What genres do you write in and why?

Although I’ve written in several contemporary genres, my favorite is western historical romance. I love history between the Civil War’s end and the turn of the century. Most of my books are set from 1870 to 1886.

What started me in this genre, I believe, is that my dad was a great storyteller and used to related tales of when his family came to Texas from Georgia in the 1870s and their misadventures in Texas. I loved those stories and have written down as many as I can remember for a book on his family. After you’ve grown up hearing tales like those, history comes alive and you can’t help loving the past.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

I was first with a major NY publisher, then a lovely small press, and now I self-publish. I must say that self-publishing is by far the most rewarding both financially and emotionally. I can write what I want when I wish with no one trying to fit me into a mold or force me to write what they want. Plus, I make more royalties than I ever did with a publisher. For me, this is the perfect solution to publishing.

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

I was lucky enough to have a backlist when I started self-publishing. If an author wants to self-publish, don’t expect to see large sales on one book. Usually three are necessary to start seeing sales. The more titles you have and the more clever your marketing, of course, the more you’ll benefit.

Do you have critique partners?

I have wonderful critique partners and great plotting partners. Geri Foster and Brenda Chitwood are my main critique partners. Brenda isn’t published but she comes up with the exact perfect word when I’ve used a weak one and spots other inconsistencies. Geri holds my feet to the fire if my writing lacks emotion or conflict. My plotting partners are Geri Foster, Sylvia McDaniel, and Kathy Shaw. We each attended Robin Perini and Laura Baker’s “Story Magic” workshop at the same time and so we plot in the same way.  We need others with whom we can bounce ideas and those who will tell us if our story has missed the mark or we have weaknesses. Good beta readers also help.

How far do you plan ahead?

I used to plan one or two books ahead in the same series. Now I’ve learned to view the larger picture and I have ten to twelve books planned ahead. Having this schedule helps me focus and stay on track rather than goofing off when I finish one book. There’s always another waiting for me to write. I still manage to goof off occasionally.

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

I wish I had joined RWA sooner and hooked up with a local chapter.  I learned so much from the speakers at my local RWA Chapter. I came from a newspaper background, which is very different from fiction writing.  We can read craft books, but hearing personal experiences and instruction from successful authors is immeasurably valuable. The only reason I still belong to the national RWA is so I can be a member of my local chapter.

Another value of writer groups is networking. For example: This worked for me, have you tried this, I don’t know what to do about this. At my current chapter, we have a program and brief meeting then all go to lunch together and talk and talk and talk writing and marketing.  If an author doesn’t have access to a local group, there are online chapters and workshops.

A third value to a writer group is human contact. Writing is a solitary profession. While sitting alone at a computer or laptop, a person becomes isolated. Being around like-minded people is energizing. My family is extremely supportive, but other fiction writers understand that there are people in my head talking to me and that doesn’t make me crazy. ☺ Other things may make me nutty, but not the people in my head.

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

Yes, the first book I wrote was so bad I’m embarrassed to think about it. The second, BE MY GUEST, sold thanks to friends in my RWA writer chapter (see question above). They shared their editor’s name and that she was looking for a particular type and length book for a new imprint. Current plotting pals Sylvia McDaniel and Kathy Shaw were two of those who shared and the other two were Carol Rose and Shayla Black.  Mine was too long and had crime in it, so I cut the crime, shortened it, and sold it. The result was really choppy in my opinion, but the result was I then a published author. When I recovered the rights, I added back the full story and like it a little better (but not much).  My third book, THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE, is the first one of mine I really liked—and still do even though I would reword a lot of the sentences now.

Let me say I sold without an agent. I have only briefly had one agent, who was approved by RWA at the time I signed with her. She was so bad she about killed my career and is no longer in business. A bad agent is far worse than no agent!

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

Oh, yes, I have a lot of advice for struggling authors. If you would write even if you never made a dime, then don’t give up—that burning desire is the fuel you need to succeed. Hone your craft but don’t edit a book to death striving for perfection. We all should want our work to be perfect but the writer’s job is to get the words down, edit as best you can, and then send it to a professional editor. Don’t stop writing when the book gets hard—keep going to the end and you’ll be glad you did. Remember how important marketing is and work on your website, Facebook, and Twitter before you’re published. Always remember: don’t let anyone steal your dream!

What does the future hold for you?

 Cynthia and I are in a box set titled COURTING THE WEST with eight other authors: Debra Holland, Kirsten Osbourne, Lily Graison, Jacquie Rogers, Sylvia McDaniel, Paty Jager, Merry Farmer, and Keta Diablo. The box set will be released October 15 with preorders beginning September 24. These are not new books, but we are boxing them together to get cross-over readers. All authors want more readers and more readers… ☺

In addition, I’m working on a new series, THE BRIDE BRIGADE, which has seven books about a group of women brought to Tarnation, Texas by a wealthy young widow so there will be other young families in the town.  I’m currently three-fourths of the way through the first, titled JOSEPHINE. I can’t help it, I just love the name Tarnation, Texas and smile each time I type it. You can’t see, but I’m smiling now.

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

I was very fortunate that Cynthia invited me to be in a project about four brothers in Colorado whose mom writes away for mail order brides for her sons. This has been fun though difficult to coordinate between us yet should be fun for readers. The four books will release simultaneously September 22. The project is called THE SURPRISE BRIDES and the books are (in order of brothers’ ages) JAMIE by Caroline Clemmons (me), CALEB by Callie Hutton, GIDEON by Cynthia, and ETHAN by Sylvia McDaniel. The books are filled with romance, humor, and adventure. Angel Springs, Colorado is an inspiring place where dreams come true, at least or these four couples.

