How did you get started writing?

I have been a voracious reader since I found Nancy Drew books in third grade, but I never imagined writing a novel. I did some journaling but that is it. In late 2009 I finished a historical romance, and a story invaded my mind. I went around thinking of it and saying to myself, “That would make a great book. Someone needs to write it.” The story would not leave me alone. A few months later, I wrote out the plot and even toyed with some dialogue. In June of 2010, I took some time off from my job. I decided I would spend 2 hours a day working on my book idea. Two and a half weeks later, I had an 80,000 word manuscript. That’s when the real work began. I’ve been writing ever since. It has become my true passion.

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

I found historical romance when I was a teenager. My mother read them, and I would sneak her Frank Yerby books into my bedroom. They were way too racy for a teenager, but I fell in love with the genre. I devoured Barbara Cartland’s books and also Georgette Heyer. Historical romance is my first love, and since that is the case, it’s no surprise that I write in that genre.

I also write sweet contemporary romances as well. In fact, I recently released A New Beginning for Nanci in January. This book has a strong inspirational element and the hero is a Navy man. I thoroughly enjoyed writing Nanci and Daniel’s love story. As a Navy wife for many years, I understand the difficulties for the families left behind when their loved one has to go on deployment.

Tell us about your current series.

I’m very excited about my Honorable Rogue series. Lady Overton’s Perilous Journey is book 1 of this series, and it has been available since July. It is a romantic suspense with lot of action, poor Lady O doesn’t have an easy time reaching her HEA! Miss Kathleen’s Scandalous Baron is book 2. This is a lighter novel, one with a bit of humor. I fell in love with Andrew, my hero. I am currently working on The Viscount’s Salvation, book 3, which will definitely have quite a bit of suspense. I hope to have it available before the end of this year. I plan to write a fourth book, but I’m also considering giving each of Andrew’s friends their own story. They certainly are honorable rogues as well.

Do you have critique partners?

I am fortunate to have several, and some of them help me with my historicals, and I have one that helps me with my contemporaries and my suspense scenes. I have learned so much from these awesome ladies. I also have several beta readers, and their feedback has helped tremendously.

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

When I first started writing, I only read historical romance. I joined an RWA chapter, and some of the members suggested I also read outside my preferred genre. I accidently discovered Vampire romances, which a sub-genre I thought I would never read. I soon found myself devouring as many as I could find. I discovered Tina Folsom’s Scanguard series and they are fantastic!

I have also discovered I enjoy Billionaire romance as well. They are a great escape from everyday life for me. After all, who doesn’t dream of having wealth beyond our imagination. I love a glimpse of how they must live. I especially enjoy ones with tortured souls, such as Christian Grey and Gideon Cross!

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

I actually write under three pen names. I write my historicals under Vikki Vaught, my erotic romances under V.L. Edwards, and my sweet contemporaries under Vikki McCombie. Obviously, my readers who enjoy my sweet contemporaries would not be interested in my erotic novels. That is why I write under the different names.

What do you have planned for the future?

I have quite a few characters clamoring for me to write their stories. Some of them are historical, others are contemporary. My problem is finding the time to write since I do still work a full-time job. I hope that I will be able to retire in 2017 if all goes well.

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

I have belonged to several writing groups. I am a member of RWA, and I belong to the online Beau Monde chapter, which is a group of fabulous Regency authors. If I ever have a Regency question, I know they will have the answer!

I’m very excited about my new release, Miss Kathleen’s Scandalous Baron, Book 2 in my Honorable Rogue series. It is set in 1803 and is the story of Alex’s sister, Kathleen and Lord Billingsley. It is a light-hearted read with another honorable rogue. Albeit, Andrew, Baron Billingsley, is a bit scandalous. I hope you will enjoy the romance between Kathleen and Andrew as much as I enjoyed writing their love story.

If you would like to start with Book 1 of my Honorable Rogue series, which is Kathleen’s brother, Alex Hawks and Anissa, Lady Overton’s, love story, Lady Overton’s Perilous Journey is available on Amazon and both books are in the Kindle Unlimited program. Happy reading!

