Please help me welcome Barbara Monajem to my blog today. Barbara is kindly giving away a $10 giftcard to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave a comment.

How did you get started writing?

My mother read to me when I was little—wonderful stories such as Winnie-the-Pooh. I could hardly wait to learn how to read them for myself! The first story I remember writing down was in third grade about apple tree gnomes. I’ve never really stopped writing since.

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

I write a mish-mash of whatever suits the story. Usually it’s either historical and/or paranormal romance, with mystery as well if there’s room. (In my novellas, there usually isn’t enough room for a mystery, alas). Why the mish-mash? Because my favorite books are usually the kind that combine genres. I guess I’m just writing the kind of book I like to read.

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

My next book is Heart of Constantine, the third book in the Bayou Gavotte series of paranormal romances. I wrote this book in many different versions over the course of years—so many versions that when I was revising it, I couldn’t remember which scenes I had left in and which I’d taken out. It will finally be released in September!! I will also be releasing a novella in the same series soon.

I am also writing a couple of Regency holiday novellas—one about Christmas and the other about Twelfth Night. These are fun because I get to research historical holiday customs.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Revising. I love revising because I have something to work with. The first draft can be fun, but often it comes very, very, very slowly.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Promotion. Like many writers, I’m an introvert. I have to remind myself constantly to go to Twitter and Facebook, and my poor blog is completely neglected. (But I’m very happy when readers contact me.)

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

Not likely at all. My characters walk into my head from out of the blue.

Was your road to publication difficult or a walk in the park?

Sort of in-between. I was published in children’s fiction when my kids were young, and that was sheer luck—I knew someone who was starting a small publishing company and agreed to publish my book. After that, I didn’t write much for years, although I always dabbled. When I started writing seriously again, I entered lots of contests and did a bit of querying, but very little follow-up. Mostly, I kept writing and writing and writing. Eventually, an editor who had requested my work by way of a contest final called and offered me a contract on my first Bayou Gavotte story. Soon after that, another editor bought one of my historical novellas.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A pantser—God help me. It’s not efficient, but I simply can’t plan the story properly until I’ve started writing it. I don’t know who the characters really are until I’ve walked in their shoes for a while. Sometimes I have a fairly good idea of the characters and the basic plot up front, but other times (such as with the story I’m working on now) I make a bunch of false starts before figuring things out. Grrr.

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

The older I get, the harder it is to decide. There are many wonderful places in the world, but they all have their drawbacks. If I had my druthers, I would live in several different cities, each for six months or so—London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, and Rome, to name a few—with plenty of time to travel and see the historic sites.

Here is a blurb and excerpt from the first of my May Day Mischief novella duet, The Magic of His Touch.

Blurb:

England, 1804
Tired of being paraded before every eligible bachelor, Peony Whistleby decides it’s time to find her true love—through the ancient custom of rolling naked in the dew on May Day morning. But the magic goes awry when she is caught in the act—and by an entirely unsuitable man. And yet, the way his eyes linger upon her flesh ignites a sensual craving that can only be satisfied by his touch…

Excerpt:

“Get up! Get dressed!”

Peony froze in mid-roll. A strange man bounded toward her, gesturing, his voice low but urgent. She scrambled to her feet, a shriek catching in her throat.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said, but he kept on coming. Her heart clambering into her gullet, she tried to cover herself with her hands.

“Who— What—” She couldn’t get a word out.

“Don’t stand there like an idiot, girl! I already know what you look like naked.” A blush crowded up her neck and burned her cheeks. “Get your clothes on, and be quick about it.” With brisk, shooing motions he herded her toward the hawthorn where she’d left her shift and gown.

Anger swelled up, overcoming her fear. How dare he order her about? “Go away,” she said, hating how her voice trembled as she fled before him. “What are you doing here? You have no right.” A little way round the circle of meadow, she spied a horse cropping the grass at the edge of the wood.

“You should be thankful I’m here,” he said, stopping several feet away when she reached the hawthorn. “I don’t know what foolishness you’re up to, but clearly your lover isn’t coming, and—”

“No, because you spoiled everything,” she said. Her hair had fallen out of its ribbon and stuck wetly to her face. She clawed it away, wanting to hit him. Her chance at finding love was gone. “Go away!”

He folded his arms and just stood there, scowling—and looking at her as if, underneath that frown, he was enjoying himself. “Not until you put your clothes on and be off home where you belong.”

Another flush overwhelmed her, this time of shame and misery, as she realized what he meant. He thought she’d come out here to tryst with some likely village lad, as if she were a scullery maid. And who was he, anyway? She’d never seen him before. He was dressed like a gentleman and spoke like one, too, but he didn’t belong here.

“Who gave you the right to order me about?” she demanded. “This is private land.”

His eyes widened. “You silly little fool, I’m trying to protect you. I traveled here with a friend. To him, a naked woman is a blatant invitation. You’re lucky it’s I who came upon you and not he.”

She grabbed her shift and turned it right side out. “Stop staring at me.”

“You’re a beautiful girl without any clothes on,” he said. “I wouldn’t be much of a man if I didn’t stare.”

***

Here are some buy links for The Magic of His Touch:
Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/bb823aa
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magic-of-his-touch-barbara-monajem/1114334728?ean=9781460310960
Harlequin: http://ebooks.harlequin.com/A1CEDFD7-54F8-4304-A8E7-A7C5B41E68EC/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=69E9E950-511F-4500-8E66-FDF8523A1BCA

And here’s where you can contact me:

Website: www.BarbaraMonajem.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/barbara.monajem
Twitter: @BarbaraMonajem

BEWITCHED BY HIS KISS (May Day Mischief, Book Two)

Lucasta Barnes knows the folly believing in magic can lead to, and won’t accept that her illicit tryst with a notorious rake was the result of anything more than pure lust. Or that it has bonded them together forever. Yet, she can’t deny that she yearns for just one more night in his arms…

David, Earl of Elderwood, is used to women being enchanted by him, but ever since a passionate encounter with Lucasta three years ago, he desires only her. How can he convince his thoroughly practical paramour that love is the greatest magic of all?

BIO:

Barbara Monajem wrote her first story in third grade about apple tree gnomes. After dabbling in neighborhood musicals and teen melodrama, she published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. Now her kids are adults, and she’s writing historical and paranormal romance for grownups. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.

