Please help me welcome my friend and fellow member of Colorado Romance Writers, Lynda Hilburn. Lynda has graciously agreed to give one winner signed copies of both THE VAMPIRE SHRINK and BLOOD THERAPY

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I love paranormal, fiction and non-fiction. I think my work as a psychotherapist keeps me involved in the ongoing problems of “normal” people to such an extent that I love to lose myself in strange, non-ordinary worlds populated by extraordinary characters. And even if I’m writing about real things, the fact that the actors are vampires, ghosts, witches, wizards, psychics and other unusual individuals, keeps the storyline from being too mundane. I also plan to write psychologically-based fiction, such as romantic suspense and thrillers. I write now about a psychologist who treats vampires, and I’m sure a demented clinician will show up soon.

What is your typical day like?
I don’t think I have a typical day. I work as a psychotherapist for a community mental health center several days a week, so I usually don’t get any writing done those days. After being in that environment all day, it’s hard to clear my brain enough to be creative. On the other days, I see private clients, run errands, meet friends for lunch, think about cleaning my house, and get as much writing and promo done as possible. Then many weekends I schedule book signings or I attend conferences or other writing events. If I didn’t have my trusty day planner, my life would be even more chaotic than it already is.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?
I had an unusual experience. My first two novels were published by a small print publisher in 2007 and 2008. After that, we parted ways. My then-agent retained the ebook rights to the novels for me [because back then nobody was talking about ebooks!] After trying to sell the third book in my series to a new publisher without success [everyone kept telling me a series simply couldn’t move from one publishing house to another], I followed the advice of JA Konrath who was singing the praises of self-publishing. I found someone to covert my novels into digital formats, hired a cover artist and put the novels up on all the ebook outlets. That was March, 2010. Within a month, my novels were best sellers. I was stunned! I had also gotten the rights back to all my other small projects from the epubs I’d originally sold them to, and I uploaded those, as well. Everything was selling like gangbusters! Soon I was approached by another agent who wanted to represent me. I wound up selling the first two books plus a third in a blended deal with a UK and a USA publisher. In October, 2010 I took my copies of the novels down. From that point, the momentum seemed to deflate and my shorter works never told as well again. But since I have so many author friends who are wildly successful with self-publishing, I’ll keep writing things to upload – hopefully longer pieces. I just wish I had more time to write! People talk about the “golden age” of self-publishing being over. Well, I hope that’s not true!

Do you have critique partners?
Since I started writing fiction back in 2004, I have had many [many] critique partners. All critique partners are not equal. I believe that finding the right partners is a crucial element in the success of a publication-seeking writer. Now, because I don’t have as much time to reciprocate with my author friends [I’ll read yours, you’ll read mine], I hire beta readers. I have somehow managed to draw excellent writers to read my pages for horribly low wages. I’ve been very lucky. And I also work with editors. I can’t imagine submitting my work without having it read by as many quality eyes as possible. But the downside of crit partners is that some people seem to delight in raining on parades. Perhaps they aren’t really serious about getting published, or they’re just negative people, so they will go out of their way to criticize and diminish you. Beware of those folks. As they say about agents: a bad agent is worse than no agent. Same for critique partners.

Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization? Which one? Have they helped you with your writing? How?
I belong to a lot of writing organizations, but the first one I joined – Colorado Romance Writers [a local chapter of the mothership Romance Writers of America] – was the most influential for me. I had no idea there was such a huge, friendly group of writers available online. My passion for writing fiction came directly from my interactions with a couple of CRW members. Their support and encouragement made all the difference. And nobody has better resources than romance writers! They literally showed me a blueprint for writing a novel. Now, in addition to CRW, I am a member of NINC [Novelists, Inc], which is an excellent group of multi-published authors sharing cutting-edge information, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Pikes Peak Writers, Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal writers, Mystery Writers of America [and the Rocky Mountain chapter], Sisters in Crime, and I’ve belonged to Horror Writers of America.

Tell us about your current series.
I write the Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series. Book #1, The Vampire Shrink, has had many incarnations. It keeps rising from the dead. New book #2 is Blood Therapy and new book #3 contains parts of an earlier series novel, and it will be called Crimson Psyche. The series is about the continuing transformation and unfolding of the main character, Denver Psychologist Kismet Knight. After her first session with a new client – a young Goth named Midnight – Kismet is pulled into what she thinks is a role-playing community: people who want to be vampires. Turns out that’s just the tip of the coffin. Soon our intrepid heroine meets a drop-dead gorgeous, 800-year-old vampire named Devereux, a quirky FBI agent, a witch, ghosts, and several other unusual characters. From that moment, her life is never the same.

Links:
Website: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com
Blog: http://paranormalityuniverse.blogspot.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/lyndahilburnauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lyndahilburn

Bio:

Lynda Hilburn writes the Kismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series. After a childhood filled with invisible friends, sightings of dead relatives and a fascination with the occult, turning to the paranormal was a no-brainer. In her other reality, she’s a licensed psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, group facilitator, instructor, presenter and professional psychic/tarot reader.

Excerpt, BLOOD THERAPY by Lynda Hilburn

Ensconced on the white couch in my waiting room sat the blond god in question, decked out in his usual body-skimming, high-fashion black leathers. His thick platinum hair flowed
down his well-toned chest in the most touchable, inviting manner. Blue-green gemstone eyes sparkled.

A fallen angel.

He gave a devastating grin and Nicky gasped and fell to his knees, question forgotten. “Master!”

As always when Devereux was near, my body developed a mind of its own. My heart pounded, my mouth declared a drought, and my knees weakened. I blinked to clear the sudden fog and clutched the doorknob for support. I didn’t know what it was about him – perhaps it was his mystical vampire vibe, or maybe his personal charisma and raw sex appeal – but once again my brain cells refused to report for duty and my libido dimmed the lights.

My mouth fell open as a sharp pain radiated across my brow. I stared at him, and the room temperature suddenly spiked. Sweat beaded on my forehead and trickled between my breasts.

Whew! Did somebody turn up the heat in here? Maybe I should just take off a few of these clothes . . .

“Good evening, Doctor Knight,” said the gorgeous nightwalker, widening his dazzling smile as he rose in a fluid motion. “I hope I am not interrupting.”

