THE BULL RIDER AND THE BABY By Jeanine McAdam

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THE BULL RIDER AND THE BABY
By Jeanine McAdam

TheBullRiderandtheBaby_MED_2Can a concussion prone bull rider find love with a pregnant neuroscientist? Maybe, but it would be much easier if she wasn’t pregnant with someone else’s baby!

Character Interview:

My name is Caleb Cooper. I’m from THE BULL RIDER AND THE BARE BOYCOTTER where I consider myself a villain but others would probably call me a pain in the ass. But in my own quirky and loveable way I redeem myself in THE BULL RIDER AND THE BABY because I’m the hero of that book. Not a knight in shining armor sort of hero but a good guy nonetheless.

How did you come to your author’s attention?
My brother Logan Cooper is the hero in THE BULL RIDER AND THE BARE BOYCOTTER. Many, many times in that book I told my brother he was an asshole, idiot plus all sorts of other rude stuff. I think the brutal honesty of my words caught Jeanine’s attention. I don’t think she completely agrees with how I treated my brother but it does create one hell of a story with interesting characters.

Did you give your author a hard time when she was writing your story?
No, not at all. I’m not that type of guy. Unlike my brother Logan, I have lots of potential as a human being. It just took a little bit of finessing on Jeanine’s part to turn me from a loudmouth idiot into a sensitive man. But I’m here to tell you, it happened in THE BULL RIDER AND THE BABY.

What do you do for a living?
Next question. Holy hell, did you read the title of the book?

Who is the love of your life?
If I told you that THE BULL RIDER AND THE BABY would be ruined. It’s called a spoiler. Look it up.

If there is a ‘love of your life’, what was the first thing you noticed about her?
She was pregnant. Hugely pregnant.

What’s your greatest fear?
Falling off a bull, hitting my head and turning into an imbecilic. Then again maybe that’s an old fear. If I were to update my fears, it would be Carrie Wang leaving me. Jesus H. Christ, I can’t believe I just said that. I hope Carrie doesn’t read this interview, she’ll think I’m a wimp.

How do the other characters in your book view you?
Carrie thinks I’m (coughs into his hand) HOT. Then again, she probably wouldn’t admit that because I don’t wear a helmet when I climb onto a bull. You see she’s a concussion researcher and she’s studying me. Carrie’s traditional Chinese mother (in some circles knows as a tiger Mom) thinks I’m not educated enough to marry her daughter but I’m up for the challenge of proving her wrong.

What do you think the reader will find interesting about you?
My good looks, award-winning personality and ability to get along with people. Ha, ha you almost fell for that I could tell. You know these questions are unfair. It’s tough for a guy to talk about himself.

What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done?
Now, you’re really pushing it (rolls shoulders). Have sex with a woman that I didn’t impregnate. By the way, Carrie was seven months along at the time we got together but I was gentle. That’s all I’m saying about her, don’t ask me anymore.

Will we be seeing you in future books?
You betcha. There’s THE BULL RIDER WEARS PINK. It’s about my sister Cassidy. She wants to compete against the men. You didn’t hear this from me but she’s probably a better rider than Logan and I combined. Her problem is, she’s a lousy Mom. Then again, she’s planning to work on that and I guess she gets involved with Pastor John. Talk about opposites attracting, I don’t know what Jeanine was thinking bringing those two together.

THE BULL RIDER AND THE BABY has an average Goodreads rating of 4.62. Find it at
http://jeaninemcadam.com/booklist/the-bull-rider-and-the-baby/

Find Jeanine McAdam at:
www.jeaninemcadam.com
www.facebook.com/jeaninemcadambooks
www.twitter.com/jeaninemcadam

Cover Reveal!! HEALED BY A HEART

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Here is an excerpt and the cover for HEALED BY A HEART the first time ever. I hope you like it. I hope to have it out by the end of May if not before. I just finished it and am starting the editing process but I couldn’t wait to give you all a taste.

Leave me a comment for a chance to win a ecopy of REDEEMED BY A REBEL, book 1 of the Destiny in Deadwood series.

healed_by_a_heart_2Passing in front of the Gem Theater he was knocked to the side by someone barreling out the door. He automatically reached for the person. A decidedly feminine person if the breast in his left hand was any indication.

“Are you all right? Miss?”

“Oh! Unhand me, sir.” The spitfire said in a tone that brooked no argument.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, releasing her immediately

She fell down onto the boardwalk, “Oh, owww.”

“Ma’am calm down. I’ll help you up, if you let me.”

“I…I seem to have twisted my ankle. I can’t stand up,” she cried softly.

“Here. Take this.” He handed her his parcel, the steaks wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. Then, he scooped her into his arms. “Let’s take you to see Doc Cochran.”

“You can’t carry me all the way there,” she protested. “I’m too heavy and it’s much too far.”

He chuckled, ignored her protests and started walking toward the end of camp where Doc maintained his office. “I think I can manage.”

Doc’s office was at the far eastern side of camp, just outside the Celestial’s village. Liam didn’t know why he kept it there when most of his clientele was at the opposite end of camp. It made no sense to him but Doc must have a reason. Maybe the rent was cheaper outside Chinatown?

He gazed down into her upturned face and into incredibly wide blue eyes, the color of the sky at dusk and was momentarily mesmerized. “I’m Liam Anderson.”

“Eleanor Smith.” She perked up some. “Are you David’s father?”

Liam frowned. “Yes. How do you know my son?”

“He’s come into camp with Becky Finnegan…er…Anderson.” She closed her eyes for a moment, pain evident in the frown on her face. “Becky is my friend. I witnessed her marriage to your brother, Jake.”

Now he understood. “You’re the reverend’s daughter.”

“You say that with distain. Do you have something against the church?”

“Nope. Just got no use for ‘em. Where was your God when my Mary died? In hiding somewhere, because he sure wasn’t with us.” The anger still prevalent, surprised him. He thought he’d gotten over it by now.

Assaulted by memories still too painful to tolerate, he almost set her down and let her make her own way to the doctor’s place. But he was a gentleman and as such, he couldn’t do that.

“Have you just returned? David and Becky didn’t seem to think you’d be back until sometime next month.”

“I wasn’t expected. That’s why I was coming from the butcher before going home.”

“You…you…weren’t going into the Gem, were you?” she asked, surprised.

“No. I wasn’t.”

She let out an audible breath, like she’d been holding it for a long while. “Oh, I thought you…well you know what I thought.”

Liam watched her color rise. She was quite pretty in an understated way. Rich chestnut hair, deep blue eyes the color of the waning sky. Her bow shaped mouth was full and immensely kissable. Slender, she weighed almost nothing in his arms.

“If you’ll wrap your arms around my neck it will be easier for both of us,” said Liam.

