development. I absolutely love creating something from nothing and every time plots come together in ways I didn’t initially expect, I get very excited. I tend to write about sensitive subjects, so I guess I’d have to say the hardest part is how to handle them. For example, a large part of Shatterproof is about how Griffin deals with his anger towards his mother for staying in an abusive relationship for years. I really wanted to capture what he was going through, while making it clear that the feelings were his as a product of that household, and not mine as a writer. It can be tricky.
What was your first writing piece and where is it now?
I’ve always written, so I couldn’t name my first piece. But my first “full length book” – which would have to be judged by how many pages it took up in a marble composition notebook – was about twin girls. One good, one, bad, naturally. And the trouble they got into. I think I wrote it in Junior High. I still have it, tucked away in my basement, in a duffle bag filled with old stories I’ve written.
Where in the world would you want to visit (all in the name of research, of course) and why?
My number-one dream destination is, without a doubt, Australia. I’ve actually had my itinerary planned for years, because one day, it will happen. There are so many things I want to see there. The opera house and the beautiful Great Barrier Reef are at the top of my list. But above all, I want to visit the outback, Ayer’s Rock and learn about the Aborigines. I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place to take my family. And imagine the stories it would inspire!
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry and why?
Margaret Atwood. (https://twitter.com/MargaretAtwood1) To me, she is the queen of dystopian fiction, one of my favorite genres. I’d do anything to pick her brain.
Favorite movie and why?
I have so many, and they truly change with my mood. But two of my all-time favorites are Bullworth and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, because I love satire.
Salty, sweet, or both?
Salty, salty salty. Except if you’re offering me a peanut butter cup.
Shatterproof Blurb
Griffin Stone knows the stats. Sons of abusers become abusers. This is his single fear.
After witnessing firsthand his parents’ tumultuous marriage, Griffin worries that he, too, harbors an explosive dark side. Can he escape from his father’s rage-fueled ways or is he destined to become part of the cycle?
Unable to persuade his mother to leave and wrestling with his resentment towards her for staying, Griffin volunteers at Holly’s House, a safe haven for abused women. Through sculpture, Griffin gives these women pieces of themselves they’ve long forgotten. Holly’s House is the only place where Griffin finds peace and purpose.
Until he meets Frankie Moore.
Frankie is an aspiring photographer, finding beauty in things most people miss, including Griffin. Griffin is attracted to her free-spirited, sassy attitude but fears Frankie will trigger the most intense part of him, the one he must keep buried.
Frankie’s got to get her act together. Her anything-goes behavior is leading nowhere fast. She’s hopeful that her latest hobby will be a building block for the future. But when a stranger appears on the other end of her camera, looking as complex as he is handsome, Frankie thinks this might be just the change she needs.
Shatterproof Excerpt
“You need to grow up, Griffin,” my father spat at me. “Life isn’t perfect. You need to get over it and move on. Your mother can. She’s happy with me and whatever we have between us is our business, not yours. Grow the hell up, and start acting like a man instead of a petulant child.”
Heat shot through my body at lightning speed. “Act like a man—like you?” I shouted. “What should I do, go pick some amazing woman who’s full of life and beat it out of her until she can’t even recognize herself any more, until she can’t even differentiate between love and pain? Is that what a man does, Dad? Is that what I should do?”
My father broke into a smile. An evil, condescending, terrifying smile. “You think you’re so different from me?” He hovered over me. His tone was sinister, as if he was trying to cut through my skin with nothing but his voice. “Get up.” He yanked my arm and pulled me by the elbow into the bathroom. He grabbed the back of my head and forced me to face the mirror. “Look at yourself, Griffin. And look at me. Everything about you comes from me. You may deny it now. You may put yourself on a pedestal, thinking you’re above being human, but just know that the fire inside you, that’s my fire. That passion, it’s mine. And when you have an uncontrollable desire to love, to hurt, to possess a woman, it’s from me. Nothing is yours alone. Even this face.” He snagged my chin between his strong fingers. I tried to yank it away from his grasp, but he held on too tight. “It’s mine. And there’s nothing you can do about it. You can try to mask it in this mess of hair and clothes and tattoos you have going on, but know that every time a woman falls in love with that face, every time she says she can’t resist you because of it, every time she can’t walk away from you…it’s because of me. It’s because you are me. We. Are. The. Same.” He released my chin with a shove and left the bathroom.
