How did you get started writing?

While I’ve always created stories in my mind, I didn’t try to write them down until after having my second son.  I was a stay-at-home-mom and needed the escape of writing stories.  Boys are weird creatures and think the strangest things are entertaining or funny.

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

I write fantasy and paranormal romance. I love creating new worlds and playing with creatures from myths and legends.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Creating a new world and deciding on the rules of magic and what creatures inhabit it. I’m afraid I have Bright-Shiny-Syndrome. New ideas always come along right when you’re supposed to be working on a specific story. It’s hard to resist the call of a brand new world.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Characters.  I don’t understand people in real life, how can I create realistic characters for my stories.  There are techniques, but it is a struggle for me.  I naturally come up with plot events easier than characters that readers would embrace.

What is your typical day like?

I’ll wake up while my husband and oldest son are getting ready to leave.  After they are gone for the day, I will either read or watch one tv show for an hour.  Then I’ll shower, walk the dog and make breakfast.  If I’m lucky the youngest will still be asleep and I’ll get to write for a half hour or an hour.  If I’m not lucky, then he is awake and ready for the day so we start school.

While he works, I maybe able to slip in fifteen or twenty minutes of writing but usually I have to either help or keep him on task. About three thirty in the afternoon we’ll stop school for the day and drive to pick up the oldest.  Sometime around 8 or 9 pm, I’ll be able to get back to writing.  I’m not usually very creative at night, so I’ll do some editing or other work.

What is your favorite dessert/food?    

Ice Cream.  I love ice cream – vanilla, strawberry, cherry vanilla, or ice cream with candy in it.  I may visit Dairy Queen each week…as a treat for my kids of course.

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

My writing space is a corner of my upstairs bonus room.  I can see out of the window at an angle.  It’s nice to have indirect sunlight in the mornings when I’m trying to write.  This is a picture right after clearing the desk of paper to start the New Year.

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.

I’m a really slow writer. It takes me about a year to complete a novella.  Mainly because I’ve been busy homeschooling my special needs sons who have different conditions on the Autism Spectrum. Also there is a lot of stress which interferes with my creative ability.

My latest releases are actually a series of Mini Story Bibles I created as a way to kick start my writing. This fall when we enrolled my oldest son in a private school, I had a bit more time to write in the mornings.  Except my creativity had fled and my old writing processes weren’t working.

I wanted something on paper that had space for notes and areas for drawing or pasting in pictures. Something tactile that I would be more involved with than my digital story bible provided. Initially, I thought it would be about 10 pages but I ended up with over 50 pages.  Talking with some friends, I expanded the designs into different genres.

What do you have planned for the future?

My current manuscript is the third novella in my Paranormals of Arilase series.  I hope to publish it by the fall and then I’ll release a box set of all three stories.

Next I’ll work on my Tales of Ellemarlene fantasy series and begin a contemporary fantasy series.  I have a bunch of partially started stories so there are many more ideas in the queue.

***

A few screen captures from the Historical Writer’s Mini Story Bible for Bedside and Travel

***

Bio

Although Beth grew up in West Virginia, she currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two sons and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who makes an excellent lap warmer. Blending the analytical and creative sides of her brain, she delights in creating fantasy worlds for others. Catch her online most days except when NCIS and Once Upon a Time air.

Website – http://BethCaudill.net/

Book Blurb:

Dream. Explore. Write.

The Historical Writer’s Mini Story Bible for Bedside and Travel is your first stop along the path to writing. You set the pace for discovering your imaginary worlds and conflicts within your stories.

Each book section includes an area for you to brainstorm words associated with your idea, detail pages for up to five characters including picture and attire frames, diagram and notes for cataloging your plot points, space to identify historical landmarks and events, frames to sketch settings and scenes, lines for recording your research and more.

Keep your story details in one convenient journal that easily travels or resides next to your bed. Ideas come at all hours of the day, don’t lose your thoughts because you couldn’t find paper.

Paperback Book Buy Link – http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Writers-Story-Bedside-Travel/dp/0985378182/

How did you get started writing?

For years I wrote poetry which I scribbled in notebooks and stashed in the attic. Then one day I wrote a poem I wanted to keep. I earn my living as a computer software engineer, so what with work and home, the poem was always on the computer I wasn’t on. I found an online website and storered some poems there, then found another and another. Eventually I found a better spot for my poems, but by then I was hooked. I started taking myself seriously as a poet when I was runner up in a poetry contest.

I started writing fiction when I wrote a chapter book that was sparked by a friend who lost his wife and children in a  fire. Then I spent the  next year and a half learning how to write fiction.