Book Blurb:

When the young American debutante, Miss Kathleen Hawks, arrives in town for the London season, the last thing she expects is an attraction to the scandalous Lord Billingsley. He’s the kind of aristocrat she detests, one who only cares for his pleasures.

Andrew Grainger is handsome, young and very wealthy. He loves carousing with his pack of friends from his school days. When he stumbles across the prim, yet charming Miss Hawks, he should avoid her at any cost. After all, she’s an innocent young miss, barely out of the schoolroom. But…there’s just something about her he finds irresistible.

When a chance encounter leads to scandal for the pair, they must choose to brave the Beau Monde, or give into its dictates. Is there any possibility that what appears to be a match made in Hades, could turn into a match made in heaven instead?

Excerpt:

Kathleen Hawks fumed all the way to her brother’s study. Alex must have talked to their mother. Again, she had allowed her emotions to overrule her actions. When she arrived at the door, her heart fluttered, but knowing she had to get this over with, she tapped on the door.

Her brother’s voice bade her enter. She purposefully turned the knob and opened the door as she inhaled and exhaled slowly to prepare herself for what she suspected would be an unpleasant conversation. “Good morning, Alex. You wanted to see me?”

Her brother moved behind his desk. “Please, take a seat.” His set features shouted his displeasure.

Once she settled back in her chair, Alex sat in the chair behind his large desk. “Kathleen, I spoke with Ma and she told me the two of you argued at breakfast. She’s concerned over your defiant attitude, and she feels I may have made a mistake regarding Mr. Jones.”

Oh, dear, when will I learn to control my tongue? “I’m sorry I was disrespectful, but she made several derogatory comments regarding my betrothed. I let my temper get the best of me.”

Her brother’s stubborn expression did not bode well, and she waited for the proverbial axe to fall. “I agree with Ma. I want you to reconsider your betrothal to Mr. Jones. You’re only eighteen, and he’s ten years older than you. I don’t believe you are well-suited. Your temperaments are vastly different. His only concern seems to be his responsibilities at his father’s bank. You were always so playful and vivacious. You’ve changed since you began spending more time with him, and I do not like it.”

She gripped the arms on the chair. The last thing she needed to do was agitate her brother, but she couldn’t sit passively by while another member of her family spoke ill of William. “You’re wrong, Alex. So what if we have a few differing interests? We love each other and that is what is important. You gave William your permission for the marriage before we left last fall.”

Alex stared her down. “I realize that. However, I should never have given it. As you well know, I had quite a few grave issues to deal with at the time. I should have taken more time to consider a decision that involves your future happiness. I’m seriously contemplating sending him a letter telling him I am withdrawing my consent.”

She clasped her hands together to keep them from trembling. It was all she could do to remain seated. “Please, you can’t do this to me. I love William, and he loves me.” Then, throwing caution to the wind, she stood and shouted, “I. Know. My. Own. Mind!”

“Kathleen.” Alex’s flushed face resembled a storm cloud as he stood and placed his powerful hands on his desk. “I will not tolerate your disrespect, young lady. Ma is ashamed of your behavior, and so am I. When you arrive in London for the season, you either promise to take full advantage of this opportunity the Barringtons are offering you, or I will write the letter withdrawing my consent today.”

Her stomach clenched as she tried to rein in her anger. Alex was serious, and if she was to have any hope of continuing with her plans to marry William, she had to placate him. “Please, don’t write the letter. I’ll go to London, and I promise I will participate fully in the parties. I’ll even keep an open mind.”

Alex resumed his seat. “Good. That’s more like it. I do have your best interests at heart, Darlin’. I want you to be sure Mr. Jones is the right man for you. He’s the first man to show you any attention. Please take this time to be sure of your love for him. That’s all I ask.”

Whenever her very American brother grew angry, their mother’s strong Virginian upbringing took over, and his southern drawl came through. Now that he had to spend much of his time in England, he had worked hard to minimize it.

“I suppose it can’t hurt, but I will not change my mind. Now if you will excuse me, I’ll return to my packing, so I will be ready when the duke and duchess arrive tomorrow.” She stiffened her spine, turned, and left his study.