Interrupting? Am I doing something? Oh, yeah. Counseling. Client. Psychologist. I remember.

I leaned towards Devereux and inhaled deeply.

There’s that amazing aroma. Spicy. Earthy. Sensual. Edible. Wait – what’s happening? Snap out of it, Kismet! Why does he always scramble my senses?

As I tried – and failed – to form coherent words or thoughts, Nicky speed-crawled across the floor and wrapped his arms like fleshy shackles around Devereux’s legs. He pressed his face against the supple leather. “Master! I can’t believe I’m in the same room with you. What an honor.”

Devereux arched an eyebrow, his disturbingly sensual lips gently lifting at the corners as he stared down at his devotee.

“Rise, child.”

Nicky lurched to his feet as if he’d been yanked up by invisible hands. A look of adoration on his face, he stared into Devereux’s eyes.

“Say goodnight to Doctor Knight and be on your way,” the Master crooned in his deep, vibrant voice.

His eyes still locked on Devereux’s, Nicky mumbled, “G’nite, Doctor,” then he turned, zombie-like, and shuffled out through the door into the hallway.

The usual struggle took me hostage: my body instinctively wanted to move towards Devereux like a flower bending to the sun, but my brain – at least, the tiny part that wasn’t missing in action thanks to his innate vampire juju – reminded me that I barely knew this attractive, scary male, and that I was tired of other people deciding what I should and shouldn’t
do.

I shook myself and blinked to break the spell Devereux’s appearance always cast on me, then I sucked in a deep breath and licked my dry lips. The pain in my head morphed from a bonfire to a simmer.
Why am I having so many headaches lately? Maybe I should have my eyes checked.
“That’s incredibly annoying, you know.”

“Annoying?” he asked, looking deceptively innocent. “To what are you referring?”

“Yeah.” I took a step back from the doorway, and from Devereux, in a vain attempt at self-control. “As if you didn’t notice the pseudo-lobotomy-without-anesthesia my brain gives itself whenever you show up. I thought you said I’d get used to your vibration, or your aura – whatever the vampire version is – and I’d stop turning into the village idiot in your presence. Oh, wait, no, I mean the hormone-riddled village idiot. But what am I saying? You probably like it.”

He laughed, which was even more annoying, and propped a shoulder against the doorjamb. “I promise you will acclimate.”

He pretended to pout, which wasn’t very effective because his mouth kept twitching as he fought a smile. “Soon I fear you will have no reaction at all to my arrival and I shall be reduced to competing with all your human suitors.”

I didn’t have any human suitors at the moment and he knew it: he’d cleared the decks. But that wasn’t anything I’d admit, or a subject I wanted to discuss, so I switched channels.

“What did you do to Nicky? Why was he walking so strangely?”

Devereux chuckled. “His body resisted the command I sent to his brain. He is too young to understand the futility of fighting a directive from one so many centuries older than himself. He will learn.”

He thinks mind control is amusing?

Ashlyn, thank you for being here with me today. I love the eyes of the hero on your cover. They are piercing. Everyone, please help me welcome her by leaving lots of comments. You’ll be entered into the drawing for a copy of her book.

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

In my latest paranormal romance, My Fallen, my hero Xavier Doom is the tall, dark and handsome kind of sexy with black hair, green eyes, muscular, and he’s a demon, which makes him especially dangerous. His greatest strength would be his ambition. But of course that’s his weakness because in his drive to be the best or the richest, he loses sight of what he later realizes are important — friendship and love.

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

Elise Castle is a Vampire Slayer of average height with long black hair, hazel eyes and a heart of gold. Her courage is her strength. She hunts beings no one else dares to go near while her self-reliance is her weakness. As a teenager she was abandoned by her father so she has trust issues, especially men like her father. Unfortunately, Xavier is a Fallen, a special type of demon. Elise’s father is one too. So you can see why she doesn’t want to rely on or fall in love with X.

Has your muse always known what genre you would write and be published in?

Yes. I love the world building of paranormal romances and also series potentials for the men in my books, My Fallen and Shadow Watcher. And as a fan of Japanese Anime, I love to incorporate swords, knives and guns into my books.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Prepare yourself for an emotional ride only you can understand. I sell a book, I’m happy. I get a bad review and I’m irritated or have a bad case of self-doubt. I don’t write for a few days and I get cranky. I realize I need to promote and I’m exhausted. While all this is happening, life goes on. I have a full time day job with an hour and a half commute each way, four boys, a husband, and my family and friends on top of keeping a presence on social media. Yes, it’s exhausting, time consuming and crazy, but it’s reality. However, surround yourself with people who truly care about you, and not you as the writer, and reality won’t be so harsh. And remember to keep your sense of humor and enjoy what you write. It’s cliché, but laughter is the best medicine .

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

My next project will be a self-published novella entitled Reclaimed. It’s the prequel to my full length paranormal romance, Shadow Watcher. I’m hoping to release it early March.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

It’s been very freeing. I enjoy the artistic freedom of designing my covers and the control of when my story is released. I don’t work on a traditional publisher’s schedule but my own. However, being the small fish in the big ocean, I don’t have the klout of a big publisher’s name behind me or access to their large base of loyal readers. So there are definitely advantages and disadvantages to both. I’ve been fortunate enough to be traditionally published yet I love the option and choice to self-publish too.

My contemporary novella, If Only, was self-published. My two paranormal romances, My Fallen and Shadow Watcher, were traditionally published. With the change in publishing on both fronts, this is an exciting time to be an author. I recommend writers research their options with the mindset of flexibility to choose a different path if the other didn’t work, to have realistic expectations, and to expect to do lots of self-promotion no matter which path they choose.

What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?

It’s very difficult for me to write about emotions because I’m not an emotional person by nature. But boy, once the dams break, they break. So when I write, I search for the right words to convey the emotions, but sometimes my characters come off as being very bipolar, happy one moment, sad the next. That’s my biggest challenge and I’m well aware of it. Hopefully, by practicing, as in writing and more writing, I’ll be better at keeping the emotions in sync with the moment and the characters. Big sigh .

Thank you, Cindy, for having me on your blog.

If you want to follow my roller coaster journey as a new author, my blog is www.ashlynmathews.com. I’m also on Twitter @ashlynmathews and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ashlynmathewsauthor.

