Author Spotlight: Barbara Monajem, Romance Author

Hello, Barbara!  Welcome to my humble patio garden.  Make yourself comfortable. Aren't the orchids beautiful this time of year?  I've made a special batch of Hibiscus/Green Iced Tea with a hint of mint from my own garden for us.  There are some wonderfully sinful double dark chocolate chip cookies as well.  Help yourself.

Tell me about yourself. What makes you angry, happy, sad, snoopy dance?

Angry and sad: People being mean and nasty to one another.

Happy and dancing: People being kind to one another.

It’s not complicated: never be mean and nasty, even if you’re hurt or upset. I’m not saying everything’s all sweetness and light; unfortunately, it’s not. Sometimes kindness backfires, and sometimes it’s misinterpreted, but as long as you mean well, that’s what matters.

I have to agree with your theory here, Barbara.  My basic rule of thumb is to treat people as I would want them to treat me.  I really strive hard to practice this no matter the situation as eventually it will come back in a positive light:) What inspired you to write your first book?

Reading. On my first day of school, I came back ecstatic, telling my parents, “I can read!!” In third grade I wrote my first story.

Wow! We've something in common. I began writing at a very young age as well. How many books have you written?


Hmm...
Long answer: One children’s book which was published long ago. One romance which is under the bed. I submitted it to Harlequin years ago, but they returned it saying to send it again later, as they were snowed under with submissions. Dummy me, I just put it under the bed and forgot about it. First paranormal, which I wrote twice and am now writing again. Hopefully this time it will be good! Then two more paranormals. Then three regency romances and a regency short story (which was released as an e-book by Harlequin in January).
Short answer: 8.25 or 9.25, depending on whether the same character’s story written twice counts. :)

What works best to keep you focused and on track?

A page count goal. It’s best if I have to report my progress to someone else. I first realized this when my local RWA chapter, Georgia Romance Writers, held a writing challenge. I promised 15 pages per week, and about killed myself to get there, because I didn’t want to confess to the coordinator that I hadn’t lived up to my pledge.

That's a very attainable goal and no stress! I like the way you think. Even I could do that if I put my mind to it:) You know? I'm think I may just work on utilizing that goal. Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

Money would be useful, but I can’t help but write. It’s so much fun! (Oh, and it keeps me sane, more or less.)

What is your favorite holiday? And why?

Halloween. I love spooky stuff.

Something else we have in common *grin*  Everyone that knows me knows how I feel about Halloween. When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep? In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?)
Whenever, wherever. I get a lot done on road trips (with my husband driving) because there are no distractions. I’m a morning person, so I’m better at first drafts in the daytime. I can revise anytime.

Do you write every day? Or when the muse strikes?
Whenever I have time. Most days, I write something – original text, revision, blogs. The muse tends to wake up *after* I start writing. He (yes, my muse is male, and I adore him) shows up in mid-scene, being a pain in the butt sometimes, but he’s usually right. (I daren’t say always… can’t let him think he has control.)

Oh, I get that, LOL Are you someone who can write on demand? Or do you have to stew and coax an idea before you sit down and write? Or maybe you write when the muse knocks you upside your head, like me?
Both. If I have to write something right away, I do. However, once I’ve written something, I really *have* to let it stew for a while. A day, a week, maybe longer. I hope I never have a deadline that doesn’t account for “stew time.”

Me, too.  I once put a manuscript away for two years, pulled it out, blew the dust off and got to work again. Where do you go to think?

I have to go somewhere? LOL.

Maybe I should rephrase, LOL Where is your favorite place to mull over things?
I try to think all the time, but long walks are good.


How do you come up with your title and main characters’ names?

The title of my current release, Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil, came from my genius editor.
We brainstormed the next one, Tastes of Love & Evil. It was originally called Vamping the Chameleon, because I was entering a contest (this was several years ago) and needed a title, any title, right away. I really do need “stew time.” :)

Characters’ names tend to show up as I’m writing, so I guess my muse gets the credit, although sometimes I can’t stand his choices, so I change them.

What is your least favorite thing to do as an author? Allow me to clarify: query, write a synopsis, write a blurb, market, you get the picture:)

I loathe synopses. My muse deserts me, so they’re boring to write, a real chore. I can write a decent synopsis of a completed book, but as for writing one just on a concept – it’s torture. And it shows.

How long did it take you to get your first project sold? And was the project your first actual completed manuscript?

I don’t count the children’s book (because that was pure serendipity, and I wasn’t really trying to sell). Sunrise in a Garden of Love and Evil (my 5th finished manuscript, if you count the two versions of my first paranormal) finaled in the Daphne contest (under the title Love in a Twisted Garden). Chris Keeslar of Dorchester was one of the judges, and he requested the full. Three years after I sent it, he emailed to see if it was still available, and made me an offer the next day.

Wow!  that's quite a long time between.  You must have been estatic and pleasantly surprised. Do you have an upcoming release?
Sunrise in a Garden of Love and Evil was just released.

You do! Oh please tell us all about it.

 Here’s a short blurb:
Dark secrets abound in the town of Bayou Gavotte, Louisiana, from blackmail to fetish clubs to murder, and when blood-and-love starved vampire Ophelia Beliveau calls in the police to scare away whoever is desecrating her garden, Detective Gideon O'Toole unearths more than he ever dreamed...
It’s the first in the Bayou Gavotte series, and is available at the usual places for books: bookstores, online bookstores, Amazon.com, and of course from Dorchester Publishing (www.dorchesterpub.com). The second in the series, Tastes of Love and Evil, will be a September release.

Sounds like a very interesting read, Barbara. I may just have to put that one on my TBR list asap.
Tell us about your Hero. Do you have a favorite, if you’ve written multiple books?

My absolute favorite hero is the one I’m writing now. He’s a part-Native American rock star with telepathic abilities. He appears in the first two books of the series as a secondary character, but now he gets his own book. I’m working on it now, and I’m totally intimidated trying to write him. I need my muse’s full support for this one!!

