Showing posts with label author interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author interview. Show all posts
Friday, March 15, 2013
@KrystalShannan Interviews - NYT Best Selling Author Jayne Rylon #giveaway
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Saturday, March 9, 2013
Krystal Shannan Interviews - Melissa Hosack
Please Welcome Melissa Hosack to the blog! So excited to get to know a new friend better.
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Melissa Hosack. I live near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my husband, Jeremy, and our son, Marshall Frost, who is three years old.
Did you always want to be an author? What made you choose to write romance?
I wrote my first short story in the second grade, so yes, I’ve always wanted to be an author. My initial love for writing grew when I won a writing competition in fifth grade to work with author Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna. It was a truly amazing experience that has stuck with me.
I write in a plethora of genres, my recent release 12 being an action/adventure, but I always come back around to romance. There is just something fulfilling about girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, boy turns out to be a demon. I write mainly paranormal romance, because I love the mix of danger and sexual tension.
What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
My absolute favorite part of being an author is feedback from people who have read my work. I love getting those random email compliments. Just last week, my husband was reading over a chapter of something I’m working on during his lunch break. It’s a sequel to my novel Deadly Encounters of the Supernatural Kind. One of his female co-workers asked what he was doing. When she found out, she was jealous as could be that he was getting to find out what happened to characters after the mini-cliffhanger ending of the first book. That is my favorite thing, hands down, knowing readers appreciate my projects.
Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?
My most recent release Stupid Cupid is a loosely related follow-up to my story Saving Santa. It follows another holiday character – Cupid. He’s the king of matching others with their soul mates, but he’s lacking one of his own. After centuries of pairing others, he’s resigned himself to the single life. That is until Lincoln shows up unexpectedly in his house.
Turning thirty is a depressing affair for Lincoln Belmonte. Thirty wouldn’t seem quite so bad if she wasn’t single, lonely, and a world away from her projected plans. She’d expected to have a husband and children at this point in her life. Instead, she spends her evenings in solitude.
Staring down the burning candles on her cake, Lincoln makes the wish to be able to tell off Cupid. She wants answers from the man who has caused her to be jilted in love time and time again. Feeling better after her silly wish, she puts it to the back of her mind.
The next morning, Lincoln wakes up in an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar bed. A little birthday magic saw it fit to bring her together with the man responsible for all of her problems. She is rewarded with the chance to take out her frustrations on the Valentine’s Day holiday figurehead – Cupid. Only once she meets Cupid, whose name is actually Valen, Lincoln can’t decide if she wants to give him a piece of her mind or seduce him.
Here's a peek at Meeting Cupid...
As she approached the door in front of her, Lincoln heard the unmistakable sound of a kitchen. Whoever was on the other side of the door was cooking and seemingly having a really good time of it.
A male voice belted an oldies tune accompanied by the clang of pots and pans.
In disbelief, she pushed open the kitchen door and tiptoed inside. The man whose tenor filled the room had his back to her, but he was good looking even from this angle.
His shoulders rippled with muscles beneath a fitted black t-shirt. His jeans were so tight, it was impossible not to stare at his backside. He had a gorgeous mane of shoulder length blond hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Lincoln stared transfixed. Her kidnapper was not only rich, he was good looking. As confusion whirled through her mind, the man finally turned around, drawing a gasp from her throat.
Violet eyes dominated a masculine face. His cheekbones were high, his jaw sharp and prominent. And he looked completely pissed off at her presence. “Vandal!” he accused loudly.
“Kidnapper!” Lincoln shot back.
“No good, thieving…what?” He’d been stomping in her direction with ill intent when her accusation seemed to sink in.
“No good, kidnapping…stud.” She blinked at her choice of description.
“Kidnapping stud?” the man roared in incredulity. “I didn’t kidnap you!”
“Then why am I here?”
He gave a derisive snort. “You tell me, honey. I have no idea.”
Lincoln frowned at that. As much as she wanted to peg him as the bad guy, it didn’t make much sense for him to kidnap her. He was obviously wealthy, and he was extremely good looking. Why would he need to kidnap a thirty-year-old bachelorette?
Apparently sensing her confusion, the man let out his breath in a put upon sigh. “What’s the last thing you remember?”
“The last thing I remember is going to sleep,” Lincoln said slowly, “in my own bed.” There was a bit of sting to the second half of her sentence. As unlikely of a kidnapper as he was, she still found it hard to believe she could have wound up here without his interference.
Mr. Yummy turned his back on her and returned to his cooking. “Did anything unusual happen last night?”
At his unthreatening demeanor, Lincoln shrugged as she slid into a seat at the kitchen table. “Not really. I went out with a few friends to celebrate my birthday.”
“Were you drunk?” He reached above his head into a cabinet to pull down two plates.
She gave him a sour look. “I’m thirty, not twenty-one. I had cake. Period.”
“No ice cream?” he asked with surprise.
“No.” She gave him a peculiar look behind his back. “For your information, I don’t really care for ice cream.”
“Then you’re not eating it right.”
Lincoln gave him a dirty look but chose not to comment.