Here’s the blurb from THE SURPRISE BRIDES: JAMIE

Olivia Stewart risks everything to accomplish her dreams. She’s tired of being pitied because she’s been jilted, tired of teaching other people’s children without any of her own. When she signs with a matrimonial agency, a letter from Jamie Fraser sounds perfect. A widower with two young children will give her a head start on the family she’s determined to have. But Colorado holds surprises for Olivia that endanger her goals and even her life.

Rancher Jamie Fraser is shocked to learn his mother has written for a mail-order bride for him! He has two children and no plan to marry again. Ever! His late wife taught him women can’t be trusted. Even his beloved mother isn’t above tricking her sons to achieve her heartfelt ambitions. Now he’s stuck with a wife he didn’t want—a stubborn woman bent on changing his home and his life.

Can two strong people at odds achieve happiness? Angel Springs, Colorado is a small town that inspires big dreams. Olivia and Jamie just might find their dreams meld to form a powerful and enduring love.

Here’s an excerpt from THE SURPRISE BRIDES: JAMIE

That night when Olivia and Jamie were in their room, she slowly undressed. All day she’d thought about what she would say. How naïve to think she could trust this man so easily. How stupid she’d been not to ask more questions before surrendering to him.

Somehow, she had the sense of having been cheated in the marriage bed. She had no real experience to go on because she had no one in whom she could confide. Judging by the novels she’d read, though, there should have been talk after their coming together.

She faced him. “Jamie, why did you go through with the wedding?”

He sat on the bed holding the boot he’d just removed then set it on the floor. “No choice.”

What a maddening answer. She wanted to plant her fist on his handsome chin. Instead, she took a deep breath before speaking and exhaled slowly.

“Of course you had a choice. You’re the head of the family and could have refused and sent me back where I came from or set me up in town so I could meet someone else. Barring that, you could have paid me off and sent me to Denver. There’s always a choice.”

He shook his head as he started on his shirt buttons. “Not in this case. Any of those options would have caused talk. After you’d been here several nights, your reputation would have been compromised.”

“If I weren’t here, why would that matter to you?”

His hands stilled. “Ah, well, because Mama’s reputation would also have been damaged, as she pointed out to us boys.” He removed his shirt and hung it on the bedpost.

As she unfastened the ties of her petticoats, a horrible thought occurred to her and she froze. “Do you mean you don’t want more children?”

His powerful chest muscles rolled with a shrug. “Wouldn’t mind, now that we’re wed, but I was content with Jake and Cat. Matter of fact, earlier today I mentioned how nice life would be with us brothers taking our kids to visit with their cousins.” He stood and unbuttoned his pants.

She turned her back and slid off her clothes then quickly pulled on her gown. “Weren’t you lonely?”

Her back was to him and she couldn’t see his expression, but his voice sounded hard, “Look, Olivia, you seem like a nice enough woman, attractive, and intelligent. Sorry as I am you were brought here under false pretences, I don’t know what you expected to find.”

Again, she froze for a moment. He thought she was attractive? When she turned around, he was sitting up in bed with the sheet at his hips. How could she concentrate on the conversation with all those rippling muscles and skin in sight?

THE SURPRISE BRIDES: JAMIE will be available in print from Amazon and Create Space and in e-book from most online vendors September 22.

Tell us about your current series.

I’m so excited about this series! It’s called the Accidental Heirs and involves heroes who unexpectedly inherit titles and/or wealth in Victorian England. I say unexpectedly because these men were not the first born son, nor the first in line to inherit. Essentially, they’re all men who’d made their own way in the world and then found their best laid plans upset by a change in fortune. I suspect all of us have imagined what it might be like to inherit wealth, and these stories allowed me to explore the consequences for three interesting men.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Oh, wow. I love so many aspects of the writing process, from conceiving and developing characters, to working out plot points, to drafting in a mad rush of inspiration, and, yes, I even enjoy editing. Especially after I’ve done it. J

The very best part is hearing that a reader enjoyed one of my books. Stories and characters really come alive in the hearts and minds of readers.

And I also enjoy that moment, months and months after I’ve worked on a book, when I pick it up, read a few lines, and think, “Maybe it’s not so bad after all!”

What is your least favorite part of writing?

There’s nothing I truly loathe about writing, but not having enough time to write all the stories that pop into my head is a definite challenge. Those other stories can be so alluring and actually be a distraction to the novel I’m busy writing. Thank goodness for composition notebooks! I take a few minutes, jot down random story ideas, and get back to the book I’m working on.

The internal editor is honestly my least favorite part of the writing process. I wish I could have back all the moments I spent hesitating and curbing my creativity because of that inner voice. Though all writers need to learn how to control the various aspects of writing craft, too much control can really hamper creativity and productivity.

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

The second book in the Accidental Heirs series, One Tempting Proposal, comes out November 17^th. Readers will get too see Lady Katherine “Kitty” Adderly from One Scandalous Kiss meet her match in Sebastian Fennick, a mathematician who’s become the new Duke of Wrexford.

What is your typical day like?

I’ve just started working from home full-time on writing this year, and I find structure and organization are the most important part of making it work. I have a schedule I try to stick to that involves attacking emails early, getting in a few minutes on social media, and then doing writing sprints in the morning, when my brain seems to work the best. Of course, life intervenes and sometimes my schedule has to be fluid, but I keep To Do lists and a calendar to help me get back on track.

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

Lucius is a man who’s learned to take care of himself and keep his emotions in check. He lost his mother at a young age and his relationship with his father isn’t a good one. When his older brother dies, and he suddenly becomes his father’s heir, he must find a way to repair their crumbling estate and care for his ailing father.