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

Right now I’m writing poetry, science fiction, and fantasy. I’ve been a sci fi fan since I was a kid (I picked Robert A. Heinlein’s Farmer in Sky for my tenth birthday) but up until 2010, I’d never written any, mostly because of a phobia about world-building. Then in September of 2010 I decided to use NaNo (National Novel Writing Month, which happens in November) to write a sci fi novel, figuring I could afford the month’s time. I spent most of the intervening six weeks in world-building: creatintg my aliens, the Terran Federation, its and politics, the alien’s history, society, mores, art and literature, etc. I  ended up with about a page of plot notes as well.

Then from January through about June or July I edited. It was accepted for publication and became Relocated, the first in the Novels of Aleyne series.

What inspired your latest book?

Part of the impetus behind the series, most of which takes place on Aleyne, an alien planet with a desert environment and a Terran Federation Guard base  on it, was because at the time my middle son was in the army serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Of course, in the series, the aliens are the good guys.

I never planned to write a series, but my characters refused to leave me alone. After I finished the first novel and was editing it, I aserked myself why one of the characters,  Ardaval, was living alone in a large house. I ended up with a one-liner about his former partners and what became Broken Bonds, the second novel in the series.  Rob’s Rebellioin, the latest novel, follows Colonel Robert Walker, the officer who (spoiler alert) arrests Major Brad Reynolds, the main character in Broken Bonds, for treason.

What is your favorite part of writing?

When I finish the first draft and I know what the novel is about.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Figuring out the initial plot arc and what the novel is really about.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

When I wrote Relocated, I also wrote thirty poems by a poet who exists in the universe of the novel. Eight of the poems appear in the text of the novel, but I self-published the whole collection for several reasons:

My publisher doesn’t publish poetry

I wanted the whole collection available as a companion to the book

I waffled about submitting the poetry collection somewhere.

A friend, Michele Graf, edited the collection for me, and I ended up publishing it through CreateSpace. It was a very positive experience.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

My characters wake me in the middle of the night whispering until I give in, take notes, and promise to write the book.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Get an editor. You need another pair of eyes to look over your manuscript

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

Pretty  unlikely. I admit I’ve shamelessly stolen names I like for my characters, but mostly the people themselves are safe. I did put my kids’ grandmother into my chapter book, but she’s the only one I recall off the top of my head. Now interesting incidents  or stories are another matter. Several of the stories my dad told  about his experiences during World War II have ended up in my books.

When did you start writing toward publication? 

For the poetry, when I realized my poetry could be publication-worthy, and for the fiction, when I wrote the chapter book and realized it was a hot mess and I needed help.

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

Don’t let your imagination limit you. I never imagined myself becoming a writer, and especially not a writer of fiction. That  was a failure of imagination more than anything else. And don’t be afraid to admit your weaknesses as a writer and to work on improving them.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on another sci fi novel. I’ve finished the first draft, but it needs a major overhaul. I also have a  fantasy novel I need to get back to at some point.

Blurb

Colonel Rob Walker always does his duty, even when it means risking  shaky relationship with his family. When he’s ordered to bring the treaty negotiations between the Terran Federation and the Aleyni to a successful conclusion, he’s determined to do just that, even when both sides would rather he fail. How can Rob pull off a miracle and avoid a war, one where both sides could be destroyed?

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lRxFdOJp6Q

Excerpt

“Laura? Carol? Where is everybody?” Rob drew in a deep breath.

Footsteps clattered on the fake wood floors. “Carol took the children to Fellowship. I didn’t want to go.” Tear streaks marked the dust accumulated on Laura’s face. “I want to go home. I don’t want to live in this dump.”

“This is home,” Rob grumbled. “I’m commander of this base. This is my posting. Why would you expect me to take us back to New Oregon?”

“You might have refused the posting.” Laura’s mouth formed a straight line in her oval face. “You can resign from the Federation Guard.”

“Resign? What would I do then? Come on, Laura, be realistic. I’ve got two wives and four children to support. We wouldn’t even have the price of tickets home for us on a commercial star ship” What the blazes would become of his career if he quit? His father’s sneering face rose in his mind. His father continued to predict Rob’s career would crash and burn. He clenched his fist. He’d do anything to prove his father wrong.

“Surely you can find other work.” Laura swiped a hand across her eyes. “Everyone here hates us.”

“For God’s sake, Laurie, I’m a fifty year old career colonel. The Guard is my life. My career. What else would I do?” Rob stomped into the living area and over to a small section devoted to cooking. “What the hell is there to eat around here?”

Laura shrugged and dropped into a chair at a small table. “Check for yourself.” She glared at Rob, her arms crossed over her chest. “You can starve for all I care.”