The man turned from the stove with two plates of food in his hands. Making his way over, he placed one in front of her before sliding into the seat across the table. “What did you wish for?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You said you had cake. I’m assuming there were candles and singing as well. What did you wish for?” He arched a brow in question and held a fork out to her.
“That is none of your business. A wish is personal.” Despite her defensive comment and haughty tone, she snatched the fork from him.
“Come on,” he wheedled as he shoveled a forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. “A wish can be a very powerful thing. Let me hear it.”
Lincoln lifted a slice of bacon from her plate and stared at him over it. “Oh, all right,” she finally said with a huff. “I wished I could meet Cupid, so I could tell him what a jerk he is to his face.” She rolled her eyes with a snort. “I wanted to tell him off.”
He was suddenly choking on his food. He grabbed for the carton of orange juice in the center of the table and downed half of it in three long gulps. Coughing, he pounded at his chest. “That’s quite the wish,” he finally managed to wheeze out.
Do you plot and outline or do you just write? Plotter or Pantser?
I’m more of a pantser. I give my characters the reigns and let them write the story themselves. I have a basic idea of the outcome, but how I get there isn’t mapped out. More interesting stuff happens when I feel less boxed in with where to go.
Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?
My first short story was through a tiny epublishing company who shortly after went out of business. It ended up being a total bust, but it was a good lesson. It taught me to be a little more patient with where I send things.
What advice would you give new authors? What have you learned about the business?
My advice to new authors is to not get discouraged. Rejection letters are a part of this business. It’s something we’ve all dealt with and have more than a few of. If you get rejected, take the advice to heart. Read back through your story and fix up the weak areas. Edit. Edit. Edit. Then submit your story to someone else. Just because one person doesn’t like it that doesn’t mean it isn’t any good.
Do you have another book in the works?
I am working on a few projects. I mentioned above the sequel to Deadly Encounters of the Supernatural Kind. The second installment is called Supernatural Kid on the Block. It follows Camden, the wacky best friend. The zany, awkward sidekick finds himself mixed up with a dangerous group of fire-breathing dragons. It’s up to him to handle the predicament he’s gotten himself into.
What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?
I am a big sports fan. Right now, life revolves around the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. I also enjoy spending time with my son, who apparently is adopting hockey as his pastime as well. His first words to me this morning were, “Is it time to make pancakes and watch hockey?” I’m becoming more ‘mom like’, because recently I’ve tackled a few sewing projects as well as found an interest in baking. Other obsessions of mine are the television shows The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.
Where do you dream of going on vacation?
I would love to go to Germany. I speak a little German and would enjoy the opportunity to learn some more and test out what I know. It would be an amazing experience.
Boxers or Briefs? Boxers
Cookies or cake? Cookies.
Pizza or hamburger? Hamburger.
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? Mixed drinks. The fruitier the better.
Find Melissa @
Be sure to leave a comment with your email! Melissa has generously offered to give a randomly drawn winner a copy of both Saving Santa and Stupid Cupid!!!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Krystal Shannan Features - RT Wolfe
Welcome RT Wolfe back to the blog! So glad to have you back!
Tell us a little about yourself.
Thank you, Krystal. I’m thrilled to be back on your beautiful blog. You’ve done an amazing job with it! I am the author of the Black Creek Series set in beautiful upstate New York. I enjoy creating diverse characters and twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance.
It’s not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in my candy dish, my Golden Retriever at my feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on my counters. I love my family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found viewing a flyover of migrating Whooping cranes.
Did you always want to be an author?
I’ll always say that writing found me. I did not go looking for it. I’m not sure what made me type out the first few lines of Black Creek Burning. It wasn’t my style. Two lines turned into two pages that turned into two hundred pages and more. It was like crack cocaine and I’m never going back. The process, the research, the editing, the hours in one spot (7,500 words in one seven-hour sitting at Panera is my record), I completely love it all. The book has earned a 4.8 star average on Amazon and has been featured on the USA Today Happy Ever After blog. I’m so incredibly blessed.
What made you choose to write romance?
There are other genres? LOL
What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
Ugh. That’s a hard one. My favorite? I would say it is when a reader messages me to tell me they are holding their eyelids up with toothpicks because they couldn’t put down my book. So kind!
Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?
Flying in Shadows is Book 2 in the Black Creek Series. Book 1 is more of a prequel to books 2 and 3.
Andrew Reed grew up with an instinctual need to keep an eye on his best friend. Not that Rose couldn’t take care of herself. Wild and sassy, she could hold her own in a fight, yet turn on a dime to volunteer at the local zoo or animal shelter. It wasn’t until later in life when Andy discovered his instincts were well founded.
Rosemarie Piper spent much of her life hidden from a brutal past she didn’t know she had. As the most upcoming conservation biologist in the Northeast, Rose works to find common ground with her passion to preserve nature’s creatures and the fact that the love of her life turned into a builder and land developer.
Little do either of them know their differences in life choices won’t be the only thing that works to keep them apart. When the violence from Rose’s past discovers her existence, she and Andy fight not only to keep their love together but to keep Rose alive.
