What movie best describes your life?

This would be a combination of the You Tube Channel Southern Women Channel (Sh%t Southern Women Say) and Steel Magnolias without the tears.  I’m very southern; raised in South Carolina. How does a true southern girl write about Regency England? I don’t know. I just hope that the twang doesn’t bleed through.

Where do you get ideas for your stories?

Good question. Stories just come to me. Some work and some don’t. Some, like the current series, A Lady’s Wish, were inspired by family interactions. I’m fascinated by the relationships between people, especially relatives. You can pick your friends, but not your family. These make the most interesting relationships.

Give us an elevator speech for your current release.

Can a gambler give up the game if it means keeping the woman he loves? Can a young woman sacrifice her security for the man she loves? This is a story about the affects of gambling addiction.

Please tell our readers about your book.

An Honorable Wish is about two friends who fall in love. Tony Matthews is searching for something to change his life.  He knows he needs to change. His feelings for Juliet are the impetus for that change. Juliet Townsend is so in love with Tony but is afraid to commit given his gambling addition. She doubts that he can give it up and she won’t spend the rest of her life worrying about whether he’ll gamble away everything they have.

Tell us about your hero.

Tony Matthews is the younger brother of Nathaniel Matthews from An Unexpected Wish. He’s cute. He’s charming. He is easily swayed. He is the kind of guy who can be your best friend; the life of the party. But there is a deeper side of Tony. He is always trying to meet his brother’s expectations. He’s also trying to keep up with Society’s expectations. It is by gambling that he keeps up with Nathaniel’s expectations as well as Society. Gaming was everywhere. Men of all classes met at the tables at balls,  supper and cards, and of course gaming hells.  When the story opens, he has just done something he didn’t think he was capable of: ruin a man’s life by winning his estate. He has done to another man what was done to his father. It’s like a wake up call.

Tell us about your heroine. Juliet Townsend is the youngest of the three sisters. In this story she is twenty-two and has suffered through two disasterous seasons. She hates London. She hates balls. She is happiest with a book. In fact, she can learn anything with a book. She also has the biggest crush on Tony Matthews. She has since he started calling on her sister, Sophia. Now he seems to be interested in her, but she’s afraid. She is afraid it isn’t real. She’s afraid that Tony’s gambling will leave her stranded with nothing and unable to do anything about it.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

I love historical romance. It was what first drew me into writing it. But I also like contemporary romance, romantic suspense, historical fiction, biographies and history books. I love to read, can you tell?

Who are your critique partners?

I have a critique partner who writes so much better than I do. Erica Monroe writes historical romantic suspense. Her books are real, gritty, and amazing. She really helps me reach in deep for those emotional moments.  I feel like I don’t bring much to the table with her. She’s so damn good and I’ve learned so much from her.

Discover more about Eileen Richards on her website (http://www.eileenrichardsauthor.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/authoreileenrichards), Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/EileenRAuthor/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/EileenRAuthor).

An Honorable Wish is available at these retailers:

Amazon:  http://tinyurl.com/nchbv3g

B&N:  http://tinyurl.com/pjjcrel

iTunes:  http://tinyurl.com/p63l6vd

Kobo:  http://tinyurl.com/pp6wjzc

LOVE MAY BE THEIR GREATEST GAMBLE…
 
Tony Matthews spends his time in London’s most notorious gambling dens, frittering away his fortune. But when his latest victory leaves a man ruined, Tony knows he’s reached his lowest point. Determined to make amends, he returns home to his family’s country estate with plans to settle down and marry at last. And he hopes the lovely Juliet Townsend will help him—if only he can keep his disgrace a secret.

Juliet’s secret wish has always been for Tony to love her. The only bright spot in her dreadful London season was dancing with him—before he disappeared to the card rooms. Now, he’s returned, but has he truly changed? Or will gambling always be his mistress, even if she becomes his wife? And does Juliet dare risk her heart by finding out?

Find Eileen Richards’ latest book, AN HONORABLE WISH at these fine retailers:

Amazon:  http://tinyurl.com/nchbv3g

B&N:  http://tinyurl.com/pjjcrel

iTunes:  http://tinyurl.com/p63l6vd

Kobo:  http://tinyurl.com/pp6wjzc

Author Bio

Eileen Richards has been writing for most of her life. Poetry, totally inappropriate answers to essay questions in school, and interesting error codes during her 30 year IT career has prepared her for the manic world of publishing.

She writes sassy regency romps set in the small villages of England where the rules are bent a bit and gossip rules the day.

Eileen resides with her husband and their diva of a greyhound in North Carolina.

Mailing List: http://tinyurl.com/p9hwhqj

Tell us about your current series?