His strength is that he’s honest with himself and judges others for their merits, rather than their title or status. His weakness is that he initially doesn’t trust himself and has a hard time trusting others.

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

Jessamin “Jess” Wright is smart, strong, and determined to make the world a better place, especially for women. She’s practical and spends years attempting to save the failing bookshop her father left her.

Her strengths are her loyalty and her desire to help others. Her weakness is that she’s so worried about fulfilling others’ needs and expectations that she sometimes forfeits her own goals and desires.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

Romance and mystery, and if a story includes both, I’m over the moon. When I’m writing romance, I tend to read more mystery or history research books, just to have some variety. But I truly do love reading romance, especially historicals. I love being transported to the past via a good story.

 What are you currently working on?

I’m working now on the third book in the Accidental Heirs series. It’s called One Dangerous Desire and features May Sedgwick from One Scandalous Kiss and an irresistible gentleman from her past.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Just write! Find the time, create the time, and nurture your creative spirit. I’m not a patient person, especially with myself, but I’ve finally accepted that writing is a craft and like any other, the more we practice, the better we become.

Excerpt

Marcus stood close to Lucius and leaned in to speak confidentially. “There are some lovely young women in attendance tonight. Don’t you agree, Grimsby? Surely one of them must strike your fancy.”

His sister and her husband were unaware of Aunt Augusta’s matchmaking efforts.

“Yes and no.” Lucius lifted the flute of champagne to his mouth and sipped.

Marcus quirked a brow at him, begging explanation.

“Yes, there are lovely women in attendance. No, none of them strikes my fancy.”

The women in the crush of attendees were stunning in their finery. Every color and shape one could desire. But none of them stirred him.

Marcus wouldn’t be deterred. “Are you never lonely, old chap?” His brother-in-law turned his eyes to Julia as he spoke.

Lucius caught the look, and an ember of loneliness kindled in his chest. He didn’t desire any of the women before him, yet he did envy the easy companionship that his sister and brother-in-law shared. He could envy it but never imagine it for himself. Even if Aunt Augusta’s scheme was successful, it wouldn’t be a love match. He’d seen the results of what such an attachment had done to his father, a man whose adoration for his wife became a destructive obsession, sparking jealous rages that drove her—and Lucius—from their home.

He wouldn’t lose himself in that kind of passion. Now, with the responsibility of Hartwell laid on his shoulders, he couldn’t spare the time for it. Let his father indulge in maudlin sentimentality; Lucius had an estate to run.

“I haven’t the time for loneliness.” He lied easily and ignored the look Marcus shot him, fearing he’d read pity there.

A fracas near the gallery’s entrance offered a welcome distraction. Turning away from Marcus, Lucius craned his neck to spot the cause of the ruckus. The room was so full of bodies it was difficult to see the front of the building, despite his height. But whatever the commotion, it caused a few shouts mingled with cries of outrage.

Then he saw the trouble. A woman. A bluestocking, more precisely, wearing a prim black skirt and plain white shirtwaist, spectacles perched high on her nose, pushed her way through the throng of ladies in colorful evening gowns and men in black tails. She looked like a magpie wreaking havoc among the canaries, though her hair was as striking a shade as any of the finery around her. The rich auburn hue shone in the gaslight, and though she’d pinned her hair back in a severe style, several rebellious curls had escaped and hung down around her shoulders.

As he watched the woman’s progress, a gentleman grasped her arm roughly, and an uncommon surge of chivalry made Lucius consider interceding. But in the next moment the woman proved she needed no rescuer. Stomping on the man’s foot, she moved easily out of his grasp and continued on her path—a path that led directly to Lucius.

BIO:

Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there’s nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.

LINKS:

Website: http://www.christycarlyle.com

Blog: http://romancingthegenres.blogspot.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/christycarlylenewsletter

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/ccamazonpg

Facebook Page: http://bit.ly/ccauthorFBPage

Twitter: http://bit.ly/ChristyCTwitter

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/OSKAmazon

Nook: http://bit.ly/OSKNook

ITunes: http://bit.ly/OSKiTunes

Kobo: http://bit.ly/OSKKobo

BLURB:

Can one kiss change everything?

When a scheming marquess’s daughter offers her one hundred pounds to publicly kiss a nobleman, a desperate Jessamin Wright agrees. She believes the money will save her failing bookstore and finally free her from her father’s debts. But when Jess bursts into an aristocratic party and shocks the entire ton, she never expects to enjoy the outrageous embrace she shares with a grim viscount.

Lucius Crawford, Viscount Grimsby, has never met, or kissed, anyone like the beautiful suffragette who unsettles him with a single touch. He has always strived for control and avoided passion at all costs. Lucius is determined to protect his title and restore the estate he’s unexpectedly inherited, but Jess’s appearance in his life poses a threat to his plans and his heart. After a country house party brings them together once more, neither can resist temptation, and both find that one scandalous kiss just isn’t enough.

I last visited with Cynthia in July where I talked about my Scotland-based novels, and she has welcomed me back to explain why I wrote IGNITE: a White Mountains Thriller, the second book in my White Mountain Thriller series. Don’t forget to read to the end, and enter to win an Autographed copy of SHIVER, the 1st book in the series!

Tell us about your current series.

Nancy- Many people know me for my Scottish paranormal novels, but I have voices in my head, screaming for me to write their story. SHIVER came about when I wanted a story based in the foothills of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, near the Canadian border. Since I had attended college, met my husband, got a job, bought a house, joined the local fire department, and raised two boys in such a place, it was easy. Ironically, it wasn’t until we moved to North Carolina that I actually wrote the story, and then the other, and then a third (not yet ready to publish). My series has romance, of course, but I fill SHIVER with a murder, stalkers, and terror. I use a snowstorm to makes the chills even worse. IGNITE is the opposite in that it takes place during a steamy summer, where my characters fight fires and each other. Accusations fly when a woman dies, and my hero is accused. I keep his female partner guessing, while their romance flames.