Here is an excerpt…
Walking in the dark, Andy readjusted his tackle box. Moonlight shone on the dark ripples creeping down Black Creek. He spotted a raccoon as he crossed the bridge. Startled, the animal hissed at him. Andy stomped his foot and hissed back; he was in no mood for it.
In his peripheral vision, he saw movement Larger movement. A man? The shape disappeared as quickly as Andy imagined it. When you let yourself get this worked up, you start seeing things, he chided himself.
He needed Rose.
She would calm him down and lighten his mood, help him feel normal again. He looked at his watch and winced. What were friends for if you couldn't count on them to be there? Even at this time of night. Or morning.
* * *
Rose slept soundly in her twin bed dreaming of her favorite spot at the zoo. In the small rain forest building, she allowed a newly emerged monarch butterfly to dry its wings on her apron while sharing facts about the insect to one of two visiting young boys. The other threw pebbles into the nearby wishing pond. The sound of the small rocks plunked as they hit the stone wall before dropping into the water.
Oh, crap. She woke and sat up straight. The plunking noise came from outside, not in her head.
Heart in her throat, she ripped off her blankets and hustled across the hard floor to the window. It was still pitch-black out.
Grabbing the flashlight she always kept on the windowsill, Rose paused for moment. She shook her head assuring herself it was Andy and lifted the window. She found him with the beam as she hissed loudly, “I thought you didn’t get home until tomorrow.”
"It is tomorrow." He held up fishing poles and tackle box.
"It's not tomorrow until the sun comes up." Tugging on a pair of jeans, Rose smiled wildly to herself. This reaction she had to Andy Reed had to stop. It was not healthy.
"I've got the worms." he called. "Get down here."
Flying in Shadows purchase links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/XtK6Lw
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/XZxMTf
Do you plot and outline or do you just write? Plotter or Pantser?
I try to be a plotter. I am a plotter in other areas of my life. But the characters are constantly pulling me away and making me re-outline. I don’t mind.
Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?
After many queries and submissions, I was offered a contract by a smaller publishing company. That didn’t work out and I was able to get my rights back (that actually hardly ever happens). I am now with ePublishing Works and loving the intelligent, data-driven work and marketing through this company.
What advice would you give new authors?
In the words of my aspiring author friend, Kate Bateman, “Finish the damn book.” LOL The biggest obstacle I see in new authors is the guts to finish. I won’t say it’s easy, but it’s worth it!
I absolutely agree!
What have you learned about the business?
Such a thought-provoking question. I’ve learned it mostly not true. What I mean is I know of quality self-published author works and truly awful published novels. The traditional standards of the publishing world are IMO still heavy-laden on authors. I see unconventional publishing companies such as Entangled and ePublishing Works who are proving to be highly successful and author-friendly but are looked down upon because … well … they are unconventional. Interesting.
The square pegs in a round world! LOL!
Do you have another book in the works?
I do, Krystal. Thank you for asking. Book 3 in the Black Creek Series is tentatively set to be released April 1st. I had barely gotten it to my editor before three more series were buzzing holes in my head. Decisions.
What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?
I have three boys who are swimmers. I spend many nights and weekends traveling around the Midwest attending their meets. I can often be found in bleachers with my laptop in my lap. I love working my golden retriever, could spend days upon days in my gardens and love learning about nature.
Where do you dream of going on vacation?
Right now, I need to get to a beach on the east coast. One of the series buzzing those holes in my head features a conservation biologist who specializes in the protection of sea turtles and a rogue deep sea treasure hunter. Fun.
Boxers or Briefs?
Boxer-briefs. Sorry, I know that cheating.
Cookies or cake?
Completely cookies. I gave up sweets for Lent. Trying not to think about it!
Pizza or hamburger?
Pizza with the works! This is not a sweet. Whoop!
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink?
Budweiser. Bottle. Not Bud Light. Red wine when I’m being healthy.
(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Andy: Rose was five-years old, bossy, rude and cussed like a sailor!
Rose: Andy was a pansy. I taught him better.
What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Andy: Rose is a survivor. But she shares her nature of survival with those less able to fight for themselves, mostly the endangered animals she adores.
Rose: Andy can talk his way in and out of just about any situation. I wish I had that skill. I guess Andy has stepped in for me with his thousand watt smile and quick tongue, like with Whooping crane reserve land and that time in grade school when I got in the ‘spat’ with the boys on the playground? Yeah, he’s handy alright.
What are your plans for the near future?
Andy: Win the girl and keep her alive!
Rose: I’m too busy to think about anything but my work. Eagle bandings, presentations, protests, the care of injured animals. I don’t have to time to plan for anything, especially my broken heart.
Be sure to leave a comment. RT Wolfe will draw a random commenter for a free digital copy of Flying in the Shadows!!! No Email = No entry
Where to find you @
Websites, Blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, etc.