I also made a YouTube book trailer for My Fallen: http://youtu.be/df8lN9SUkz0

Don’t forget to download a copy of My Fallen on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Fallen-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00AWWONF4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358910655&sr=1-1&keywords=my+fallen
Or B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-fallen-ashlyn-mathews/1114140315?ean=9781440562327

And leave a comment for a chance to win My Fallen for your Kindle or Nook.

Excerpt:
“If you want the truth, then I want something in return.”

Why wasn’t she surprised? “It depends on what you want.”

He took a step, and she held still as he cupped her face in his palms. “You don’t like Fallens. Forget I’m one.”

“Wha—”

“Forget I’m a Fallen and see me as a man.”

The expression on his face, highlighted by the glow from his eyes, told her he was dead serious. In return for him being truthful with her, she only needed to view him as a man instead of a monster? It seemed like an easy bargain. But—

“You won’t know if I’m being truthful or not,” he said. “You’re just going to have to take my word for it.” He smoothed the pads of his thumbs over her cheeks. “And I changed my mind. I don’t plan on staying away from you. Not after witnessing your nightmares.”

She staggered back. “You didn’t—”

“No, I didn’t read your thoughts, but I could see your face.” He advanced and she backed up, against the railing.

“It was either the floor or me plastered to you in the bed, Slayer. I don’t do well when a woman hurts as much as you did in your sleep.”

The concern in his voice blindsided her. He removed her sword out of her grip, placed her weapon on the top rail and leaned in close until his lips nearly touched hers.

“I’m going to kiss you, Elise Castle.”

Please help me welcome Sophia Knightly to my blog today. Sophia has generously decided to give two winners copies of her new boxed set containing Wild For You and Sold On You, so be sure and leave her a comment to be entered into the contest.

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

I write romantic suspense because I enjoy reading page turners and solving mysteries. I also enjoy writing romantic comedies–it comes naturally to me because I love to laugh!

What is your favorite part of writing?

My favorite part of writing is characterization and dialogue.

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

My next project is Heart Raider (Heart Sisters, Book One) and it will be released in the spring.

In the face of looming Hurricane Abby, daredevil TV reporter, Veronique Whitcomb arrives on reclusive billionaire Nick Cameron’s doorstep in Key West with a plan. To revive her flagging career, she’s determined to score an exclusive interview with Nick, the notorious, self-made billionaire who has repeatedly refused media press after his fall from grace. The last time Nick saw Veronique was fifteen years ago at summer camp where he was her reluctant protector as camp counselor to the thirteen-year-old hellion. Marooned together in the aftermath of the hurricane, Veronique rocks Nick’s world in more ways than one…

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

Self-publishing has been a wonderfully successful venture for me. I love the control I have over my work from the inception of the idea to the finished product. I enjoy choosing my own cover and blurb, and then devising a marketing plan to promote it. Wearing many hats is exciting and gratifying.

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

Write the best book possible that includes an interesting premise, a tight plot and engaging characters who hook you from the beginning. Breathe life into the characters until they become real people that we care about. When the book is polished and free of typos, have others read it objectively and give you critiques. When your book is ready for your reader’s hands, create a fabulous cover and make sure the blurb has an exciting premise and sells your book in a few paragraphs. A memorable book cover does wonders to sell a book.

Do you have critique partners?

I have several critique partners and beta readers, and I value their input very much.

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

I have a lovely view of a lake from my home office window. I see many ducks and geese every day. I especially love to watch the egrets take flight. Their expanse of white wings against a clear blue sky is inspiring and beautiful to behold. My office faces west so I get a great view of the sunset at dawn.

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

My Tropical Heat Series Box Set combines two fun, sexy and heartwarming romances in one bundled volume. Marisol, the heroine in Wild for You. is the little sister of Marcos, the hero in Sold on You.

In Wild for You (Book One), Detective Clay Blackthorne has his hands full when he promises to safeguard an old college pal’s sister without letting her know what he’s up to. He never imagines that lively Marisol Calderon will knock his socks off and put a ring on his finger–and all at his suggestion! Their marriage of convenience is meant to protect her and Clay doesn’t plan on being hitched for long to the tempting beauty. But the honeymoon sure feels real to him…

Sassy Marisol is used to doing whatever she wants–and right now her plan is to shake up the hot detective’s hard-edged demeanor. But the fun turns to danger when a mystery stalker bent on marrying her marks her as his prey. Temporarily becoming Clay’s wife seems like a practical way to thwart the stalker. But as passion ignites and Marisol falls for the tender heart buried beneath the tough detective’s chest, Clay’s true identity is revealed and she begins to wonder who–if anyone–she can trust…

In Sold on You, (Book Two) Confirmed bachelor Dr. Marcos Calderon is in hot water. He needs to come up with a fake fiancée fast or he’ll disappoint his beloved grandma who’s arriving on the next flight to meet her. Proper social worker Gabriela Morales should fit the bill–but tonight, in that sexy, slit-to-there red evening gown, she looks anything but proper.

Gabriela only volunteered for the hospital’s charity bachelorette auction to benefit a cause dear to her heart. Now she’s reeling from the hot doctor’s bid of fifteen thousand dollars for a weekend date with her! She’s not sure what Dr. Handsome has in mind, but the smoldering look in his eyes is unmistakable…

EXCERPT FROM SOLD ON YOU

Dr. Marcos Calderon leaned forward and watched, fascinated by the dark-haired knockout strolling onto the stage. Gabriela Morales? Not in a million years! He couldn’t believe his ears when the auctioneer confirmed that she was the conservative social worker at the hospital where he worked. Just this morning, they’d locked horns at the board meeting.

When it came to her causes, Gabriela was passionate and pigheaded. Her prim, businesslike manner had never appealed to Marcos, and that was precisely the reason he’d waited till the end of the auction to bid on her. Normally reserved and proper, she was the one woman who would fit the bill for his plan.

But he hadn’t expected her to look so hot.

Marcos’ jaw dropped as he took in her hourglass figure, an ample bosom above a tiny waist and round hips, and endless, shapely legs. This hip-swaying bombshell couldn’t be the same Gabriela who hid behind demure, oversize suits—the same woman who always seemed to be on opposing sides from him at hospital board meetings.