Please help me welcome Jan Romes to my blog. Today she will be giving a copy of Stella In Stilettos to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Tell us about yourself:
Hmm. Let’s see. First and foremost, I’m a wife, mother, grandma and sister. After that, I’m a romance writer and part-time fitness trainer. I love to read (all genres), garden, and cruise the Caribbean. I like to make people laugh even though I’m a relatively shy person.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And why?
I think I’m a misplaced spirit that should have been living in the tropics all these years. Life in Ohio has been good to me, but I’m fast becoming someone who no longer wants to deal with winter weather. I could so see myself living on an island in the Caribbean or living along the coast of South Carolina. I dig hot, muggy weather. And I wouldn’t mind wearing shorts, tank tops and flip-flops all year round.

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a “day job”?
I consider myself a full-time writer, although I occasionally pick up a shift at the gym. In years past, I worked outside the home as an administrative assistant for an electric utility company. Now I’m fortunate to be able to spend most of my time writing.

How does your family feel about your writing career?
My husband is very supportive. I bounce ideas off of him. He gives me feedback. When something awesome happens with my writing/career he’s just as excited as I am. I couldn’t ask for more.

What is your typical day like?
I would love to say that it begins with the smell of coffee wafting through the air to make my sleepy eyes pop open and the sounds of birds chirping at my windows and that the day just gets better from there. In reality, there’s a mop of scary bed-head to deal with as I shuffle my way to the kitchen where I impatiently pace back and forth in front of the coffee pot waiting for that first eye-opening sip. I pop into social media for a bit. Open my current work-in-progress. Pop back into social media. Go back to said WIP and let the creativity flow. Another cup of joe. Back into social media. Back to WIP. Lather-rinse-repeat. Not so glamorous, but it works for me. (New Year’s resolution for 2014 – be more structured with writing habits)

Tell us about your current work-in-progress:
I’m only about 45 pages into the story (a little over 11,000 words). But I can share that it’s a marriage of convenience story with two unusual plot twists. For now, I’d like to keep them a secret.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?
I love to read most genres. Of course, my first pick would be romance since it’s the genre I write. But then, it’s sort of wide open. I love westerns, suspense, paranormal, fantasy, historicals, time travel, non-fiction, etc. I’m a little leery of books with too much gore in them. Not saying I wouldn’t read them, but if there’s too much descriptive blood and guts, I would probably have difficulty sleeping. LOL!

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do to combat it?
I don’t think I suffer from writer’s block as much as I deal with distractions that interrupt my creativity. (By distractions, I don’t mean my penchant for social media – *grins*) Life occasionally throws a curve. When that happens, it can take the train off the tracks for a day or two.
If I’m still in a funk, I forget about the WIP by reading or going for a walk.

Bio:
Jan Romes grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she is also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She likes to read all genres, writes witty contemporary romance with characters who give as good as they get, is a part-time fitness trainer, and enjoys growing pumpkins and sunflowers.
Here’s how to follow Jan:
Website: www.janromes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jan.romes.5
Twitter: @janromes
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5240156.Jan_Romes
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jan-Romes/e/B005OMZICY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

EXCERPT FROM STAY CLOSE, NOVAC

Adrenaline pumped through Jessi with as much velocity as gale force winds and she got an instant headache. While she rubbed her temples she did some erratic pacing from the back door to the front door to the bathroom, waiting for the slightest sound that would indicate she was under siege. The same helpless feeling that plagued her in New York had returned. The only difference was instead of being surrounded by millions of New Yorkers, she was isolated on a lonely stretch of beach where no one would stumble across her until the stench of decomposition attracted attention. A worse thought played across her mind – what if Ian and the fancy pants thug turned her into a shark snack? Oh God! She thought about her parents. While they drove her up a wall with their constant bickering, she still loved them and didn’t want them to suffer the pain of losing their only child.

Well, she wouldn’t go down easy. She wrung her hands and tried to come up with a brilliant plan.

She needed an equalizer.

A quick rummage through the kitchen drawers produced a mountain of plastic spoons. Great. Ian Alexander and his accomplice better watch out. One false move and they’d be pulling plastic ware from their ribs. Jessi groaned.

Please help me welcome Vonnie Davis to my blog today. Be sure and leave her a comment to be entered into the drawing for a $10 giftcard.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a retired technical writer who has traded her tailored clothes for the feathered boa of a romance author. The change in professions appeals to the romantic in me, that’s why I like to consider myself a Fairy-God Mother to my characters, giving them the HEA ending they deserve. My husband, who is also a published author, and I are both owned by a spoiled tabby cat.

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

Paris. We’re returning for two weeks in September before traveling to Berlin to see my step-son. I love the culture, the energy and the architecture of the city. Two of my books are set there.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?

I know how to spoil grandchildren. Does that count?

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

I love stories of hope. That’s why I write romance. I love the push and pull of it, the yin and yang, the agony and the ecstasy. Oops, was that a cliché? Can I claim senior moment on that one?

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

In the past three years, I’ve written six books/novellas with two more waiting for a release date. I love them all, but Rain is a Love Song is my favorite because I allowed more of my demented sense of humor to show in this romantic suspense.

Tell us about your current series/WIP.

I’m trying my hand at writing a paranormal. For the last year or more, it’s been my “go-to” story when I’ve hit a wall in whatever book I was working on. I’d write a scene or chapter in this story so unlike what I normally write while my subconscious worked its way through the mess I’d created in my WIP. It’s tentatively titled When Paisley Meets Plaid. I’d still be playing with it if another writer hadn’t read part of the darn thing and insisted I finish it.

What inspired your latest book?

Oh, if I tell you, you’ll entitle this blog “Weird Woman Comes to Talk.” You might be right. You see, two years ago, I had a cancerous cyst removed from my saliva gland. A four-hour surgery that left my left cheek and ear numb. About a month afterward, two golden orbs started glowing in the back of my mind. Cancer, I thought. Despite what the doctors told me, I was convinced that cancer has spread to my brain. I went into major worry mode. I researched online and not once in all my research did I read that brain cancer glowed. Nor did I have any of the symptoms the Mayo Clinic and others listed. I was just about to call the doctor’s office when the golden orbs blinked. Eyes? Those are eyes?