Contest info:

One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil, and will also be entered in the contest I’m holding all through the month of April. I’ll be giving away signed copies of Sunrise in a Garden of Love and Evil and various other prizes. (Including socks. If I have a fetish, it’s for socks. But there’s lots of other stuff, too.) You can get extra chances to win by signing up for my newsletter, or by posting links to any of the blogs I’m doing this month (see the list on the Events page of my site, http://www.barbaramonajem.com/) on Facebook, MySpace, and/or Twitter. Just fill out the form on the Contact page of my site to sign up or to let me know where you've posted links.

Bio: Barbara Monajem wrote her first story in third grade about apple tree gnomes. After dabbling in neighborhood musicals and teen melodrama, she published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. Now her kids are adults, and she writes paranormal and historical romance for grownups. She lives in Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays. Barbara can be contacted via her website at http://www.barbaramonajem.com/

Sunrise in a Garden of Love and Evil is available in your bookstore, or here:

www.tinyurl.com/sunriseingarden from Amazon
as well as directly from Dorchester Publishing: at http://www.dorchesterpub.com/

Notorious Eliza, a short regency historical e-book, is available here:
http://tinyurl.com/notoriouselizahhu from Harlequin,
or via Amazon for Kindle or Barnes and Noble for various formats.

Author Spotlight: Dayana Knight Answers All

Hello, everyone. Welcome and thank you all for joining me today.  I am also doing a simulcast with The Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writers Blog today, so hop over and check them out, too. Who knows what questions are going to be asked of me:)
As promised I am open and ready to answer whatever question you toss at me to the best of my ability, LOL  Many people have responded via email. I have posted each of the questions below along with the name of the person who asked it.  Feel free to shoot questions at me today as well if you just dropped by and hadn't had a chance to email me one.  If I receive a lot of questions within the comments section, I will set up a second post so everyone is visible on the blog and readers don't have to peruse the comments for Q&A.

I will drop in this evening(day job you know) and over the next couple of days to catch up with people who may drop in later.
Something tells me that these questions will have nothing at all with the craft of writing and everything to do with...

hmm...

well shall we begin?

Jennifer Mathis asks:

Well since it is April Fools, I have to ask are you a practical joke kind of person and if so what do you think is you best practical joke?

Actually, Jennifer, like the clipart at the beginning denotes, no, I'm not really good at that kind of stuff.  I was always lingering in the background so as NOT to be the brunt of a practical joke. But, hey! You know, this stunt here might change things up a bit.  LOL I'd have to say this is my best practical joke--and it's on me!

Mary Marvella asks:

How old were you when you lost your first tooth? 
Geez, I truly don't remember but I do remember the agony of the tooth hanging by a thread and why is it you couldn't help but to play with the darned thing with your tongue.  I also remember placing the errant tooth under my pillow, the Tooth Fairy visits and finding some  cold hard cash in the morning in place of that pesky tooth:)

Do you remember your first boy friend?
Absolutely!  He was awesome and probably all but 12:) I used to go to the Little League field to gaze upon him.

Who was the first boy you kissed and how old were you?
His name was Joe and he lived in the next town over. I think I was 13 and he was 15.  He gave me my first piece of jewelry too.  It was a small garnet birthstone pendant that was simple and very pretty. I still have it.  He broke up with me by telling me I was too good for him. My translation: He was wanting more than  I could give:)  A gentleman at a very young age. A very special memory.

Do you have a tattoo, where, and of what?
No. Not a one.  I have wanted to get one for years--a tramp stamp which is the low back one, LOL but I am too chicken:) I don't like needles all that much.  Do what I have to but the thought of being poked at a constant rate for a long period of time... I don't think so. 

What is the strangest food combination you like?
M&Ms and cornflakes in milk(weird when I did it but now we have Chocolate Cheerios, so... And yes, I like them*grin*)  I also used to put maple syrup in milk as a kid.

Sharon Donovan asks:

What birthday was hardest for you to deal with and what did you do that could be considered zany to combat it?
Clever way to ask me how old I am, LOL.  Let's see. No birthday was really that hard for me but with age comes other changes that are very painful for me.  That midlife spread around the middle is haunting me now and I just cannot seem to get rid of it.  I find time has stripped some of my energy as I get into things I did without any thought and now realize I'm not as--shall we say-- spry as I used to be, LOL  BTW: I stopped aging/celebrating at thirty-five, just so you know *grin*

Mary Ricksen asks:

Do you have dreams involving sex? In color?
Absolutely!  Where do you think I get some of those sex scene ideas?  Color? Not sure. I think they are but I'm usually too busy to notice:)

Do any of your stories have a basis in reality?
Yes. Actually I mention or use several things from my life in my first book.  I do model character's morality, thoughts, mannerisms around people in my life. And sometimes things I myself have experienced.  In fact, my second book Curse of the Marhime was born of a real life rather strange experience. I believe that there is a certain realism added through "real" life in fiction.



Lisa Finch asks:

What is the freakiest paranormal thing that ever happened to you?
I would have to say messing with a Quija board when I was probably at the cusp of my teen years.  My neighbor had a board and a creepy house.  She was older than me(late teens, early twenties) but she tolerated me, LOL We were playing with the thing one night and it began to take a life of its own which totally freaked us both out and needless to say we abandoned the thing, and I never touched another board in all these years!  I have to add I never will expecially after watching Paranormal Experiment.  That just plain freaked me out!

Keena Lykens asks:

If you could time travel with any fictional character, who would it be with, where would you go and would you eat the local cuisine?
I would have to say Aragorn from Lord of the Rings.  I would go anywhere with him, LOL  As far as partaking in the local food, it would definitely depend on what the local cuisine was.  I do draw the line at organs and bugs, etc. As well any animal in depicted in the story Bambi:) But generally, I'm not a picky eater:)
 
Jackie Sajonjo asks:
 
What is the scarriest thing you've ever done?
You may not believe this but I have to say my scariest moment was when I posted my first piece of writing to a critique group(my first) and hit the 'send' button.  I was so nervous, I shook and was near to panic and remorse as I awaited the first response.