“What happened to the proper social worker?” Marcos asked Dr. Alex Cortes, his colleague bidding beside him.

“I don’t know, but Gabriela looks damn sexy tonight. Two thousand dollars!” Alex called out, upping the amount from a thousand.

“Quit bidding on her,” Marcos muttered, raising his paddle when the auctioneer called for two thousand, five hundred.

“I can’t help it. Who woulda known she was hiding a body like that? Those curves—”

“Knock it off. I need to win,” Marcos retorted.

“Five thousand,” another bidder called out.

Marcos’ head swiveled around to find an older gentleman holding up his paddle with a determined look on his face.

“Who the hell is that?” Marcos asked Alex.

“Ruben Ball, self-made millionaire. He must want a piece of her, too.”

“Well, he’s not getting any. She’s mine. I need her for the weekend.”

Alex chuckled. “I don’t blame you. Okay, I’m out. She’s all yours.”

Marcos lifted his card and raised the bid to ten thousand, ignoring the mocking grin on Alex’s face as he concentrated on outbidding his other opponent.

“Ten thousand dollars,” the auctioneer repeated. “Do I see ten thousand five?”
Marcos leveled a fierce look at his opponent.

Undeterred, Ruben raised his paddle.

“Ten thousand five. Do I see a bid for eleven for this gorgeous creature?” the auctioneer called out, revving up the audience’s interest with a meaningful look.

“Fifteen thousand!” Marcos shouted, ignoring Gabriela’s glower when they locked eyes.

“Fifteen thousand! Do I see fifteen five?” the auctioneer asked, his keen gaze scanning the audience.

Ruben took a moment to ponder it and then shook his head ruefully, signaling he was out of the running.

Marcos flashed a victorious smile and winked at Gabriela.

“Fifteen thousand once, fifteen thousand twice. Done! The weekend date with Gabriela Morales goes to Dr. Marcos Calderon for fifteen thousand dollars!” the auctioneer announced. “This concludes our bachelorette auction. Gentlemen, please adjourn to the Vanderbilt Ballroom with your dates.”

Gabriela barely made it off the stage without openly glaring at that arrogant Dr. Calderon, who’d had the nerve to wink at her when their eyes met. How dare he ruin everything!

What happened to Ruben Ball, the shy widowed lawyer, who was supposed to bid higher than everyone else for a weekend date with her?

Why would arrogant Dr. Calderon be willing to divest himself of so much money for a date with her when most of the women at the hospital were throwing themselves at him? she wondered uneasily. From what she’d seen, his tastes ran more toward cool blondes.

Once she was safely inside the dressing room, Gabriela stared at the unfamiliar seductive woman in the mirror returning her gaze. She had never worn so much makeup in her life. Her green eyes smoldered with smoky eye shadow and black eyeliner, her mouth looked like a swollen cherry, thanks to Sabrina’s vivid red lip gloss, and her cheeks glowed hot pink, a combination of cream blush and being upset over her predicament.

The only good thing that would come of this date was the whopping fifteen thousand dollars Dr. Calderon had pledged to the Fresh Start center for unwed mothers.

Gabriela studied her bountiful cleavage in the mirror. Thanks to the provocative gown Sabrina had chosen for her, her breasts were pushed upward like an offering of cupcakes. After he got an eyeful of that display, Dr. Calderon would surely expect more than companionship during their weekend date.

A sly smile played at the corners of her mouth as a plan began to brew in her mind. If Dr. Calderon thought she had transformed her conservative image to bait a well-to-do bachelor, he had another thing coming.

The cocky doctor was in for a big surprise.

Please help me welcome Anna Markland to my blog today. Anna will be giving a digital copy of any one of her books, or a paperback of any one of the four books of The Montbryce Legacy to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Thanks for inviting me to blog with you today, Cindy.

I am passionate about medieval romance. History provides fascinating plots and characters. Who could have dreamed up a man like William the Conqueror? I enjoy the research required to provide the reader with an authentic medieval experience. Very often things I discover in my research drive my plots. For example in Dance of Love, I learned about an Islamic physician, Al-Kindi, who created many recipes to alleviate illnesses. I wanted my heroine to have this knowledge, but did not want her to be Islamic. The history of Spain provided a perfect solution. She became the daughter of a Spanish woman carried off to Jerusalem after a battle between the Christian kings and the Moors. (Battle of Sagrajas which the Christian kings lost).

I am currently writing the second book of my fourth series, though it is actually #1 in the series! My mind does not seem to work chronologically. I have a recommended reading sequence on my website for those who prefer to read sagas in chronological order http://annamarkland.com/

I published Dance of Love in early November. It is Book III of the series Montbryce~The Next Generation. The current WIP is Dark Irish Knight, which I hope to have out by February. This book will have something of a paranormal aspect as I introduce the legend of the selkie. The hero’s name is Ronan, which means Son of a Seal.

I never cease to be amazed at where the ideas come from for story lines and events. I have never thought of myself as a creative person, and yet—

Could it be my characters are telling me their stories? Nah!

My least favorite part of writing is editing with “My Stupid Word List”. It is tedious, though necessary.

Some days I do nothing but write. If the inspiration is flowing, I like to go with the flow! Sometimes I spend about half the day on email loops with other authors, setting up and running FREE promotions, tweeting, blogging. I would say I have found the Yahoo loops the most helpful in learning about writing and publishing. I have built some very beneficial relationships with other authors. It is a sharing community.

I love being self published. It frees me to write what I want and not with a view to pleasing a publisher. I can edit my books at will, upload new covers,etc. I also like that I get all the royalties (after Amazon takes its share, of course)

The Montbryces, a noble medieval family from Normandy, is at the heart of all my stories, so I have that basic framework. I have set up a family tree in genealogical software and I pick a son or daughter from one of the descendant lines. I have set their stories in such diverse places as Spain, Germany, Denmark, Wales, Scotland, and of course England and Normandy. Once I choose a location I weave the plot around historical events at the time.

If you are toying with the idea of self publishing, my advice would be to go for it. You have nothing to lose. I decided to let readers judge my books. You’ll get criticism (some of it not so constructive), and you have to learn to ignore the morons and learn from those who genuinely want to help. If you discover editorial flaws, despite your careful editing, it is easy to fix them by uploading a new file. It is imperative to make sure you do edit carefully though, otherwise you lend credence to the false rumour that self published books are inferior to traditionally published ones.