What is your typical day like?

Nancy- Everything depends on hubby. If he has a day off, it all falls apart. I feel like I should spend time with him. If he watches television, it’s usually a program I don’t care for, so I have an excuse to go in another room to write. On the days he works, I send him off with a kiss and his lunch, check emails, respond to important news, check any blogs on which I appear, or any blog guests I am hosting. I head over to Facebook to offer birthday greetings, or post news. Twitter is a time suck, so I try to hit it Wednesdays and Fridays. Once any errands outside our home are completed, I get down to writing. I wish I had a paid assistant to ‘do all that other stuff’ so all I have to do is write.

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

Nancy- LOL! I actually had a T-shirt made (see photo) and it’s true! I usually tell new writers to write what you know, which is a good place to start. Plot ideas have to come from somewhere, then you can branch off with research to write about other things. The same goes for characters. An author can gather quirks and physical attributes for their characters by watching people.

What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

Nancy- I am the promo queen! I love to give things away, and head to Goodreads.com with my new book where I plan a giveaway of three autographed copies. I line up guest posts on blogs like Cynthia’s, and I tweet and post info on Facebook and my blog. I am one of four writers on Supernatural-Superlatives.com and write a post once a month. I post various contests on my own blog’s contest page, and I make and hand-out bookmarks wherever I can. For most of September, I am lowering the price of the ebook SHIVER: a White Mountains Thriller to only $2.99 at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, iBooks, etc.

What’s next for you?

Nancy- So many ideas, so little time! I am writing a Regency Historical set in 1817, but the suspense finds my characters battling treasure hunters in southern Scotland. I will ‘pitch’ it to editors and agents, and will hope to gain someone’s attention. After my two publishers closed up shop, and with 15 books under my belt, I am at a point where representation makes sense, especially since I would love to sell foreign rights to my books. I also plan to bring out some of my Scottish time travel novels in a boxed set. I have another thriller ‘under my bed’ that is also set in the same small New Hampshire location where I set IGNITE and SHIVER.

Book Blurb for IGNITE

 The author has again used her EMT, Firefighter, and 9-1-1 background to create this story. Josie Miller senses that fellow paramedic-firefighter, Pete Thayer, is hiding something behind his sketchy history. He has a reputation for one-night stands in the small town of Fairfield, New Hampshire. He doesn’t look at her that way, but Joe finds she is falling for him.

They respond to accident calls, medical emergencies, and fast-moving forest fires amid sparks of another kind. Outside influences come in to play, and Pete is accused of murder. After he professes his innocence, and their relationship ignites, her brothers intervene. A suicide note, a fight, stolen moments of love, and a desire to listen to their hearts, lead these two heroes toward a climax filled with tension, pain, bloodshed, and atonement.

A short Excerpt from IGNITE

 Gunnar bent over, grabbed Pete, and pulled him to his feet. Dazed, Thayer threw up his hands, but the sheriff tossed him across the living room, and into the kitchen.

While Pete lay sprawled and stunned, Josie ran and knelt beside him, and cradled his head in her lap. Thayer raised a hand to the back of his head and stared at the blood that coated his fingers.

“Damn,” Thayer said, before melting into unconsciousness.

Thayer’s blood pooled under his lifeless form, coating the linoleum floor and his sister’s lap. She gasped in horror, but when he started toward her, Josie screamed.

“Back off! Call 9–1–1. Get an ambulance,” Josie yelled. Tears flowed down her face and sprinkled on Thayer’s unmoving form.

Gunnar could only watch as his sister wiped away the tears and switched into paramedic mode. Backing away, he summoned help with his cell phone. Josie reached behind her and grabbed a kitchen towel. As he answered the dispatcher’s questions, she pressed down on the wound to stanch the flow, and checked his breathing. Relief flowed through him with every rise and fall of Thayer’s chest.

When Gunnar finished requesting the ambulance, Josie held out her hand.

“Give me the phone.”

He tossed it to her. Josie talked to the dispatcher while he stood nearby and rubbed his bleeding knuckles.

“I need a police officer here as well. I have a Sheriff here involved in an assault. No, he is the one doing the assaulting.”

Where can readers by your book?

Amazon  NOOK   Smashwords

iBooks   AllRomance   Amazon PRINT

Barnes and Noble PRINT   Kobo

Books A Million    Book Depository

Powells Books

More About Nancy Lee Badger

After growing up in Huntington, New York, award-winning author Nancy Lee Badger attended

College in New Hampshire, married, and raised two sons in a small town in the shadow of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. She protected her neighbors in Rumney as an EMT and volunteer firefighter. After nearly a decade as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher for the State of NH 9-1-1 service, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time, but returns with her family each fall to volunteer at the New Hampshire Highland Games. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, the Celtic Heart Romance Writers, and the Triangle Area Freelancers.

Connect with Nancy Lee Badger

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Enter to WIN an

Autographed copy of

SHIVER, the 1st Book in the

White Mountain Thriller series

The Winner will be Chosen September 8th

Enter the contest  HERE

How did you get started writing?
I was an avid reader as a child. I was reading by age four and always had a book (or three) from the library on the go. Reading inspired me to try writing my own stories early on in elementary school. I still have handwritten copies of a novella I wrote when I was 12 and a young adult romance novel I penned at 16. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to grow up to be a writer. It was a dream come true when I signed a contract for one of my medieval romances, released in paperback in 2005. I’m continuing to live my dream as a full-time author.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write historical romances because that’s what I enjoy reading. My novels are set in the Middle Ages because I love the romantic ideals of chivalry and find the history of that time fascinating. I own quite a few research tomes on life in the Middle Ages, plus books on armor, medicinal herbs, a few recipe books, and guide books from the castles, museums, and historical sites I’ve visited.