First, Cynthia, thank you so much for having me! I can’t tell you how excited I am about this new series preparing to launch. Within A Captain’s Hold is the debut book in my Captain’s of the Scarlet Night Series. It is currently a trilogy, but I’m thinking the series will run five books before I’m through. My characters are insisting! It takes place during the Golden Age of Piracy, spans two generations of sea captains, and crosses gender lines with one of my pirate captains being a woman. It is loosely based on some very famous women pirates and some key historical events in and around Port Royal, Jamaica from the years 1683 through 1715.

What inspired your latest book?

I’ve always loved pirates and history. The Caribbean is so rich with tales of different pirates and their adventures. When I decided to add historicals to my writing repertoire, it was an easy decision as to which era most called to me.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Writing romance especially, I adore that I can fall in love along with my characters. I can relive the thrill of a first kiss, and slip my feet into my characters shoes (or bucket-topped boots) for a while and escape into another world. But the best part for me, and it has happened with each book I’ve written, is that inevitably, one of my characters will “go rogue” and do or say something that is a total surprise to me.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

I find it very bitter/sweet to hit send on that last round of edits of my books. After all, I’ve played with these characters for months, sometimes years. I go through an odd few days of wandering about. I almost always have some scene or other running through my head, but when I’m done my mind is too quiet. Not that I don’t always have another project lined up to begin, but it takes some time to move on.

Do you have critique partners?

Absolutely! And they are brilliant!!

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

This industry is such a rollercoaster ride at times. I wouldn’t say my journey was fraught with peril, but I definitely walked each and every mile, and tripped over my fair share of potholes. But I think it’s made me a better writer. I’ve earned my stripes, so to speak. Yes, the rejections sting (some draw blood!), but they only make the successes that much sweeter.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

For me, the most rewarding thing is that I never gave up. It took me seven years before my first novel published, and there were times I wanted to add gasoline and a match to my manuscripts. But I had the amazing support of my family and my writer friends, and somehow I knew the only way I wasn’t going to be successful was if I quit. After working so hard for so long, there was no way I was going to quit.

Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I am a member of RWA and NH-RWA. As I mentioned above, without their support and their wealth of knowledge I wouldn’t be here. Attending my first RWA chapter meeting was like stepping off a plane in a foreign land where somehow I already knew the language. The other writers were so welcoming and generous. I’ve learned so much, and I’ve made wonderful friends here I will cherish for the rest of my life.

What’s next for you?

It’s back to pirate land for me! I’m finishing edits on the second book in the Captain’s of the Scarlet Night Series due to release in May 2016, and I’m starting the third. This one takes place in 1692 and will encompass the historical event of the great earthquake that hit Port Royal in June of that year.

One again, thank you so much for hosting me today!

BLURB

Captain Jaxon Steele is a tall, sun-bronzed, fierce-fighting Pirate King. He and the notorious crew of the Scarlet Night are both feared and respected for their ruthless reputation. The Captain’s only love is the open sea and the ship he calls home. When it comes to women, he has three rules: never sleep with another’s wife, don’t take virgins into bed, and most importantly, never bring a woman aboard—that brings the worst luck of all.

Annalise Gatherone has to leave London—tonight! Usually her only concern is the color of her latest gown, but now she’s choosing between life and death. Desperate to escape the clutches of an evil Duke, she stows away aboard the Scarlet Night, hoping she’s bound for Port St. Maria. Winning Captain Jaxon’s affections, she just might sneak by unharmed. But when her plans are altered in ways she never imagined, she must batten down the hatches for a journey into unknown waters…

BUY LINKS

ISBN: 978-161650971-2

Kensington:  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/31916

Amazon:   http://www.amazon.com/Within-Captains-Hold-Scarlet-Night-ebook/dp/B00U7LIZXG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1446926658&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/within-a-captains-hold-lisa-a-olech/1121320025?ean=9781616509712

BIO

Lisa is an artist/writer living in her dream house nestled among the lakes in New England. She loves getting lost in a steamy book, finding the perfect pair of sexy shoes, and hearing the laughter of her men. Being an estrogen island in a sea of testosterone makes her queen. She believes in ghosts, silver linings, the power of a man in a tuxedo, and happy endings.

Author’s photo courtesy of Jenny Sinclair Photography.

AUTHOR LINKS
www.lisaolech.com

Kensington:  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31711

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Lisa.A.Olech.Writer
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/LisaOlech

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7478599.Lisa_A_Olech

Rafflecopter Giveaway- Ebook copy of Within A Captain’s Hold
a Rafflecopter giveaway

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

First and foremost, I’m a romance writer. Since I personally love to read about all forms of shape shifters, I’ve chosen to debut my self-publishing career with a paranormal series about Dolphin Shore Shifters. I include enough gunfire, bombs, and bad guys to also qualify as a romantic suspense so that’s my combo-genre: paranormal romantic suspense.