She did as he asked and the action brought her breasts flush against his chest. He hadn’t been this close to a woman since Mary died. Until now, he hadn’t felt any desire to do so. He was feeling a whole lot of things, with this woman that seemed new to him. Maybe he should go visit the Gem and one of its soiled doves. Maybe then he could look at Eleanor with something other than lust on his mind.

“Are you sure you weren’t going to use the ‘offerings’ at the Gem?” she persisted.

He kept walking, debating whether or not he should answer her questions. He answered, deciding he wanted to get to know this woman better and figuring he wouldn’t have a better opportunity. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I was not. I was simply passing by when you crashed into me. Do you always assume that every man that passes this way is going into the Gem? What were you doing in there and why were you so anxious to leave?”

She ducked her head and wouldn’t look at him. “Yes, I’m sorry about running into you. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I minister to the women there and Mr. Swearengen doesn’t much like it, he was chasing me out, so to speak. Well, he wasn’t actually chasing me, just yelling at me. I don’t like it when people yell.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

“Why would you care whether I like it when people yell or not?”

“We might become friends. You already know my son and probably my daughter, too.” He was decided they would become friends. Perhaps even more than friends. Where his children were concerned, he gave his all and if they wanted to be friends with this woman, then so would he.

She smiled up at him. A beam so brilliant it nearly took his breath away. “Ah, dear Hannah. She’s so very smart. You know that don’t you? She knows her letters and is starting to read. And talk, goodness, she’ll talk your socks off if you let her.”

He grinned. “And do you let her?”

“Of course. I encourage all of our youngsters to explore their world. I told you, I also teach school here, didn’t I?”

He shook his head. “No, you didn’t mention it.”

Going Indie – is it all it’s cracked up to be? By Cassandra Carr

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Awakening_2I went indie (for the most part, there are still two small publishers I’ll work with) at the end of 2013. I don’t hate all publishers. Let’s get that notion out of the way right now. I think publishers are great- for some people. Just not for me at this point in my career.

I think sometimes readers wonder what the difference between indie and hybrid and small press and traditional publishing, I’m not going to bore you by defining each. Here’s the major difference: as you go from left to right in the list above, you have less and less control. Is that universally a good thing? No. Nothing in publishing is absolute. There is no wrong way, as long as the author is happy. At least, that’s my opinion.

I like control. My husband will tell you I like it a little too much, and no, not in the way you’re thinking. 😛 So indie is a good choice for me. I can change the cover, the price, the product description, and even the title (and have done that once already- a pain, but worth it). I can write what I want, when I want. Well, with the exception of group projects. Those are themed and have deadlines. But that’s okay, since I chose to take part in them!

What does this mean to the reader? Not much, actually, except that the quality of indie published books is going up. I think prices will eventually go up too. Probably not to the days when a single ebook was 7.99 and up, but the glut of .99 books will diminish. Overall, it’s a brave new world, and that can only be a good thing for readers!

As a reader, do you notice or care who the publisher is? What do you think of the indie movement? Tell me in the comments!

BIO:
Cassandra Carr is a romance writer whose work has been praised by many prominent publishing industry media outlets such as Publisher’s Weeklyand Romantic Times. Her books have won several “Best Of” awards. Her novella Unexpected Top was nominated in the E-book Erotic Romance category of RT’s 2013 Reviewers’ Choice Awards. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online.

She thinks the best part of being a writer is how she writes about love and sex while most others struggle with daily commutes, micro-managing bosses and cranky co-workers. Her inspiration comes from everywhere, but she’d particularly like to thank the Buffalo Sabres, the hockey team near and dear to her heart.

To learn more about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com; like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr, or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.

Blurb for Awakening:
Vanessa Clark is doing a research paper for one of her last classes – Psychology of Sex – before receiving her Bachelors’ degree. Once she discovers the topic of BDSM, everything else pales in comparison. But where will she learn about it? The Internet has its limits, and Vanessa needs to talk to real-life practitioners of BDSM to really understand the lifestyle and write about it.

Will Astin, who serves as a dungeon master at a local BDSM club, doesn’t expect to find a gorgeous, irresistible young woman when he agrees to a meet and greet with a college student as a favor to the club’s owner. Even better, she’s interested in learning about BDSM for what he suspects are more than scholarly reasons, and Will decides he’s just the man to teach her about it, hopefully claiming her for his own.

Will and Vanessa begin a journey which teaches both of them there’s more to BDSM than meets the eye. In the process, they grow closer, but when Will’s job puts him in the line of fire – literally – their roles are reversed and Vanessa has to take charge. Can they handle the rapid shift in their burgeoning dynamic, or is their relationship doomed?

Buy links for Awakening:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J1P05MI

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awakening-cassandra-carr/1118922389?ean=2940149249671

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-awakening-1453017-147.html

First Book, Second Chances by Linda McLaughlin

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Please help me welcome my friend, Linda McLaughlin to my blog today. I know she’d love to have some comments.

WorththeRisk_432_2Hi everyone! I’m so pleased to be here at Cynthia’s blog today to talk about my first published novel, Worth The Risk; Thanks, Cindy!

There is nothing more exciting for a writer than that first published book. You never forget the day you get “the call” or the day you hold behold that first published copy, though nowadays it’s just as likely to be an e-book as a print book. But it’s exciting either way, like your birthday and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.

My writing partner, Anne Farrell, and I got the call one October, and our book was published the following April, Private Affair, Kensington Precious Gem #121, and for an entire month it could be seen in the book section at Wal-Mart. So it is almost as exciting for us to now see the book, now titled Worth The Risk, getting a second chance to reach readers in an updated and revised e-book version.

Worth The Risk is all about second chances, something our main characters could use. All are wounded: Amanda from a humiliating experience in her past, Mitch from a terrible accident and disastrous marriage, and little Josh from the death of his mother.

Blurb:

Children’s librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the ‘Embezzler’s Bride’ appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.

Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk. After the death of his ex-wife, he moved to Southern California to take care of his son Josh. He doesn’t need the complication of a woman in his life, especially since Josh’s grandparents have filed suit for custody. But Josh is on the hunt for a new mother and he has his heart set on Miss Amanda, and Mitch can’t fault his son’s taste.

Against her better judgment, Amanda finds herself falling for both of the Delaney men. When she agrees to accompany Mitch to a high-profile movie premiere, they draw the attention of the tabloids. Overnight Amanda’s private affair becomes very public indeed, threatening her job and Mitch’s custody suit. She’s waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?

Excerpt:

He held out a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He peered at her nametag. “Ms. Lloyd.”

She nodded as she felt her hand swallowed up in his warm, friendly grasp. A tingling sensation shot up her arm. For heaven’s sakes, what was wrong with her? Her fiancé had been as good-looking, maybe better, but there was a sensual awareness in this man that she hadn’t been conscious of in Tim.