Tell us about your current series.
In June, I published the fifth and final novel in my award-winning Knight’s Series, set in the fictional English county of Moydenshire. I received so much reader email asking whenA Knight’s Seduction would be released, it was clear that my illegitimate, bad-boy hero Tye had garnered himself quite a following. J While all of the books in the series can be read as stand-alones, I strongly recommend that they be read in order, to get the full impact of the story arc that involves a very nasty courtesan and the plots she devises to bring down the hero introduced in my first series novel, Geoffrey de Lanceau, who happens to be Tye’s father. Readers who like plenty of drama, adventure, a few plot twists, and spine-tingling romance will love my series.

What is your favorite part of writing?
I love the creative process. There are days when the words are flowing from my fingers to my keyboard and the scene I’m writing is crystal clear in my mind. That’s when writing is fun and exciting.

What is your least favorite part of writing?
Revisions. They are necessary, though. With my books, I usually write a rough first draft and then go back through the story two or three more times from start to finish to add in details, refine dialogue, cut extraneous paragraphs, and generally smooth out all the rough sections and make the story cohesive. That takes time, but also makes for a better novel.

What is your typical day like?
Most days I work from home. In the morning, I make coffee and breakfast and then check my emai (I get hundreds every day, including digests from various online writing groups) and look at my sales stats for the previous day; this is helpful if I’ve done paid promotion and want to see if the ad has generated an increase in my sales.
I write whenever I have two or three consecutive hours of free time. Physically, I can’t sit and write all day; I admire authors who can, but I value my health and that routine doesn’t work for me. Sometimes I write in the morning, sometimes early afternoon. It varies depending on my other commitments. I do most of my writing at my dining room table, with my two kitties sleeping in their beds nearby (they love to be close to me when I work). However, sometimes I will pack up my netbook and go to a coffee shop or the library for a change. I also do PR for my books every day, including promotion for boxed sets I’ve done with other authors. Along with my current work-in-progress, I always have at least one more project in the planning stages. Right now I have two more Medieval novellas lined up to write after I’ve completed the one I’m working on now. My days are busy, but I’m very proud of my stories and have many more to write.

Excerpt from A Knight’s Seduction (Knight’s Series Book 5):

Tye was close. Too close.

With each quickened breath, she inhaled his scent, the smell of leather strongest, the hint of soap less intense, and most tantalizing of all, the earthy masculine essence that was uniquely his. Her head swam with both anxiety and anticipation.

“Tye—”

His finger pressed to her lips, silencing her. “No more questions. I am finished talking about me.” His hungry gaze settled on her mouth.

He wanted to resume their discussion about kissing.

With a sideways jerk of her head, she dislodged his finger. Still, though, she felt the weight of his skin pressing to hers. “W-what you want, I—”

“What I want, I take. If you learned naught else about me, you must have understood I am that kind of man.”

“You are going to kiss me,” she whispered.

“Aye.”

“Even if I am not willing?”

“Aye.”

“Even if I have already had the perfect kiss?”

”Especially if you believe that.”

His face was barely a breath from hers. She pressed back against the hard stone, expecting the brutal and unrelenting crush of his mouth. Instead, the tip of his nose brushed hers in a gentle, teasing caress. Loose strands of his hair tickled her face, while his breath skimmed over her cheek.

“I could be wrong,” he murmured, sending tingles racing across her skin, “but I thought you might be willing.”

His hands settled at her waist. His hold, light but firm, sent sweet fire racing through her veins. Oh, but she mustn’t let him kiss her. If he knew she wanted his kiss, there was no telling how far the intimacies might go.

Her mind whirled, desperately trying to think of a way to stop him. Tilting her chin up, she asked, “Why would you think—?”

His mouth covered hers. His soft, warm lips brushed against hers with the lightest of touches. Her body answered instantly. The heat within her leaped, soared. She suddenly felt hot, weightless, as if she’d been caught up in a blinding beam of sunlight.

She hadn’t realized she’d closed her eyes until she heard his husky laugh.

Her eyelids fluttered open. The air in her lungs expelled on a sigh.

He grinned. “Well? Was that as good as your perfect kiss?”

“Nay,” she managed breathlessly. A lie. A necessary falsehood. She had to get away, for the kiss had been wonderful. So astonishingly marvelous, in fact, she wanted another, but she was not going to swoon in this rogue’s arms.

If she made him angry, he’d release her and step away. Wouldn’t he?

“Nay,” Tye repeated. His eyes narrowed.

He didn’t look at all deterred. Indeed, he appeared even more determined to prove her wrong.
Buy Links:
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Knights-Seduction-Book-ebook/dp/B0106VDBA8/
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-knights-seduction-catherine-kean/1017786869?ean=2940151109420
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-knight-s-seduction-knight-s-series-book-5

Website: http://www.catherinekean.com

 BIO

Award-winning author Catherine Kean’s love of history began with visits to England during summer vacations.  Her British father took her to crumbling medieval castles, museums filled with artifacts, and historic churches, and her love of the awe-inspiring past stuck with her as she completed a B.A.(Double Major; First Class) in English and History.  After finishing a Post Graduate course with Sotheby’s auctioneers in England, she worked in Canada as an antiques and fine art appraiser.