Tell us about your current series.

The Dolphin Shore Shifters live in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California, where the huge pod takes turns shifting into human form for 3 year missions working at their non-profit corporation, Save Blue Water, to protect the oceans. Much of their work is raising public awareness of conservation, and lobbying, but when they’re faced with criminals dumping toxic chemicals into the ocean or spills involving greedy oil companies, SBW sends an alpha shifter from their clandestine field ops team to protect the oceans at any cost. Featuring a different hero and heroine, each book stands alone and they can be read in any order. No cliffhangers.

What inspired your series?

During my research, I reread the Native American Chumash origin story where the mother goddess created a rainbow bridge so her people, overcrowded on a Channel Island, could cross to the mainland. When some people on the bridge became dizzy and fell into the channel, she rescued them from drowning by turning them into dolphins. That story became the foundation of how shape-shifting dolphins came to be, and it decided the Santa Barbara setting. From there, my love of paranormal world-building took off.

How far do you plan ahead?

I am a dyed-in-the-wool plotter.  I make spreadsheets, and a series bible. I glue picture boards and write huge outlines. So after all the (fun) work of world-building, of choosing characters with their physical descriptions, and names, their histories, goals, motivations and conflicts, their personalities and relationships, I would never consider restricting the Dolphin Shore Shifters to a solo novel or even a trilogy. Thus far, I’ve completed three books, am currently writing number 4, and have several more outlined. I plan way out into the future.

Do you have critique partners?

I have one terrific critique partner and we’ve been working together for several years now. She started out writing women’s fiction and has since moved to paranormal with a popular elemental/fallen angels series and she is now a Best Selling Amazon author with her southern ghost series. Despite our different writing methods (she is at heart a panster), we exchange and critique most all of what we write. I also use four beta readers and have a developmental and copy editor.

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? Why?

While I’m writing my paranormal suspense books, I tend to read both those genres. It helps put me in a fast-paced mood, especially reading an action-packed suspense novel. Since there aren’t many dolphin shifters in other novels, I can enjoy another author’s paranormal story without any comparisons.

When I want to relax, I read historical romance or contemporary.

 Did you have several manuscripts finished before you published?         

When I finally made the decision to self publish the Dolphin Shore Shifters, I had the first three books of the series completed. The year before, I had signed with a literary agent who loved the dolphin’s story but then couldn’t sell them (from a debut author) to NY. At that time, I also had a contemporary romance with a military hero and a romantic suspense completed.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

My long road to self-publication was fraught with rejections. My first book ever was a contemporary romance with a military hero. I’d spent many years learning my craft, attending numerous workshops, working with two freelance editors, and rewriting that book over and over.

Finally, in late August of this year, I followed in my critique partner’s self-publishing footsteps. While the control self-publishing offers is exciting, and I love holding my book in my hand, love signing them for readers, truthfully each phase of the process has been more expensive than anticipated and I hate formatting.

What is your typical day like?

I write full time. Usually Monday through Friday from 6 am to 4 pm. I’m flexible about work days. I can trade an “errand day” mid week for writing on Saturday.

I wake up around 5:30, make coffee, feed Max, and look at social media and emails. Writing begins at 6 or 6:30. I stop to eat breakfast around 8 am while I text with my critique partner or a friend, then back to writing. Sometimes I look up to discover I skipped lunch. My mind begins to slow down at 3 or 4 and after I make my second typo I stop for the day.

After a walk, I play with Max, talk or email the family, and after dinner, I read or watch Netflix. Living in the woods is wonderful but I have no cable TV, no dish reception, and streaming can be spotty.

I keep little notebooks beside the bed, on my office desk beside the computer, and next to my living room chair to jot down ideas when they strike me.

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

Friends and acquaintances always ask that question! I tend to study people, always have, but rather than write an entire person into my book, I pick and choose traits or habits to use. I sometimes name my characters close to real people’s names.

Or I go for something very different. At SBW the computer used to create the Dolphin Shore Shifters’ fake backgrounds and IDs was the target of an internal practical joke. As a result, some of the incoming shifters have gotten stuck with obscure constellation names, or ones with silly shore references.

The Santa Barbara Channel holds a closely guarded secret… 

She had more than just her mission…

Sy’s rotation on land as a dolphin shifter couldn’t have come at a better time. With her best friend missing and no answers forthcoming, it was time to take matters into her own hands. And with the resources at the Save Blue Water organization, finding her friend would be a whole lot easier. Except …something sinister is going on inside SBW, something deadly, and Sy finds herself at the center of danger.