She pulled her hand free at the sound of a childish voice and turned to see a little blond-haired girl looking up at her. “Do you need some help?” Amanda asked the youngster.

“I can’t find the fairy tales.”

“They’re right over here,” Amanda said, leading the way to a shelf by the window. She pulled a few books from the shelf. “How about Cinderella, Snow White, and The Frog Prince?”

The child took the books with a happy smile. “I’m gonna marry a prince someday.”
It had never been known to fail, Amanda thought. The female of the species was a sucker for a happy ending. She hated to burst the child’s illusions, but… “There really aren’t—”

“Of course you will, sweetheart,” a low masculine voice interrupted. “Whoever you marry will be your prince.”

The little girl gave the handsome stranger a dazzling smile and ran out of the room.

“Shame on you,” he scolded. “You were going to tell that child there aren’t any princes, weren’t you?”

“Isn’t it better to be honest? Sometimes I wonder at the wisdom of filling children’s heads with fairy tales, even though it’s part of my job. That little girl will find out sooner or later that there aren’t any real prince charmings.”

He leaned against a table, his long legs crossed at the ankles. “Oh? What about Prince
William?”

Amanda raised an eyebrow. “Friend of yours, is he?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I have met his brother, Harry.”

Sure you have. Amanda recognized a line when she heard one. “All right, there are a few actual princes left. But we’re not talking about them.” The man was aggravating, standing there practically daring her to defend herself. “The truth is that frogs outnumber princes by about a million to one.”

The man grinned lazily. “Ah, a cynic.”

Amanda returned his smile. “Remember what the Brothers Grimm said: ‘Before you meet the handsome prince, you’ve got to kiss a lot of toads.’”

“If you think all men have warts, I beg to differ,” he said softly, staring into her eyes.

Worth The Risk is on sale today for 99 cents from Amazon Kindle.
Also available from Apple, Kobo, Nook and Smashwords.

LYN O’FARRELL is the writing team of Anne Farrell and Linda McLaughlin. Their romance novel, Private Affair, was a finalist in RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart contest and was first published in paperback by Kensington Precious Gems. It has now been re-released as an e-book under the title Worth the Risk. Anne and Linda live in sunny Southern California, the inspiration for the fictional town of Santa Elena.

Connect with Anne and Linda online at:
Anne Farrell: http://annefarrellwriter.com/
Linda McLaughlin: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com
Linda’s blog: http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/

Rugged Heroes ~ Resilient Heroines ~ Heartwarming Romance by Stacey Joy Netzel

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evidence_ebook_2Hello, and thank you, Cynthia, for hosting me on your awesome blog for my release day! Your header talks about “…a land wild enough to hold them both,” so I feel right at home sharing my Rugged Heroes ~ Resilient Heroines ~ Heartwarming Romance…many of which are set in the beautiful, wild state of Colorado.
Gorgeous_Colorado_2

The mountains have intrigued me ever since I was in grade school and I picked Colorado for my state report (the year will remain confidential). It must’ve been about 4th or 5th grade, but I didn’t get to see them in person until I graduated at 17 and took the train across the country for a summer job at the Aspen Lodge Ranch Resort in Estes Park, CO.

See, my two best friends had deserted me for what was supposed to be the best summer ever. Mickey was in Australia as a foreign exchange student, and Tracy was in Montana at her own summer job, so I had to find something fun to do with myself besides waiting tables in Wisconsin.

I fell head-over-heels in love with the rugged, untamed vistas of the Rockies. So much so that I went back the next summer without thinking twice. Both years I worked as a children’s counselor, hiked as much as I could, rode the ranch horses, and dreaded the day when I’d have to return home (even though I missed my family).

Clear_mountain_stream_2

I loved the hiking trails, the animals I saw along the way, the gorgeous scenery, the sound of the cold mountain rivers crashing over boulders, the many waterfalls, sunsets and sunrises and, well…pretty much everything. The best was the view at 14,255 feet from the top of Long’s Peak in the middle of a 16 mi. round-trip hike. The first year, fog forced us to turn back after getting 3/4th of the way, but the second summer I made it to the very tippy-top! Talk about terrifying and amazing at the same time. Terrifying because of the steep, slippery slab of rock we had to scale to reach the summit; amazing because with only a few clouds in the brilliant blue sky, we could see for miles.

I’ve been back to the area only three times since then. It isn’t nearly enough, so that’s why Colorado is a favorite places to locate my books, so I can live vicariously though my characters. They do have to go through a lot, but they always get their happily ever after in the end.

Stacey&Morgan_at_waterfall_2

My Colorado Trust Series is set for 2 brand new releases this spring, and 3 re-releases with new covers. EVIDENCE OF TRUST, book 1, is a brand new release that is out today—so thank you, Cynthia, for letting me celebrate my release here with your readers!

I’m happy to share an exclusive excerpt with all of you today and hope you like it!

Sparks fly when a headstrong wrangler and an alpha park ranger are thrown together while he’s searching for evidence to stop the poacher killing animals in RMNP. When the monster turns his sights on Brittany, Joel discovers he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her—even give his own life.

Trust makes all the difference when love and danger collide.

EXCERPT:

Women are born dishonest.

Well, damn. If he weren’t so darn good-looking—and bossy, let’s not forget the bossy and arrogant, Britt—maybe she’d be able to keep her head straight and not do stupid things like lie—
No, she hadn’t lied. There was a difference. And besides, either way, it didn’t give him the right to blame her for every bad experience he’d ever had with women. She didn’t blame him for Daniel’s faults.

A lilting ballad replaced the rowdy country music the band had been playing. Gina went to refresh her drink while Casey and Jayne joined the other couples on the dance floor. Watching them snuggle together, she found herself picturing one man, the man she most wanted to forget—and it wasn’t her no-good cheating ex.

When a dark head suddenly appeared at her shoulder, a start of surprise tripped her pulse. Mitch chuckled, his breath warm against her ear.

“Since you won’t go out with me, you can at least dance with me.”

Relief spiraled through her, and she accepted his hand. She didn’t object when he pulled her close on the dance floor, either. He’d been a harmless flirt from the moment they’d met at the start of her third summer, and she appreciated his friendship.

“You and that redhead seemed to be getting pretty well acquainted,” she remarked, referring to the woman she’d seen him dirty dancing with a short while ago.

“Yes. Because Lindsey appreciates a good man when she sees one.”

She laughed—until she caught sight of said redhead with a certain tall, dark-haired ranger a few feet away. Her smile vanished when she met a pair of steely golden eyes. How could such a warm color appear so cold?

Mitch spun her around and she saw his brow furrow the moment he noticed the other couple. Summoning a grin, she teased, “You were saying?”