My next panick-filled fearful moment was when I sent my first manuscript to an editor per her request.  I beat myself up and refused to open her eventual email for fear of what it would say. LOL she asked my why I was hiding my work.  She loved it and wanted to contract it.  As FDR said, "the only thing to fear is fear itself." And I firmly believe that, LOL Though each time I put myself out there I am honestly afraid.  Afraid I or my work will be rejected.  Natural, but significant.

Paranormal fright?  Well...the Quija incident I mention above and I used to have nightmares that I awoke bodily harmed afterwards--meaning I would have bruises and marks on my body in the exact places I was hurt in my dreams which were all very strange.  I discovered that the root of my very frightening dreams were all the hardcore horror books I was reading.  When I stopped reading them the dreams stopped. 

Oh and once my brother hid under my bed in the dark. I came in (I never worried about turning lights on, still don't to this day. Good night vision. Must be one of shifter traits:) sat down on the bed he grabbed my ankles.  If I weren't so young,  I would have died on the spot of a heartattack.  What are brothers for? I ask.

Catherine Bybee asks:

Where was the most outragious place you ever.....???
On the X-ray table in my office.  It was cold and very uncomfortable but we had nowhere else to go. I wondered what the heck I was thinking...  I mean geez, all kinds of people touch and lay on this table.  Why in the world would I ever...

Oh! No!  you are all thinking...

No... no... I'm talking about having lunch in the X-ray room because the kitchen was already full of people and...

Oh get your minds out of the gutter. Next you'll all be thinking I lured some unsuspecting hunk of a patient into my lair on the pretence of an extended x-ray exam and well...you get the picture I'm sure;)


Thank you for all the wonderful questions. And, not a one about writing! This has been a blast. Please be sure to tune in on Thursdays and check out who is in the hot seat each week. Also, if you'd like a heads up on what's going on here, please join Dayana's Happening. Just scroll down on the right sidebar of the my blog and click Yahoo Group "Join this group".

Oh and thank you Fuzzies for inviting me to simulcast this event on your blog today as well.
Dayana

Author Spotlight and April Fools with a twist:)

As you all know April 1st is not only the kickoff of my Author Spotlight this year, it is also April Fool's Day, so I thought I would put myself in the hotseat on for this silly holiday. Foolish I know but I am opening myself up to YOUR questions. Send me a question between the dates of March 21 and 27th, and I will answer the things YOU want to know about moi:)

Almost anything is game. Let's have some fun, shall we? Best question will earn you a surprise gift. The jury's still out on what that will be but surprises are always nice, aren't they?
Send your questions to my email addie: gothscribegirl@aol.com and please put "Fool's Questions" in the subject line.  Please DONOT post questions on this blog as comments. They WILL NOT be answered.
Looking forward to receiving your questions, so think up some doosies, LOL

As promised, Jason Barrett and Debra St. John spotlight dates are Jason, April 8th and Debra, April 15th. I will also have Barbara Monajem, April 22nd.  Stay tuned for many more of your favorite authors throughout the spring and summer months.

Now I'm back to my new erotic, working title, Unchain My Mortality.

D~

Hello, my friends!

After a long, unexpected sabbitical Author Spotlight returns in April.  I look forward to these little peeks into other authors' lives and craft secrets.  I hope you all do as well. 

If you have a new release coming up or just want some free PR, which, btw, never hurts, *grin* please contact me privately via email. 

If you are a reader interested in finding out just how your favorite author ticks, by all means, drop in on Thursdays and take a peek at who is in the hot seat.  You may even win free books or some other item the author is giving away.  Look forward to getting started again.

I will notify you of specific dates before the end of the weekend on the below authors' visits.

I will have Jason Barrett, author of Dead or a Lie (great title isn't it?) and Debra St. John, author of the new release, Wild Wedding Weekend(Looks very interesting if you ask me), coming up in April.

Stay tuned for the details and dates on these two wonderful authors.

Dayana

Author Spotlight: Denyse Bridger, Paranormal Author

Geez, it seems another week has flown by and we're here again.  New Year's Eve with Denyse will be a blast.  She is an amazing author.  If you haven't already read Blood Wine and Pale Roses you really need to. It is an awesome book and extremely sensual.  Don't miss it!

So without further delay let me introduce her as here she comes now.

Hello, Denyse and welcome to my blog!  I can't wait to get started:)  So here goes...


What inspired you to write your first book?

I don’t know that anything inspired me that first time, I just can’t remember a time when I didn’t write. The first completed project as an adult came in 1984, inspired by my favourite television series at the time. It led me to the world of fan-fiction, and the discovery that what I loved most was to write.


How many books have you written?
OMG, far too many to remember, honestly. I think if we include all my published works, amateur and professional, we’re in the range of about 400+ by now...

Wow! that's quite an extensive catalogue!  How do you decide on their topic?
Sometimes it’s an image, other times a song. I never really know what will trigger the idea. I’ve even literally “dreamed” novels and stories into being.

What works best to keep you focused and on track?
Usually the story keeps me focused, and if I lose the focus, I either look at the images that have created the story, or listen to the music my brain associates with it. I cannot live without music, so it’s always there as a soundtrack to life and creativity.

Oh I do know what you mean there.  I had a Linkin Park CD in my truck for over a year as I wrote my crime romance novel.  I don't know what about it inspired me but it just seemed to keep the characters alive in my head.  I practically lived within the story! 


Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?
Definitely the love of writing...

When was the first moment you felt comfortable saying, “I am a writer?”
From the moment I started writing with an honest desire to entertain people. It wasn’t the first sale or the first publication, but the first completed project that I was willing to give to friends and share... that’s when I was a writer.

What type of stories do you like to write and why?
I like to mix genres all the time... there is always an element of romance in anything I write, but I add lots of other styles, too... fantasy, paranormal, mystery, historical, suspense. Pretty much everything except sci-fi, really, and hard-core horror.

What type of stories do you like to read and why?
Romance and fantasy, mostly. Some mystery, but usually stuff in historical settings, like the Anne Perry Monk Mysteries, or Sherlock Holmes, I really love the Victorian era.