The last thing he needed was bullets and bombs…

Noah Nelson spent every minute trying to forget the war while fighting his PTSD, but jumping in front of a bullet was second nature. It had nothing to do with the fact the target was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Or that she was naked. But suddenly he’s caught up in her world, protecting her from unforeseen threats, and falling in love … but Sy’s got a secret that may rip them apart. Forever.

BIO: 

CJ Matthew is the author of paranormal romance suspense series Dolphin Shore Shifters. Her debut novel, Blood Tide, features a pod of dolphins posing as humans that work through their oceanic conservation corporation Save Blue Water, based in Santa Barbara, California, to protect the oceans at any cost.

CJ grew up in an Air Force family that travelled all over the U.S. and around the world. She spent her high school and university years living in California, which inspired her love of marine life and the Pacific Ocean.

A member of Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) Romance Writers of America, CJ lives and writes near a lake in the woods northeast of Atlanta. When she isn’t writing or reading romances, CJ likes to travel and to spend time with her two grown children, a brilliant grandson and a feisty cat named Max.

  LINKS:

Website: www.cjmatthew.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJMatthew

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CJMatthewauthor

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/CJ-Matthew/e/B013PUB3NO/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26126836-blood-tide

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14216343.C_J_Matthew

Before I get to talking about me and my writing I want to thank Cynthia for having me on her blog.  I love her tag line, “courageous women, honourable men.”  In my own writing I’m keen to tell stories about just such men and women.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself? 

I’ve grouped these two questions together because I’ve got two stories about achieving the status of published author.  I wrote my first manuscript as a total innocent.  I’d been bingeing on Harlequin Romances and my then husband said, “you could write one.”  It took a few years and a couple of moves across Canada before I found myself in a place where I could try my hand at writing.  I knew nothing about the publishing industry, but I was steeped in the Harlequin trope so I plunged in.  The resulting masterpiece was duly sent off to Harlequin —  and duly rejected.  Shocked beyond belief, I sent it to a New York publisher — who bought it.  “Ah ha!” said I and hope rose again.  Over the ensuing months the amount of my advance was whittled down, then cut in half, then reduced again.  In the end, no money ever showed up.  The company declared bankruptcy and that was the end of my fledgling career as a lady novelist.  Oddly, they did print the book, and I’ve a couple dozen copies gathering dust in my closet.

My second publishing story is brighter.  Some years after that first debacle,  I wrote another manuscript that Harlequin rejected, but they suggested I join Romance Writers of America®.  I hunted around and found there was a chapter in my area, so off I went with my pot-luck lunch offering in hand.  I found myself in the company of an amazing group of women, full of knowledge about the art and craft of writing, and the labyrinth that constituted the road to publishing.  These smart, savvy women were more than happy to share their expertise and insights.  I lost my naivety and learned just how hard it was to get published in the traditional way.

But, because I was part of RWA® and my chapter held a conference and invited editors to come to it and asked those editors to judge a contest open only to conference attendees, I got my work in front of Hilary Sares of Kensington Books.  In an unheard of move, Hilary announced publicly at our luncheon that she would buy the top three contest submissions in the historical category.  I was so dazed it wasn’t until the  people around started to congratulate me that I realized I had finally made a sale to one of the big five. So, that’s my second, much happier tale of becoming a published author.

The book that sold to Kensington was The Man For Her, and it’s the book I want to talk about on this blog.

Tell us about your hero.  Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.

The hero in this story is Sean O’Connor, an Irish immigrant to Canada near the end of the nineteenth century.  He arrives in British Columbia penniless and hungry but with a determination to strike it rich in the gold fields.  He is my hero, so I’m  biased, but one of his greatest strengths is honour, just like Cynthia’s tag line.  He stayed at home in Ireland because he was honour-bound to help his younger siblings.  He treats the heroine with dignity and respect, despite her torn reputation in the town.  He keeps his word to her when he promises to return after a season on the gold fields.  He won’t take if he can’t give back.

His weaknesses?  Well, he’s afraid of heights, but even that turns heroic when he overcomes that fear in order to rescue the heroine’s son.  Perhaps he is too proud, but so is the heroine, so they are well matched. 

Tell us about your heroine.  Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses.

Lottie Graham, known as “Crazy Lottie” in the town of Prospect is the heroine of the story.  Her greatest strength is her love for her son, Michael.  Because of Michael she refuses to give in to gossip, or marauding Indians, or the worst nature can throw at her.  She works tirelessly on her farm, building it into a prosperous haven – all for Michael.  She is also loyal – Michael’s father has been missing for ten years, but Lottie has never given up hope for his return.  Neighbours think her crazy.