I self published my first book thinking it would be wonderful if I could sell 100 in a year. I am now close to 20000 in my first year and I have 12 books published. Some readers have embraced me wholeheartedly, others have not. You can’t please everybody.

When I am in Canada, I have a large office available to me in my home, but I prefer to sit at a small secretary desk in the living room! There is a sliding glass door out onto the rear deck and I can see the garden from there. I live in the only sub-tropical part of Canada, so I rarely see snow!

When I am in Panama, I have a small desk set up in a spare bedroom in my condo, which is about 25 yards from the Pacific Ocean. My desk does not face the ocean. That would be too distracting. I get some of my best ideas walking along the beach. Las Lajas is somewhat off the beaten track so I rarely bump into anyone.

I really enjoy reading medieval romance. In fact I like historical romance as a whole.

When I thought about writing a novel, I was influenced by the fact I am an avid genealogist. I was born in England and have always had a fancy to trace my own line back to the time of the Norman Conquest. This of course is an impossibility since I am not descended from a noble family (at least I don’t think I am!) In researching the 11th century I came across some very interesting characters and thought their stories would form the basis for a good plot. Once I began I couldn’t stop! The ideas simply poured out. The Montbryces became my family!

I originally wrote over 200,000 words, then decided there were just too many relationships, so I split the manuscript into four separate books, enhancing the story of each hero/heroine. They became the first series, The Montbryce Legacy. That is why there is good continuity in those books—I wrote them all at the same time!

Anna Markland is my pen name. Anna did exist and was actually my 4g great aunt. She died at 15 so never had a chance to experience romance. There was no happily ever after for her, so this is her opportunity!

When I was a child I wanted to be a teacher and that was my profession for many enjoyable years. I love to communicate ideas.

I have a soft spot for two of my books. If Love Dares Enough is probably my favourite, followed by Dance of Love. The hero of Dance of Love is a young warrior plagued by (rheumatoid) arthritis in his hands. This makes it difficult to wield a sword. Because his hands are gnarled, he avoids women, tired of seeing revulsion on many faces as his condition worsened.

His heroine has the ability to help him, if he will allow it, but she too hides a terrible disfigurement. However, where there is great love, there are always miracles. There is an element of the unexplained in this book too.

The action ranges through France and Spain. I learned a lot about the history of Aragon in northeastern Spain while writing this book. Fascinating too was the knowledge medieval people had about natural ingredients which could alleviate the pain of diseases such as arthritis. The pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela also features in the book.

The most rewarding thing about my success is receiving messages from fans telling me I am now their favourite author! The checks are nice too!

Thanks for the opportunity to blog with you. I invite your followers to visit my blog and join me and the Montbryces on our journey through the Middle Ages.

Please help me welcome my friend and critique partner, Michele Callahan. Michele is giving away a $5 Starbucks card and a copy of her book Silver Storm to lucky commentors. That means two winners so be sure and leave her a comment.

How did you get started writing?

My mom read fairy tales to me until I was old enough to read them myself. Once you get lost in your first story, you’re never the same again.

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

Thank God for independent publishing. No one would touch my stuff. I had several agents and even more editors ask me, “Which section of the bookstore would your book go on the shelf? I don’t know how to market you.” I don’t fit in a box. My books are a mix of romance, metaphysical, sci-fi, paranormal, and suspense. I entwine science with paranormal and metaphysical phenomenon and then wrap a hot romance around it. In movie terms…I live where Terminator meets Ghost…

Tell us about your current series.

My current series is the Timewalker Chronicles. The Timewalkers are women who have died in their own time and are then taken from Earth in the moment of death by the Archivers. They are genetically enhanced and given special abilities by the Archivers, then sent back in time to prevent major world catastrophes. Of course, it’s never easy, they always run into trouble, and they always fall in love. Red Night’s heroine, Alexa, can make herself invisible and must destroy a deadly virus before it breaks free. Silver Storm’s heroine (Book 2), Sarah, can manipulate energy, and must stop a new, deadly alien weapon from wiping out Chicago. (p.s. You can check out Red Night at Amazon for only $.99 on Kindle.)

What inspired your latest book?

Terminator and Kate & Leopold. I am a huge fan of time travel, especially if there is a love story involved.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Brainstorming. I can come up with some crazy stuff.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Typing. I hate typing. My dad bought a voice recognition/dictation program for me for Christmas last year and I adored him for it! Yeah, Dad!

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

BLUE ABYSS is the third book in the Timewalker Chronicles. It will be out next month. You finally find out who the bad guys really are (you actually see one), who the Archivers are (we get to see their ship), and why they’re all really here. You will meet two new players in the battle for Earth and humanity’s survival. You also get to meet Raiden, a half-immortal hottie who looks a lot like Godfrey Gao (left) – with sexier (Immortal style) hair. Totally hot hero. I’m in love with him right now, but he’s a bit stubborn. Marina, the Timewalker in the story who he falls head-over-heels in love with, can breathe water and has some very interesting friends in the ocean. No cute dolphins for her. I was shocked, then amazed, then totally in awe and adoring of some amazing predators. You can read it as a stand alone, but you’ll have more fun with the characters if you’ve read the other books first.

What is your typical day like?

I am a sprinter, not a plodder. I either work, or I don’t. On working days, I typically put in 16-18 solid hours between the day job, RomCon, and writing. I forget to eat lunch, don’t go to bed until 1-2 am, get up at 6:30 and start again. Off days we call ‘Pajama Days’ at my house. We watch movies, read, make waffles, and order pizza for dinner. I LOVE pajama days. I love to be home relaxing with my family.
How has your experience with self-publishing been? I love it. Total freedom. No rules. There is a lot to learn, but there are people out there blazing the trail and willing to help.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Everywhere. News articles. Dreams. The ether?

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

Don’t rush. Make sure you are publishing the absolute best work you can. Edit it. Format it. Get great cover art. Make it as perfect as you can. Once a reader puts you down, they’re unlikely to pick your books up again. I don’t like to lose a single reader. Every single one of them is important! Self-publishing is a marathon, not a sprint.