Rob pulled out another chair and sat opposite her. “We’re not going home, er, back to New Oregon, and that’s final. Relations between the base and the Aleyni are touchy enough. They liked Reynolds, and I arrested him for treason. The treaty with the Federation is up for renegotiation. If the Guard sent the wrong officer, the Aleyni could refuse negotiation altogether. I’m not going to be the one who is responsible for starting a war.” He was sick of defending himself for doing his duty. He was a soldier, blast it. He might not be much of a commander, but no one was going to fault him for shirking his duty.

“You’re being melodramatic,” Laura protested.

“Maybe, but we’re staying here.” Rob stood and jerked open the cold store, which held nothing but some juice. “Come on, we’re going to the market. We’ll find someplace to eat.” He extended a hand to Laura and pulled her to her feet.

“There’s nothing here and nowhere to go.”

“Not on the base, but in Aleyne City.” Rob pulled out his pocket comp and began searching for Restaurants, Aleyne City.

“Not until I wash up.” Laura glared at him and stumped off down the hall.

Rob sighed and lowered himself into a chair to wait

Bio:

Born and raised in New York City, Margaret Fieland has been around art and music all her life.  Her poems and stories have appeared in journals such as  Turbulence Magazine, Front Range Review, and All Rights Reserved. She is one of the Poetic Muselings. Their poetry anthology, Lifelines, was published by Inkspotter Publishing in November, 2011.  She is the author of  Relocated, Geek Games,  Broken Bonds, and Rob’s Rebellion published by MuseItUp Publishing , and of Sand in the Desert, a collection of science fiction persona poems. A chapter book is due out later this year.

Links:

Rob’s Rebellion on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Robs-Rebellion-Novels-Margaret-Fieland-ebook/dp/B0198UXBF8/

Rob’s Rebellion on publisher’s website:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/series/robs-rebellion-detail

My Website:

http://www.margaretfieland.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MargaretFielandAuthor/

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/margaretfieland/

Buy Links:

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/new-releases/series/robs-rebellion-detail

How did you get started writing?

I began writing the same way many people do—I woke up one day with a story in my head that wouldn’t go away. So I started writing it! I was 44 years old and working as an assistant director of Radiology for a hospital. At first I thought I was writing just to relieve stress and frustration from work. At the time I had a particularly stifling boss who later became a horrible boss in one of my books. LOL! I didn’t really see it going anywhere as I knew absolutely nothing about writing or publishing. Fourteen months later, however, I knew I had to see it through so I began writing query letter to try to get my book published. Six weeks later I got a book contract for my debut novel, THE HIGHEST STAKES, a work of historical fiction that was published in April 2010. I have learned a great deal since that book and have branched out into both historical and contemporary romance. Hell on Heels (Hotel Rodeo #1) is my seventeenth published title and I have eight more coming in 2016!

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

I began in historical fiction because I am a true blue history geek but I am also a romantic so all of my stories, both historical and contemporary have strong romantic elements. I also have a very naughty sense of humor that plays into a number of my stories. The Hotel Rodeo series, with its colorful Las Vegas setting has allowed me to give it full reign!

Tell us about your current series.

Hotel Rode is a smart & sexy, contemporary romance series set in contemporary Las Vegas. My hero is a former rodeo stock contractor who runs a hotel that’s seen better days. His dream is to rebuild the entire hotel and casino by offering exciting and unique entertainment that’s a blend of circus, rodeo, and gambling. When Ty manages to talk his billionaire business partner, Tom Brandt, into moving forward, disaster strikes and leaves Ty answering to Tom’s daughter, Monica, a New York investment banker. Although Ty and Monica don’t see eye to eye on anything, their attraction is combustible. The first two books in the series HELL ON HEELS and TWO TO WRANGLE, feature the war of wills between Ty and Monica, but the third book BEAUTY AND THE BULL RIDER features secondary characters who are only loosely connected to the hotel. I am currently working on five more books for this series. Each subsequent story will focus on a different couple but the hotel is always in the background.

Do you have critique partners?  No. I have never played well with others! LOL! Seriously, I just haven’t found anyone with whom I am compatible. I do, however, have several absolutely wonderful beta readers who have been invaluable to me.

What is your favorite dessert/food?  I love Italian and Mexican food. Hate anything bland!

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?  Don’t ever cross me! (Evil laugh).

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

Ty Morgan is a former rodeo stock contractor, bull rider and bull fighter. He’s hard-working, ambitious and charming, and loves women, but only in single servings—mainly because he’s been burned before. He’s also struggled in the past with alcohol abuse.

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

Monica Brandt is a New York investment banker. She’s smart as hell and tough as nails, but under her hard exterior lies a tender heart. She’s fiercely loyal to Tom whish is why she distrusts Ty and is quick to jump to conclusions. She’s afraid he’s using her father for his own gain.