R.T. Wolfe Website/Newletter: http://www.rtwolfe.com
Flying in Shadows book trailer: http://bit.ly/11wALc1
R.T. Twitter Handle: http://www.twitter.com/RT_Wolfe
R.T. Wolfe Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/RTWolfe2012
R.T. Wolfe on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RTWolfe
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
@KrystalShannan Interviews - Natalie Gibson #pnr
Please help me welcome the fabulous Natalie Gibson to the blog today. She is a wonderful storyteller and I just adore her Book of Sinnis Series.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I try to do something a little different, share something new with each one of these I do. I don't want to have the same author bio cut and pasted in a million different places, though I would love to have my name in a million places! I am Natalie Gibson, 34 years old, married, with one daughter. I have a regular 9-5 making home loans. I started writing Ishtar Bound during my maternity leave almost 5 years ago. It took me 2 years to write that first book. I have sped up the process since then. I wrote 3 books last year and 3 short stories. I plan to write 3 books and at least 5 short stories this year. I had a near obsession with paperbacks until my kindle took over. It's like any other addiction, I guess. It always escalates, moving to harder and harder stuff. I love the ease with which I can buy books on my kindle and the secrecy I can enjoy them in. No more bright pink or swarthy man laden covers being seen and judged by cashiers for this gal.
Did you always want to be an author?
I did not, but I always had a great love of reading. I was often found with my nose in a book between classes when others were flirting and primping. I am a performer at heart. I have a BFA from UT Austin with a specialization in classical acting. As a kid I was always putting on shows and just plain showing off. I did child versions of comedy stand-up where I told funny stories. I did write and had much encouragement to continue but it wasn't until later that I discovered my love of writing.
What made you choose to write romance?
Easy – Christine Feehan. I was going through a bad time in my life after college. My husband (now Ex for almost 10 years) had moved me for his job and I had no one and nothing. I went to a used book store and tripped over a display for her Dark Series. I bought one after another as they came out. I fell in love with paranormal romance with its grand adventure, passionate sex, and overwhelming need to be together and save the world from evil. It was just what I needed at the time. I read romance almost exclusively now. It is a great escape. I write it because it is what I like to read. I will admit to another reason for starting with it – volume. People who read romance read more books on average than lovers of other genres. Romance readers demand high volume. It is easier to get a following with romance, from what I have seen, though my historical horror is getting a bit of attention now.
What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
Writing. I am a god in the worlds I create. I create a world, a mythos, and then put people (who I also create) in that, bound by laws, subjected to extreme situations and desires, given great gifts or trials, and then see what they do. I love every second of it.
Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?
I actually have quite a few books. My Sinnis Series is my baby. Ishtar Bound is the first book I ever wrote (and the third, fourth and fifth with all of the total rewrites). All kinds of things inspire me to write: a daydream, a night dream, a memory, a good read, a bad read, a song...
The Sinnis Series is my first attempt to combine the elements I enjoy in a good read: action, adventure, magic, mystery, romance and racy sex. They are all for mature readers only. Please do not purchase or read if you are under 18 years of age.
The Daughters of Women is a secret order of magical adepts, each with abilities granted to them from their mother's bloodlines. Some will be, and some will give birth to Sinnis, a generation bound to an ancient race of men they call Guardians, the Nephilim. They are half men, half gods with mysterious abilities of their own. Their complex mental camouflage keeps them out of the thoughts of others, memory of their faces and names fading the moment they leave.
Veil of Ishtar, Book 5 of Sinns will be available on Amazon February 16th. Here is the blurb...
The Daughters of Women have all become pretty confident with the Nephilim living amongst them, if not comfortable. The days of being stunned and surprised by their nature and hungers are long gone. No one bats an eye when a new demi-god swoops in and claims Christy. Belial all but says she is his Sinnis, the woman he's been waiting for over ten thousand years. When Belial isn't muddling her mind with his allure, the one Christy really yearns for seems to be a real life monster. Imendand looks like an Akhkharu, a betrayer of his kind, a Nephilim who has drank the blood and feasted on the flesh of his brother.
Now the veil between this world and that of the gods of old has been torn and it looks like Christy is the only one who can repair it. Even if she knew how seal the portal, Imendand waits outside her shield for the second she drops her guard or steps over the line.
Does Belial love her or is he just using her? What interest does Imendand have in her? Will the Shinar come through the tear in the veil and consume all life on earth or can Christy, with no mentor, no training, and no help, do the impossible? How can she when the life of every human to come within ten feet of the tear is absorbed?
Forget everything you think you know about Nephilim and their Sinnis, grab a copy of this much anticipated installment, and get settled in. Book 5 of Sinnis will keep you guessing.
I can't wait!!!
Do you plot and outline or do you just write? Plotter or Pantser?
Oh goodness, I am such a list maker. I plan the hell out of a piece before I ever write a word. I use spreadsheets and old school outlines. I use a modified snowflake method that seems to work for me. My technique is always evolving but I am most definitely a Plotter.
Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?
Ishtar Bound was rejected many times, as well it should have been, before I decided it was good enough to self publish. I sent it before it was ready and most publishers won't look a piece twice even if it has been totally rewritten and most don't want to see the second in a series, so I kinda screwed myself there. Self publishing has been wonderful, though slow going. Marketing is hard work and complicated to figure out. I struggle with getting my books in front of the right audience without the help of a publisher. I am currently going through the process of having all my works re-edited and redesigned.