He danced her into another dizzying spin that didn’t fit the music. “I was saying…sometimes women need a little help with the obvious.” He tapped Joel’s shoulder. “Mind if we switch?”

Without waiting for a reply, he released her and swept an overly-eager Lindsey into his arms. As they moved away, Britt fumed inwardly, but forced a polite smile for Joel as she turned away.

“Excuse me.”

“Not so fast.”

He snagged her hand and lifted her arm above her head in a fluid motion, maneuvering her into a dance spin that landed her in his arms. Her dress whirled against his thighs, and she found herself aligned with solid muscle from chest to hip.

“Bad enough you left me on the trail, walking away on the dance floor is just plain rude.”

A push on his chest proved ineffective, so she leaned back. “I prefer to choose my own dance partners.”

“I prefer to choose the way I get down a mountain,” he countered.

“A gentleman would accept my apology and let it go.”

“I never claimed to be a gentleman.”

Something in his tone reminded her of that kiss in her tent. Her gaze shifted to his lips. As she stared, his head lowered. Her breath caught and her pulse skipped, but he bypassed her mouth to rest his cheek against hers. She barely contained a sigh of disappointment as the scent of cedar boughs and citrus assaulted her senses.

“I knew it. You enjoyed that kiss as much as I did,” he taunted softly.

His breath—or was it his lips?—brushed the sensitive skin under her ear. With a conscious effort to gather her raging emotions, she pushed harder against his chest. He only allowed her a few inches and kept their bodies swaying to the music.

“What are you doing?” she whispered. “You don’t even like me.”

“I’m just trying to get an honest response,” he explained.

“You want honest? You took advantage of me. I was still half-asleep and—”

He laughed, a low, deep chuckle that stirred something in the pit of her stomach.

“If that’s what you need to believe.”

“I don’t need to believe anything.”

“And just a minute ago, when you thought I was going to kiss you—”

“I did not—”

“—you weren’t the least bit disappointed?”

“No.”

“So you did think I was going to kiss you.”

“I didn’t say that!” Exasperation raised her voice. “If you’d just let me finish.”

A hint of a smile played on his sensual lips. “By all means.”

“No, I did not think you were going…to…”

He’d lowered his head again. She pulled back; he followed, until their lips were a mere inch apart. “Do you now?”

“I…no.”

“Do you want me to?”

The seductive whisper made her shiver. Yes. “No.”