She wrote her first medieval romance while her baby daughter was napping.  Catherine’s books were originally published in paperback and have been translated into several foreign languages.  Her stories have won numerous accolades, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.  Her novels also finaled in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. Catherine lives in Florida with her husband, daughter, and two spoiled cats.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?  I have two genre loves:  Historical (all eras) and paranormal. I read and write in both.

What is your favorite part of writing? When I’m done with the story and find out I’ve woven subplots throughout without meaning too—and they actually make the story better!

What is your least favorite part of writing?  Editing. I love editing other author’s work and have been called a Grammar Nazi. However, I hate repeating myself when I talk, and editing my stories is sort of like that for me. Rereading the story over and over. Ugghhh!

What is your favorite dessert/food?  Cherry cheesecake, Italian, Mexican, and Chinese.  Basically, I love all food—and especially desserts!

What is most difficult for you to write?  Characters, conflict or emotions?  Why?  I guess it’s the deep emotion each character needs. My oldest son is in the autism spectrum and has introduced me and the rest of my family to the darker world of theft, alcohol, and drugs. The last ten years have been so difficult for me, my husband, and my youngest son—almost destroying our family. We are still working our way back to one another. Having such an overload of emotions for so long, it’s been difficult to allow my characters to have those same ‘angsts’.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?  Definitely peril. My goal is to be both indie and traditionally published. I’m still trying to submit my stories to several big publishers, but I write out of the box. In other words, I don’t write to their ideal structure. My stories aren’t solely about the love interests, and I always have several subplots running alongside the main plot. I also write cross genre, YA to NA, historical paranormal, and all have a bit of mystery.

Tell us about your hero.  Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.  Bryan MacConnell was introduced in the first book in my Oklahoma series, Trail of Hope. He was a very young soldier and  aided them as they traveled the Trail of Tears. Suffering his own tragedy as a child, he grew up wanting to help others.  This is both a strength and a weakness for him. He always helps others, even when it interferes with his own life and ambitions.

Tell us about your heroine.  Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses.  Sophia Floyd was rescued after the death of her parents by a kind family moving west. Once she was old enough, she and her stepbrother joined a wagon train heading back East (those people who couldn’t make a life out West) so she could search for information about her brother who wasn’t with her parents when they were killed. Sophia is loyal to a fault and incredibly brave. She’s also stubborn and expects others to just go along with her plans no matter the danger.

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? I definitely read the genre I write in.  Why? Well, for my historical westerns, I never lived in the 1800s, so putting myself into the story, i.e., dialogue and descriptions, is easier when I’m drowning my brain cells in Louis L’Amour. Lol!

Has your muse always known what genre you would write and be published in?  Oh my, no. I never set out to write historical westerns. I grew up in northwestern Oklahoma, loved horses, but lived in town. I really thought I’d like to write ancient history—medieval, Reformation—anything to do with knights and chivalry. I have a minor in history and LOVE it! I’ve also always loved anything that couldn’t be explained—the ‘what-ifs’ of life and how we’ve evolved throughout time, so writing Paranormal was like breathing. However, even my paranormals have historical elements in them.

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.  I’m getting ready to release a paranormal trilogy, which could be considered a New Adult, just in an alternate world. There’s a little bit of everything in these stories: love, adventure, sexy men, girls with attitude, mystery, and, of course, history. I’m also submitting a Celtic paranormal (shapeshifter) to several publishers, so wish me luck with that.

Thank you, Cindy, for inviting me to your blog today. I’m really excited to be here!

Tell us about your current series.

The Banished Saga is my first series. It begins with Banished Love in 1900 in Boston and follows Clarissa Sullivan and Gabriel McLeod as they discover love and struggle against social prejudice. Clarissa, a suffragist, also struggles against the limited roles for women in 1900 and against the stifling life her stepmother envisions for her.

Reclaimed Love and Undaunted Love, the subsequent novels in the saga, occur in Boston and Montana, and continue to follow Clarissa and Gabriel, along with many other characters. I’ve always loved series where I am able to get to know characters over numerous books, and, thus, it’s no surprise I’ve written such a series!

What inspired your latest book?

The Banished Saga was inspired by my love of Boston and Montana. I first began to devise the basis of the series when I was fly fishing a river in Montana in 2010. The third book in the series, Undaunted Love, was just released, and it is the continuation of the Banished Saga series.

What is your favorite part of writing?

I love almost everything about writing. As my novels are historical, a lot of research is necessary. Thankfully, I love research. I know a lot of writers don’t like editing, but I relish it. I love seeing how I can make a good scene better. One of my favorite aspects of writing is the first draft. There’s nothing better than the free-flow of ideas before I have to edit and make sense of everything.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

I write long novels, but I don’t write a typical outline or plot out my novels. I write scenes as they come to me, even though they are out of order. Thus, when I have to piece the novel together, it can be a challenge. It’s rewarding, but it is the aspect of writing that I dread.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

My ideas come from a variety of sources. I get them from research or from stories people tell me. Often, the stories that people tell me will be a starting off point that I alter to fit a scene. Some ideas come when I’m driving or in the shower. Basically, at any time, I can have a great idea. The challenge I have is writing it down (if I’m at work or half asleep) so that I can remember it.

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

You don’t need to be too afraid that you’ll end up in one of my novels! However, that said, I do listen for interesting ways people speak or act and incorporate what I hear and see into my novels.

What is your writing routine like?