What’s next for you?  2016 is going to be a HUGE year for me as I have multiple releases in both contemporary and historical romance. In addition to my Hotel Rode series form Kensington, I have the 4^th release in my Hot Cowboy Night series from Sourcebooks as well as a number of indie historical releases coming. Five of these are multi author collaborations (RING IN A COWBOY, ONCE UPON A TRUE LOVE’S KISS, PASSIONATE PROMISES, and SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN.) And that’s only the first half of the year! I hope you all will take a moment to check out my work.

Warmest regards,

Victoria Vane

http://www.victoriavane.com

HELL ON HEELS (HOTEL RODEO #1) by VICTORIA VANE 

PLACE YOUR BET…The Hotel Rodeo in Las Vegas has seen better days, but managing partner Ty Morgan has come up with a way to return it to its former glory. His plan looks promising until the unthinkable happens. Suddenly Ty is working for the boss’s daughter. And Miss Monica Brandt, hot as she may be, doesn’t share his vision…

ROLL THE DICE...She left a fabulous career and a frustrated fiancé in New York to move to Vegas and save her father’s investment. But now Monica is locking horns with a sexy cowboy-turned-businessman. What does Ty think he can do that she can’t? All Monica knows is that she doesn’t dare trust him—or is it herself she doesn’t trust…

AND WIN…The battle lines are drawn. The stakes are high.  And the attraction can’t be denied—especially the more closely Ty and Monica have to work together. Some odds are just meant to be played, and with chemistry this electric, it may be time to grab life by the horns…

ABOUT VICTORIA VANE

 Victoria Vane is a #1 bestselling award-winning author of smart and sexy romance. Her works range from comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance and have received over twenty awards and nominations including: a 2015 Red Carpet Finalist for Best Contemporary romance (Slow Hand), 2014 RONE Winner for Best Historical Post Medieval Romance (Treacherous Temptations), and Library Journal Best Ebook Romance of 2012 (The Devil DeVere series). Victoria also writes romantic historical fiction as Emery Lee. She currently resides in Palm Coast, Florida with her husband, two sons, a little black dog, and an Arabian horse.

Contact info:

Email: victoria.vane@hotmail.com           Website: www.victoriavane.com

Blog: www.embracingromance.com         Facebook: http://on.fb.me/YVeXrf

Twitter: @authorvictoriav                       Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1vONQZh

Amazon: http://amzn.to/10QMKT5             Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1sccsM4

YOUTUBE: http://bit.ly/1yNtEMP

Praise for SLOW HAND
“Well-paced, scorching scenes and witty banter…”

—Publishers Weekly

“Slow Hand  by Victoria Vane is delightful, funny, page-turning steamy sexy, and the romance between Wade and Nikki make you wish you could pull Victoria’s characters straight off the page and into real life…”

—Unwrapping Romance

“For erotic passion and one-liners, the first book in Vane’s new series will satisfy…Vane’s latest gets a big yee-haw.”

—RT Book Reviews

BUY LINKS:  Amazon, B&N, Google Play, Kobo 

Rafflecopter Giveaway – Ebook Hell on Heels

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What is your favorite part of writing? I love creating flawed, broken and funny characters and creating a unique set of circumstances for them. I especially love writing multi-cultural romances. There is an outcry for more diversity in the romance world. I’m thrilled to be a writer during this exciting time.

What is your least favorite part of writing? I have a difficult time juggling. A lot of writing is just that. It’s making time for edits. It’s spending hours on promotion, which is needed for every release. It’s dealing with budgets and covers and query letters. Also, examining the reviews of the book (or as I call it, fingernail biting time). By the way, reader responses are awesome when they are good. They encourage me to keep going knowing I’ve given people a few enjoyable hours with my characters. However, when they are bad, I have to take a deep breath, revaluate each book with fresh eyes, and find ways to make the next book even better. Oh yeah and speaking of the next book, you have to find time to write it! But I love being an author. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

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

Unwanted Girl is due out January 19^th from Kensington Publishing. The story is about a girl from a rural village in India, who falls for a cynical, down and out, New York City author. These two have a whole world separating them, not to mention a ticking time-bomb since her student visa will expire in a few months. Both characters also have scarred pasts and heavy burdens that limit their views of a promising future. Yet, together, they learn to embrace life and experience true joy for the first time. Shyla, the heroine, wants to write a story, but she is no writer. Nick, although a seasoned successful writer, has lost his passion. The novel goes between the story they write and the life they are living. I’ve never attempted anything so outside the box. But then again, why limit yourself to a box at all?