Author Bio:

Vikki Vaught started her writing career when a story invaded her mind and would not leave. Now, the stories keep coming and writing is her passion. She has written well over a half dozen romances and is presently working on her next, while fighting off the future characters shouting my turn!

Vikki loves a “Happily Ever After.” While romance is the central theme of all her books, she includes a significant historical event or place in her Regency novels.

If you enjoy her historical romance novels, you may want to read books she has written in other sub-genres. Vikki writes sweet contemporaries as Vikki McCombie and erotic romances as V.L. Edwards.

Vikki has lived in the beautiful foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with her husband, Jim, who is the most tolerant man in the world to put up with her when she is in a writing frenzy. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her curled up in a comfortable chair reading her Kindle, lost in a good book with a cup of tea at her side.

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Kathleens-Scandalous-Baron-Honorable-Rogue-ebook/dp/B01C28L3FI

Hi Cindy. Thank you for inviting me to visit your wonderful blog. It’s always a pleasure to chat about writing.

How did you get started writing?

I was always a voracious reader, but I backed into writing accidentally.  I was working on film and television projects as a production coordinator. Unless you’re on a series, all below the line employees on film and television projects work a limited number of months and then those jobs end.  The employees then move on to new jobs on other projects.  So looking for the next job is a constant activity. In an effort to add a new skill, I took a class at UCLA on analyzing screenplays. Producers, actors, and directors often have their assistants read submitted material first, to see if it’s worth their time. I fell in love with writing during that class and went back to school to study writing at UCLA.

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

I write mysteries with humor and romance because that’s what I love to read. Think Elizabeth Peters Vicky Bliss series, Dorothy Gilman, or Janet Evanovich.

Traditional mysteries are in both my nurture and my nature. My father was a successful American WWII code breaker. He was a lover of Perry Mason, and Nero Wolfe. Their books and Ellery Queen magazines filled our family bookshelves. I followed in his reading footsteps and came to appreciate mysteries. My mother always enjoyed complicated jigsaw puzzles with intricate pictures on them. For me, writing mysteries is like creating a puzzle and then scattering the pieces throughout the story for the reader to have the fun of putting it back together.

What inspired your latest book?

A few years ago, I researched identity theft for a screenplay. It was a time when few people were aware of it. Since then I’ve been sensitive to the problems it can cause and the personal ramifications that identity theft can have on its victims. That led me to a general interest in fraud. As the target of fraud is to acquire money, power, or goods that can be cashed in, I thought who is more likely to be involved with it than a bank fraud investigator? That’s how my fictional protagonist, Lexi Winslow, acquired her career. From there, I conssidered where do the wealthiest people live who are most likely to be targeted. New York, Miami, and Beverly Hills came to mind. I knew Beverly Hills the best and chose it as Lexi’s workplace location. The fraud I used as the basis for this story is a more personal one that’s harder to diagnose than identity theft.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

The time necessary to concentrate on marketing. Although the part I do love about marketing is meeting other authors and people who love reading.

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

My next project is as an advisor on my husband’s new book, The Reluctant Farmer of Whimsey Hill. It’s his memoir of our early married life. He was a robotics engineer for the US Navy and I convinced him to move to a rural farm in Virginia which I promptly filled with 26 rescue horses, 12 cats, 10 dogs, and a cow, plus two suburban teenagers. There were many more animals in total, but that’s the most we had at any one time. As an animal phobic person, you can imagine how crazy the animal environment was for him. We expect the book to be out by July, 2016.

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

My advice would be to thoroughly investigate the advantages and disadvantages of both self and traditional publishing before making a choice.

Do you have critique partners?

I have a reading circle of friends. They’re my beta readers and are composed of about 50/50 trained writers and readers. We don’t have meetings or anything like that, but when any of us wants feedback, we’ll send our manuscript to about half of the group. We save the other half for reading the revised version.