I have a full time job as a family nurse practitioner, thus I write when I can, often at 5 am or over the weekends. I don’t have a set routine, but I still manage to get my writing done. When I try to follow writing “rules” or “edicts” such as writing an hour a day, it takes away the joy of writing for me.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

The most important thing is to not give up. Keep writing and keep finding the joy in writing. There may be days when you think you’ve written nothing worthwhile, but set it aside and read it with fresh eyes in a few days or weeks to be able to better evaluate what you’ve written. Also, embrace editing and don’t be afraid to cut entire scenes or chapters. It hurts, but if it makes your novel better, it’s worth it.

What’s next for you?

I am currently working on book four of the series. I’ve written about half of it, although there’s still a lot to research and write. I’m planning that this will be a six book series, so when I complete book four, I’ll continue on to book five. Unlike the three previous books in the series, I have a much better idea where books four through six are going, so in some ways, it makes it easier to write them.

Thanks again, Cynthia, for inviting me to your blog! As a bonus for readers of the blog, visit my webpage (http://www.ramonaflightner.com)  for a link for a free copy of Banished Love, book one in the series.

Excerpt from Undaunted Love:

“Clarissa?” Gabriel asked, as he poked his head out the front door. “What’s the matter? I would have thought you’d be delighted at the news for Richard and Florence. And there’s no reason to be upset with Nicholas.”

“Of course I am delighted.” I swiped at my cheeks, rubbing away an errant tear. “Happy for them. And I’m not mad at Nicholas.”

“It’s not like you to be jealous of others’ good fortune. We’ll have similar news soon.”

He crouched down in front of me and caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes. I neither leaned into nor away from his touch. After a moment he dropped his hand.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to give you what you desire, darling.”

“I’m happy. Of course I am,” I said around a sniffle.

“This is a fine way to show it.” He grasped my hands as he met my gaze. “What’s wrong? I can’t seem to do anything right recently.”

“It’s nothing you’ve done, Gabriel.” I hitched in a stuttering breath as I battled tears.

“No? Maybe it’s something I’ve failed to do.” He rose, walking a pace away before turning to look down at me, sitting crumpled on the bench. “Can’t you at least act like you’re happy to have married me on our anniversary?”

I paled, placing one of my hands to my chest at the pleading in his voice. When I stared at him wordlessly, he strode into the house, the screen door slamming shut behind him.

After another moment outside, I rose to follow him. As I opened the door, I heard the conversation continuing without me. “She’ll come around soon, Gabriel. Don’t worry.”

Amelia’s soothing voice.

“It’s an adjustment from Boston. Never fear she’d rather be there than here.”

Colin’s deep voice, unable to hide his concern.

“You know what I think, so no need going over it again,” Sebastian said.

“Whatever you’ve done, figure it out, man. You don’t want your woman angry with you for much longer,” Ronan said.

I waited for Gabriel to speak. After a long silence, he said, “I wonder if I should have listened to Richard’s advice in the beginning.”

I stifled a gasp as my mind raced to the moment Richard had confronted Gabriel about his interest in me at his workshop in Boston. It will only lead to pain. For pity’s sake … find another one, more suitable, more of our class.

“Colin, will you see Clarissa home?” Gabriel ran a hand through his ebony hair. “I need …”

“Gabriel, you haven’t eaten any of your anniversary cake,” Amelia said.

“Cake won’t make this better, Amelia,” Gabriel said before he marched toward the kitchen and exited the rear door.

I looked out the side window to see his long, loping gait striding down the boardwalk toward the center of town.

“That was poorly done, Rissa,” Colin said. He had risen and seen me standing in the living room.

“I know, Col,” I said. I fell into an overstuffed armchair, curling my legs up under me, holding onto my knees as I rocked to and fro. My mind raced at the disastrous evening. “I’ll apologize to Nicholas.”

Colin glanced over his shoulder and saw that Amelia, carrying Nicholas, moved with Sebastian and Ronan into the kitchen. “It’s not just Nicholas, Rissa. Can’t you tell me what’s wrong? Why are you acting like this?”

“It’s nothing, Col.”

“Don’t treat me like a fool. It’s obviously something. Do you regret marrying Gabe?”

“That’s not the question, Colin. It never will be.” I let out another stuttering sigh as I leaned my head against my knees, a terrible weariness filling me.

“Then what it is? Are you ill? Is that why Amelia saw you visiting the doctor recently?”

“Is that all you do? Gossip about me?”

“It’s what people do who care about each other. Especially when one of them refuses to share anything and acts like a wounded badger.”

Colin glared at me, daring me to contradict him.

“I’m of sound health, Colin. Nothing to fear.” I closed my eyes in resignation.

“Then why are you acting like this?” Colin asked again as he gripped my hand. “I’ve never seen you with such little spirit. Not even last spring in Boston. Now you act as though all the fight has left you. That’s not who you are, Rissa.”

“You’d never understand, Col. And I fear Gabriel never will either.”

“Whatever it is, you must tell him.”

“No, Colin. The last thing I should do is tell Gabriel. Because once I do, he will despise me.”

Bio:

About Ramona Flightner:

Ramona Flightner is an avid reader, writer, and traveler. By day, she practices the healing arts as a nurse practitioner. Every other moment, she’s researching and writing her next novel. Love’s First Flames, Banished Love, Reclaimed Love, and Undaunted Love are the first novels in her Banished Saga.