Author Bio:
Instead of telling you how I’ve always loved to write (which is true) or how I dabbled in different genres for years while I was a teacher, before I took it up full-time (also true), I’d like to let you get to know me a little.
I love trying all different foods. I enjoy everything from street meat to decadent delicacies. When I travel, I pester the locals for restaurant recommendations, off the beaten path. Having said that, I am a savory fan. I don’t have a sweet tooth. I’d much rather have another bite of dinner and one more glass of wine that save room for dessert. There is one exception to this rule. Reese’s peanut butter cups. Sometimes I think I love those more than I love my children. I’m kidding. Maybe.
I’m left handed. I blame my horrendous handwriting on this, even though I don’t really believe they’re related. Everything in this world is built for and by righties. (Ever try using a can opener with your left hand?) So when I meet another left-handed person, I feel an immediate bond to her, like we’re in this special club. A club founded on being inconvenienced. When I was young, I was desperate for my sister to be a leftie like me. So even though she grabbed things with her right hand, I’d quickly switch them to her left. Now she’s ambidextrous.
I always save the best of everything for last. It’s a compulsion. I don’t like pizza crust very much, so I eat it first. I tear it off, piece by piece (I don’t bite the slice backwards. I’m not a Neanderthal, for God’s sake), until there’s just a little bit left in the center. I use this as a handle.
I have an irrational fear of lice, bedbugs and any other insect that can become an infestation.
I prefer beaches over grass, heels over flats, dramas over comedies, coffee over tea, night over morning and fall over spring.
She sounds interesting, doesn’t she? Check out:
Shatterproof, a New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Amazon http://amzn.com/B015UESACU
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shatterproof-k-…/1122695550…
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/shatterproof
The Wild Rose Press http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v1…/index.php…
Follow Me
Website: http://www.kkweil.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KKWeilAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KK_WEIL
Blog: KKWeil.blogspot.com
I have one leftie (of my three girls) and teaching her was a challenge in a lot of ways as she grew up, since I’m a rightie. She’s ambidextrous also, mostly because she was right handed until a nine foot fall when she was almost 2 that rewired her brain some. Thank you for visiting the Ranch and sharing your work and yourself, KK!
For a chance to win a copy of one of her books, tell KK if you are a rightie, or a leftie. 🙂
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents ~ A Demon’s Witch by Tena Stetler
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Tena Stetler, who is sharing her book, A Demon’s Witch with us! Don’t you think the cover is YUMMY?
Please show Tena some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy 5-3-4 part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
Tena Stetler is a paranormal romance author with an over-active imagination. She wrote her first vampire romance at the age of twelve, to the delight of her friends and the chagrin of her mother. Tena finds stories in the strangest places, while camping, kayaking, or hiking in the mountains. So far, she’s only found one dead body (imagined not real) during a camping trip, turned it into an exciting paranormal romantic suspense that’s nearly complete.
For many years Tena worked as a paralegal for a criminal law firm. Talk about dry uncreative writing. You won’t believe the tales she can tell! Then she tried her hand at IT and Office Management for an electrical contracting firm. She’d honed her writing skills throughout her careers, and finally, the stories just wouldn’t wait. Tena dusted off and polished up one of her WIP, A Demon’s Witch and at a friend’s insistence she submitted it to The Wild Rose Press, the rest is history.
Colorado is her home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-year-old box turtle. She loves the adventure of a road trip. Together with her husband and their companion animals, they have logged thousands of miles in their RV visiting over 3/4 of the United States. The great northeast and Alaska are still on the bucket list.
Any winter evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn.
Okay, I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones. My writing area at the moment is a corner of the living room. What does your writing space look like?
I have a small office in my home, pictured below. It has all my stuff where I need it. I have a table top computer, but sometimes just use my little pink laptop, so I can carry it out to the sunroom when the mood strikes. I love to hear the birds singing and the fresh air wafting through all the open windows.