Victorian Gothic stories! Yes, I grew up on them. I always had a novel in my hand about ghosts and old mansions:) I don't even remember the author names now. I think one of my favorites was Victoria Holt.

Who would you say modeled your career? Who would readers compare your work to?
I’ve been compared to P.D. James, Terry Brooks, and a number of Harlequin romance authors, ALL huge compliments in my opinion!

When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep? In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?)
I can write anytime, anywhere.... I’ve been known to write half the night when the inspiration hits, other times it’s hit and miss all day long. No children or husband to distract me, just real-life!

Are you someone who can write on demand? Or do you have to stew and coax an idea before you sit down and write? Or maybe you write when the muse knocks you upside your head, like me?
I used to need to “feel” the mood, now, I can write on demand. Whether the demand comes from me or someone else, I can sit down on the spot and work an idea, then go for it....

Where do you write?
My home office mostly, but I always have a notebook and pen with me, so if I’m going for coffee, sitting in a hospital or doctor’s waiting room, I can just flip open the book and write....

Where did you get the inspiration for (your current book)?
A friend in Italy, he’s the hero of my current project. His job and his personality are perfect for a romance, so he’s it!

So your hero is a real person, eh? Well, ladies, looks like this one is attainable, perhaps? Might have to fight the heroine for him, LOL

Do you put pieces of yourself or your life in your stories?
Usually there is ONE trait of mine in a hero, or a heroine, even if it is something as innocuous as a hair colour, or an eye colour. Other times it’s a piece of temperament, or a fear in me, or someone close to me, but there is always one trait that I use to anchor the character and make them “real” to me as a person.

How long did it take you to get your first project sold? And was the project your first actual completed manuscript?
First pro contract came when I entered the Amber Heat competition for Amber Quill Press. I wasn’t going to do it, then the night before the deadline, the story just dropped on me and demanded to be told. I wrote it in one day, polished it, then made the deadline under the wire... A few weeks later I had an email informing me that I’d won my first contract. Haven’t looked back since then!

Why do you write?
Because I can’t stop the voices in my head demanding to be heard! I think it’s a gift in some ways, and it allows a form of expression that can take you anywhere and allow you freedoms that nothing else can.

What type of music do you favor? Do you use music as a motivational source when writing?
Music is with me every minute of the day, and I am either singing (badly) or listening to whatever suits the mood of what I’m writing. If I am answering mail, or doing something like this interview, I have things like howling wolves in the background, or storms, stuff like that. My favourite music is anything romantic and inspiring, and for me that is usually the music of Italy, or singers like my friend Riccardo Foresi. I also love jazzy-blues sounds, so it’s really a very eclectic array of sounds...

Denyse will be giving away a copy of her newest release to one lucky commenter. So don't be shy ask her questions and jot your comments down.  She will draw the winner tomorrow. I will announce the winner here on this blog! 

Have a Happy, Healthy and Prosporous New Year!  Wishing you all the best and thank you so much for dropping by:)

More about Denyse:

Canadian born and bred, and a lifelong dreamer, I began writing at an early age and can’t recall a time when I wasn’t creating in some artistic form. My life has had several on-going love affairs that shape much of what I write, the American West, Victorian England, cowboys, a passion for pirates, Greek Gods, and Ancient Egypt. The other endless love affair in my life is Italia and all its magic, beauty, and dazzling culture. That passion spills into all aspects of my life.
My first major fantasy novel is AS FATE DECREES. (Available in bookstores everywhere, and on Amazon’s international sites.) The novel relies heavily on Greek Mythology, and is set in Ancient Greece and modern Athens. If you enjoy a tale of Gods, Destiny, and the battles of an Eternal Champion, this is the book for you! Not surprisingly, there’s a touch of romance throughout, of course! A visit to my website will show the diversity of what is currently available, and the mixing of genres and styles that will be employed in many up-coming projects as well.
To stay current with all these projects, or to just say hello, please feel free to email me anytime, there’s a contact link on the mail menu. I promise I will do my best to answer everyone, though it may take a day or two, so please be patient! Or, feel free to sign up for my newsletter, which is called Romance and Fantasy.
Website: http://www.denysebridger.com/

Blog: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com/

Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com/

HEARTS ON FIRE BOOKS will be publishing my short fantasy/erotic romance ROYAL CONSORT. That stunning guy on the cover, he's real... someone I love and adore - my Italian Prince, Vincenzo. This book was written for him. So, please check it out on Sunday when it goes live at Hearts On Fire.... In the meantime, let me tell you a little bit about the book, and tease your interest (I hope) with an excerpt:

ROYAL CONSORT
Publisher: Hearts On Fire Books
Release: November 15th, 2009
Cover Model: Vincenzo Chiofalo
Photographer: Mariagrazia Germanà
Cover Artist: Dara England

Blurb:

On the fantasy world of Foress, the daughter of the world’s last remaining god is challenged to locate one of the ancient swords that were forged as the Triad of Power among the once-powerful gods. Sherindal is a skilled warrior, but a woman with many conflicts in her heart. She has spent her life in the service of her father, the god M’Har, yet it is not she who will wield the most powerful of the swords. Diviner is to be her brother’s destiny, even though she is certain the legacy should be hers. Sherindal carries another of the three ancient weapons, Huntor. The final part of the triad is to be held by the hands of men, and her lover, the Prince of Ember City, is the guardian of Predator.

Royal Consort buy Link:
http://www.heartsonfirebooks.com/downloads.aspx?categoryid=8


BOOK COVERS (Slideshow): http://www.slide.com/r/bqRfkYr10D8gfyi__LvEBUA2jZbc5RLT?previous_view=lt_embedded_url


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Author Spotlight: Susan Macatee, American Civil War Romance Author

Hello and Merry Christmas to all! Please welcome this week's guest, Susan Macatee. Hello, Susan! Hope you've managed to get all your Christmas preparation done, LOL  Are we ever done?