What advice would you give new authors? What have you learned about the business?
Yikes, I am the last person to give advice. I write. I am very bad at the business part. They say to build a base, a platform, a market, before putting your book out there. Instead, I put 5 books and 3 short stories out in my first year before I even had a website or facebook page. Don't be like me is the advice I would offer.
Do you have another book in the works?
Always.
Book 5 of Sinnis, Veil of Ishtar, will be out on February 16th, so that is past the stage where I am actually working on it. It is in the hands of others in the design stage.
I just finished a Sinnis Short Story that will be put on my website as free content once that is up and running in March.
I am writing Wretched Blood, the second in the Carrier Trilogy, follow up to Hateful Burden. It is not romantic in the least, though Hateful Burden did start out that way. It grew into something else and I let it. Boy am I glad. It is a gaslight era horror/psychological thriller with a paranormal twist. I am quite proud of it and am having a blast writing the second. It will be available this summer.
The last and final Book of Sinnis is planned and waiting for me to get to it at the end of the year.
I have a stand alone vampire novel all planned out to be available by mid year.
I also have a few more Mount Haven Quickies planned for this year too.
What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?
I don't have time for much else. My 4 year old daughter takes up what little time is left. We read and do crafts. I always have such grand craft ideas but they NEVER look as good in reality as they did in my mind. Luckily, 4 year olds don't care. They just want to make something and get messy doing it.
Where do you dream of going on vacation?
I do make time for vacation. We do something every year. I take mini vacations with my husband for romance. We live very close to Shreveport, LA and just took a birthday trip to the boats for a little gambling fun. At one point I hit 800, then 650 and 650! I was playing penny slots so it wasn't much money but that machine still jangled a whole helluva lot! We went to Walt Disney World last year for 11 days. It was my 13th WDW vacation, my daughter and husband's second. I freaking love that place and I start planning my next visit before I am home. I love to cruise. It is so simple and carefree. We want to go to Alaska. Dream Vacation: I want to pub crawl in London, ride the train across Europe, see the ruins of Rome, eat cheese and drink coffee on a sidewalk in Paris.
Boxers or Briefs?
Boxer briefs – you know the boy shorts kind that end in a straight line across the thigh but also highlight the package? I think I've said too much.
Cookies or cake?
CAKE! - cake is magical, liquid to solid with just a little heat, fluffy and moist and sweet. A little icing only. I scrape off most of it.
Pizza or hamburger?
Pizza
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink?
Mixed drink. I like an ice cold Bloody Mary extra spicy and I'll take a Cosmopolitan any day of the week. I cannot stomach alcohol mixed with milk or cream at ALL. It makes me think of curdled milk and I always barf. If I am stuck I go with simple two ingredient drinks – i.e. vodka cranberry, screwdriver. I also enjoy a dark, dark, not too carbonated stout or porter if I have fries and curry ketchup to go with it.
Natalie is offering 1 ebook from her backlist to five lucky commenters. Enter in the raffle copter below. Be sure to leave an email so we can contact you.
Also, check out my review of Book 1-4 of Sinnis on Satin Sheets Romance Review!
Also, check out my review of Book 1-4 of Sinnis on Satin Sheets Romance Review!
Where to find you @
Contact
Email ishtarbooks@gmail.com
Friend page http://www.facebook.com/author.gibson
Website ishtarbooks.com and authornataliegibson.com
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Gibson/e/B007UT880I
Review Blog http://satinsheetsromance.blogspot.com/
Monday, January 28, 2013
Krystal Shannan Interviews - Zrinka Jelic @Firetulip #romanceauthorinterview
Please Welcome Zrinka Jelic to the blog today!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I live in Ontario, Canada, with my husband and two children. A member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Fantasy Futuristic &Paranormal, as well as Savvy Authors, I write contemporary fiction—which leans toward the paranormal—and add a pinch of history. My characters come from all walks of life, and although I prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given my love for my native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, my characters usually find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but that’s about the only break they get. “Alas, some rain must fall in everyone’s life.”
Did you always want to be an author?
No, becoming an author came as a surprise to me, and everyone else. I really didn’t have a clear direction in life, other than reading books.
What made you choose to write romance?
I love happily ever after endings. I guess after seeing “The Wedding Singer” for thousandth time I’ve decided to put some of my ideas to page. And slowly the story began to develop but I didn’t have readers for it. I’ve tried some online sites where unpublished authors post their work in progress and peers read it and rate it. But didn’t go over so well.
What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
Everything, from starting that opening chapter, through the middle of the book, to writing “the end” to sending my work out to publishers, and yes, even the rejections.
Tell us a little about your book.
The last thing Captain Sirena expected to find on a desolate island was...him!
When Carmen Ventura takes up her post as commander of the Strega, she becomes the new Captain Sirena, the legendary pirate most people think is just a myth created to scare children. Her first quest is to search for the “treasured chest” hidden by her predecessor. But before she can even begin the hunt, she runs into Marko Lucin, captain of the Levant and Carmen’s most insane adventure yet.