Those golden eyes watched me for months…silently…waiting…and I had no clue what they wanted.

Then one night as I was in that fragile, fluttery state between wakefulness and sleep, the eyes moved from the back of my mind to the foot of the bed and slowly the shape of a huge bear formed.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I whispered to the bear. “You’ve come to the wrong author. I don’t write children’s stories.” He shook his head. “Oh? You’re not a children’s bear?” Slowly the bear shifted to a man in a kilt. “Oh dear, you’re still in the wrong writer’s bedroom. I don’t write paranormal.”

He stalked around the foot of the bed and stood next to me. “Aye, lassie, but ye will.” He lifted the covers and I slid closer to my snoring husband to make room. The Scot settled into our bed and folded his hands over his broad chest. “Let me tell ye how bears came to be extinct in Scotland…” And from that point on Creighton Matheson has played an important role in my life.

This is how my heroes come to me. At bedtime, fully formed and oozing attitude. I’m telling you, the men just won’t leave me alone!!

Do you have critique partners?

Yes, I have three. One is a Harlequin author who lives in England, an ex-editor who self-publishes her fantasy stories and a self-published mystery writer, who claims I have a comma fetish, but we don’t need to go there.

Was your road to publication difficult or a walk in the park?

Once I decided to get serious about my writing, it wasn’t too bad. For nearly fifty years I’d started and stopped many stories. I suppose for me the timing wasn’t right. Plus, self-doubt is a terrible thing.

I’d written a romantic suspense and hired a free-lance editor to give it a good going over. Through the process we became friends. Once we had the manuscript sparkling clean of errors, I started querying agents. I think I made every mistake in the book. One night my friend and I were texting. I was lamenting my twentieth agent rejection and jokingly said if she’d become an agent, I could be her first client.

She emailed me the next day, asking if I really thought she could start her own agency. Emails flew back and forth, both of us getting excited. She researched and read “how-to” books and opened her literary agency. Of course all the “experts” said she couldn’t do it. (Never doubt a woman!) Others claimed editors would have nothing to do with her, running an agency out of her spare bedroom while wearing jeans and t-shirt. (Never challenge a determined woman.) Four years later, my agent now has over 50 clients with several big-six contracts. In fact an editor at Random House is waiting for me to finish this paranormal; she loved the first three chapters.

Two weeks after Dawn started “shopping out” my debut book, I had two contract offers and a lovely rejection from an editor at Harlequin who claimed I had a voice like Linda Lael Miller. I cried. Imagine my name and Ms. Millers in the same sentence! I chose The Wild Rose Press, an awesome publisher to work with.

What I’m trying to say to all of you is…we are living in the Wild West of the publishing industry. Almost anything goes. Heck, if you can’t find an agent, create one. If you can’t find a publisher, self-publish. Just make sure you hire an editor who knows about character development, GMC and zeroing in on plot holes as well as spotting missed words and grammar issues. Make sure your product is pristine. You owe your readers nothing less.

To a lucky commenter, I’m giving away a $10.00 gift card to Amazon. Please leave your email address, so I can contact you should you win.

EXCERPT from RAIN IS A LOVE SONG:
Jean-Luc stared at her for a few beats, his face hard and unreadable. His breathing quickened and his gaze dropped to her lips. The tic in his eye returned. “You think you can handle it, Gingersnap?”

A shudder went through her in response to the tone of his voice. Oh, hell, why did she feel like she just nudged awake some sleeping beast? She swallowed and was sure the sound reverberated in the room. Her police training taught her one thing: never show fear. She tossed her hair back and met him stare for stare. “I can handle whatever you’ve got, big guy.”

He stepped between her legs and splayed his fingers into her hair. “Let’s just see, shall we?” Was he asking her or himself? “You want to play ‘Fanny Flirtatious’ with me? For once and for all, let’s see if you’ve got what it takes to back up your words.”

Her system did its twitchy thing. Was he really going to kiss her? Suddenly her nerves jumped from eager anticipation to dread, hopping from yay, he’s going to kiss me to oh damn, me and my big mouth.

“Look at me.”

As if she could look anywhere else.

His head lowered one fraction of an inch at a time as if to prolong the suspense of the moment. All the while his dark eyes remained locked on hers. Tension coiled in the pit of her stomach. She waited—and waited. Finally, his warm lips made contact.

Oh. My. God.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Love-Song-Conspiracy-ebook/dp/B00BK9QV3K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370315861&sr=1-1&keywords=rain+is+a+love+song
LINK TO BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2F3BCp_es
Find me at www.vonniedavis.com
I blog at www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

LINK TO BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2F3BCp_es

Hi Marlie. I’m so happy you could join me today. Readers! Marlie is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one lucky commentor, so you better be sure and leave her a comment.

Tell us about yourself.

Since I’ve published my first book, You Belong To Me, I’ve really set a goal to become a fulltime writer. I have a day job that takes an enormous amount of time and energy – I’m a project consultant for large university projects – and I have to really manage my energy to be able to write. So, I’m using my weekends to write and get my next few books out there. I have a wonderful husband who supports my writing and two grown sons who have always cheered me on. My only hindrance is my time.

Tell us about your current release.

You Belong To Me is a story that doesn’t quite follow the romance pattern. Colin and Erin do fall in love quite early in the book, and in fact marry by the mid-point, but their relationship deepens and strengthens over the course of the book as they face several devastating blows from Erin’ ex-husband, a sociopath that is intent on getting her back. The best comment I’ve gotten from a reader about the book is that it made them cry. Well, I’ll tell you, it made me cry several times writing it. I think it delivers a lot of emotion and depth in the telling of Colin and Erin’s story.

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

Colin is a lawyer – yeah, I know – and has all of the skills and capability you would expect. So he’s strong, smart, and of course, handsome. But inside, he has doubt about himself, mostly in the area of relationships. He isn’t quite sure he’s whole, or that he is able to give love the way he sees others in their relationships. He worries about being good enough – and in the story you’ll find out why he appears to have command of his world, but lives with that deep-seated doubt about himself.