What is your favorite dessert/food? I usually go for anything chocolate. The more chocolate, the better. I love bacon too. I know chocolate-covered bacon is actually a thing, but being a creature of addiction, I’m afraid to try it.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? There is actually a second book coming out with Kensington next year. There might be a few surprise cameos.

Do you have a view in your writing space?  What does your space look like?   Funny story, I gave a friend of mine the royal tour of my house. When we got to my office, I announced ‘and this is where the magic happens.’ She gave me a sad nod and replied most people say that about their bedrooms!

Anyway, the view you ask? Well, right now, it’s piled with snow. The snow is drifting all across the driveway. I probably should think about shoveling it. Then again, I’m a writer, always on a deadline, dedicated to my work. See…I have almost as many excuses as plot elements!

My desk is very messy because I’m between promotion one book, editing another, and writing a third. I’ll admit I wouldn’t give you the grand tour of my writing space right about now.

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

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

I love romance of course. But there are so many subsets to that category. I read all genres, but my favorite books are the ones that pair two unlikely but loveable characters. I enjoy reading about people from different slices of life finding common ground. It’s the reason I choose to write multicultural romance. I believe we create our own barriers.

With technology, I’m seeing the world grow smaller every day. Instead of tolerating difference or worst ignoring them, we are embracing them. We need the same type of diversity represented in the romance world.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Take every compliment with humility and learn from every criticism. Both will make you a stronger writer.

Book Description or Synopsis

When a man loves a woman

Recovering addict Nick Dorsey finds solace in his regimented life. That is until he meets Shyla Metha.  Something about the shy Indian beauty who delivers take-out to his Greenwich Village loft inspires the reclusive writer. And when Shyla reveals her desire to write a book of her own, he agrees to help her. The tale of a young Indian girl growing up against a landscape of brutal choices isn’t Nick’s usual territory, but something about the story, and the beautiful storyteller, draws him in deep.

Shyla is drawn to Nick, but she never imagines falling for him. Like Nick, Shyla hails from a village, too…a rural village in India. They have nothing in common, yet he makes her feel alive for the first time in her life. She is not ready for their journey to end, but the plans she’s made cannot be broken…not even by him. Can they find a way to rewrite the next chapter?

This smoothly written cross-cultural romance, which initially appears uncomplicated, evolves into an in-depth study of strong emotions and underlying motivations. Schiller has a fine talent for describing cultural conflicts, and the characters are multifaceted and endearing. A truly unanticipated turn of events sends the riveting conclusion into overdrive, leaving readers breathless. – Publisher’s Weekly

Author Bio –
I am a hopeless romantic in a hopelessly pragmatic world. I have a full time life and two busy teenagers, but in the dark of night, I sit by the warm glow of my computer monitor, and attempt to conjure up passionate heartwarming stories with plenty of humor.

I started imagining stories in my head at a very young age. In fact, I got so good at it that friends asked me to create plots featuring them as the heroine and the object of their affection as the hero. We’d spend hours on the phone while I came up with a series of unrealistic, yet tender events, which led to a satisfying conclusion. You’ve heard of fan fiction… this was friend fiction.

Even with that, it took many years to realize I could produce an actual full-length book that readers would enjoy. I try to make my stories humorous, realistic, with flawed but redeeming characters. I hope you enjoy my stories and always find The Happily Ever After in every endeavor.

http://www.mkschillerauthor.com/

Author Links

Website – http://www.mkschillerauthor.com/

FB author page – https://www.facebook.com/MKSchillerauthor?ref_type=bookmark

FB personal Page – https://www.facebook.com/mk.schiller

Amazon Author page – http://www.amazon.com/MK-Schiller/e/B00FE0FGDM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1407492789&sr=8-1Twitter – https://twitter.com/MKSchillerGoodreads author page – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7223625.M_K_Schiller

Rafflecopter Giveaway – Ebook copy of Unwanted Girl
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What is your favorite part of writing? – Finishing a book. The rush is indescribable!

What is your least favorite part of writing? – Writer’s block. It’s my brain’s way of telling me that something’s wrong with the story and I need to go back and figure out where I took a wrong turn.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories? – They come from all over the place: current events, conversations with friends, things that happen in real life, etc. You name it, I consider it fair game. LOL. The idea for the opening scene of Grave Attraction came from a conversation with one of my co-workers regarding my strange neighbor who lives a few houses away.

Do you have critique partners? – Yes, I’m very fortunate to have several critique partners, and they’re worth their weight in gold. They’re great at pointing out things that I’ve missed, as well as providing insight into areas I hadn’t even considered. Everything I write goes through them before it gets sent to my editor.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? – Not very likely. Well, that’s not completely true. I have a tendency to borrow certain traits from people and incorporate them into my characters. So while they might not be an exact replica of someone I meet, they might share a few similarities.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book. – Reaper Adam Javorski breaks rule number one when he alters the course of fate to save the life of a sexy shifter. Little does he know, their souls share a bond that stretches across centuries. Now he’s forced to fight fate as well as a serial killer, or the next souls reaped will be theirs.