Perhaps that loyalty is a weakness, along with her pride – it makes her an outcast, makes her stubborn – makes her a woman a man like Sean O’Connor can love.

What inspired this book?

This is the book of my heart.  I tried to write it as a contemporary, using a trove of letters as a way to tell the historical tale.  The story just didn’t work.  I wrote it from his point of view, from her point of view, I think I even tried using the dog as a character but the story was going nowhere.  I gave up on it and turned to something else, but the character of Lottie stayed in my mind and wouldn’t go away.  That was when I decided to try writing an historical romance.  Up until then I’d only attempted contemporary love stories.  I plunged into research (I majored in history at university) and was soon immersed in the 1880’s and the Kootenay gold rush.  I visited museums, read archival copies of newspapers of the time and holidayed at an historical town site.  That’s when the story came alive.  In my mind, the gold rush town of Prospect is as real as the scene outside my window.  Apart from the hero and heroine of The Man for Her, and the subsequent book, Her One and Only, there is a whole cast of secondary characters who feel like old friends.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Having written!

What is your least favorite part of writing?

That ugly first draft.

What are you currently working on?

A third book in the Prospect series.  Now that I’ve self-published my back list, I’m eager to return to nineteenth century British Columbia.  Characters of that era are larger-than-life.  I just read a memoir of a women of gentle background who followed her husband to the Klondike at the turn of the twentieth century.  The life was hard, demanding, dangerous and lonely, yet she came to love the North and the people in it.  They, like my characters in Prospect, were bold and generous, ready to help a neighbour or test themselves against the elements.  Perfect setting for a romance! 

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

Romance, women’s fiction, mysteries, historical romance.

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

I wanted to be a stewardess (that’s what they were called then.)  I loved the nifty uniform and the idea of flying all over the world.

Do you have a view in your writing space?  What does your space look like? 

I have a wonderful view from my writing room.  There is a farm across the road with sloping green fields and a stand of fir trees.  Beyond that is the ocean, dotted with islands.

Outside my window the scene is perfect, inside, not so much.  The desk is littered with books and papers, sticky notes, photos, a candle and coffee cups.  I have a big desk so there’s space for the clutter on either side while I have about eighteen inches of workspace in the middle.  I’m also prone to abandon my desk altogether and go to a coffee shop to write longhand in a spiral notebook.  It’s a slow method but I read somewhere that the act of writing by hand actually stimulates more areas in the brain than using a keyboard.  Can’t remember the reference, but it justifies my habit so I’m sticking to it.

Here is an excerpt from The Man for Her  

It takes place part way through Chapter One

A rumble of thunder brought his attention sharply back to the scene before him. He looked again at the pastoral landscape and saw a team of horses with a wagon, plodding around a field of grain. A black and white dog loped along beside. Lottie and a boy were forking stooks onto the wagon but it was slow work. If they were going to beat the storm they needed help. Digging in his heels, he urged his horse forward at a canter. He was within shouting distance of the wagon when Lottie dropped her pitchfork, dragged a rifle from the grain rack and levelled it at his heart.

“Stop right there,” she hollered, sighting down the barrel.

Surprise made him pull so sharply on the reins his horse reared and nearly threw him. “Whoa, easy girl,” he muttered to the mare, squeezing his knees tight and slacking off on the bit. He held his mount in check with one hand while he raised the other in a gesture of surrender. He didn’t much like having a gun pointed at him but he had to admire the grit of the woman holding it. Her fiercely protective attitude toward what was hers found an echo in his own soul. If ever he came across the good-for-nothing snake who had deserted her he’d enjoy handing him a beating he wouldn’t soon forget. “Could you point that thing somewhere else?” he said, sliding out of the saddle and raising his other hand.

The rifle didn’t waver. “What do you want?” she demanded, holding her ground, her finger curled around the trigger.

“A job.” He nodded toward the dark clouds and the field still only half emptied of its crop. “Looks to me like you could use a hand.”

The gun wavered and he knew he’d struck the right note. If there had been no clouds overhead he had no doubt she’d have sent him packing, but her need to save her crop gave him an advantage. She glanced toward the boy then sighted the rifle again. “Who are you?”

“Name’s Sean O’Connor, ma’am.” He touched a finger to his hat brim. “Newly arrived from Ireland. Jed Barclay told me you might be looking for help.” Lightning crackled along the ridge of the mountains, casting an eerie light over the valley. Lottie jumped slightly, her face paling. She’s afraid of the storm, he thought, and unaccountably wanted to take her into his arms, stroke the tangled hair out of her eyes and quiet her fears.

End of excerpt

Bio:

Alice Valdal is a writer of contemporary and historical romance.  She also writes musical plays for her junior choir at church.