So organized! I love it. 🙂 For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
So far my characters have introduced themselves to me with their name. The titles seem to come to me in the middle of the night, so I keep a pen and paper on the nightstand. Stories come to me like that too sometimes. Makes for a rough night’s sleep. <grin>
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Hone your craft. Attend writers conferences, try your hand at Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO), check out workshops offered through RWA, Pikes Peak Writers and other online venues.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
Heaven only knows, and their not telling. Writing the best book possible, submit, write and then do it all over again. I do think luck has a hand in it too. Also networking with authors both self-published and traditionally, publishers, agents, etc. Above all, keep writing. Check out all avenues available to you. Remember if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
Nora Roberts, I grew up reading her books. And James Patterson. He built a publishing empire. I’ve read articles about how he did it, but I’ve still got questions.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Moose
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall
Favorite food? Pizza!
Well done! 🙂 Haven’t had anyone choose moose as a fave animal. Cool!
Okay, Flash four. Ready? What are you working on now?
Polishing the next book in the Demon’s Witch series, A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance, getting it ready to submit.
What are you sharing today?
A Demon’s Witch
Blurb:
Keeping a lid on all the paranormal beings inhabiting Washington D.C. is a daunting job. Bruce, a six hundred year old demon and the Territory Overlord of the Western Hemisphere, keeps his finger on the pulse of DC’s power players through the activities at his highly successful Wycked Hair Salon. His movie star good looks and body builder physique keeps his dance card full and the rumor mills running. Within these walls, his anonymity is safe, mostly.
Bruce’s world spins out of control when Angelique, a pint size, gorgeous witch, with an attitude breezes through the doors of his salon. She is the younger sister of Tristian, Bruce’s long time trusted enforcer, whose professional skills are second to none. Tristian is furious at the relationship between Bruce and Angelique, a dangerous situation. The undeniable attraction between demon and witch promises to tear apart both their professional and personal worlds.
Excerpt:
Suddenly, he felt the magic aura shift and switched his attention to the front door. She breezed in, hair like spun gold flowing to her waist, with a seductive yet regal body and a sway to her hips that should be illegal even in DC. She wore a snug rose and cream colored sweater, cut low enough he could see the swells of her rounded breasts, tailored black slacks that fit her cute ass like a glove and four-inch spike heels. She paused in the center of the salon, wet from the sudden spring storm, and lowered the briefcase she’d used as an umbrella. Her sparkling violet eyes glanced up to the mezzanine where Bruce stood watching. Blatantly her gaze wandered over his well-muscled body, undressing him piece by piece, until he felt naked. He shook his head slightly and smoothed his shirt and slacks with his hand, just to make sure he was still wearing them.
On the first floor, Owen, a stocky well-muscled man of slightly over six foot, with thick silver hair that fell to his shoulders, smiled and stepped toward her holding out a large towel. “Mother Nature frown on you?” His dark amber eyes twinkled as he watched water pool at her feet.
“It would seem so.” She grinned and took the towel, dried off then knelt down to wipe up the puddle.
“Don’t worry about it.” Owen snapped his fingers. Mia came from the back room with a wheeled bucket and a mop. “It’s been one of those mornings.” He reached out, took the towel from her, and handed it to Mia. “Now, what can I do for you?”
Where can we find you and your books?
Website: http://www.tenastetler.com/
Buy links for A Demon’s Witch.
Amazon – http://amzn.com/B014BVSZIC
The Wild Rose Press http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=1264
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-demon-s-witch
Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-demons-witch-tena-stetler/1122560853?ean=2940151032469
Where will you be next?
Casi Mclean’s Author’s Bare All. http://casimclean.com/authors-bare-all/ and I am participating in The Romance Review’s Year End Splash where a reader can win an e-book of A Demon’s Witch http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php
On December 8th, I have an interview with Abigail Owen on her blog http://abigailowen.com/blog/
Finally, I’d like to know what makes readers pick a certain book. Is it the author, the cover or what?
Thank you so much for playing along, Tena! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
I write contemporary and paranormal romance, with sensuality as the key ingredient and spice for kick.
Pen of The Dreamer 