But she’d hesitated a fraction too long.
~~~

Grab your copy of the book here and keep reading: APPLE KOBO AMAZON BN

To show my appreciation to all the readers out there, I’d like to offer one lucky winner an ebook copy of my Colorado set novellas in the Stacey Joy Netzel Paranormal Collection. The ghostly romance titles include: If Tombstones Could Talk, Beneath Still Waters (Part One), and Rising Above (Still Waters Part Two).

All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know your favorite state to visit, and what you love so much about it? (Or, your favorite book locale would be great as well.)

Again, thank you for having me, Cynthia, and thank you to all the readers who stopped by. Have a wonderful day!

BIO:

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author Stacey Joy Netzel fell in love with books at a young age, so for her the graduation to writing them was natural. An avid reader and fan of movies with a happily ever after, she is thrilled to call herself a full-time writer after 20 years as a travel agent. She lives with her husband and children in Wisconsin, where she writes romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and the occasional paranormal romance. Colorado is a favorite locale for her books, followed closely by Wisconsin, and Italy.
She lives in her native Wisconsin with her husband and children, a couple horses and some barn cats. In her limited free time she enjoys gardening, canning, and visiting her parents in Northeastern Wisconsin (Up North) at the family cabin on the lake.

Find Stacey online at:

Newsletter signup: http://bit.ly/SJNnewsletter
(New release info. only)
Website and Blog: http://www.StaceyJoyNetzel.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/StaceyJoyNetzel
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StaceyJoyNetzel

Visiting with Zanna Mackenzie

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Hi Zanna. Welcome to my blog. Let’s get started.

If_You_Only_Knew_2Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

Yes, I have, many of them! When I was at college I worked part time as a dental nurse which is weird because I hate going to the dentist and am an extremely squeamish person! My first full time job was as a travel agent and I loved reading all the glossy brochures and dreaming over the photos of exotic places. Later I worked on researching and writing brochures for the UK tourism market which was great fun. I got to visit lots of local tourist attractions, towns and pretty villages and write about them. After that I worked in admin for a vegetarian charity and started writing for their magazine which then lead to my job for a chamber of commerce as writer, editor and proof reader of their business publications. I still do this job now but working from home on a self-employed freelance basis. Along the way I have also worked in a tourist information centre, a health food shop and as a therapist – I have qualifications in aromatherapy, nutrition, crystal healing and herbalism.

What inspired your latest book?

I love setting my books in favourite UK locations of mine and have written books set in the Scottish Highlands, North Yorkshire, the Lake District and now, in If You Only Knew, the Peak District in Derbyshire. The village in the book was inspired by the village of Castleton in the Peaks. I was fascinated by the area around Castleton with all the caves and hills, it’s a real outdoor and extreme sports mecca, and the book grew from that. Once I had the ‘where’ in place and the key settings of the café and the extreme sports centre, the characters and ideas just popped into my head. The original outline plot idea and the eventual plot do share some similarities but there were lots of changes along the way as the book unfolded!

I recently discovered the joys of PInterest and had great fun setting up a mood board for If You Only Knew which contains pictures of the village, the scenery, how Faith’s coffee shop might look and photos of the famous people who visually inspired the characters of Zane, Faith and Matt. The If You Only Knew PInterest board can be viewed via this link: http://www.pinterest.com/zannamac/if-you-only-knew/

What is your favorite part of writing?

I love creating the characters for a book. I have the plot outlined and then start to build a detailed bio for each character including how they look, their star sign, age, jobs, where they grew up, family background, their issues and worries, what they like, what they dislike, their romantic history and much, much more. I have some great books for writers about astrology which detail how people from certain star signs behave, their ambitions, their concerns, their strength and weakness etc and I find these books invaluable when I’m doing character creation.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Writing the actual book! No, seriously, I love writing and get totally caught up in the plot, the setting and the characters (and usually end up developing a huge crush on the hero in the book!) but my problem is that I’m quite an impatient person and I always feel as though I can’t write fast enough. So, in some ways the writing process itself is both my favourite and least favourite part of creating a book.

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

Not at all – they’re quite safe! I don’t use real life people at all, not even an aspect of a personality, in my books. My characters are completely made up via the requirements of the plot and the star sign I give them, their motivations etc and they are usually visually inspired by actors I see in films and TV programmes.

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

A bit of both. I was part of a new writers appraisal scheme and the idea was to complete a manuscript and submit it for critique by a published (anonymous) author in your genre. My first year critique was very positive and I was delighted. My critique the following year on another book could best be described as ‘blah and bland’ and in my third year another novel was totally trashed in its critique. At which point I gave up on writing, thoroughly confused and disillusioned. I didn’t write for a few years and then one day my husband encouraged me to write again, to totally revamp the previous books and edit them to my own style and voice rather than doing what everyone else told me to write. I spent ages working on changing the books and then I did nothing with them after that until my husband nagged me (again!) to start sending the books out to publishers for consideration. I sent one book to a publisher in America and another to a UK publisher and told myself to forget about them whilst mentally preparing myself for the rejection emails from them. Within one month the American publisher came back and said they loved the book and offered me a contract. I couldn’t believe it, I was stunned. I cried. I danced around the room. One week later an email arrived from the UK publisher about the other book I had sent out. They liked what they had read so far and asked me to send them the full manuscript. I duly sent it off to them, convinced I couldn’t be lucky enough to sell that book too. Two months later they came back to me and said they wanted to publish the book and offered me a contract. Cue more crying and dancing around the room. In Feb 2013 my first book, The Love Programme, was launched, closely followed in March 2013 by my second book, How Do You Spell Love? My third book, If You Only Knew, was launched in Feb 2014, by the same UK publisher who launched my second book.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

Faith owns The Coffee Pot in the outdoor adventure sports mecca of Derbyshire’s Peak District. She hasn’t had a man in her life for a while, as she’s been too busy serving cakes to weary rock climbers and mountain bikers to find time for the complications of a relationship with the male of the species.

At least, that’s what she tells herself. The truth is that since she got her heart broken she’s had problems trusting men.

When she meets Zane, one of the new owners at the Carrdale Extreme Sports Centre, Faith finds herself enjoying his company even though part of her can’t help wondering why he’s so reluctant to talk about himself.

Then the past comes back to haunt her in the shape of Zane’s business partner Matt, who just happens to be the guy who broke Faith’s heart all those years ago.
With Matt out to cause trouble and Zane keeping secrets Faith’s life is about to get very complicated indeed…

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

Yes, I’m lucky in that I do have a view of the garden. Our living area is all open plan so the kitchen leads into the dining and lounge space at the back of the house. I have a desk right in the middle of things and it’s also where our 4 dogs sleep as well! It can be a bit chaotic at times but I love it. (NB- have attached a photo if you want to use it)

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

Zane is an outdoor sports instructor specializing in rock and ice climbing. He’s been living in Austria for several years but has just returned to the UK as the co-owner of the Carrdale Extreme Sports Centre. The past has made him cautious about relationships and he isn’t looking to get involved, but when he meets Faith who runs the local coffee shop he finds himself forgetting how he’d planned to focus solely on matters of business instead of matters of the heart. Zane’s strength is a fierce determination to get what he wants when it comes to achieving his dreams. His weakness would be his vulnerability when it comes to trust and relationships.