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

Erin owns an art gallery – she is smart and witty. She’s been to hell and back, and survived. She’s strong, but she lives with a constant anxiety about her ex-husband, and rightfully so. She gave up some of her power when she was with her ex, and now she doesn’t quite know how to get it back, how to find her own strength again.

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

I write romance, romantic suspense and am currently working on a fantasy/paranormal. I’ve always read a wide variety of romance novels, and I read fast, so two books a week even while working is not unusual for me. There are several authors that inspired me to write paranormal, Christine Feehan

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

I’ve written about 5 books, but only one is currently published. The others are WIPS waiting for editing or a rewrite.

Tell us about your current WIP.

I have two books I’m working on. One is the sequel to You Belong To Me and is Elizabeth’s story (she is the hero’s sister in You Belong To Me). The second is a paranormal/fantasy that has archeologists as the hero and heroine and is set in Guatemala and Egypt. I am hoping to finish and publish by the end of June!

What inspired your latest WIP?

The as-yet-unnamed fantasy/paranormal came about because of my own background as an anthropology major in college. I spent a summer on a dig in Upstate NY along the St. Lawrence River, and just love all things historical.

All self-pubbed books are rumoured to be shoddily edited. What do you say to that?
Baloney! I’ve read some books from large publishing houses that were shoddily edited, especially when converted to a Kindle version. And I’ve read some fantastic self-published books that were perfection in editing and in writing!

BIO
Marlie Bridges lives in the rolling hills of upstate New York. She began writing because a character jumped into her head and she had to find a way to make him come alive. She loves writing about the wounded hero or heroine, their challenges in moving forward and their victory in overcoming life’s hurts, often through the power of love.

EXCERPT

Noticing movement through the gallery window, he rapped on the door. Erin opened it with a smile and invited him in. “I’m just hanging a painting. There’s some coffee in the little kitchen back there to your right. Help yourself while I finish this up.”

Colin couldn’t help but notice her curves – in all the right places. To distract himself, he said, “I brought the donuts,” holding up the bakery box.

“Do you need any help?”

“No, I do this all the time. I’ll be done in a minute. Go on, get some coffee.” She eyed the bakery box he carried. “Dinkel’s?” she asked. When he nodded, she added, “My favorite.”

“Mine, too,” he said, glad he’d taken the extra time to drive there on his way. Through the gallery to the back, he turned into the little kitchen, spotted the coffee center and poured two cups.

“There,” she said, walking into the kitchen, brushing off her sleeve, “I’ve just been putting up some things to replace what I sold last night.” She took the cup of coffee he offered her and set it on the counter, dropped two lumps of sugar into it and topped it off with some milk from the tiny refrigerator. “How about we raid the goody box first, then do the tour?” she asked.

They sat at the little table in the corner of the kitchen. Erin untied the string on the bakery box and opened the lid. “Cinnamon sugar,” she said and laughed.

The expression on her face – one of pure delight – stopped his heart and he knew he was here for more than the paintings, more than the investment opportunity. He’d convinced himself on the drive over that she wasn’t his type. But now he wanted to get to know her.

She brought out some paper plates and napkins and took one of the donuts. “Do you want one of these or some of this…” she asked, pointing into the box.

“Apple Cheese Stollen. It’s my weakness.”

“Let me cut you a piece.” Using a knife from the drawer in the counter she cut him a large wedge, set it on the paper plate and sat down across from him.

When she bit into her doughnut, she closed her eyes and seemed to savor it. Crumbles of cinnamon and sugar on her lips caught his attention and when she caught them with her tongue, he imagined licking them off himself. Breaking into his fantasy, she said, “You’re a Harvard grad, aren’t you?” Was there a hint of disdain in her tone?

“Does it show?” he said.

She smiled. “Not so most people would notice, but you can’t fool a Boston College girl. You guys were always easy pickups.”

Colin laughed. It had been a long time since someone made him laugh. Erin’s intelligence and wit surprised him.
“What do you do, Colin?” she said.

“I’m a lawyer,” he said.

She hesitated before she said, “You mean divorces, stuff like that?”

He laughed. “God, no! I’m in mergers and acquisitions. Pretty boring stuff, really.”

“So why do you do it?”

“Well, it’s not boring to me. Only to the poor sucker who has to listen to me talk about it when I get on a roll. So, I’m not going to talk about it, now. The last thing on my mind is business. So tell me what brought you to Chicago.”

It was as though a cloud passed in front of the sun the way her expression changed. She reached for her coffee cup – her hand trembling – gripping the cup with both hands. All the laughter disappeared from her eyes.

“I needed a change of scenery,” she said and took a sip of her coffee.

Waiting to see if she would say more, he didn’t respond. Her eyes darkened and sadness filled them, but she recovered her composure and said, “It’s not a big deal, it was just time to move on to new territory.”

Please help me welcome Loreen Augeri to my blog today.

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

I have a part-time job. I work as a librarian in the local library.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

I was a social worker in a nursing home and a computer programmer. As I mentioned above, I am now a librarian.

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

I write historical romance because I love reading and writing about various time periods in history. Life was simpler and slower. Since historical romances take place before World War II, the plot can be set in the fifteenth century for one book and the eighteenth century for the next. While researching, I enjoy learning about the customs, food, dress, and way of life of the people that came before us.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

When I am walking, taking a shower, or supposed to be sleeping my mind wanders and a situation or character pops into my head. Once I have a hero and heroine I give them a goal, motivation, and conflict. I am a pantser, so the story develops as I write.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Creating lives for the characters in my books and hopefully giving readers a few hours of pleasure.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Editing. Some authors tell me they like editing because that is when the story comes together for them. I love the creating part of writing. I find editing tedious.

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

My view is of my back yard. I have an office where I keep all my writing materials and research books equipped with a desk, computer, and bookshelves, but I usually write on the sofa in my living room.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A pantser. I don’t want to know what is going to happen. I like the story to unfold as if I am watching a movie.

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

Never give up. I wrote for ten years before I had a story published. If you don’t continue to write and send your manuscripts to publishers, it will never happen.

Where can readers find you?