How can the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen be a bloody pirate?
Never one to pass up an adventure, especially where pretty women are concerned, Marko finds his ultimate challenge in Carmen. Not only does he fall for her courage, spunk, and intelligence, but the lady pirate can also help him get what he wants—the famous treasure everyone whispers about. His only problem—how long can he play the charming captain before she discovers his true intentions?
What inspired you to write it?
At first this was supposed to be a short story for a pirate anthology, but then I’ve learned that writing a short story is a whole different game from writing a full length novel. So I decided to develop it into a longer story, a novella perhaps, but the plot kept on going and 19 chapter plus an epilogue later, it was completed.
Do you plot and outline or do you just write?
I jot down a quick synopsis when I get hit with an idea for a story, but don’t refer back to it. Often I just let my muse take the reins and guide me and I have to confess, I get surprised where she takes me.
Plotter or Pantser?
From the above you can conclude I’m a panster and write from the seat of my pants.
Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?
I entered an online open pitch to an editor from Black Opal Books on SavvyAuthors. I kept checking to see if there’s any new developing happening on the page, but for about two weeks didn’t see anything new so I kind of forgot about it. Then when I remembered to check again and saw she’s requesting first three chapters of my manuscript and a synopsis. My heart just thudded but I read the chapters one more time to check for the last minute typos or what not, got the synopsis in order and fired it off. In about three weeks there was an email from the editor asking to see the rest of the novel, so I put that together and sent if to her, but didn’t expect to find another email with a publishing offer.
What advice would you give new authors?
Never give up, you don’t know what you have until you finish the manuscript and get it out there.
What have you learned about the business?
It’s very competitive, it’s harder to find people willing to read your book than it is to write it and publish it.
Do you have another book in the works?
Always. My work in project is titled “Love Remains” and it’s a story of what if. When a single, career oriented woman returns home from a business trip and finds a husband and two kids, she discovers there’s more to life than the promotion and raise in her pay.
What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?
I like to work out at the gym, go for walks, bike rides, scour the shopping malls for deals.
Where do you dream of going on vacation?
Anywhere on the Dalmatian coast, like Dubrovnik or island of Korčula, a birth place of Marco Polo.
Boxers or Briefs? I’m partial to either it’s what’s inside that counts.
Cookies or cake? Cake for sure
Pizza or hamburger? Burger in summer on occasion.
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? Not much of a drinker but if I have to choose, then a light beer or a fruity wine.
(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Carmen/Sirena “I didn’t trust Marko at first. Of course, I was a pirate then with a hefty price on my head. But he proved worth keeping around.”
Marko “When I saw her for the first time, standing on the deck of the enemy ship, I thought ‘that’s a woman for me’ but had to devise a clever plan to get to her without her slashing my throat. Which she nearly done, during our sword match.”
What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
“He’s still a little boy who likes to be scalded.” Whispers “Boys will be boys.”
“She has that truth extracting stare I’m powerless against.”
What are your plans for the near future? “Raise our crop of kids.”
Be sure to leave a comment for Zrinka to enter to win a copy of Treasured Chest!
Where to find Zrinka
Twitter https://twitter.com/Firetulip
Friday, January 18, 2013
Krystal Shannan Interviews - Cheryl Douglas - Shameless
Please help me welcome Cheryl Douglas to the blog! I can't wait to hear about her fabulous new release.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I started my professional career as a nutritionist, specializing in weight management. I developed an innovative program based on whole foods, and had a successful practice for many years, but the lease was expiring on my commercial space and I knew it was time for a change. That’s when I decided to follow my dream of becoming a writer.
Did you always want to be an author?
I loved reading and writing from the time I was nine or ten. My fifth grade teacher suggested I read The Diary of Anne Frank, and from then on, I was hooked on books. I was the student editor of the school newspaper and yearbook in elementary school, so I’ve always been passionate about writing. I decided to pursue a different career path because twenty year ago the publishing industry was very different than it is today. Now it’s the readers, not the editors, who decide whether a book is worthy of being read.
What made you choose to write romance?
I think I picked up my first romance book when I was eighteen or nineteen. I’ve read thousands of romance books over the years, and while many have common themes, it’s the author’s voice that makes them unique. I was anxious to reach readers with my own unique voice. That, and I love a happy ending!
What is your favorite part of being a writer/author?
Because I’m currently working on a long series, these characters are a part of my life for two years or more. I’m able to see the growth and evolution of the characters and bring them back in subsequent books. It’s a little like re-connecting with an old friend.
I also love connecting with my readers. Social media makes it so much easier to do that now. Whenever I’ve hit a rough patch in my writing, I log onto to Facebook and there will be a comment from a reader that makes me smile. That’s often the highlight of my day.
Tell us a little about your book. What inspired you to write it?
Shameless is the story of a country music superstar, Trey Turner. His life has been spiraling out of control since his wife divorced him five years ago. Even though he’s wealthy and successful, he’s at a dark place in his life and he’s not sure how to find his way back from the brink of self-destruction. When his ex-wife, Sierra, comes back into his life, he’s committed to re-building the life they’ve lost, but she’s already moved on with her new life, and isn’t interested in resurrecting the past.