Ramona is from Missoula, Montana. She currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Her favorite pastimes are fly fishing the cool, clear streams of a Montana river, hiking in the mountains, and spending time with family and friends.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ramona-Flightner/e/B00I0GSPGM/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1439774478&sr=8-1

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Ramona%20Flightner%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/search?Query=ramona+flightner&fcmedia=Book

You can follow me at:

New Release Email List at: http://www.ramonaflightner.com/newsletter

Web page: http://www.ramonaflightner.com

Twitter:  @ramonafightner

FB: http://www.facebook.com/authorramonaflightner

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ramonaauthor

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

Mail-Order Brides of the West: Prudence is the seventh book in the Mail-Order Brides of the West Series and the story that wasn’t supposed to exist. I originally conceived of this series with Caroline Fyffe, and we each planned to write three books. I wrote Trudy, Lina, and Darcy. Caroline wrote Evie, Heather, and Kathryn. We planned for the stories to go in pairs, starting with Trudy and Evie. My brides would go to Sweetwater Springs, Montana, which is my fictional town in the Montana Sky Series. Caroline’s brides would go to Y Knot, Montana, which is the setting for her McCutcheon Family Series. Each pair of brides were friends who wrote letters to each other.

At the Mail-Order Brides of the West Agency, I’d added two other potential brides who were only intended to be secondary characters. Prudence Crawford was mean to everyone, and no one liked her. Her sole purpose in the books was to provide conflict. After Caroline and I finished Darcy and Kathryn, we thought we were done with the series (although both of us have some of our mail-order bride characters appearing in a few of our other series books.)

But our readers started begging for Prudence’s story. When I finally agreed to write Mail-Order Brides of the West: Prudence, they were so excited. But they also told me to be mean to her. “Push her in the pigpen was one suggestion.” So I did! I couldn’t inflict Prudence on a nice man, so I gave her one who wasn’t so nice and let them fight it out. I think of the book as Taming of the Shrew Goes West.

I also had to figure why Prudence was such a nasty woman, which also played a part in redeeming her character. And since she ended up in Sweetwater Springs, Prudence also had to resolve her conflicts with the three other mail-order brides who lived there. I had a lot of fun writing an unlikable woman who changed and found love.

Tell us about your current series.

My Montana Sky Series is sweet historical Western romance, which takes place in the 1880s and 1890s. The series begins with Beneath Montana’s Skies, which is free at all retailers. My very first book was Wild Montana Sky, which is a USA Today Bestselling book. Book Two, Starry Montana Sky was chosen by Amazon in 2013 as a top 50 Greatest Love Story. And Book Three, Stormy Montana Sky is a NY York Times Bestselling book.

Even though the bride books are called The Mail-Order Brides of the West series, my books are also part of the Montana Sky Series. Chronologically, they come between Beneath Montana’s Skies and Wild Montana Sky.

What’s next for you?

 Healing Montana Sky releases in October and is available for preorder. I’m currently writing Mystic Montana Sky for a summer 2016 release. I have a big surprise planned for February. Cynthia is going to be part of it. So stay tuned.

EXCERPT

MAIL-ORDER BRIDES OF THE WEST: PRUDENCE

By

DEBRA HOLLAND

The stench of the pigpens made him take shallow breaths. Michael desperately wanted another drink to drown his sorrows…or, more aptly, his angers. He promised himself that once he found the source of the problem, he’d head to Rigsby’s and let alcohol smooth the edge off his ire. Maybe with a few drinks in him, he could better handle Prudence. Nothing else I’ve tried has worked.

“Michael!”

At the sound of his wife’s voice, he stiffened. Speak of the devil. Is there a word for female devil? He couldn’t think of one. He nodded good-bye to Hong and was stepping away when—

“Michael, I want to talk to you!” Her voice rose until the timbre was almost a shriek. She ploughed pell-mell for him, her face red with anger.

Hong ducked into his tent. Out of sight, maybe, but not out of earshot.

The Guans’ should stuff cotton in their ears to block out the worst of Prudence’s screeches.

“I need a drink,” he said, beginning to turn away.

“Oh, dear Lord. Don’t tell me you’re a drunkard like that Obadiah Kettering. Is that another thing you omitted to tell me about your character?”

He swung back, and she was inches away, arms wide. “You omitted telling me I’d be marrying a shrew,” he said. “You should have written the word at the top of your fancy stationary in big block letters.” He sketched the word in the air and stated each letter. “S-H-R-E-W.”

“Why…why I never!” Her mouth opened and closed as if she sought just the right words to hurl at him.

“As for being a drunkard. Up until today, I only occasionally sought refuge in the bottle. But I think being married to you, my dear wife, will make me a frequent patron of Rigsbys Saloon. In fact, I might as well take up residence in the place.”

Stepping forward, she brought up her hand to slap him.

He leaped out of the way.

Prudence missed, and her hand sailed past, making her off balance.

Sure she was going to try again, Michael moved away, putting more space between them.

Prudence slipped on a slimy rock and lost her balance, rotating and stepping sideways only to catch her heel in the hem of her skirt. She teetered backward toward the pigpen. Her legs hit the low fence, catching her at knee-height.

Oh, no! Michael leaped to catch her.

With a horrified expression, Prudence windmilled her arms in an effort to right herself.

Michael missed, grabbing only a fold of her skirt. He yanked back, hoping to pull her upright, but instead, with a ripping sound, the fabric tore.

The momentum toppled Prudence backwards into the pigpen, where she landed on her rump in the mire. “Grrrrrr!” She scooped up two handfuls of mud and flung them at him.

Shocked, Michael didn’t dodge until the last minute, and the stinking mud went splat against his chest and face.

BIO

Psychotherapist Debra Holland, Ph.D is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Montana Sky Series, sweet, historical Western romance. She’s a three-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist and one-time winner.

Debra is also the author of The Gods’ Dream Trilogy (fantasy romance) and the nonfiction books, The Essential Guide to Grief and Grieving and Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude: a Ten-Minute eBook. She’s a contributing author to The Naked Truth About Self-Publishing. Sign up for her newsletter at http://drdebraholland.com