I can be found on Facebook facebook.com/loreenaugeri
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094757.Loreen_Augeri.
My website www.loreenaugeri.com

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

I have two books published in e-book and paperback. Tormented Hearts and Lost Honor can be found at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance. Buy links can be found on my website www.loreenaugeri.com

Blurb for Lost Honor

Captain Morgan Danvers sets sail to rescue his brother, kidnapped by pirates. Fearing he will become like his father who abandoned him, he has cut himself off from his emotions. Then a willful stowaway crashes into his life, awakening dormant feelings and firing his lust. Soon he finds his all-important honor threatened, for even though he is betrothed to another, he is drawn to her against his will.

Arianna Pemberton hides in a barrel she thinks will be loaded on her brother’s ship but lands on Morgan’s brig. Her father has forbidden her to sail, and this is her only course of action. Unwilling to allow a man to control her, she is determined to make her way as a seaman, a profession she knows and loves. But when Captain Danvers discovers her deception, he refuses to permit her to prove herself. As she struggles to convince him, unwanted passion emerges, jeopardizing her plans for independence.

Excerpt

Shoved by powerful hands, she fell to her knees before booted feet. “Found her in the hold, Cap’n. Thought she was a boy at first, her wearin’ pants and a cap, but she has tits.”

“I can see that, Jurgens.”

Arianna followed the shiny boots up to tight-fitting, brown breeches hugging muscular thighs, and slim hips. A loose, white shirt covering broad shoulders next met her gaze, then a corded neck, square jaw, stern lips, crooked nose, and cold, dark eyes that stared down at her. “Where’s my brother? Who are you?”

“I will be asking the questions. Who are you, and why are you on my ship?” The deep voice thundered through the cabin.

Her stomach flip-flopped. Dizziness swamped her. Swallowing convulsively, she battled to contain the contents of her queasy stomach. Hiding in that empty molasses barrel hadn’t been the brightest idea of her twenty-one years. “I’m not talking to anyone but my brother.”

Jurgens’s forceful hands yanked her to a standing position. “You answer the cap’n.”

The abrupt movement snapped the fragile control she clung to. Spasms seized her throat. Arianna struggled to turn away, but the fingers digging into her arms held her in place. The contents of her stomach erupted.

All over Captain Danvers’s boots.

Her captor released her and jumped back in horror.

Buy links for Lost Honor:

Amazon e-book
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Honor-ebook/dp/B00AD99TSM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1362433938&sr=1-1&keywords=lost+honor

Amazon paperback
http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Honor-Loreen-Augeri/dp/1612177298/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362434027&sr=1-1&keywords=lost+honor

The Wild Rose Press e-book
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5133

The Wild Rose Press paperback
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5144

Barnes and Noble e-book
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-honor-loreen-augeri/1114793304?ean=2940016266534

Bio:
I started reading historical romances when my children were babies. When my youngest daughter started school, I decided I wanted to write a novel. At first, to see if I could, later as a hobby, and then seeking publication. Becoming a member of Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History, and my local chapter, New England Chapter helped in the process. I live in Massachusetts with my husband of thirty-one years and my two adult daughters. When I am not reading or writing, I enjoy walking, dancing, and spending time at the beach.

Please help me welcome B. L. Bates to my blog today. Barbara is giving away a $5 Starbucks gift card to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Tell us about yourself.
I’m a mother, step-mother, and grandmother. In the late 70s I received a BS in electrical engineering and worked in the semiconductor industry for several years. I got married just after my college graduation to a man with three children from a previous marriage. Then, due to a head injury I became totally blind. I then gave birth to two children, did odd part-time jobs, and got involved in disability issues. I ran a recreational activities organization and hosted a cable TV show, both concerned with the disabled. I helped design the house we live in now, though to be honest, I took an existing design and rearranged some of the rooms. I began writing soon after becoming blind, mostly as a way to vent. I started to pursue publication when my youngest child entered college. I’ve had some short stories and my first novel published so far. I’m currently working on a sequel to my first novel and shopping around two dark fantasy novels, both with romantic elements.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?
It would have to be near the ocean. I was born in New Bedford, MA (you know the one mentioned in Moby Dick). I love the ocean, walking along the beach, and other water activities.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?
I worked for over 5 years in the semi-conductor industry. First as a product engineer, taking ICs from design to production. Then as a programming engineer, writing the programs to test boards with ICs on them (basically a circuit board).

Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”?
I write full-time. Though being blind makes doing some “normal” tasks longer, and I have to plan things around when other people can give me rides, writing is my main activity.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?
Before I lost my sight, I was an amateur artist. I did water color and ink drawings, charcoal sketches, and loved doing crafts. I still do some crafts, but I’ve focused my creativity mostly on cooking.

How did you get started writing?
Like I mentioned above I first started writing to vent. But I’ve always been a voracious reader. I still read several books a week, though now, if you’re going to be picky, I listen to the books I “read”. I read many genres, except for war and westerns.

I started thinking about getting published while my children were still in middle and high school, but living in a rural area, and having children interested in sports, scouts, and other activities, kept me busy enough, then.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
Most of the books I write can be categorized as speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy and horror); I often include facets of other genres: romance, detective, mystery, etc.

You can’t divide life into specific little packets. You don’t wake up in the morning saying, “I’ll have a romantic day today.” Or “This is going to be a day of adventure.” So, I try to make my books like life, a piece of this, a slice of that….

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve completed four novels so far. One has been published. Another has gone through several revisions and remains unsold. I’m shopping the other two right now. Both are dark fantasy with romantic elements.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
I have several files on my computer with different ideas in them. Some ideas come from other books I’ve read. But some come from the news, movies, or TV programs. These are pieces of things I like, not a whole story line or plot. Then I take several ideas and put them together. For one of the books I’m currently shopping around, I combined: a guide dog school, a circus traveling cross country by railroad, and an idea from an article in a science mag about metabolic rate changes in hibernating bears.

What is your favorite part of writing?
Putting the ideas together and coming up with the first draft. I try to put together seemingly unrelated items and manipulate them until they work as a whole.

What is your least favorite part of writing?
I would have to say the editing part. It’s not that I don’t like editing; it’s more that I can never seem to consider the book “done”. Maybe after just one more edit. And I could add that short section in chapter…

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
I don’t include other people per say, but I give my characters interesting characteristics I find in real people. Or if someone has an annoying saying they use all the time, it can migrate into something I’m writing.