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

Faith is the owner of a coffee shop and a woman using her work as an excuse for avoiding relationships. She’s independent and strong willed and soon realizes Zane is holding something back from her about his past. Though at times she is frustrated by him she refuses to give up on finding out what made him the way he is and trying to help him move on from it. Her weakness? An inability to let go of things which are holding her back and hurting her emotionally.

Excerpt:
This couldn’t be happening.

Zane had said his business partner was called Matt. She was sure of it. Yes, he’d definitely just introduced him as Matt. But the man standing before her wasn’t Matt.

It was Aaron.

Faith wiped her hands on a tea–towel. She wanted to speak, but couldn’t get her brain into gear enough to make her mouth form the words.

She’d thought Aaron was gone from her life.

It looked as though she was wrong.

She took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself. Suddenly she felt cold and shaky. Aaron was back? This was impossible.

Yet here he was, standing in her kitchen. She felt dizzy and light-headed.

How should she react? Should she admit they knew each other? Why had Aaron changed his name to Matt anyway? Would he prefer it if the fact they knew each other was kept quiet?

But she knew she couldn’t keep something like that from Zane.

As she debated what to say and do next, the room remained awkwardly silent. Zane was looking at her questioningly.

What should she say?

Come on, think, woman. Think.

Too late. Aaron spoke first.

“Faith, it’s amazing to see you again after all these years.”

OK. So he didn’t want to keep it a secret that they already knew each other.

“Aaron,” she managed to say. “This is a bit of a shock.”

“That’s an understatement,” Matt replied, stepping forward to pull her into a hug.

“Hang on a second,” Zane said, pushing into the room. “Aaron? That’s your proper name isn’t it?” He raised enquiring eyebrows at Matt. “What’s going on? You two already know each other?”

Buy Links

*Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Only-Knew-Zanna-Mackenzie/dp/190984148X/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1_GMEM

*Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/You-Only-Knew-Zanna-Mackenzie/dp/190984148X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390576576&sr=8-2&keywords=zanna+mackenzie

ZannaM_scale_2Author bio:

Zanna Mackenzie lives on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read.

Being a freelance writer and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity, she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working on. She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds of their own and start deviating from the original plot!

If You Only Knew is Zanna’s third novel; her previous books The Love Programme, and How Do You Spell Love? were both published in 2013.

Find out more about Zanna on her blog www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk, on Twitter via @ZannaMacKenzie or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/zanna.mackenzie

Resolutions Schmesolutions by Maggie Le Page

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Please help me welcome Maggie Le Page to my blog today. Be sure and leave a comment with the answer to her question to be entered for her book giveaway.

3_A_Heat_of_the_Moment_Thing_Amazon-Smashwords_E-Book_Cover_2Hi everyone! (Waves madly.) And thanks so much for inviting me, Cynthia. I’m excited to be here.

What do you do when a crisis hits and you’re stressed to the max? Seems to me people fall into two groups: the eat-everything-in-sight kind, and the can’t-touch-a-thing kind. I’d love to fall into the second category but, sadly, I don’t. I land with both feet firmly in the ‘this little piggy wants dinner’ category.

Last year was a bad year, stress-wise. We live in Christchurch, NZ (aka QuakeZone) and had a year of insurance battles, house-selling woes, house-purchasing scrabbles (first in best house in this frantic market), schooling worries, car hassles, family stuff . . . Anyway, I got to November and realized there was a reason none of my clothes fitted me: I’d become a fat little piggy.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERANaturally, I did the head-in-sand thing and added to the problem over Christmas. Then I reeled in shock at the scales and made a New Year’s resolution. Seven kilos had to go. I’d done it before; I could do it again. Except last time I tried to lose weight I didn’t have a life-changing Nespresso coffee maker on my bench, ready to give me very fluffy, incredibly yummy cappuccinos at the push of a button.

Apparently there’s a reason I don’t feel hungry after a cappuccino: milk has calories. So I’m having to be more single-minded in my dieting this time around. It’s not easy. But my clothes are too tight and if I want to fit back into them it’s going to take serious dedication.

In A Heat Of The Moment Thing Becky has a similar problem. Her New Year’s resolution is “Get fit, have a life, to hell with men”. Although she isn’t really a resolutions girl, Becky sees this as something of a declaration and a new approach to life. Unfortunately one get-fit swim gets her knocked out and rescued in the most mortifyingly public way. Fast forward a few days and Becky starts her new job, complete with bald patch, stitches and cover-up headscarf. Unbeknown to her, she’s about to meet her rescuer again . . .
_______________________________________

We reached the kitchenette. “Some people, of course, live at the coffee machine. Matthew Frobisher, for instance.” He indicated the man in front of us. “This guy’s intake is nothing short of hazardous.”

The addict in question straightened and, coffee in hand, turned our way. He checked as he saw me, then smiled.

Wow. I took in the tall, toned body, the broad shoulders, the mess of blond hair with a couldn’t-care-less fringe flopping over one eye. Hot.

“Becky,” said Gary, “meet Matt, London’s biggest caffeine junkie and your course supervisor.”

Matt’s eyes locked with mine. Deep, chocolate-brown, come-to-bed eyes. Under the fluorescent lights they looked almost black.

He shook my hand. “Well, hello again.”

My stomach did an elevator-swoop down to my toes and back. Oh God. That voice. Rich, compelling, familiar.

Every droplet of moisture on my tongue dried up, rendering it a useless blob of flesh.

“I know you, right?” he prompted, still holding my hand.

I watched his lips as he spoke, my mind replaying for the zillionth time those unforgettable minutes after I’d regained consciousness; leaning back against his chest, cocooned by his hard muscular strength, his arms holding me close, his heartbeat strong at my back, the warmth and gentle power of his hands, his deep chocolate-y voice a caress in my ear, tempting me, enticing me, seducing me . . . and stop! This had to stop! Right now!

I dragged some air into my lungs and it fuelled the fire in my cheeks. A few more degrees and I’d spontaneously combust.

Which, all things considered, might not be a bad option.

I withdrew my hand and licked my lips. “Um, no, I don’t think we’ve met; no.” Liar, liar.

I moved to inspect the coffee machine, every hair on my head aware of his gaze. Why had I just said that? What good could it possibly do?

“Oh. I could have sworn . . . Hmm. Sorry, my mistake.” Matt cleared his throat. “It’s good to have you on board, Becky. I’ll catch up with you later, once you’ve had a chance to settle in.”

He paused. “Nice scarf, by the way.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

I couldn’t turn around. I daren’t turn around. He’d read the truth all over my face.
_______________________________________

As you may have guessed, Matt is about to put Becky’s “to hell with men” resolution to the test. Want to read more? You can! A Heat Of The Moment Thing is available (digital or paperback) at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

I’m also offering a book GIVEAWAY for Cynthia’s readers! One commenter will win a digital copy (your choice of kindle, epub or PDF) of A Heat Of The Moment Thing. All you have to do is answer this for me:
Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution around dating? How successful were you, and did it have the effect you wanted? Or maybe you’ve made a resolution involving other aspects of your life. Tell me about it. Did it work?
_______________________________________

BUY LINKS FOR THE ABOVE STORES
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00BUCJV70
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/344767
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-heat-of-the-moment-thing-maggie-le-page/1116394649?ean=9780473240462
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-heat-of-the-moment-thing/id686786995?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
_______________________________________
SONY DSCAbout Maggie:
Maggie Le Page lives in Christchurch, New Zealand (aka QuakeZone) with her partner, two children, and a snooty cat who thinks they’re all her slaves. Her days are spent running around after kids or doing one of her ‘real’ jobs, so her writing generally happens in the dead of night. (Morning? No. She’s a third-generation night owl. Enough said.)