What inspired you to write your first book?
Reading great books written by others. When I was a kid, I loved books so much, I imagined what it would feel like to actually write and have my name on the cover of a book and have people read stories about characters I’d created. As I grew older, although I never thought of being an author as a real career option, that vision of writing novels never completely left me. It was through reading and my love of novels that made me want to write a book of my own.

How many books have you written?
Not that many, actually. I started out writing short stories, so as of today, I’ve written four complete novels and just completed the first draft of a fifth. I have another completed first draft put aside, awaiting revision. The first novel I wrote was never published.

What works best to keep you focused and on track?

Schedules. LOL. I list all my writing goals. I have yearly goals, monthly goals, weekly goals and even daily goals. I also belong to an online challenge group where I record my daily progress in a database. This keeps me from frittering away my time, when I know I have to account for what I’ve done each day, whether it be words written, pages edited or hours spent plotting or researching a story.

Do you write to make money or for the love or writing?
Although I’d love to make money from my writing, I’d have to say that’s not the reason I’m doing it. If it was, I would’ve quit long ago. I just love putting words to paper, creating characters that live and breathe in both my and my readers’ heads. And mostly, I want readers to be uplifted by my stories, so if only for a short time, they can get away from problems and escape into a fictional world with a happily ever after.

What type of stories to you like to write and why?
My favorite genres are historical and paranormal. And a mixture of both genres is ideal. I love the Victorian period, American Civil War and also have a thing for vampires, the idea of reincarnation, soul mates, time travel and pure adventure. But the main ingredient is the love story. I want my characters to fall head over heels in love and, no matter what the obstacle, end up with that happily ever after ending.

When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep? In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?
Early afternoon is my most creative time, so on weekdays, I spend early afternoon hours on new projects, like first drafts and plotting out stories. I also like to squeeze some late morning time on weekends to write too. Since I don’t have an outside job and no longer have kids underfoot, I divide my days between household tasks and writing projects. So, late morning and afternoon is reserved for edits, book promo, proofreading, checking email and other writing related stuff.

Do you write every day? Or when the muse strikes?
Generally, I write at the same time every day. Knowing that I’m supposed to write at that hour, makes it that much easier to dive right into the project at hand and make the most use of that time. Otherwise, I might fiddle around all day and not accomplish anything.

Why do you write?
I write to be happy and sane. Enough said. LOL.

Do you have an upcoming release? You do! Oh please tell us all about it.
While I don’t have any upcoming releases, 2009 has been my year of releases. I’ve had five in all. Besides a Christmas novella in an anthology, my latest stand-alone release is a vampire novella, Sweet Redemption out last month in e-book format from The Wild Rose Press. This story is set during the American Civil War, my favorite historical period. My hero is a Union infantry captain and an ex-Catholic priest. The heroine is the widow of a Confederate soldier. She’s left alone on a farm just after her father’s death, trying to keep from starving when the hero shows up on her doorstep. The villain is a centuries old vampire, who stalks them both.


Blurb: On a cold December night, Union infantry captain, Jonathan Hackett, is pinned down on the Fredericksburg battlefield trying to escape Confederate fire. But a creature of the night, more dangerous than any enemy soldier, stalks him. Jon must fight for his life as well as his soul.
Maddie Emery has lost everything dear to her. Her husband and parents have passed on and her brothers are off fighting in the Confederate Army. She’s alone, trying single-handedly to hold onto her family’s farm, when a Yankee soldier collapses across her stoop.
Maddie and Jon soon form a bond of love and tender desire. But when Jon begins to exhibit signs of becoming the creature he fears most, is their love enough to fight off the evil of a centuries old vampire bent on destroying them?

Where can we find your upcoming release? When will it be available?

Sweet Redemption is available now at:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/sweet-redemption-p-3750.html?zenid=744a80ff8a416037d43a4dd470786511

If you would like to read a review please visit the Long and Short Reviews at the below link:
http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/sweet-redemption-by-susan-macatee.html

More about Susan:
Susan Macatee writes American Civil War romance, often with a paranormal twist. Along with her husband, she's been a Civil War reenactor for a number of years. Her other loves are sci-fi, watching major league baseball, camping and baking.

Susan loves to hear from readers. You can find her at her website:
http://www.susanmacatee.com/
and her blog:
http://www.susanmacatee.blogspot.com/.

Coming up this week...

I've got two Author Spotlight segments.  Please drop in on Tuesday and meet Karilyn Bentley one of the Got Wolf Anthology authors and then on Thursday, Beth Trissel, award winning romance author. I know you will enjoy these very animated ladies.

Tomorrow part one of my Christmas antics. Then more pics and show and tell on Wednesday. 

Hey! I've got a wonderful idea. Why not share your busy, bustling holiday season?  Shoot me pictures and a short recap of what you are up to these days. I'll put them up with your story.  I look forward to sharing the fun:)

Talk soon,

Dayana~

Author Spotlight: Annette Snyder, Novelist

Good Morning, Annette.
Thank you so much for stopping in today.  Well... Let's get down to it, shall we?

What inspired you to write your first book?
I was in a museum with my kids. There was an exhibit on orphan trains that ran across the USA and stopped at all the little towns giving homeless/parentless children away. While I was reading one of the stories on a story board, someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, “My name’s Sally. Write about me.” When I turned around, no one was there but I had this idea for Sally Murphy. Turned out to be a great story plus seven.

Wow! what an interesting inspiration, Annette.  Gives me chills:) How many books have you written?
I’ve got twelve pubbed books, counting my December release, Travis Pass MegaBook II. If you’re into historical reads, it’s a great bargain as you get 3 books in one. Travis Pass MegaBook I released in October. I’ve got another that I’m submitting and maybe 30 that I have to get ready to go out. Then I could actually name three characters right now begging me to write their stories so—MANY!

You are a busy little bee, aren't you? How do you decide on their topic?
My stories usually just come to me. When I get the idea, I write whatever comes into my head. The very first draft is really really rough and hardly even readable but I get the beginning, middle and end down while it’s fresh in my mind. I put it in an idea folder if my muse stops there and I go back and rework it when the urge strikes or I have time. Sally Murphy tapped me on the shoulder. My grandpa Doda whispered to write a story about whistles for him…which you can read on my website. They say to keep a pad and pencil by the bed, well, I leave my computer on and it’s not unusual to find me at my desk in the middle of the night.