Traditionally published by Avalon and Kensington Books, her work is now available in e-book form as well.  She also indulges her love of Christmas in short stories.  The Man Who Loved Christmas, is a collection of short stories originally published in her newsletter, and is perma-free at Amazon.  She also writes a weekly blog at http://www.alicevaldal.com/blog

When not busy at the computer she gardens, knits, plays piano, enjoys Butchart Gardens, and caters to her two demanding cats and her one very supportive husband.

To connect with her visit her website, http://www.alicevaldal.com and send an email, or leave a comment on her blog.  She loves to hear from readers.  You can also follow her on facebook.

a new, free Christmas To receive short story sign-up for her newsletter here.

Buy links: http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Valdal

                 http://www.amazon.ca

                 http://www.amazon.co.uk

How did you get started writing?

About four and a half years ago I decided I wanted to write something. I’d been published in professional journals, so I thought I’d write a book about my husband’s journey to buying our sailboat, a lifelong dream. Well, it turns out that I can’t write about myself and the project quickly fizzled. Then I read an interview that Stephanie Laurens did where she said, “Everyone tells you to write what you know. Write what you read.” A few days later an image of a furious Regency lady started playing in my head. I wrote it down, and told my husband I was going to write a Regency romance. A month later I had a finished book and had to figure out what to do with it.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write Regency romances. I love everything about the era, the fashions, the manners, and the culture. I also find it’s a good fit for my voice.

Tell us about your current series.

The Marriage Game is about a group of male friends who, for one reason or another, have put off getting married and how they each meet the woman who is perfect for them, but not necessarily the woman they thought they’d be happy with.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

I have a couple of projects I’m working on simultaneously. The Worthingtons is my next traditionally published series. It starts with a couple who, between them, have guardianship of their eleven brothers and sisters. Then add two Great Danes. During the Regency it was extremely difficult to be awarded guardianship. Even mother’s didn’t have guardianship unless given it to them by their husbands. So, naturally, Lady Grace Carpenter has no intension of marrying and taking the risk of losing guardianship of her seven brothers and sisters. Mat, Earl of Worthington must convince her that she can trust him not only with her heart, but with her family as well.

Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization? 

I do belong to a writing organization, Romance Writers of America. Through them, I discovered The Beau Monde, the Regency chapter. Research would be so much more difficult without the knowledge of incorporated in that fabulous group of ladies and gentlemen.

When did you start writing toward publication? 

From the beginning. I was a businesswoman, and, even though I love writing, being published validated what I was doing.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

Oh yes! When I finished my first book, The Seduction of Lady Phoebe, I really had no idea about writing craft or any writing chapters around who could help me. I did find out about the Brenda Novak auction and bid on an agent evaluation. Needless to say, the agent didn’t sign me, but she did tell me she thought I’d be published. That was my first rejection, but when I discovered RWA, that rejection enabled me to join PRO, and find my first critique group. After a great deal of re-writing, I started submitting again, but not to one, two, or five agents. I used the shot-gun approach and submitted to 20. I received a few requests for partials, but it wasn’t until I started submitting my second book that I received requests for fulls and a couple of offers. I think the thing to keep in mind was that I subbed to 40 agents. Which means that, even though I ended up with a wonderful agent, I was rejected 38 times.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

Having people read my books and love them. Each time a reader tells me she sat up all night and read my book, or that they love the series, it’s like I’m hearing it for the first time.

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

Write you book, then worry about craft. So many writers get caught up in all the rules that they never finish the book. That is the single most important thing you can do. I know authors who were Golden Heart nominees and still hadn’t finished the book! Once you learn the rules, take them with a grain of salt and go with your gut. That said, there are somethings you won’t be able to get away with, but it’s your story and your voice. Keep track of your queries, I used QueryTracker, and send out your queries to every agent who represents your genre. When I submitted to my agent, it was a Hail Mary pass. She is huge in the business. Imagine my surprise when the next day I had an email saying send me your book. It also important to remember that just like you don’t like every book, neither will every agent you sub to like every book. You need someone who loves your book as much as you do.

What’s next for you?

While I’m working my traditionally published series, I have also begun a self-published novella series based on the children of a very difficult duke. The duke first appears in Miss Featherton’s Christmas Prince, and the books are about how all fourteen of them get out from under him and find love and their own lives.

Excerpt from Miss Featherton’s Christmas Prince

Damon Hawksworth lounged against a convenient pillar in Lady Cowper’s crowded ballroom. A glass of wine dangled from his fingers. Directly across from him, another brittle smile appeared on Miss Margaret Featherton’s normally happy countenance. Her latest suitor, the Earl of Tarlington, was nowhere to be seen and had not been for the past two days or so. Rumor had it that he had gone to the Continent. The only question Damon had was whether she had given the man his congé or if it had been the other way around. He rather thought something had occurred to cause her to break it off with Tarlington. His godmother would know. If anyone knew the inner workings of the ton, it was Almeria Bellamny.