She loves chocolate, hates being cold, and is ever fascinated by the possibility of time travel. Obviously, her ideal experience would be to wake up on a tropical island eighty years into the future, with an endless supply of chocolate on hand.

A Heat Of The Moment Thing, Maggie’s debut novel, is chick lit with lashings of romance and humor. She’ll be releasing her second, The Trouble With Dying, later this year.

Visit her website http://www.maggielepage.com. You can also find her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MaggieLePage and Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/maggielepage

When Truth Becomes Fiction by Linda Andrews

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Please help me welcome my friend Linda Andrews to my blog today. Linda is going to treat one commentor to a $5 Amazon gift card and for everyone, she’s putting the book Hearts in Barbed Wire on sale for 99 cents.

HeartsinBarbedWire1_2I love a good story. And the best ones have a basis in truth.

I was fortunate enough that my grandmother and grandfather would humor me by telling me stories of when they were young. Some were downright scary—my grandmother’s tales of the 1918 Flu Pandemic that took her father and a newborn sibling. Some were touching glimpses of humanity—a ship’s captain taking a small immigrant boy from steerage to the deck and giving him a fresh apple to eat.

While I wrote these stories on my heart, I never set out to use them in my fiction.

But my grandmother’s memories appeared in pieces in my apocalyptic novel based on another, more deadly flu pandemic, and my own aversion to coffee and love of tea appeared in my heroine of The Christmas Village.

I told myself to stop it.

And I thought I might actually listen until I found myself in a bind. I needed to move soldiers behind enemy lines from point A to point B. This time it was my grandfather’s story that came to mind. The time was right, as his family snuck out of Poland in 1913 and they did it in a hay wagon. Yep, a hay wagon. Okay, so I fudged a bit and used a wheat wagon and instead of searching for hidden folks with pitchforks, my baddies used bayonets, but the homage remained the same.

Of course, I won’t do that in the next book. Right. Sure, and if you believe that I have a bridge you might be interested in.

Thankfully, Cynthia already admitted that she based one of her books on how her parents met, so I know I’m not alone. But we can’t be the only ones. Have any of you ever borrowed a piece of someone else’s story to create something new?

EXCERPT
Except:
Luc faced the wagon. Harvested grain filled the vee-shaped bed. He frowned. “Now how do you propose we hide? Climb on top and dig our way down?”
Cupping her elbow, he dragged her forward.
Tingles raced up and down her arm, despite his gentle hold. Perhaps she really was falling ill.
Before she answered, Uncle Cyprien appeared towing Mathieu behind him. “You can’t see the compartment? Good.”
Mathieu shambled as if he still slept. When Uncle stopped, her brother bumped into him before stopping as well.
Madeline sucked on her bottom lip. Please, Lord, help my brother. Break the chains of horror imprisoning him inside his head.
“You stay.” After patting Mathieu’s head, Uncle walked to the back of the wagon and lifted the back gate. A dozen bundles of wheat rolled to the ground, revealing another gate and an empty space under the harvest. “The Boches haven’t found it either. Although I would draw your legs in tight if we’re stopped.”
Luc marched forward, tugging her along with him. Crouching, he peered inside. “A meter wide by half a meter tall?”
“Not quite half a meter tall.” Uncle’s barrel chest puffed out before he pointed to the wheat packing sides. “A bayonet won’t reach the wood.”
Madeline’s knees shook. Bayonet? Why would the Germans stab the grain? She mentally slapped her forehead. To search for concealed people of course. She’d seen the notices about helping wounded soldiers.
Scratching his chin, Luc glanced at her, then Mathieu and Mille. “I don’t think we’ll all fit.”
Uncle nodded. “Just you and him. Maddy and Mathieu will walk beside me to the mill.”
Walk? And risk exposure? Bile burned the back of her throat.
“No. Absolutely not.” Luc thrust his jaw forward. “She and her brother are in danger as well. They hide with us or we don’t go.”
“This is the only wagon altered for concealment.” Uncle strode forward until his chest nearly bumped Luc’s. “To do as you ask would require two trips. The enemy would notice.”
Luc’s face tightened until his lips diminished to a slash mark.
Reaching inside his trouser pocket, Uncle removed a sheaf of papers. “She and Mathieu have documents. They’ll be safe.”
She snatched them out of his hand and jerked them open. Sabine and Alex Neu. The Grim Reaper puffed cold air on the back of Madeline’s neck. Sabine’s house had the mass grave in front of it. How many people had died in the last two months?
“I don’t like it.” Luc braced his hands on his hips and planted his feet on the dirt.
She folded the papers and handed them back to her uncle.
Red suffused Uncle Cyprien’s face.
“Thank you, Uncle.” Pivoting she poked Luc’s shoulder. “Mathieu and I are walking to the mill. The only choice you have to make is whether you’ll be inside the wagon or stay behind and pout in the barn.”

LindaAndrews.jpg.w300h328_2BIO
Linda Andrews lives with her husband and three children in Phoenix, Arizona. When she announced to her family that her paranormal romance was to be published, her sister pronounce: “What else would she write? She’s never been normal.”

All kidding aside, writing has become a surprising passion. So just how did a scientist start to write paranormal romances? What other option is there when you’re married to romantic man and live in a haunted house?

If you’ve enjoyed her stories or want to share your own paranormal experience feel free to email the author at lindaandrews at lindaandrews dot net She’d love to hear from you.

twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaAndrews
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.andrews2
website: http://www.lindaandrews.net
blog: http://lindaandrews.wordpress.com

Writing Paranormal by JoAnne Myers

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WRITING PARANORMAL
wicked_intentions_new_version_2When it comes to fiction writing, almost anything goes. That is why I love writing paranormal and fantasy stories. The author can go completely over the edge and make something unbelievable seem believable. When it comes to ghost stories, I get a lot of my inspiration from real life experiences. Not necessarily my own either. I watch television programs that partake of the supernatural and paranormal flare. Programs from ordinary people who claim they experienced either an afterlife experience, or a haunting.
Some of my stories from my upcoming release “Wicked Intentions” is based on actual hauntings. Some stories I read about in the newspaper, and others I watched on true life experience programs. So the next time you get “writer’s block” try switching on the television. You might find something to jolt your inspiration.

Blurbs for Wicked Intentions- a paranormal/romance anthology

BLOOD TIES– word count 15, 902
After the mysterious disappearance of twenty-six year old wife and mother Lisa Smalley, her twin, Audra Roper, begins having dark and disturbing visions of Lisa’s disappearance. Trying to survive while looking for Lisa, Audra’s life becomes a roller coaster of risks, heartbreak, and intrigue.

THE HAUNTING OF BARB MARIE– word count 9,845
Even as a child, Barb Marie saw dead people. This took an unhealthy toil on her throughout her childhood and young adulthood.

SUMMER WIND-word count 13,039
When twenty-nine year old Ginger discovers the old mansion Summer Wind, she is mysteriously drawn to it. . Immediately, the haunting’s have a negative and profound effect on the family.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIES-laying the Norfolk ghost to rest-word count 23,425
Solving the brutal murder of American born Ruthie Geil becomes a gauntlet of attacks and more murders for Federal Police Inspector Ian Christian. Between the victims family, ex-lovers, and ghostly occurrences on Norfolk Island, the killer is closer than anyone realizes.

THE LEGEND OF LAKE MANOR-word count 8,297
For the young psychic Cassandra Lopez, coming to the infamous and haunted mansion Lake Manor, was more like a mission.

THE APARTMENT-word count 5,188
When young newlyweds Bill and Gayle move into their new apartment, their lives are plagued with sightings of evil ghosts that threaten their marriage and lives.

DARK VISIONS-word count 5,170
When Carrie Reynold’s starts having nightmares on her twenty-sixth birthday, she believes her “dark visions” can solve the twenty year disappearance of her father.

my_photo_apr_2011_2Author Bio:
I have been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of my life. Besides having several novels under my belt, I canvas paint.
When not busy with hobbies or working outside the home, I spend time with relatives, my dogs Jasmine and Scooter, and volunteer my time within the community. I am a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, Savvy Authors, Coffee Time Romance, Paranormal Romance Guild, True Romance Studios, National Writers Association, the Hocking Hill’s Arts and Craftsmen Association, The Hocking County Historical Society and Museum, and the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center. I believe in family values and following your dreams. My books along with my original canvas paintings, can be found at:
http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com

Other books by JoAnne:

Murder Most Foul-a detective/mystery
The Crime of the Century-a biography true crime
Poems About Life, Love, and Everything in Between

Upcoming Releases:
Loves, Myths, and Monsters-a fantasy anthology available in April
Twisted Love-a biography true crime anthology available in MayFlagitious-a detective/mystery novella anthology available fall 2014

Buy links for “Wicked Intentions” A paranormal/mystery anthology
http://www.melange-books.com/authors/joannemyers/WickedIntentions.html
http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=wicked+intentions&categoryId=100501
http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Intentions-JoAnne-Myers-ebook/dp/B00GNRUF40/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384531716&sr=1-1&keywords=wicked+intentions+myers

An Interview with Cathleen Dunn

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Please help me welcome Cathleen Dunn to my blog today. She’s got a great interview for you. – Cindy

TheWitchesTrilogy_Chimera_HR_2Q: Tell us about your book – and how do you say the name?
A: This is the first book in “The Witches Trilogy”, pronounced “Chimera” – like “Guy-Mere-Uh”. And you can find it by searching “The Witches Trilogy” or author Cathleen Dunn as well.

The main character is a witch named Olivia Phalen. She’s a light witch – they can only do good with their powers. In return they can have almost anything; live lavishly, travel, be famous…anything. Olivia’s got friends that she loves and a new apprentice named Taylor. But Olivia also has an enemy – a powerful dark witch named Dantin who loves tormenting Olivia. He stalks her constantly and is continually hurting her friends. He even killed her last apprentice.

Q: Why is he doing that?
A: Because Olivia rejected Dantin. He wanted her badly – he still desires her, in fact – but she said “no” to him. Dantin’s pretty twisted and vicious, and when Olivia didn’t want him they way he wanted her, it hurt him, then that hurt turned to rage. He keeps tormenting her because he still wants her and can’t have her, so it never ends. He’s so vengeful and spiteful that he kills what she loves so she can’t have any happiness either. And now, Olivia’s got a new apprentice and for sure Dantin will come after her, too.

Q: Olivia’s got friends who are witches, too, right? Why don’t they all just gang up on Dantin and take him out?
A: Because they’re light witches. They can’t. They can only do good with their powers. If they hurt or harm, then they’ll turn dark themselves and become violent and psychotic like Dantin.

Q: Why is this book called “Chimera”? What is that?
A: A chimera is a spirit, or a mirage, or a combination of two creatures. In my books, chimeras are spirits that are a witch’s familiar. They live in the magical realm and can protect or guide a witch in the magical world. They can be good, or they can be really evil, like Dantin’s. And a chimera can possess and control a witch if they can get inside one. Dantin and his chimera make a really formidable, horrible pair.

Q: Sounds like a pretty dark ride.
A: Well, some of it is, but there’s also the magic, too. And Olivia’s gang is rich, and I mean crazy wealthy. Almost every person I talked to when I started to write these books said, “Oh, yeah, make them rich. Why do sorcerers and witches all live such ordinary lifestyles? If I had magical powers, I’d live a rock-star life.”

Plus, writing about the wealth and the magic is so much fun. For example, Olivia rescued Taylor, her new apprentice, from a trashy, abusive home. Suddenly she’s living with Olivia in her mansion and going to a witches gathering in Houston on Olivia’s private jet. I absolutely loved writing Taylor’s first experience in that jet; how she looked around the cabin at all the beautiful polished wood and sparkling halogen lights, and felt pampered and unreal doing the flight. Six months earlier her stepfather was beating and raping her, and now she’s learning magic and has a jet almost all to herself.

I really like taking the luxury and the light aspects of the setting and mashing it against the dark that Dantin and his chimera bring. Evil is evil no matter what wrapping it comes in.

Q: You’ve lived a lot of places; why set the story in Seattle?
A: Seattle is both creepy and beautiful – a contrast of dark and sparkle. In the winter it’s dark 14 hours out of every day (Yes, really! The sun rises around 8am and sets close to 4pm in December and January!), and let’s not forget about the rain and grey skies because of all the clouds in the winter. But the rain makes things wet and they glisten – especially at night. If you look at an aerial picture of Seattle’s downtown on a dark rainy night, you can almost see what I try to capture when I write, the sleek and the otherworld in one place. You could imagine lots of magic hanging in the air, or paranormal creatures lurking about.

In Seattle there are lots of unusual places that are good settings for scenes. When I worked for Seattle Opera, we were exposed to a lot of artists that were very creative, and had to live on a non-profit salary, so we found unusual entertainment on a dime. For instance, going to a cheap basement club where volunteers had painted colorful murals on the walls and pink plastic flamingoes adorned the bar, or we’d take books and a picnic to a tiny park in Ravenna on the 4th of July. So many hidden treasures in Seattle. Juxtapose that with the high-tech, high-gloss, high-rise office buildings and the parks nestled into the hills and neighborhoods and there’s no end to the possibilities.

Q: You have a full-time job; when do you find time to write?
A: Some people can write a couple hours every day, but I can’t switch from my day job where I have to be logical and sensible to my fantasy world very easily, so I write on Saturday and Sunday, and maybe an occasional Friday or Monday for ten to thirteen hours a day. I just stay in my world and write a bunch of pages and then go back to work during the week. My characters are never far away though; I think about them constantly and formulate the next weekend’s work in the back of my head while at my day job.

Q: When do you find time for your family?
A: Oh! They get my complete attention every weeknight (or at least four nights a week). I don’t do anything else but pay attention to them. Well, the dogs are easy; they can lay on my feet even when I’m writing, so I make sure to clear my calendar weeknights for .
them.

Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: Ever since I was little I loved superstition and ghost stories and magic. I remember getting a book of superstitions from the library and thinking about them all the way to school when I was in first grade. Things like: “If you see the full moon through the trees it is considered bad luck”, or “if you walk through a spot of cold air, you have just walked through a ghost”, or “never let a broom touch your head; it is bad luck”. I also see stories in music; the feeling a particular song gives me might start a story there. For example, my niece gave me a CD by “Evanescence” – their “Fallen” album – and while listening to it I started to see Olivia and her problems, and how she was feeling about being hounded and isolated by what had happened in her past. Interestingly enough, her decision on how to handle Dantin came off a “Transformers” album. Go figure.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: Almost anything, but I especially love harpsichord concertos from the Baroque era, and rock. Some of my favorite bands are Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, Godhead, Nickelback, Rammstein, AC/DC, a little Alice Cooper, Evanescence, and almost anything from the Eighties. I also love big band – Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, the Andrews Sisters, almost anything from the Thirties and Forties.

Q: Anything else?
A: Just a huge THANK YOU to everyone who loves to read and to everyone who has stopped by my website and fb, or bought my book. I love reading, too, and I love writing about our witches and am busy writing the second volume in The Witches Trilogy, titled Blue/Black and scheduled to come out in 2014.

Q: Where do we find you?
A: You can find The Witches Trilogy: Chimera on Amazon.com, and you can find me on Twitter @Cathleen_Dunn, and my website, Cathleen Dunn.com and Cathleen Dunn’s Facebook Author page.

BIO

Author Cathleen Dunn has lived in Seattle for the last 20 years after growing up all over the United States. She’s lived in Texas, California, Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, and truly likes variety: she attended college both in Washington and Arizona, has a day job at an engineering company, loves rescuing greyhounds, has been onstage with Seattle Opera, has been known to paint faux finishes and murals inside homes for her friends, occasionally goes hunting and fishing with her husband, watches way too many old movies and educational television, and listens to both Baroque and Metal music.

Cathleen is the author of The Witches Trilogy series of full-length novels. She published the first installment, Chimera, in November of 2013 and is currently writing the second novel, Blue/Black, set for release in 2014. She sets her stories here in Seattle, where the dark and rain create the witches’ stories in her head. She just writes them down.