What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?
Emotions, especially those concerning relationships. I was a shy child, and some of that stayed with me. Going through college as a female engineer, and learning to advocate for myself after going blind, I learned to speak up. But there are still times, I would rather stay inside and either cook or read, and still try to avoid situations that have lots of emotion.

Where can readers find you?
I have two connected blogs: BarbaraLBates.com and BarbaraLBates.com/polad. I’m not good about keeping them up-to-date, though.

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?
I’m published with Eternal Press and the books available on Amazon.
Eternal Press site:
http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615728503

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/AsterIce-ebook/dp/B00BA1O2ES/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1359924999&sr=1-1&keywords=B+L+Bates

Bio:
Growing up reading speculative fiction, B. L. Bates received a BS in electrical engineering and worked for several years in the computer industry. When a head injury left her totally blind, she turned to writing speculative fiction to stay sane. With her youngest child in college, she lives with her husband in Massachusetts and plots ways to spend more time with her grandchildren.

She’s had short stories published online, and some like “GreenWorld” published in print. Now trying her hand at novels, she can be found online at BarbaraLBates.com or BarbaraLBates.com/polad

Excerpt:
“It’s worse than that.” Tanya rubbed her temples. The mother of all headaches waited in the wings, ready to pounce.

“How so?” Colonel Frade said.

“A computer simulation indicates AsterIce has spread to every known water source on the planet through drainage, evaporation and condensation. Using some process we don’t yet understand, the additions to AsterIce multiply when added to normal water, even sea water.”

“All of Earth’s waters are now…polluted by the virus?” Richard stared at Tanya.

She met his eyes, closed hers, and nodded.

“What percentage of the population will be affected by it?” Virginia asked.

Tina, seeing her mother’s agitation, brought her a glass of water.

“One hundred percent.”Tanya gulped the water Tina handed her.

“All this scientific jargon has me muddled. In English, please. What does this all mean?” Colonel Frade asked.

“In addition to the vitamins and minerals in AsterIce, there is what we originally thought to be inert organic matter. It turns out we were wrong.”

“How so?” Watts asked.

“The inert matter is actually a shell containing an alien virus.

“Tests show the AsterIce virus is originally passed to its subjects through the digestive system. The virus is then released in the stomach, where the outer shell is removed by our digestive acids. The virus spreads into every cell in the human body. This leads to a build-up in the lungs.”

“So, now the virus can become airborne.” Richard’s visage looked grim.

“Not quite. By the time symptoms begin to occur, the lungs are filled to capacity with the virus. The question is not when will it begin, but how long has it been going on? Also, how many of us are infected?”

Please help me welcome Lynette Sofras to my blog today. She’s offering any one of her titles, winner’s choice, as an e-book together with a $5 voucher for Starbucks, to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a former Head of English who gave up teaching three years ago to pursue my writing career – something I’d always wanted to do, so you could say I’m now living my dream!

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

My first published title was a contemporary romance but I like to write more general women’s fiction that usually crosses genre boundaries. My latest title (Killing Jenna Crane) is more of a psychological drama or romantic thriller, while my forthcoming novel is both modern women’s fiction and a good old-fashioned ghost story. These are the kind of stories I enjoy reading the most, which is why I prefer to write them.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

To date I have five full length novels and a short sci-fi story co-written with my son. My sixth full length novel is due out next month and that’s probably my favourite. It’s quite dear to my heart being based very much on real life (without most of the ghostly elements, of course) and real people. I’m also quite fond of two others: Shopping for Love – because for the first time I created a strong and fairly gritty male character which I found myself enjoying very much and my latest novel, Killing Jenna Crane (also from a male perspective) because that shifts away from the traditional romance genre and delves into psychology and the darker side of the human mind.

Here’s the blurb:
Come with me on a dark journey inside a writer’s mind. Commitment-shy Ellis Crawford, creator of the famous and highly successful Jenna Crane mystery series, finds his comfortable life unravelling when he meets Emily, his perfect woman.

But the more his love for Emily deepens, the more Ellis finds himself haunted by memories of a previous love whose heart he broke. On top of this, Emily wants him to kill off his beloved heroine Jenna Crane – against fierce public opinion.

His reputation as an author now in tatters, Ellis finds his life spiralling out of control. Faced with the growing darkness of his own soul, a secret is revealed that changes everything he thought he once knew…

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

Unworkers is due for release in June. It was inspired by a house in which I used to live with my son when he was very young and also one or two ghostly tales I’d heard about in the past. It explores the idea of the past encroaching on the present. The paths of five different women converge because of this house though only three of the women actually live there. Their lives are completely different but some mysterious force is at work to draw them all together in a common cause.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

I’m a great advocate of self-publishing. My first two titles were traditionally published but the second of those took a full year to be released and I found that quite frustrating. I decided to self-publish while waiting for that title to appear and I find the process fascinating and rewarding. I love the idea of being in complete control. It also means that if I think of ways to improve a story (or if a reader mentions something that can be better clarified) I can go back to the book and make changes effortlessly. With my traditionally published books that isn’t possible and I’ve occasionally regretted that.

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

Have patience! Don’t rush into the process. You do yourself (and all your fellow self-published authors) no favours at all if you release a book before it is absolutely ready. The most serious complaint levelled against self-publishing seems to be poor editing and this has been enough to make readers and reviewers shun all self-published books. Proper editing is therefore vital to your success and the reputation of your fellow authors.

What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

This may make you smile, but the hardest thing for me is choosing the right title. I tend to have a working title in mind as I’m writing and the longer I write, the more that fixes itself in my brain. Unworkers, for example was a rather whimsical working title that just stuck and refused to budge. I tried ousting it with Whispers of the Past but that sounded so ordinary! As for Killing Jenna Crane, I agonised over that for weeks – none of my friends liked it very much and I think some readers find it a little misleading – so may I add here and now that it’s not a murder mystery!

The cover design is the next problem. When you employ a cover artist yourself they expect you to have strong ideas and be able to direct them appropriately. It’s a blessing that my cover artist has infinite patience because I’m horribly changeable and indecisive. Working with a publisher’s design team allows you some input but ultimately the cover is down to them.
The easiest part? The whole process is very quick and easy – so much so that it’s tempting to cut corners, but to reiterate my previous advice – try to resist that temptation 

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

Very likely, I’m afraid. A friend of mine bought me a T-shirt last year saying “Careful or you’ll end up in my next novel”. However, so far no one has actually recognised themselves as I select very carefully from their speech, mannerisms or little idiosyncrasies and use these quite sparingly.