I’m a huge country music fan and I love that every song tells a story. Some are about family, friendship, heartache, re-living the glory days, coming to terms with losing the love of your life, and others are simply party anthems intended to make the listener feel good.
The Nashville Nights series was inspired by these stories. The series consists of trials, heartbreak, loss, tragedy, triumph, friendship, family, and most importantly, the journey to finding a soul mate.
Shameless
by Cheryl Douglas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trey Turner may be topping the country music
charts, but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years
ago. He's desperate to make amends for the mistakes he's made and convince Sierra
their love deserves a second chance.
Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her
divorce. She has a career she loves, and a man who loves her. Unfortunately,
the man she intends to marry isn't the only one professing his love for her. He
may be able to offer her safety and security, but will she decide to risk
everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Prologue
Five Years Earlier
The sexy little waitress stretched to offer her
neck as Trey Turner prepared to do another body shot at the urging of his
inebriated friends. He licked the salt off her neck as he felt a small hand
grip his shoulder.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
He turned to see his wife, Sierra, staring up at
him, disgust darkening her bright blue eyes. He heard a few of his friends
mutter curses as the crowd broke up and went back to drinking and dancing.
“Baby, I was just havin’ a little fun.” His words
slurred and he wondered how many body shots he’d had before Sierra
intervened.
The waitress slid her hand down his chest, hooking
a finger through his belt loop. “That was fun. How ‘bout we pick up where we
left off later?”
Sierra turned away, not waiting for his answer as
she began weaving her way through the crowd.
“Sierra, baby, wait,” he called, trying to push his
way through the throngs of people before she reached the door. He grabbed her
wrist just as she was about to cross the threshold. “Wait. Please, don’t go.”
“It’s over, I’m done with this shit,” she said,
trying to shake loose of his grip.
He had more than a foot and a hundred pounds on
her. She wasn’t going anywhere until he decided he was ready to let her go,
which wouldn’t happen in this lifetime. “What’s that supposed to mean? Where
the hell do you think you’re going?”
“Home to pack.”
He felt the room begin to spin out of control.
“What did you say?”
“I’m leaving you. Our marriage is over.”
His grip on her wrist tightened. “No, you can’t
leave me.”
She pressed a hand to his chest. “It’s been over
for a long time. I’m just making it official.”
“We’re not having this conversation out here in
front of a hundred people,” he said, pulling her through the horde of friends
he’d invited to his private party. He opened the door to the small dressing
room usually occupied by the nightly entertainment that performed at Jimmy’s
bar. “We’ll have some privacy in here.”
She was finally able to shake free of his tight
grip. “I’ve already said everything I have to say to you.”
He gripped her waist. “Don’t do this, Sierra.” He
bent to kiss her neck. “I love you, baby. God, I love you so much. I can’t live
without you.” He backed her toward the couch as he lowered himself down on top
of her.
“You’ve been living without me for the past year,
Trey. You’ve spent your days on a tour bus and your nights in a stadium or
bar.” Her voice broke. “We lost our baby girl and you don’t seem to care.”
“Don’t say that,” he whispered furiously. “Don’t
ever say that I didn’t care about Callie. I loved her, Sierra. It damn near
killed me when we lost her.”
She glared at him. “Really? Is that why you boarded
that goddamn tour bus a week after her funeral?”
“I’m a musician; it’s what I do.” He knew the
excuse was weak. Sierra was right. He’d been trying to run away from his grief
and sadness instead of staying at home where he belonged, supporting his wife.
She shook her head, looking defeated. “It’s what
you do—it’s who you are. Trey Turner, country music’s award-winning,
platinum-selling mega-star. What about my husband? Callie’s father? Where is
he?”
He closed his eyes, feeling disgusted with himself
for letting her down again. “Baby, I’m sorry. Look, I know I’ve made mistakes,
but let me make it up to you, okay?” His hand eased up her shirt to cup her
breast.
Her head rolled back and she closed her eyes. “No,
we can’t do this. It won’t fix the problem.” Making love to her may not solve
all of their problems, but it would buy him some time to figure out a way to
convince her to give him and their marriage another chance. “Just relax,” he
whispered, licking her neck.
“Hmm, that feels so good.” She wrapped her
denim-clad leg around his. “But then you had lots of practice with your
girlfriend right before I got here, didn’t you?”
He cursed himself for indulging in the adolescent
drinking game and giving his wife reason to question his fidelity yet again.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, flipping the button on her jeans. “You’re the only
one I want; you know that.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as she shook her head.
“No, I don’t.”
He hated that he had given her reason to doubt
herself, to doubt them. “Let me prove it to you, then.”
His tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips
until she finally parted for him. He groaned, taking her mouth with a savage
intensity. His mind raced; fear warring with panic as he realized this may be
the last time they made love, the last time he had the right to touch her.
Buy Links
Do you plot and outline or do you just write? Plotter or Pantser?
I’m usually a pantser. I’ve tried to outline, and I often will if I have no idea where the book is going, but I’ve found the finished product is so different from the outline that I usually just trust my muse to take me there.