Tell us about your hero.  Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses. – Adam is a reaper, a damned soul given one last chance to earn his salvation by harvesting the souls of the recently departed. The job sucks and the hours are long, but it sure as heck beats the alternative. Tall, dark, and handsome, he’s one of those guys who’s fairly laid back until somebody pushes him too far. Then watch out! He also has a bit of a control issue, which could pose a problem with everything that happens with Marlena…

Tell us about your heroine.  Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses. – Marlena is a shifter who’s been alive for more than four hundred years. She’s smart, resourceful, and fiercely protective of those she loves, but over the years she’s lost her fire for living because of a tragedy that happened in her past. It’s going to take a special kind of hero to make her want to live again.

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? – I love reading paranormal romance, but I tend to avoid it when I’m writing a book. But once I type “The End” all bets are off!

What’s next for you? – 2016 is shaping up to be a busy year. First up is a contemporary romance trilogy that’s currently with my editor and should be coming out in the next couple months. I’ve also completed a contemporary romance short story that will be in an anthology set to release in February. After that, I have at least one more book in the Grave series to write, and I’m working on a brand new paranormal romance series that I’m really excited about! Finally, I’m collaborating on a paranormal romance serial with several other authors.

EXCERPT

“Who the hell are you?” Her husky voice sounded harder than iron, but her eyes were wide and unblinking.

Adam didn’t answer. He was too busy appraising the locks. With enough time and the proper equipment, he could override the electronic keypad. Unfortunately, he lacked the luxury of either. Besides, it wasn’t his business. As a reaper, his obligations lay with the dead. He had no right to interfere with the living. Those lessons had been drilled into his head countless times. Always collect your appointed souls. Do not alert humans to our presence. Do not question Fate. And for the love of God, do not alter destiny. His mentor’s words echoed in his ears, the only thing keeping him from running to his truck for a hacksaw.

Frustrated, Adam balled his hands into fists. If he had a lick of sense, he’d leave the house before he did anything stupid. But something about the young woman called out to his soul, tugging so fiercely he found it impossible to turn away. A deep sense of connection flashed through his blood—swift, strong, and given the situation, completely inappropriate. He’d never experienced anything like it, and it knocked him completely off balance.

His phone vibrated in his back pocket, jarring him from his thoughts.

“Get your ass out of there,” Martin said when Adam answered the call. “Your boy’s on his way back to the nest, and it looks like he brought company.”

Shit. According to his notes, the killer worked alone. Since when had he recruited a partner? “All right, I’ll be there in a minute.” Adrenaline surged through his veins as he disconnected. There wasn’t enough time to break the blond free. But what kind of man would he be if he left a defenseless woman in the hands of psychos? Fuck destiny. The least he could do was give her a fighting chance at survival. To the best of his knowledge, she wasn’t fated to expire any time soon, and in his book that made her fair game.

“Hey!” the blond shouted when he stormed out of the room, fear rising in her voice. “Come back! Let me out of here!”

The sound of the garage door opening shot Adam’s pulse into overdrive. With time running out, he rushed to the kitchen and grabbed the cordless phone from the charging station. He dialed as he walked, and by the time he reached the back room, a 911 operator had picked up the call.

“Please state the nature of your emergency,” a woman said on the other end of the line.

Adam shoved the phone through the narrow steel bars. His gaze locked with the woman’s long enough to insert a mental suggestion.

You’re at 816 Heron Cove. I was never here.

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About the Author:

Lori Sjoberg is the award winning author of the GRAVE SERIES. She lives in Florida with her husband and four-legged fur baby.

Growing up the youngest of three girls, Lori never had control of the remote. (Not that she’s bitter about that. Really. Okay, maybe a little, but it’s not like she’s scarred for life or anything.) That meant a steady diet of science fiction and fantasy. Star Trek, Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits – you name it, she watched it. It fed her imagination, and that came in handy when the hormones kicked in and she needed a creative excuse for being out past curfew.

After completing her first novel, she joined the Romance Writers of America and Central Florida Romance Writers. Now she exercises the analytical half of her brain at her day job, and the creative half writing sensual paranormal romance. Grim reapers are her specialty, but she loves to write about all creatures of the night.

You can read more about Lori at http://lorisjoberg.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriSjoberg

@Lori_Sjoberg

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6574214.Lori_Sjoberg

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.