Ever since Rupert, Earl of Stanstead’s wedding, when Damon’s she had introduced him to Miss Featherton, he had developed a fascination for the lady. Her intelligence was sharp, and several times he had seen her hold back a witty retort. Her beauty was not at all in the usual mode. Her mouth was too wide for the current fashion, yet it complimented her high cheekbones and finely arched black brows. Her thick, dark chestnut hair almost begged him to run his fingers through her tresses as they tumbled down. Yet for some reason, the feature he was most fond of was her completely straight nose with a rounded tip. More importantly, she was poised beyond her years. He doubted she had ever been a missish young lady. Even when they had argued over an interpretation of poetry, she had always appeared in complete control and secure in her knowledge.

Now, her polite smile belied the look of despair in her blue eyes. It was as if she was slightly adrift and was only going through the motions until she could retire to the country. Well, with Tarlington gone, Damon wasn’t fool enough to wait until some other gentleman snatched her up. He would gladly rescue her and help her on the path he wished for them. Dancing was a start. She would have held the best sets for Tarlington, and now they would be Damon’s.

Blurb for Miss Featherton’s Christmas Prince

Ella Quinn’s wealthy, titled bachelors think they’re immune to romantic notions. Yet no matter how they try to evade it, love somehow finds a way… 

In the two seasons since her triumphant debut, Meg Featherton’s heart has been tested to its limits. Her first suitor: a criminal. The second, a cur. For her third act, Meg vows to leave love completely out of the marriage equation. She has set her sights on a newly made viscount whom she could take or leave. However, now she must avoid his handsome, roguish, irresistible best friend like the plague. It’s no easy feat, as they are all attending the same house party…

Damon, Marquis of Hawksworth, cannot imagine why Miss Featherton seems so damn disinterested—or why he cares so terribly much. Certainly Meg is a fine wifely prospect for a man in his position, but more than that, he finds he longs for her as he has never done for another woman. She may be determined to protect her heart, but Damon is equally set on winning her over, one delicious kiss at a time…

Buy Links

Amazon http://amzn.to/1FbRDE1

Amazon UK  http://amzn.to/1ZQy5BF

Apple http://apple.co/1LFhzg2

B&N http://bit.ly/1KWU6nE

Google http://bit.ly/1EsPLvs

Kobo http://bit.ly/1FbSi8l

Author Bio

Bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them. She has just finished her first series, The Marriage Game, and her new series will start in April 2016.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and granddaughter, one cat and a dog. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean and North America.

She loves having readers connect with her.

Website: www.ellaquinnauthor.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor

Twitter www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor

Blog http://ellaquinnauthor.wordpresscom

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How did you get started writing? 

Years ago, I went through a spate where all I was reading were disappointing books.  I thought to myself, “I could do better.”  That led to “Why don’t you?”  It was a pretty big claim for somebody who’d never written anything creative, beyond what was assigned as homework in school.  So I sat down and gave it a try.  That was eleven years ago, and I haven’t stopped writing since.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and erotica (that always ends  up being a romance, too.)  I like variety, and most of my story ideas are in the contemporary and paranormal genres.  I started off writing erotica.  That’s where I was able to enter the marketplace, so it still holds a special place in my heart.

Tell us about your current series. 

My Courting series is about the women and men who work at Luxxor Limited, a high-end escort service.  The company caters to the wealthy by matching them with escorts who are as smart, mannered, and cultured as they are beautiful.  The one limitation in Luxxor’s contracts?  No sex allowed.  Except, of course, if the contact is mutually acceptable.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park? 

My road to publishing was different than most writers (I’ve since learned).  My first manuscript was Tiger Lily, a gritty erotic thriller.  I sent it off to Black Lace Books in England, and then moved on.  I wrote a short story next called Playing with Fire and sent that into the abyss, too.  A few months later, an envelope showed in my mail.  Those were the days when manuscripts were mailed back and forth – only this envelope was much thinner than the one I’d sent out.  I opened it up and discovered a contract.  A contract!!!  It was so much better than “the call” that everyone talks about.  It was on paper.  It was real, and I could touch it.  Another contract showed up for the short story a week later.  Suddenly, I was an author.

Do you have a view in your writing space?  What does your space look like?

I do!  I’m very lucky.  My house backs up to a creek and woods.  I’ll get distracted by wildlife like deer, red-tailed hawks, red foxes, birds, and squirrels.  They’re fun to watch.