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

I can’t resist this question because my writing space is quite unique. You see I live in a rambling early Victorian cottage with lots of twists and turns in it. My office/study space is a room just off my bedroom and although this is quite large, being an inner room it has no window. This suits me fine when I’m engrossed in my work although I sometimes get a shock when I surface from my computer and find brilliant sunshine, when I’m expecting darkness, or a snow-clad vista when no snow was forecast. I have to confess it’s not the tidiest place in England, being filled with overstuffed bookshelves, work tables and two large desks for my computers.

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

Ellis Crawford (Killing Jenna Crane) is more of an anti-hero really. He is far from likeable though he does have a dry sense of humour and is an intelligent and successful writer – his heroine Jenna Crane having become a household name and Hollywood franchise. Being something of a commitment-phobe, Ellis treats women shabbily, knowing they will never be in short supply.

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

There are two heroines (and that’s not even counting the fictional Jenna, who exerts her own influence over Ellis). They are soft-hearted, loving Chloe and feisty, fun-loving Emily – in other words polar opposites. But neither is quite what she seems and their weaknesses soon become obvious.

Where can readers find you?
My website: http://www.lynettesofras.com/
My blog: http://www.manicscribbler.blogspot.com
Amazon author page: http://amzn.com/e/B0084YQCD8
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ManicScribbler
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lyn.sofras

Are you participating in any reader contests?

This isn’t a contest but it’s a great offer for readers and lasts until June 1st. Buy one summer read at a special 99 cent price and get ten more absolutely free. This includes one of my contemporary romances Shopping for Love at: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/2013/05/04/get-1-beach-read-for-99-get-10-more-ebooks-in-popular-genres-beachreadsos-books/

I’d also like to offer any one my titles of the reader’s choice as an e-book together with a $5 voucher for Starbucks. I’d like to imagine one lovely reader sipping delicious coffee while dipping into one of my stories. All my titles can be found on my website or Amazon page – via the above links.

Please help me welcome Jrinka Jelic to my blog today. Zrinka is giving away a $4 Amazon gift card to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?
Many, I’ve worked as a waitress, a nanny, I’ve been a day care teacher, in accounting and finance, credit and collection, cosmetic store, and found myself in writing.

Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”?
I’ve been a full time writer, but unfortunately had to go out and find a day job. I don’t like not having the energy at the end of the day to work on my wip, but I try to at least get as many words on the page as I can and it’s hard with my eyes closing on me.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I have two that are published, one that is submitted to various publishers and awaiting on its fate. I’m working on the fourth one that’s planned to be a short novella, will see about that, and I have a prequel to my debut novel, “Bonded by Crimson” that I’m about five chapters in, but keep putting it on the back burner as new ideas keep disrupting me. Oh, and I must not forget my “training wheels” novel, where I learned about writing and made all of the beginner’s mistakes. I’m planning to go back to it one day and edit it.

What inspired your latest book?
It was all the ladies I encountered through the various work places. Those single ones, who devoted their lives to corporations and have nothing to show for in the end. I felt their disapproving stares on my back as I dashed out at 5 pm sharp to pick up my kids from day cares or babysitters. I wanted to convey there’s a lot more life out there than working.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
Just from everyday life, it does write novels. What is your favorite part of writing? Brainstorming and coming up with new twists, what if I do this or change that character to that. It’s quite interesting and challenging because it doesn’t always work out the way I imagine it.

What is your least favorite part of writing?
Writing a dreaded synopsis, it seems if there’s a limit of words I have to put in, I have nothing to say.

How does your family feel about your writing career?
I hope they’re proud of my achievement, but you know how families are, just as all people they seem to see the value of it through the money not the satisfaction of written story other enjoy.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
Very likely, not necessarily as themselves, but I may “steal” something from the person like a name, or physical appearance or a personality quirk or something that strikes me.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Definitely a punster. But I do try to plot or at least map out the story. I most likely never refer back to it, but at least if I put something down, not in the great detail, just to keep me on track.

How far do you plan ahead?
My next book, as soon as I write THE END of one book, I start working on my next one.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
Not even close! I wanted to be many things, and although I always liked to write, I never realized that until recently. It was just easier to express my feelings and thoughts through writing. I kept journals and diaries and jotted things all the time. Writing as a career was far from my mind. But I gave it a shot and what to my surprised I’ve got published.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?
Raving reviews of course. It’s great when a reader really connects with me and understands what I wanted to relay.

BIO
Zrinka Jelic lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two children. A member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Fantasy Futuristic &Paranormal, as well as Savvy Authors, she writes contemporary fiction—which leans toward the paranormal—and adds a pinch of history. Her characters come from all walks of life, and although she prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given Jelic’s love for her native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, her characters usually find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but that’s about the only break they get. “Alas,” Jelic says, with a grin. “Some rain must fall in everyone’s life.”

Links
BOB: http://bookstore.blackopalbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=47

Amazon Print & Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Treasured-Chest-Zrinka-Jelic/dp/1937329739/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353819091&sr=8-2&keywords=zrinka+jelic

B&N Print & Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/treasured-chest-zrinka-jelic/1113290927?ean=9781937329730&itm=1&usri=zrinka+jelic

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-treasuredchest-1007195-155.html

KOBO: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Treasured-Chest/book-45GE6CPKpk6bDb5f__Oipg/page1.html?s=LLtSzi-fukO3rl148l_71g&r=2

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/257423

Please help me welcome Kara Ashley Dey to my blog today. She’s given me a great interview which I think you’ll find interesting. She’s also giving away a pair of fabulous ruby colored stone earrings. Here is a picture. Now if you want a chance to win those fabulous earrings, leave her a comment.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be, and why?
KARA: I love living in the US, but if I lived outside of the US again, I’d choose Barcelona. I had never even thought to visit Spain until my husband suggested it a few years ago. Since then, a stop in Barcelona is a must whenever we go to Europe. I love the medieval section of the city. I enjoy walking down its narrow streets, observing the artists, taking in the pleasurable scents that come from the many cafes, and I enjoy meandering down to the beach and eating paella and sampling tapas.