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

My road to publication was like a three legged race at a company barbeque picnic. Totally crazy. After I had finished the first draft of Land Sharks, I was reading articles by author and Sisters In Crime Guppy President, James M Jackson. He was writing about being an Amazon/Kindle Scout Program Winner for his book, Ant Farm. Since I was a debut author and I had recently decided to part ways with my agent from another project, I thought why not? I researched it quickly, submitted my book, and was accepted into the program. That was immediately followed by a month of intense campaigning  for votes/nominations. I was thrilled and surprised when Land Sharks was selected for ebook publication by Kindle Press. Next was submission of the final manuscript, a flurry of contract signings, bank account details, sending a new bio and book description for Kindle’s approval, etc. Once Kindle approved the final manuscript, they sent it off to Kirkus Editing.  When the notes came back in two and a half weeks, I did another polish. Kindle Press only takes the ebook and audio book versions. The author retains all other rights. So at the same time, I was preparing the paperback version with CreateSpace to publish simultaneously with the ebook version.  Did I mention this was during Thanksgiving and Christmas? My book was chosen in the first week of November and published on December 22nd.

Thank goodness for my partner in the three –legged race – my husband, who had my back through all of it.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

A bank fraud investigator goes undercover in Sumatra to find a young woman who may or may not be kidnapped. Her job might be easier if she didn’t have to deal with her boss’s untrained son who has a crush on her and the unexpected appearance of an ex-boyfriend who’s a conman and has his own secret agenda.

Land Sharks Excerpt –

She sketches as she talks and one of the orphan orangutans comes to life on her pad.

She really is good. When I say so, she looks embarrassed.

“Thank you, but most of my classmates at school are better.”

Having seen her work, I doubt it. She either doesn’t realize how good she is or she’s being modest. Wait. Neither of those would describe my conception of Karista as a rich snob.

In fact, she appears shy. Darn. It looks like I’m going to have to change my opinion of her. First Andre, then Steve, and now Karista. One would almost think that I’m a bad judge of character. The distressing evidence continues mounting up to prove it.

“We should join the others,” Javier says to Karista.

She doesn’t raise her head from her drawing. “You go ahead, honey. I’ll be along in a minute.”

“It’s okay. I’ll wait with you.”

She gives him a sweet smile, but doesn’t stop sketching.

I know a stalemate when I see one. I’ll have to try to get her alone another time.

I excuse myself and head back to the group, which is clustered near the edge of the ravine. I stand between Steve and Grace and look down the deep cliff at the river.

Two young Sumatran elephants are playing in the water below. Steve and others take pictures with their zoom lenses. There’s lots of jostling in the group for better angles and movement to get a better view.

Suddenly, Grace screams as she erupts forward from the group and toward the ravine’s edge. I manage to grab her arm as she goes by, but her impetus swings her body over the edge and lands me facedown, still hanging on to her. I can’t manage her weight for long. Nor do I have the strength to pull her up by myself.

Rocks and dirt shower down the sheer wall. I try to dig my toes into the ground to stop myself as I’m drawn inexorably closer and closer to the edge, but the ground is too soft to get a good purchase. Still, there’s no way I’m letting Grace go.

Abruptly, Grace’s weight stops dragging me past the cliff edge. Looking down, I can barely make out a tiny outcropping that Grace’s toes rest on. Thank goodness for that.

“Help,” I call out. “Help!” The dirt under Grace is crumbling. Another second and we could both plunge to our deaths.

People are moving away in shock, but not closer to help. Then a hand passes me and locks onto Grace’s arm next to mine.

“Swing your other arm up, Grace,” Steve says from beside me. She manages to raise it and he grabs her hand.

Bio –

Nancy Raven Smith grew up in Virginia where she ran horse sport events. Later in California, she traded her event experience for film work as a production coordinator and enrolled at UCLA to study screenwriting. Her scripts have won numerous awards, but she decided to write one idea as a novel. To her surprise, she discovered a passion for writing mysteries. She joined Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, & Mystery Writers of America. There she experienced a deep camaraderie with the other authors who made her feel welcome. Raven Smith realized that she found her true creative home in writing mysteries/romantic suspense. Land Sharks – A Swindle in Sumatra is her first mystery/romantic suspense novel. She hopes people will enjoy reading it as much as she did writing it.

Links –

http://www.NancyRavenSmith.com

http://www.Facebook.com/NancyRavenSmithWriter

http://amazon.com/dp/B017O27SJM