Tell us about your hero.  Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses. 

My hero is Darien Scott.  He’s mysterious, handsome, and  dangerous.   His biggest strength is his commitment to his job.  His weakness is that he’s stayed in the shadows for so long, it’s hard for him to come out into the sunshine.

Tell us about your heroine.  Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses. 

Rielle Sands is quiet, strong, and resourceful.  Her strength is that she’s observant.  She picks up on the littlest clues and reads them.  Her weakness is that she’s been looking over her shoulder for so long, she’s forgotten that she can trust people.

What are you currently working on? 

I’m in the middle of two series, one paranormal and one contemporary romance.  I have several more ideas for my Dream Weavers series about the Oneiroi, Greek daemons of dreams.  I’m also in discussions with my publisher for the next Courting books.  I have lots of writing ahead of me.

What is your writing routine like?

It has to be quiet.  For a long time I wrote at my desk, and that’s still where I do all my editing.  More and more, though, I’ve been writing on my AlphaSmart word processor.  The technology is ancient, and the keys are stiff and clunky.  The strengths are that there’s no Internet connection to distract me and only four lines show on the tiny screen.  For some reason, this keeps me moving forward in the story.  I’ll dump as much into Alphie as quickly as I can, and I get very excited when I run into the “File is Full” warning.  I’ll then transmit everything to my computer and see if it’s gook or gold.

EXCERPT

‘Good evening.’

She wasn’t overreacting. The guy had danger written all over him, in that good-girls-beware sort of way. Tall and strapping, he had closely-cropped dark hair and a rough-and-tumble aura that didn’t go with the tuxedo he was wearing. That wasn’t to say he didn’t look good. He looked damn good. The combination was powerful, and it hit her first in her belly and next in her knees.

Sex appeal oozed from him.

Which, of course, meant he was here for an escort.

His gaze was running over her just as alertly as she’d evaluated him, so Rielle quickly put herself behind her desk. She tucked her barrette behind her phone and fought the urge to run her fingers through her hair. ‘I’m sorry, but we’re closed.’

He cocked his head. ‘The door was open.’

And that had been a mistake.

‘Did you have an appointment?’ She knew very well he hadn’t.

‘No.’ Her question had been sharp, but his blue gaze didn’t flinch. Instead, the lines of his face softened, and she had to lock her knees to keep them from melting. ‘But I’m in a bind. I was hoping you could help me out.’

She lifted an eyebrow. The man might be putting out pheromones by the bucketful, but her brain was still functioning – admittedly better on some levels than others – and she’d begun to sense danger of another sort. The entrapment sort. Luxxor was not a company that took walk-ins. ‘For whom are you looking?’

He walked closer to the desk, and she instinctively gripped its edge. The way he moved, all silent and stealthy. The expensive carpeting absorbed the noise most people made, but the air didn’t even stir at his approach. Her fingers edged closer to the silent alarm, but she didn’t push it.

Not yet.

‘I’m looking for Luxxor Limited. I know I’m late, but I need an escort for the evening.’

Her guard stayed up. She knew they were alone in the office – she was acutely aware of the fact – but her company’s clients knew better than to go spouting off so casually about Luxxor’s line of work. They signed nondisclosure agreements to ensure it. If he was wearing a wire, she wanted to make everything perfectly clear. ‘You need someone to attend an event with you tonight?’

‘Actually, I need someone right now.’

She shook her head. Luxxor went to extremes to satisfy its clients. She’d blush if she thought about how far some escorts went, but there was no way she could accommodate his request. The employees they had working tonight already had their assignments. Even if she did contact someone, the timing was impossible.

And for some reason, that relieved her. ‘I’m sorry, but we don’t have anyone available on such short notice, Mr… I don’t believe I caught your name.’

‘Because I didn’t give it.’ He slid his hands into his pockets. The tuxedo looked good on him, but it was failing badly at taming him. Especially when he winked. ‘Tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.’

BIO

When taking the Myers-Briggs personality test in high school, Kimberly was rated as an INFJ (Introverted-Intuitive-Feeling-Judging). This result sent her into a panic, because there were no career paths recommended for the type. Fortunately, it turned out to be well-suited to a writing career. Since receiving that dismal outlook, Kimberly has become an award-winning author of romance and erotica.  She has written for seven publishing houses, both domestic and international, and has recently focused her efforts on the exciting world of self-publishing. When not writing, she enjoys movies, sports, traveling, music, and sunshine. In her mind, a beach, some rock ‘n’ roll, and a good book make for a perfect day.

Buy Links

Kindle US │ Nook │Google Play│ iBook │ Kobo │ All Romance Ebooks

website, blog links

http://kimberlydean.com

@KDean_writer