LOL I know exactly what you mean. The other night I woke from a sound sleep with a title rolling around in my head then some story ideas so insistent that I had to get up and find my notepad and jot them all down because I knew they would be long gone in the morning.  Then the next morning I did an outline for the story line of a new novel! Amazing how the writer's mind works, isn't it? Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?
I once read an interview with a famous author, and I don’t remember which one, but she said only the top 10% of writers actually make money doing it. I also talked to a famous author and asked him what he thought was the catch to make it and he replied, “Luck. Just plain luck.” So I guess I write because I love it and hope that someday I’ll have some of that luck!

You and me both, but I truly love the art as it is my stress relief when reality becomes too overbearing. I am able to lose myself in the worlds I've created:) What are some traditional methods of marketing you have used to gain visibility for you and your book(s)?
I do the bookmarks and the flyers, speaking engagements and talking to the local booksellers. Promoting with people I know. I advertised with a group in Romantic Times and next year have purchased advertising in a Nebraska magazine because I’m a Nebraska author.

What are some unique methods?
I joined a regional marketing group that co-ops with other Nebraska producers and gets my novels to many more eyes than I could on my own. It does cost a little, but I’m finding the publicity is expanding my fan base and, because it’s a co-op, much of the marketing that I wouldn’t normally be able to afford, is done because I’m in the group. I also write a bit for one of the regional papers when they ask for stories about things. Usually they give away a short blurb about who the writer is so, since it’s a regional newspaper, I get to reach thousands of readers for free.

Do you write every day? Or when the muse strikes?
I write every single day. Sometimes it’s just a little, sometimes so much I don’t get anything else done. I hold a real job so I don’t write from 8-5 unless I’m off!

You know? I was just about to ask you that.  So many of us hold full-time jobs and have families to care for so writing can be the tiniest snippets of time. Me? I usually take time off from the day job and busy myself with my craftwork.  Time is a hard commodity to find sometimes. Where did you get the inspiration for (your current book)?
My latest release, November’s, is Eureka Springs. It’s the second in a series and it tells the story of one of the secondary characters from Viveka’s War, released in January and getting some awesome reviews.

Congratulations on your great reviews, Annette.

How do you come up with your title and main characters’ names?
In Viveka’s War, I knew I wanted my heroine to have an unusual name as it’s a story based on my grandmother’s life and she has an unusual name. For Eureka Springs, the main character reminded me of my great uncle and he had a girlfriend so I named the characters after them. Usually, I try and pick names for the time period unless the characters tell me otherwise.

Do you put pieces of yourself or your life in your stories? Doesn’t every author?

Well, I know I do:)  How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?
Five years

Me, too!  My first novel took three years to complete and two more years to publish, so a grand total of five years.

How many manuscripts had you written by the time you had your first publication?
By the time Sally Murphy came out, I had five or six more in the works.

Why do you write?
I write because one day I woke up in the middle of the night from this dream about two hot guys in a forest that found a woman and felt the need to save her. I woke up, wrote it down and it turned into sixty thousand words. That book is far from publishing stage as I’ve learned so much in the last years about writing, but someday I’m going to revamp it and see if anyone wants it.

Hmm...that sounds like something I would like to find out more about. Sounds quite interesting, Annette. Do you have an upcoming release? Eureka Springs came out November 1st.

Here’s a blurb:

Beginning life in a new direction is harder than Ruth Seidle realizes when hidden secrets surface. With an obscure past exposed, can Ruth forsake lies for honesty in effort to correct past mistakes?
John Vickers loved one woman. Tragedy, and an affair uncovered, forces a new path for him. Can he put distrust aside and let another close to his heart?

Where can we find your upcoming release? When will it be available?
You can purchase this title, along with all my others at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/ and you can find out about them and more on what I do at http://annettesnyder.atspace.com/

Are any of your characters modeled after people you know?
My husband is the main character in Liberty Road. He tells everyone that he’s the hero in a romance novel.

Fun question (possible blackmail material down the line, LOL) What is the most uncharacteristic thing you have ever done? Please, no censoring? I have no qualms about placing a content warning on my blog!
There was a hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska with a swimming pool on the roof. My boyfriend at the time, and some friends, took the elevator to the highest floor we could, snuck out the fire escape (I think it was 10 floors up) and climbed to the roof for a swim. We did get caught by the security guard who was watching the elevator and knew no one was rooming any higher than the fifth floor. He ushered us out of the hotel. It was a big thing for me as I’m afraid of heights and going on that fire escape was so terrifying. Still, the water was warm and the view of the city from there…amazing!

Great story, Annette. Thank you for sharing it.  The most important thing is you didn't let your fear of heights stop you, LOL
As a great big thank you to Danaya and her readers, I’d Like to give away a copy of Eureka Springs, with a handy book tote for all your reading needs, to one lucky winner who comments on Dayana’s blog for my interview. Just post a comment for your chance to win and thanks for joining me here today!

Oh boy!  A Prize to boot!  Thank you, Annette for dropping by. It's been great getting to know you better. I will be looking up your work.  Best sales to you with your new releases and don't be a stranger. I'd love to see you back.

More about Annette:
My novels are available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com as well as www.fictionwise.com and their affiliates. My work is also available at www.growneb.com and their year round and holiday stores, some local stores in my area and at The Great Platte River National Archway Monument in Kearney, Nebraska.

Author Spotlight: M Flagg, paranormal romance

Please welcome Michelle Flagg a good friend and peer paranormal romance author. Her series is AWESOME! I've read Retribution! and look forward to the next book.

Thanks for having me here, Dayana. It’s always such a pleasure to visit with you.

Tell me about yourself. What makes you angry, happy, sad, snoopy dance?