What is your favorite dessert/food?

Milk Chocolate and Coca-Cola, preferably together.  (Obviously, I’m a serious health nut.) And make fun of me all you want, but when we go out to eat, I always want to go to Olive Garden, and I always order Chicken Parm. LOL. Exciting, aren’t I?

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

VERY. When I first started writing, I intended to write simple, stand-alone stories. But my twisted brain had other ideas. Especially in the Timewalker series, with all the time loops, you see everyone again. I love it. The characters become like a family and I don’t have to abandon any of them just because their part of the adventure is (mostly) over. They get to help and be involved in the next stories. I love that, because I get so attached to all of them. They become real people in my mind. If I’m not able to spend any time with them, I miss them and wonder what they’re up to. I like to visit them in their Happily-Ever-After.

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

I’ve been writing, on and off, for 23 years. In the mean time I got married, had children, went through losing my grandma and then my mom to cancer, and all of the usual life events that wear us out and steal our time. So, I wouldn’t say it’s been either. It’s been a challenge, and an adventure. But even when I was driving carpool, I wasn’t thinking about the day, or what to make for dinner, I was thinking about my stories. They simply refused to die. That’s what makes a writer, in my opinion. No matter what you’re doing, the stories keep spinning. It’s getting them out of your head and onto the page that’s tough. That’s where the published and the unpublished differ. Write. The. Words.

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

Raiden, Half-Immortal Prince who was attacked, betrayed, and left for dead (until the heroine finds him). Strengths – Determination and Honor. Weakness – He doesn’t like to bend…

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

Marina Lucia Jean-Menette, Grew up in Santa Fe, loves to scuba dive, has nightmares that are more than simple dreams… Sent back in time to save Raiden from certain death. She can breathe water and heal. Strength – Independence and Courage. Weakness – She has walls around her heart and a secret, very personal mission she can’t abandon…even for a prince.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

I love to read. Romance. Thrillers. Suspense. Historical. Paranormal. Contemporary. High Fantasy. Urban fantasy. I like smart books and characters that feel real. Don’t read historical fiction or non-fiction much. (Yawn…)
Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing? Re-reading a story I wrote after a long break (so I forget some stuff) and thinking…”Wow! That didn’t suck!”

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

I am very involved in RomCon and their annual romance reader convention. Love it.

What’s next for you?

Hmmm? Not sure, but the bad guys are getting pretty scary. I think I need some Bad Ass Alpha Warriors to kick their you-know-whats… DarkWalkers anyone? (Oh, heck yeah!)

Buy Links:
Red Night: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Book-Timewalker-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B004Z9ADW2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Silver Storm: http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Storm-Timewalker-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007U0VXLI/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Tell us about your current series.

The Colton Gamblers is basically a family saga sort of thing set in a small fictional Texas town of Colton that seems to have a sudden run on fraud, rustlings, murders, stalkers, and kidnappings. The books are all romantic suspense, some more heavily so then others. All the stories build on the one before it—however each book is written to be a standalone and have a different hero/heroine. The characters are somehow tied to the founding gamblers of Colton—the exceptions being the heroine in book 1 and the second hero in book 5 (but they are sister and brother). The “blurb” for the series is in foreword of Gambling On A Secret and on my website:

In 1865, three disillusioned first cousins return from the battlefields of the defeated South to find their home in East Texas a shambles. Determined to make a new start, they head west. In the cowboy town of Dallas, Texas, they decide to pool the few silver dollars they have between them and enter into a poker game. With their gamble, they win over 100,000 acres of good grassland in Central Texas. Over the next century and a half, their descendents build a fortune in cattle and oil, but as time goes by, greed erodes their family bond.

These are the stories of the eighth generation gambling on love and bringing back the bond of family…

Book One—Gambling On A Secret (January 7, 2013)
Book Two—Gambling On A Heart (tentative release of September 2013)
Book Three— Gambling On A Dream (my current WIP)
Book Four—Gambling On A Wish
Book Five—Gambling On A Song
Book Six—Gambling On A Lady

Due to the fact there are so many characters and family dynamics involved, I’ve created complete family trees for each of the three clans—The Cartwrights, The Blackwells and The Fergusons. They are posted on my website.

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

Heartstrings is due out in April and also a contemporary Western. The hero is a sexy mega country music star and the heroine is a Native American registered nurse who made a terrible mistake when she married their mutual best friend to make sure her baby had a father. It is also set in a fictional town in Texas.

What is your typical day like?

I work full time, so I don’t start writing until after I get dinner on the table at 6 PM and the dishes done and spend some time with the family. By this time it’s 7:45 or so. I usually try to breeze through my emails while I’m making dinner, so that I can write for a few hours. I try to get to blogs and stuff like that before 11 PM, but some days I just can’t make the rounds. On the weekends, I usually spend one of the days doing laundry and cleaning the house and one day for family and writing.

Do you have critique partners?

Oh God yes! My two main CPs for Gambling On A Secret were D’Ann Lindum and Martha Ramirez. D’Ann has been amazing and a Godsend when we met by chance on one of the writer’s YahooGroups a few years ago. She’s taught me so much, not just about writing, but about the West. What I love about Martha is she and I don’t write in the same genres. She writes mostly sweet or YA and I write spicy contemporary and paranormal and would never think of writing YA. What she brings to a critique is seeing the story from different angles. I value both their opinions and wouldn’t be here without them.

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

I don’t consider my road to publication to be either. I didn’t struggle to get published as long as some, but I had to work to get here. Both Gambling On A Secret and Heartstrings were rewritten so many times it’s not funny. But once I got it right, publication came quickly.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

“When a mysterious runaway-turned-heiress trusts a drunk ex-soldier to rebuild her ranch, an entire town is shaken to its core as more secrets than just hers are revealed.”

I came up with this in a high concept class taught by Lori Wilde last summer. It’s the same pitch I’d used on the blog that landed me my contract with Lyrical Press.

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

Special Forces Captain Dylan Quinn is a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his last tour, his Delta Team was ambushed and received incredible losses. Dylan blames himself for the deaths of his guys, since he was their commander and his mind wasn’t in the game. Two days before the mission in support of Seal Team 6, he receives a Dear John letter from his wife of 10 years—she wants a divorce and is pregnant with another man’s baby. He has PTSD and is an alcoholic. But despite his military upbringing—his father is a general—all he ever wanted to be was a cowboy and own a ranch.