Q: Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?
KARA: Yes. I started out as an opera singer–a dramatic or spinto soprano back then–not much demand for this where I lived. And I did Music Theatre, too. Learning how to belt was the bomb. After this I went back to school for animation and worked many years in TV and film as a lighting lead, compositor and texture artist. That career was a pleasure and fulfilling, in its own way. My life has been a lazy Susan, of sorts. I spin the tray and see what treat comes up for me. What’s next? Ah! Writing again. Yay!

Between those careers, I worked as a shoe saleswoman at different stores. I loved that job while I was in school, too! I worked in a cute little Birkenstock store. Laid-back earth-loving people are so kind and appreciate good service and good shoes. I still consider working at that little shoe store one of my favorite jobs ever. Working at Neimans? (Shudder) One of my least favorite…

Q: Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?
KARA: Well, it sure would be awesome to snorkel admirably, but I’m like a rock and panic if I kick coral. Other than that, I got pretty lucky when they handed out talents. I’ve been able to do almost anything I set my heart to do–maybe not perfectly, but I get by. “Jack of all trades, Master of none” can turn into “Master of quite a few” if one lives long enough. But this also depends on sheer stubbornness. A “do or die” mentality.

Q: What is your next project and when will it be released?
KARA: I’m returning to a book I finished a few years ago but put off some final decisions. I needed to distance my mind from some advice that didn’t quite settle with my gut feelings. With the help of my original beta readers and my editor, I’ve gotten back to the original structure of the story. It’s an urban fantasy about a vampire and a psychic. I especially love this one because part of it takes place in Barcelona. After that I will return to Cassie and Skai’s world. Captain Alexxus has a few more things to take care of.

Q: Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
KARA: Almost always from dreams: either from dreams while I am asleep or from daydreams. I have thoroughly entertained and coddled that “character flaw.” Long ago this drove my teachers nuts–thank goodness I didn’t care. It’s my life, and in it, I love to sleep and I love to dream, and when I cannot sleep, I will daydream. That’s all there is to it. I watch a lot of science channels so my brain files everything and creates some pretty intense “what if” nightmares in the process. Those are my favorite. It’s scary fun! I love my brain when it does that. (Brain Hug).

Q: How does your family feel about your writing career?
KARA: Very supportive. Thank goodness! It helps I do all the housework…for now…

Q: How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?
KARA: Ugh…Too much time! Lol. Don’t we all? I don’t know when to pull away. In a ten hour day, I will spend well over half of it on marketing or working on my web stuff. I have found Twitter indispensable, which is funny since it took me forever to get on board.

Q: How has your experience with self-publishing been?
KARA: Slow but steady.

Q: What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
KARA: I got really good advice early on. The most important? This is a marathon, not a sprint. With embracing self-publishing and selling ebooks, we just have to remember to keep on “keeping on.” It takes a while to be discovered. And to write our next books as soon as possible. That’s what I am focused on now.

Q: What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your book(s)?
KARA: Control. That’s the easy answer. If I’m brutally honest… It came down to trust. It’s a hard enough journey, without tricksters gnawing away at that feeling in your bones or scoffing at your common sense. I hate to say it, but saboteurs are out there and sometimes they wear the biggest of smiles. I decided to find an excellent editor and trust myself. I can always improve as long as I can trust the instruction/advice given.

Q: Where can readers find you?
KARA: I’m on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/kara.ashley.dey
Twitter as @KaraAshleyDey
And I have a couple websites:
http://karaashleydey.com
http://deyforlove.com
http://karaashleydey.blogspot.com (I especially love my blog, and hang around here most often.)

Q: Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?
KARA: Print will be out soon, by the end of next month. My ebook is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Sky-ebook/dp/B00ARQSJLY

Keep checking back on my FB Page as I expand to other retail sites. And I do enjoy the occasional giveaway, like today. One lucky reader who leaves a comment will win a Stealing Sky bracelet. It is inspired by the ruby earrings Cassie’s mother gave to her.

Thank you so much for having me here today, Cynthia! You are a precious jewel.
–Kara

Excerpt

They maneuvered around the red light’s edge. A hulky black shadow stood in the middle of the glowing red. In disbelief, Cassie lifted her eyes to the ominous shadow’s source and nearly lost her footing.

“Mech!” she shouted, pointing. No denying, it was a beauty. On the intramural field, she might have whistled appreciatively, but at that moment, the sight of that perfect machine of sleek metal and recent design made her want to scream in pure terror.

“Go!” Skai pushed her forward. “Run!”

But the top of the water tower shuddered as the Mech landed upon the surface. Cassie fell to her knees from the force. She pushed forward, scrambling on hands and knees, while the sound of hydraulic legs whined above the ricocheting din.

She regained her footing and glanced back over her shoulder to Skai. He was approaching the Mech that stood over twice his size, his hand reaching to a gun holster, which he no longer wore—a military habit. He cursed. For a brief moment, she saw the surprised anger in his eyes, before he glanced back at the machine.

The Mech turned its attention from her to him. Taking two jolting steps forward, it covered Skai in shadow. A long metallic arm swung up, the arm’s mechanism twirling circularly, purring and clicking, while metal tiles smoothly pulled backward. The arm’s inner working pushed forward with a hiss, revealing a gun barrel.

“Oh! For Mau’s sake,” she moaned, terrified, as the arm shot once. Skai jerked backward. Cassie covered her mouth to keep from screaming. A second shot hit him in the stomach, and he doubled over.

Skai fell to his knees, then upon his stomach, and lay still. The Mech stomped toward him and lifted his limp body.

Was he dead? She stood, frozen, staring at his dangling arms and legs. Her stomach twisted painfully. Gran’s heavy meal surged up her throat.

Choking, she staggered away and moved toward the ladder. She was but ten paces to it, when she felt the Mech’s feet stomping, charging toward her. It paused. She calculated the distance. She wouldn’t make it.

Cassie braced for its aim. A thin whistle grew louder and louder, until she felt a sharp prick of pain at her shoulder. The tower pitched, as she fell onto her stomach, losing her breath and her supper. Then all went black.