I’m a left-handed Virgo who loves chocolate. That just about covers it! Been blessed with a wonderful family who brings happiness and joy to my life. I tend to snoopy dance a lot, and the only thing that truly ruffles my feathers are mean-spirited people. I don’t tolerate bullying, either in the classroom or out of it.

How many books have you written?

3 – Retribution! is my first release. Consequences is also contracted with TWRP, and Inheritance, Book 3, has not yet been queried. All are full-length novels.

What are some traditional methods of marketing you have used to gain visibility for you and your book(s)?

I’ve done pens, postcards – the usual. Also, I spread the word about my work on blogs, Facebook, and anywhere anyone will listen.

What are some unique methods?

Recently, I was interviewed on blog talk radio. Now that was a very strange feeling. Taking out ads, even short news releases to a local paper have worked really well. The latter led to a fantastic invitation for a book signing at a busy coffee house. I sold well over 30 copies of Retribution! I’ve been invited back there for a Halloween book signing, but this time, I’ll be joined by Noble Blood’s author, Linda J. Parisi. Two Black Roses in costume! I’m so looking forward to it J

Oh blog radio is strange. I had an interview with Paranormal Palace last year and was so nervous, but you know? The host was so warm and friendly we ended up talking like we were longtime friends. BTW I listened to your interview, Micky, and it was great:)

When do you write (daytime, nighttime, on your lunch hour, before the kids get up, after everyone is asleep? In large chunks of time or stolen snippets?)

My two children are in their 20’s, and I totally give kudos to authors with little ones around. I don’t believe I could have written one sane word while my two were small. I usually write on nights and weekends. Some Saturdays, I’m so involved in the characters that the day fades to black before I realize it. Being a teacher, snow days have me jumping for joy and raring to write. The ambiance of a blizzard just thrills me!

Now that is something I truly miss from my life in New Jersey. Snow days were always the best.

Do you write every day? Or when the muse strikes?

Nope – I’m strictly a ‘when the muse strikes’ kind of gal. I can edit most anytime, but the creative process of writing only happens when the muse makes an appearance.

Ditto, Micky. Me too!

Where do you write?

Ah, I love this question! There’s a small eating room at the back of my home. The table becomes a perfect desk, the view, an entire wall of window. My laptop faces open space full of greenery. There’s a really neat forest on my left. Deer, fox, groundhogs, bunnies, chipmunks, and various species of birds are often present. I love the feeling of solitude in the midst of Mother Nature when I write.

Oh that sounds wonderful. I am so jealous. I grew up venturing through forests and loving nature. I miss it. The flora and fauna is so different in the tropics.

Do you put pieces of yourself or your life in your stories?

Yes. I think most writers do. I also put pieces of my family’s lives in the characters as well.

Again, I tend to do the same thing. My first book a crime suspense has a lot of my father in it:)

What is your least favorite thing to do as an author?

Jeez, can’t I have more than one?? Making the query letter perfect, penning a thrilling synopsis, shameless self-promo… The uncomfortable tasks one must accomplish if we choose to entertain others with our creations. If it helps, writing the book is what I like best.

Tell us about your Hero. Do you have a favorite, if you’ve written multiple books?

Michael Malone is a tall, dark, and handsome vampire with moral conscience and tons of depth. Reclaiming his soul after 200 years of lusty kills changes him. Michael’s complex disposition makes him fun to write. His arrogance hides a very caring (but metaphorical) heart, and devotion to Alana, my heroine, never wavers.

As I've told you on numerous occasions, I love Michael and Alana. They are just amazing. And the strife they muddle through is so well written. All your characters are so very well fleshed out, I felt as if I knew each one of them. You guys really must read this book.

Are any of your characters modeled after people you know?

Bits and pieces of the good people in my life show up in each of my characters. Thorn, the empath who helps Michael, is a combination of three wonderful men that I have the pleasure of being related to. I love each one of them in a different way, and Thorn is a tribute to their persistence and importance to me.

What do you do for relaxation?

Very little. No lie… I’m wound pretty tight.

What TV shows do you watch? I never miss Bones, The Closer, or Mad Men. I’m a sucker for drama and complex characters.

Oohhh, I love Bones as everyone already knows.

What type of music do you favor?

Being a music teacher, I find different types of release in different genres. I’ll escape into my thoughts with Bach’s Cello Suites or anything Chopin. But I get equal satisfaction out of Santana, Janis Joplin, the Beatles, or Louis Armstrong.

Quite diverse taste, Mickey. I tend to do Alternative and Classical which totally on two different ends of the scale, LOL

Do you use music as a motivational source when writing?

Nope. Never. My head starts analyzing the piece and I slip into the musician and out of the writer. I prefer total silence when I write.

Fun question (possible blackmail material down the line, LOL) What is the most uncharacteristic thing you have ever done? Please, no censoring? I have no qualms about placing a content warning on my blog!

I gave up a tenured teaching position to study acting in London and traipse around Europe when I was 26. For five months, I lived without a plan, without a care in the world. Anyone who knows me will attest to that being the most uncharacteristic thing I have ever done!

It's been a pleasure having you here today, Micky. I look forward to reading Consequences and please do get Inheritance submitted, woman!

More about M. Flagg:

Mickey brings the joy of music to hundreds of students every week in an urban K-8 school. Named a Distinguished Music Educator at the 2009 Yale Music Symposium, she also accompanies a church choir on Sundays and writes paranormal romance. Retribution, her debut novel, was released in 2009. Book 2, Consequences, is also contracted with The Wild Rose Press. Living in northern NJ, she shares her home with her children, a rescued, bright-orange Main Coon who only bites her ankles, and a very sweet JRT who doesn’t know he’s a terrier. Her novels can be purchased at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ as well as various sites on the web. You can contact Mickey at http://www.mflagg-author.com/

Author Spotlight: Isabel Roman, Paranormal Romance

Please welcome Isabel Roman to the Author Spotlight today.
Hello, Isabel. Thank you for joining me today.
Thanks for having me today, Dayana!
How do you decide on your books’ topic?