Can you tell us about the process of getting your first book published?
For me, writing is a business like any other, so I did a lot of research and put together the best team I could find before jumping in with both feet. My team consists of a professional content editor, copy editor, proofreader, formatter, graphic designer, and various promotional experts. I know I couldn’t do this alone, and I wouldn’t want to. I recognize my own strengths and weaknesses. I want to focus on the writing and leave the rest to the experts who help me produce a polished product that readers will hopefully enjoy.
What advice would you give new authors?
Study your craft, take courses, read books written by those who’ve been successful in your chosen genre, learn the business, connect with fellow writers, build a team of people to help you reach your goals, and appreciate every single reader because without them you wouldn’t be able to live your dream.
What have you learned about the business?
I’ve learned that you only get once chance to make a good impression on a reader. Every book you put out there has to be the very best it can be. I’ve also developed a thick skin. Not every review will be a five star, and that’s okay. Some readers will love my books, others won’t. That’s life. Differences are a good thing, because they make room for all types of creative expression.
Do you have another book in the works?
I’m currently working on the spin-off series to Nashville Nights. Like its predecessor, Nashville Nights Next Generation is also an eight book series, but this series follows the children of the characters we met in the first series. These books will be released the latter part of 2012 through mid-2013.
What do you like to do in your free time, besides read and write of course?
When I’m not writing, I love to spend time with my husband, son, and our dog, Tia. We love to travel and have a cottage where we spend a lot of time year-round. In the summer we enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, bond fires, and long walks on the nature trails.
I love: taking long drives in the country
Where do you dream of going on vacation? Belize
Boxers or Briefs? Boxer briefs
Cookies or cake? Cake
Pizza or hamburger? Pizza
Beer, Wine, or mixed drink? White Wine
(Hero/Heroine Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Sierra: Trey was a college football player when we met. He was very focused and driven to succeed. I had no doubt he would achieve his goal of playing professional football until an injury side-lined him permanently. It was during those months when he was recovering from his injury that I learned the most about him. It would have been easy for him to give in to the depression, but he didn’t. He decided to re-focus on a new goal, and since he’d always loved country music and had been blessed with a beautiful singing voice, he decided he wanted to become a musician. I fell in love with him because he was someone who never gave up, and I think that kind of perseverance is so rare.
Trey: Sierra was one of the most positive people I’d ever met. Despite the fact that life had dealt her so many blows growing up, she never let those things define her. She made me realize if she could maintain a positive outlook in the face of setbacks, so could I.
What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Sierra: I love his fierce determination. When he wants something, he goes after it and doesn’t let anyone or anything stand in his way.
Trey: I love her compassion. She’s endured the kind of tragedy most people find difficult to imagine and instead of feeling sorry for herself, she’s chosen to channel that pain into something positive. That decision has helped countless people, and I respect and admire her more than I can say.
Cheryl, what are your plans for the near future?
The first part of 2013 will involve finishing and releasing the Nashville Nights Next Generation series. The summer of 2013 I will be starting a new series, Texas Titans, which I’m very excited about.
Cheryl will be awarding: two(2) - $20 Amazon Gift Cards to randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and one(1) - $20 Gift Card to a randomly drawn host. Also, Cheryl will be awarding ten(10) trading card/cover flat packs to randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US/Canada), ten (10)digital books from the Nashville Nights series (winner's choice) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour and two(2) Swarovski crystal necklaces to randomly drawn commenters during the tour (US/Canada).
Be sure to leave your email with a comment to enter to win! Also be sure to visit her other stops HERE.
AUTHOR Bio:
Cheryl
began her professional career as a nutritionist, but her love of books started
at an early age. She studied writing for many years before she decided to
pursue her passion as a full-time career. After receiving constructive
criticism from several well-known authors, Cheryl finally had the confidence to
write her first romance novel.
The
first book in the Nashville Nights series, Shameless, was a book that had been
dwelling in Cheryl’s subconscious for years. For her, the surprise came when
the manuscript began taking on a life of it’s own. Characters came to life,
secondary characters became more prominent, outlines were forgotten, and a
single title evolved into an eight book series, and another eight book spin-off
series entitled Nashville Nights, Next Generation.
One
word would aptly describe Cheryl: workaholic. She lives and breathes her
writing, when she’s sleeping, watching TV, driving, reading… it’s always in the
periphery of her mind. Her imagination rarely takes a holiday, even when she
escapes to a sandy beach with her husband and son, she’s planning, plotting,
outlining, and daydreaming.
Cheryl
feels blessed to be able to get up every day and do something she loves. The
thousands of fans who have embraced the Nashville Nights have made that
possible. She writes for the readers who ask for more, she writes to satisfy
the muse residing inside of her, but most of all, she writes because she
couldn’t imagine doing anything else with her life. It took her thirty-seven
years to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up, but now that she knows,
she’s convinced she’s found her purpose.
Where to find Cheryl @
Websites: www.cheryldouglasbooks.com
Email: info@cheryldouglasbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cheryldouglasbooks
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