          As you may have guessed, I’m Eileen Dreyer. I’ve been writing since I was 10 and ran out of Nancy Drews to read, and I’ve been published since 1986. I’m up to 42 books and 10 short stories in just about every sub-genre of romance and medical-forensic suspense(I spent almost 2 decades as a trauma nurse, and I killed off everyone who annoyed me in my books) (yes, thank you. It was very satisfying). My proudest achievement in those years is earning only the 4^th place in the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame for excellence.

My first 25 romances were written as Kathleen Korbel(the reasons why are answered in a subsequent question). Now that I have the rights to most of them back, I’m republishing them under my own name. I don’t want anybody to be confused into thinking these are brand new books, so both names are on the cover.      A FINE MADNESS, published in 1991, is one of those books. I’m releasing it again in a group of 5 books that are all more humorous. It’s the story of a historic home restorer who is being invaded by a corporate security officer whose job it is to check the stately home for security leaks, just in case, oh, I don’t know, the queen of England should be expected at a secret meeting there. The problem is that Quinn Rutledge, who is hip deep in plaster and sanders, has no idea exactly why Ian Matthews is looking over her shoulder, nor that he is actually the Viscount Giggleswick(I couldn’t help it. I knew I had to write about a Lord Giggleswick when we stumbled over the town in Yorkshire), who not only works for the company that is turning stately homes into high end hotels, but that he will one day inherit it.

You’d think that information would ease his way into her heart. But Quinn has trust issues because of an ex-husband cut in the same mold, and Ian can’t bend enough to trust Quinn with the real details of  his life, that he isn’t just a viscount, but a member of her majesty’s security service. Throw in some good old fashioned English eccentrics, a very active ghost, a threat of eco-terrorism, and a retired military colonel straight out of Rudyard Kipling, and I hope you have a recipe for good old fashioned fun.

Oh, and just to keep the confusion to a minimum, after much consideration, I kept the book in 1991. The advent of technology would have changed too much.

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

Ian Matthews, Viscount Giggleswick, comes from a classic aristocratic family. But much to his family’s chagrin, after his service in the army, he joins the Queen’s security branch, which is what brings him to Hartley Hall in Cornwall. He is an honorable man, adaptable and obviously courageous. His weaknesses include a very bum leg that is frustrating him beyond endurance, a conviction that it is only his title that attracts people, and a disbelief in ghosts—which actually might be his most problematic.

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

 Quinn Rutledge is an American with a passion for old houses. Hartley Hall is not the first stately home she has renovated and opened for the Early of Hartley. Detail-oriented and thorough, she is also a good friend, excellent boss and has patience with ghosts(a plus on this job). Her weaknesses include the fact that as an orphan she has never felt as if she belonged anywhere, a vulnerability strengthened by an unfortunate marriage into another aristocratic family, although of the American variety that left her divorced and bitter.

 Do you write under a pen name?   Why or why not?

I have written under a pen name, for two reasons. I’ve always known that I wanted to write in a lot of genres. I read a lot of genres. But back in 1986 when I was first published, romance writers were really looked down on, and I was afraid that I would be unfairly judged when I wrote in other genres. In fact, when I wrote my first suspense, `A MAN TO DIE FOR in 1991, my review included the line, “Romance writer Eileen Dreyer is trying to write suspense now” as if, ‘isn’t that cute?’ I’ve always been damned proud of my romances, and I didn’t want people dumping on me or them. So until the world began to accept romance writers as equals, I separated myself out.

The second reason is much easier. When my daddy learned that I was writing romances, he became very nervous. He just wasn’t sure he wanted people to know that his little girl(because you know you’re only ever 12 years old to your daddy) was writing about….well, you know, sex. So for him I took on another name. And even though, as I said, I’m very proud of Kathleen Korbel, I’ve decided to retire her and only use my own name now.

 What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

Absolutely everything. Nancy Drew really started me off into the land of mystery and suspense, followed by Mary Stewart, who taught me what a romantic suspense was. My mom introduced me to the big historical writers like James Clavell and James Michener. I’m the one who discovered M.M. Kaye, who inspired a lifelong fascination with exotic locals. J.R.R. Tolkien introduced me to fantasy, and I attended a great high school that gave me a great introduction to literature. So…yeah. Everything. It actually wasn’t until I was a mom and an RN before I discovered good romance. A friend gave me a shopping bag full of American authors like Nora Roberts, Roberta Gellis, Jayne Krentz, Joan Wolf. It was, if you’ll pardon the expression, love at first sight. Which means that you’ll find all the other genres in my romances, as well as other genres I’ve written.

 Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization?  Which one?  Have the helped you with your writing?  How?

