An Interview with Alicia Dean

EndofLonelyStreet_w9180_300_(1)If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?

I would love to live somewhere cold and snowy. Maybe Wisconsin, so I would also be near the Green Bay Packers.

Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”?

I have a day job as a legal assistant in a family law firm. Talk about some interesting fodder for future books. People are crazy when dealing with divorce and custody. J

Tell us about your current series/WIP

I’m really, really excited about a series I’m doing in conjunction with my friends and critique partners, Amanda McCabe, Kathy L Wheeler, and Krysta Scott. It’s called the Martini Club 4 series, and the four novellas have just come out for pre-order. Each of our stories are linked, but are stand-alone. They are Vintage Romances set in 1920s New York City, and it was such a fun project.

What is your favorite part of writing?

The joy of having my work out in the world for people to read, and the thought of possibly providing someone else with the same kind of fabulous experiences I’ve had over the years. There’s nothing quite like becoming so immersed in a story, you can’t wait to get back to it.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

When I’m stuck and I feel like the story isn’t interesting or going well.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

My sisters, nieces, and cousins are my biggest fans. My children are extremely supportive, although they don’t really read my stuff. My mother, bless her heart, is in a nursing home and has extreme memory problems, but she reads my work, then later asks us to bring her some of my books, because she sure would like to read them. J She’s currently reading my vampire novels, and that’s true love, because she can’t stand anything remotely connected to monsters or the paranormal. LOL. I am very, very blessed to have such a devoted, loving family.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

If they are interesting, in a negative OR positive way, very likely. J I often make mental notes of actions or quirks in the people I meet and store them away for later use.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Yes, even as a child, I wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first romance at age eleven.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

Keep writing, keep improving your craft, and don’t be afraid of constructive criticism. Develop a thick skin, because you’ll need it. Between rejections and bad reviews, your ego will be sorely battered. But, you have to remember not everyone loves the same things, and even the most successful and talented people have critics. No matter what, keep going. The only way to fail is to stop trying.

 Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00QQO3BK0

Blurb:

 Can she let go of the past, before it destroys her future?

All Toby Lawson wanted was to go to college to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and the painful memories of finding her and the guy Toby loved kissing. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away, helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, and even though she knows her mother initiated the kiss, and that he didn’t kiss her back, she can‘t seem to get past what happened. He soon realizes that the true problem lies in Toby’s belief that she’s not good enough for him and in her fear that she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

 Excerpt:

“What’s going on, Toby?” He slowly walked toward her, arms crossed, his handsome face drawn into a scowl.

“Your father is a stubborn bully, and I’m protesting.

I would think it’s pretty obvious.”

“Yes, I know what you’re doing, what I want to know is why?”

“Why? Because, he’s got no good reason to forbid us from playing rock and roll. Not only do the kids deserve to have fun at the dance, Miss Murdock—” Her throat clogged  and  she  swallowed  back  tears.  “–deserves a memorial. Your father doesn’t even care. Apparently, neither do you.”

Noah blew a breath out and rested his hands on his belt. “I do care, but this isn’t the way to go about it.”

“No? Then maybe you can tell me what is.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know exactly, but you’re causing a disturbance, and I have to stop you.”

“Stop me?” She halted and crossed her arms, the sign dangling from one hand. “Are you going to arrest me, Noah Rivers?”

He looked away, then at the ground and back up at her. “I don’t think it will come to that. Just be a good girl and head on home.”

“I’m not going anywhere. You’ll have to arrest me.” She met his gaze in challenge.

His golden brown eyes flickered with uncertainty, then with resolve that should have warned her. He took the sign from her hand and looped his arm around her waist, lifting her off the ground. She was pressed against his warm, strong body, and lost her breath. Tingly sensations moved through her lower belly.

“Noah! You put me down this instant. What do you think you’re doing?”

He ignored her and carried her to his car. He opened the back door with the hand that held the sign and plopped her down on the back seat.

“You can’t do this to me.” She scrambled to get out, but he blocked her way. “I didn’t break a law.”

“We’ll come get your car tomorrow when you’ve had a chance to come to your senses. I’m not taking you to jail, I’m taking you home.”

“Then I’ll call Daisy to pick me up, and we’ll come back here and protest again.”

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, shaking his head. “Damn, stubborn…”

“That’s right. I’m not giving up, so you can either arrest me, or leave me be. You’re just like your father, thinking you can bully—”

With a growl of frustration, he took hold of her shoulders and hauled her from the car. His lips landed on hers, cutting off her gasp. He cupped a hand behind her head and pulled her to him. She went willingly, swept away in a fog of yearning.

 

Alicia_Dean_Tin_Man_Color_(2)Bio and Contact Info:

Alicia Dean lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals.

She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

GIVEAWAY: – Entries accepted from January 8, 2015 through noon on January 22, 2015

 Three prizes –

Elvis Gift Basket including DVD, CD, plus more

$25 Amazon Gift Card

$10 Amazon Gift Card

First place winner has first choice, second place winner has second choice, third place winner receives remaining prize.

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