His greatest strength is his loyalty and honor. His weakness is not believing in himself.

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

Charli Monroe is the heiress to a fortune, but she has a dark past. At age 15 she ran away from home and her verbally abusive grandfather. She ended up on the streets of Las Vegas where she found work as a stripper and prostitute to support her cocaine habit. Her abusive pimp was also her “husband” and controlled her by withholding the drugs she was so addicted to. After serving a year in jail for a crime she unknowingly helped him to commit—all by the time she’s aged 19, she goes home to her grandfather. He’s a changed man, and for the next few years, she learns about his ranch. But when he dies, she heads to Colton where she buys the dilapidated Blackwell Ranch. She’s a hard worker and determined to change her life around. And to do so, she plans to help young women like herself by eventually earning a social work degree and opening up her remodeled home to troubled teenage girls.

Her biggest strength is her big heart and need to help anyone who needs it. Her weakness is her need to hide the past instead of facing it which causes her to be blind to what his happening now.

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

Yes! I’m a member of the RWA and my local RWA Chapter. I also am on many a dozen or so YahooGroups. I’ve learned so much from all of them.

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

As cliché as it sounds, it’s also the most true statement out there—DON’T EVER GIVE UP. But what does this mean?
*Learn as much as you can about craft, writing and even the business. (I personally wish I’d spent more time learning the business end of things before I was published.)
*Network as much as possible because this will help you after you are published. Don’t think you don’t need a website or to blog or Facebook/Twitter before the contracts—you need to do this before.
*Take a good hard look at why you’re getting rejected. If you’ve moved from form/or no-letter-at-all rejections to helpful ones, consider what the editor/agent is telling you. If you have more than one or two letters that are telling you the same sort of things, chances are those are the things you need to fix.

Blurb:
When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas. Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches—the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

COVER QUOTE: “Full of intrigue, tangled pasts, and raw emotions, this one is guaranteed to keep you turning pages from start to finish and then wishing for one more chapter!”
Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Just a Cowboy and His Baby.
Ms. Brown also named Gambling On A Secret as one of her favorite romance reads in 2012 in the

Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today

.

Excerpt:
“Ferguson, what are you doing here?” Dylan barked.

Leon ambled toward them on the stone path. “I’m saving a young maiden from torment. What are you doing here, playing the part of the devil?”

“I’m Miss Monroe’s new manager.” The deadly edge of his voice matched the flintiness of his eyes. “If there’s anyone to save the young maiden from, it’s you.”

“Mr. Quinn, please.” She turned to Leon. “Leon, is there something I can do for you?”

He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth in a face handsome enough to belong to an actor. “I was just passing by on my way home and decided to stop. How are the boys working out?”

Dylan’s stance widened and his hands flexed at his slides. “What boys?”

“Charli and I have entered into a business arrangement.”

She lost the battle with the urge to wrap her arms around herself. As much as she appreciated Leon’s kindness, respected him, and was even a little attracted to him, something about him didn’t sit right with her. He represented her peers in the community. According to Mrs. Pratt, besides the Cartwrights, she and Leon were undoubtedly the wealthiest residents in the county. No one in Colton could learn about her past. It would ruin her, and Leon, no doubt, had the means to dig up the dirt.

“Really?” Dylan stepped closer to her in a protective manner. Whiskey tainted his breath as the warmth of the exhalations tickled her cheek. “What kind of business arrangement?”

She could protect herself. Dylan Quinn wasn’t any safer than Leon Ferguson. Stepping away from him, she forced her arms to her sides. “Mr. Quinn, I can handle this.”

She faced Leon. “I’m amazed by how much the men got done since starting on Monday. The foreman told me last evening they’d be reseeding another fifty acres for hay this morning. And they have the corrals fixed and started on the fencing in the north pasture.”

“Good, good.” He glanced at Dylan. “I’ll be going, unless you need a more reliable exterminator. I couldn’t help but overhear about your snake infestation. I can give you the name of the company that has gotten rid of the snakes in our lakes over on Oak Springs for years.”

Although he presented the perfect solution, she didn’t the like way Leon had looked at Dylan as he said the word exterminator. “No, Mr. Quinn is quite capable of getting rid of the snake.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is.” Leon tipped his hat. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Charli.” Dylan’s jaw tightened as his uncle glanced at him. “It’s good to see you up among the living again.”

Leon headed back to his Porsche. With no pretense of lowering his voice, Dylan said, “Now, there’s a snake no one wants in their garden.”

Upon hearing the jibe, Leon’s shoulders jerked in mid-stride.

Rattled by Leon’s attention and the snake fiasco, she turned on Dylan. “You aren’t off the hook. I want those snakes gone.”

“We’ll see.”

“I hate snakes.” She shuddered and put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should have asked him who the exterminator is.”

Bio:
Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.

Buy Links:
Lyrical Press: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=574
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Secret-Colter-Gamblers-ebook/dp/B00AVLL4XA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357261386&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gambling-on-a-secret-sara-walter-ellwood/1114062294?ean=2940016153667
BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/gambling-on-a-secret

Author links:
Website: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com
Blog: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarawalterellwood.ceradubois/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sara_w_ellwood

Giveaway:
**PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY**
~One poster from every stop will win a Gambling On A Secret ebook
~One commenter from each stop will win a piece of custom jewelry.
(The winners of these two prizes will be announced the day after the tour stop.)

I also have 2 Grand Prizes!

~First Grand Prize is a SWAG PACK, including a signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby. Also included is a copy of D’Ann Lindun’s Shot Through the Heart, a pen, a notebook, a horse themed mini calendar, a patriotic themed day planner, and more all tucked away in a reusable tote bag at the end of my blog tour.

~Second Grand Prize is a $10 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you follow the tour and comment as often as possible, you increase your chances of winning!
(The winners of the Swag Pack and Gift Card will be announced on March 1, 2013.)
(Swag Pack is only eligible for US residents to win. The jewelry and gift card are eligible to US and Canada residents only. The ebook is eligible to anyone, unless prohibited by law.)