 I do. I’ve belonged to Missouri Romance Writers of America since 1986, but at one time or another I’ve also belonged to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Writers Guild and Author’s Guild and Novelists Inc. My guild memberships are for protection and information. The others are my writing community.

When I teach writing, it is the first thing that I emphasis. You can do without almost anything else to become a successful author. I don’t believe you can do without a writing community. It isn’t just learning skills and networking. It’s being with other people who understand your passion, craft and problems. I liken it to being another new mother. Nobody else understands just how hard it is or the time it takes. One of the most difficult things to explain is why I’m lying on the couch with my eyes closed, and that’s working. Other authors know, though, and might offer some tips on how to maximize your creative time.

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

 I’ll tell you a true story. Way back in 1981 I was working the ER, married, raising two kids and working to finish my bachelor’s of science. And I was so frustrated, because I wanted so badly to do something creative. And then,  one night a friend of mine and I were standing out on the hospital parking lot at 3 in the morning, she  challenged me to write a book. She’s the one who gave me the bag of romances to read. And I took up that challenge. And like I said, I’m now working on my 43^rd book. My friend? She never finished her first book. Why? Because somebody told her she wasn’t a good writer. What’s the difference between the two of us? I didn’t let anybody tell me no. It took me five years to get published, which has been the average. It wasn’t exactly easy after that, either. I’ve fought for every contract, every book. But I didn’t let them tell me no.

The greatest difference now is that traditional publishing isn’t your only choice. You can go indie. My only caveat to that is that an awful lot of writers have thought they could just put anything up on line and make a fortune. The demands on writers are even tougher in indie than traditional publishing, because you’re the one who has to do all the trouble-shooting. You can rely on professional editors at a publishing house to help you catch mistakes and polish your prose. But you’re the one who has to find the right editor, the right cover artist, the right distributor. But if you want this, you’ll find a way.

What movie best describes your life?  Why?

 It’s a Wonderful Life. Oh, I have problems. Doesn’t everybody? But I’m doing what I love, my family is happy and healthy. What else can you ask for?

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

 Well, A FINE MADNESS is the last book of the first group of Korbel Classics I’m rereleasing. The next series, my romantic suspense series, will debut this year. I’m also continuing my DRAKE’S RAKES Regency series of what I call historical romantic adventure(nefarious spies are involved),with Pippin’s and Beau’s story, THREE TIMES A LADY. And if that weren’t enough, I’m working on my first non-fiction book, TRAVELS WITH DAVE: WHAT A PASSPORT, PILL BOTTLE AND SUNGLASSES TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE, DEATH AND FRIENDSHIP.

To find out more about all of them, check my website(you can sign up for a newsletter) www.eileendreyer.com, my FB page, www.facebook.com/eileendreyer, or twitter (okay, and Instagram and Pinterest).

Thanks again for asking me to come play. I really hope you like Quinn and Ian.

 A Fine Madness by Eileen Dreyer

Blurb

Quinn Rutledge has been hired to remodel historic Hartley Hall into a 5-star hotel.

Ian Matthews, a Special Forces officer in the Queen’s Protection service, is vetting the hall’s security for a secret international meeting, and presents himself to Quinn as a corporate officer checking on her progress.

All seems simple enough, until the pair uncover a crazed band of terrorists, a destructive ghost with an odd sense of humor, and an inconvenient attraction to each other.

Neither have time for love, and Ian is the embodiment of everything that went wrong with Quinn’s first marriage. But Love doesn’t care.

 Available at:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Madness-Korbel-Classic-Romance-Humorous-ebook/dp/B017X5GOBI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452020968&sr=8-1&keywords=a+fine+madness+eileen+dreyer

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-fine-madness-eileen-dreyer/1123024927?ean=9781614178002

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/a-fine-madness-korbel-classic-romance-humorous-series-book-5

GooglePlay https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Eileen_Dreyer_A_Fine_Madness_Korbel_Classic_Romanc?id=q5sACwAAQBAJ

Bio

New York Times bestselling, RWA Hall of Fame author Eileen Dreyer has published 31 romance novels in most genres, 8 medical­forensic suspenses, and 10 short stories.

2016 sees Eileen enjoying critical acclaim for her foray into historical romance, the Drake’s Rakes series, which Eileen labels as Regency Romantic Adventure that follows a group of Regency aristocrats who are willing to sacrifice everything to keep their country safe. She is also working on her first non­fiction book, TRAVELS WITH DAVE, about a journey she’s been taking with a friend’s ashes.

A retired trauma nurse, Eileen lives in her native St. Louis with her husband, children, and

large and noisy Irish family, of which she is the reluctant matriarch. She has animals but refuses to subject them to the limelight.

Website: eileendreyer.com

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

Twitter: @eileendreyer

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