Please help me welcome my friend Robin D. Owens to my blog today. Be sure to leave her a comment to be in the drawing for her prize, a copy of Feral Magic or Enchanted Ever After in PDF format, winners choice and for a second winner a $5 Starbucks card.

How did you get started writing?

I actually wrote bits and pieces of scenes since I was a child, and often felt the need to write. When a guy dumped me (I was giving 75% of my creative energy to that relationship), I took a course one spring through Colorado Free University on Writing Romantic Suspense…met my mentor and great friend, Cassie Miles (single mother who writes for Harlequin Intrigue and raised and supported two daughters on her income). Over the course of that summer (mumble, mumble years ago), I wrote a book without benefit of critique. Even after two revisions it remains terrible. Then I got sucked into Rocky Mtn Fiction Writers who taught me how to write.

Tell us about your current series.

I have three. The “Heart/Celta” books set on a world colonized by Earth people with psi 400 years before, with a Celtic/pagan society culturally and rather England Regency-like socially and politically. People have magic/psi powers I call Flair, but I’m most known for my telepathic animal companions (telepathic cats with attitude = redundant). Berkley publishes that series which has eleven books and one novella collection, starting with HeartMate and as far as Heart Secret…

I JUST published my first enovella, Feral Magic, which is a contemporary paranormal shapeshifter work, set in Denver. My heroine, Brandy, recently had a near death experience and “awoke” to find that she was now telepathic with cats (see a theme here? My readers love my animals, and I love writing them). Brandy is informed that there is a “lost one,” when she finds a cub instead of a kitten, she takes him home then is stunned when he transforms into a human baby, and even more thrill—uh, surprised—when his sexy uncle shows up in jaguar form to retrieve his nephew. This is a sexy romantic enovella.

My series published by Luna is more fantasy for women with romantic subplot. Enchanted Ever After (new) has a human woman becoming a magical being…merfolk. The Mystic Circle cul-de-sac is again in Denver, a magical place of brownies and djinns and treefolk and airsprites…

What inspired your latest book?

For Enchanted Ever After, it was the movie The Last Starfighter, or Ender’s Game (book), By Orson Scott Card. For Feral Magic – I don’t know, I had the idea and sat down writing a couple of years ago – a missing baby and a woman who finds a jaguar in her back alley… but I didn’t think I could sell it, and so it sat in my computer files until epublishing came around.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Waiting to hear something from a traditional publisher.

Do you have critique partners?
I couldn’t function without my critique partners. They tell me when something is cliché, when what is in my head didn’t make it onto the page, when I’ve repeated a plot twist in the last three books. They are invaluable, especially helping with back cover copy, blurbs, etc.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? Well, if you subject me to the worst humiliation I’ve ever felt in my life, you will find yourself in an evil rain of wormlike frinks (first Luna Summoning series), swallow them and explode. If you make an impression you might become a helper or a friend or an acquaintance to hero or heroine.

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

I once looked at offices of writers. on the net. The only person’s whose desk was messier than mine was Jennifer Crusie. I won’t be posting shots.

Excerpt from Feral Magic, Dak is the hero, black werejaguar, Brandy is the heroine, human:

Purrs roused Dak near dawn and he tensed, stared at the small, black female cat who’d awoken him. He’d gotten no more than a couple of hours of sleep and weariness dragged at him.

After a disrespectful conversation, the cat led him to food. She slunk over to a few bites in a dish set outside a wooden fence. Dak’s nose twitched. He hadn’t eaten for a long time. He stared at the cat. He supposed it would be rude to eat her. No matter how irritating she’d been, she’d helped him. And he really didn’t eat felines. Except after battle with his enemies.

He caught a whiff of something and his heavy mane lifted along his spine. His nephew, Favel!

With one leap he was over the fence…and hit by two small and plump cat bodies.

This is OUR house, go away! said the black and white one.

Go, go, go! said the long-haired black.

I have come for my kit, Dak snarled, putting vibrato into his threat.

The thing. He has come for the thing! the younger, long-haired cat said.

Good. He can have the thing. He is another thing. Black-and-white cat was older and dominant. Dak sensed that though the two lived together they weren’t family or friendly.
The black-and-white cat lifted his lip to show tiny fangs.

Dak let his growl rumble all the way from his gut.

The damn black cat shrieked. Neither of the small ones backed down. He could admire their courage even as their foolhardiness disgusted him.

Creaking door, stomping feet. The hopeful and wonderful smell of Dark Panther Klatch shit and urine – Favel!

“What’s going on here?” A woman walked out, holding the baby who wore a cloth on his nethers!

Dak bounded over the small cats, sending them tumbling with his tail.

*~*~*
Brandy froze, angled her body to protect the baby. Her heart pounded. The one step back into the house and closing the door would be too slow.

The threatening black jaguar pinned her with his glare. His head was taller than her waist. She’d viewed a lot of photos of wild cats on the internet, and though the cat had a jaguar’s facial features and build, his mane was a lion’s, long and growing nearly halfway down his back.

Huge, bigger than any of the “largest” stats. Longer, heavier. Bigger teeth.

His upper lip had risen, showing really scary fangs. A dangerous, predatory, intelligent purple gaze watched her.

She managed a tiny swallow. She’d known Stanley had been well cared for. But why hadn’t she thought someone – something – would come for him?

The adult version of Stanley tilted his head back and his nostrils flared. His plumeless tail lashed.

Don’t run. Don’t run. Don’t run. Mountain lions. Make yourself appear bigger! Yell! She didn’t think that would work with this beast. She supposed she was lucky seeing him at all instead of being ambushed and killed. She took a step back. Didn’t stumble over the threshold.

He prowled forward.

BIO

RITA® Award Winning novelist Robin D. Owens credits the telepathic cat with attitude in selling her first futuristic/fantasy romance, HeartMate, published in December 2001. Since then she has written eleven books in the series. Her five book Luna series included average American women Summoned into another dimension to save a world. Her new Mystic Circle series is a mixture of contemporary urban and romantic fantasy set in Denver. She is profoundly thankful to be recipient of the 2004 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year award as well as the 2011 Writer of the Year Award, the Colorado Romance Writers Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2010 Best Paranormal and Best of the Best Daphne Du Maurier Award.