I decided on my four book paranormal series by looking at what has been done and not doing that. Druids have mostly been done in medieval or ancient stories, I haven’t heard of one taking place in Victorian England and America. ‘Course my four books series was originally a three book series until I felt horrible for poor Isadore and had to give her a story of her own. *G*

Oh, I hear that. Sometimes, I find that secondary characters jump out and beg for their own stories. I have two sequels in the works now because some characters just need to have their own day in the limelight.

HAHA, see how that happens? With other books, I think about what I’m interested in and build a story from there. Sometimes it’s a story in a place I’ve always wanted to write in. Sometimes it’s based on what fits in that time period.

Oh yes, that makes sense, Isabel. I try to write about what I know and what I love. I also like to experiment with different settings and create worlds with descriptive imagery.

What works best to keep you focused and on track?
Deadlines. It’s the one surefire way to keep me focused. There’s nothing like a looming deadline, and by that I mean 2-3 weeks away, to keep me focused and on track.

Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

Both.
What? I’m not that shallow. *G* I’d love to be able to support myself in the manner my day job keeps me supported through writing, but for now, I write to breathe. And for that future of supporting myself.

I definitely agree with you. I am writing for my future as well. I’d like to eventually retire and write. A dream at the moment but dreams are made to come true, aren’t they?

Yup! I’m right there with you. :)

When was the first moment you felt comfortable saying, “I am a writer?”

Is that like the line from the first Mummy movie when Evie says “I…am a librarian.” Then passes out? LOL, sorry, that’s what it sounded like in my head when I read the question. I love that movie and that line always cracks me up. As to the “I…am a writer” bit, I’d say after I got my first review. It had nothing to do with validation on MY part more like on others. I now had a great review in hand, someone I didn’t know who read my first book and LOVED it! I mean what more is there? Sure, I loved it, but a complete and utter stranger? It’s what I wanted and now had. It was after that, that I felt more comfortable in telling people, though I don’t often introduce myself as such. Usually it’s my day-job title that I use, but more people know I’m a writer now than even 6 months ago.

Very well put, Isabel. I’d never thought of it quite that way but reviews do sort of validate your success when they are positive. On the same token, what if that first review was a bad one? Would you have not written again? Or would you have said, “Ahh… It’s just one person’s opinion.”

Well, I don’t think I would’ve brought out the sack and ashes, but it may have been close. Then again, despite that, I think I would’ve kept on anyway. Write to breathe and all.

Where do you write?

At home. Pathetic but true. I have a home office with a great desk, a spiffy new computer, and a great set up that I love. And a soon-to-be bathroom, with luck in three weeks. Though I have written well on trips, I’m most comfortable and get the most done at home.

Why would that be pathetic? LOL Most of us write at home in a makeshift office atmosphere or bedroom corner. But I do take my laptop when I travel because I never know when I might want to work. Also, I am never without a pad of paper. I write longhand as well at times.

I take my laptop, too, cause you just never know when that idea that’s been percolating will become full blown. I really look forward to those moments!

How do you come up with your title and main characters’ names?

With tedious effort. I hate titling my books, and naming my characters is always a chore.

Ho Boy! Do I have to agree with you. I hate this process as well.

But I do take the time to carefully name them because I want names I like for the type of character I’m building, be they the main hero and heroine, secondary characters, or throwaway walk-through ones. They also have to reflect the country or their family’s country of origin.

Again, great advice. That is why I think it is so ‘tedious’ because a lot of thought go into both titles and naming the characters. You want both to stand out and say something about the story. Make lasting impressions, etc.

What is your least favorite thing to do as an author? Allow me to clarify: query, write a synopsis, write a blurb, market, you get the picture:)

Synopsis. I know so very many people who say the same thing but here’s my example and I will willingly bow to anyone with a worse horror story.
The first time I wrote a synopsis to send out with a completed story it took me 12 hours on a Sunday. With no breaks. 12 hours in my chair, pacing around, banging my head on random walls. 12 freakin’ hours!!
It was the single most excruciating thing I’d ever done. I still have nightmares about that Sunday.

Oh my! Not my favorite thing either. So much is riding on a synopsis. You are trying to sell your book, your writing, and your soul here. So much pressure. It’s amazing how much work goes into the fun of sitting down and crafting a story. The only fun in the entire process, honestly, is writing the story, isn’t it? An author learns pretty quickly the real work begins when the story is done:)

YES! I agree, writing the story can be loads of fun.

How long did it take you to get your first project sold? And was the project your first actual completed manuscript?

Yes, it was my first actual completed manuscript though I had an incomplete one before I may never look at again. This one (Murder & Magick) took about 8 months to sell to Ravenous Romance. With revision, with cutting, with changes to the plot. (I’ve since learn to plot each chapter and character arc, so they take me a lot less time to write.)

Are any of your characters modeled after people you know?

No, but I have had people ask that they (their names at least) be put into a book. One even wanted a glorious death in a gunfight. I’ve used aspects of TV characters, movie characters, things I like about a person or a movement of body someone does. But 99% of my characters are fictional.

What TV shows do you watch?

What, you haven’t heard about my NCIS addiction? LOL, I’m very serious about it. If it’s a Tuesday night, don’t bother. I’m watching NCIS. It’s one of maybe um…no actually it’s the only show I’ll make it a point to watch every week and whenever it’s on. Other than that, mainly sci-fi stuff.

Oh, I’ve got a couple of those and actually it is my only time I really sit and relax other than my nightly exercise program of walking or bike riding, LOL. I watch Dark Blue and Bones with a ‘don’t bother me’ aura radiating from me.

Thank you so much for dropping by today, Isabel. Now before you run, I do know that you have a wonderful story titled, Shadow State, coming out this month in the Black Rose Got Wolf Anthologies, which release this month at The Wild Rose Press. Why not tell us a bit about it?

Shadow State is a favorite. I don’t know if it’s the storyline, the characters, the setting, or all three, but I really do love this story. Set in 1934 Germany, just after Hitler’s governmental coup, Night of the Long Knives or Nacht der langen Messer, the Arminius Clan realizes they’re no longer safe in Germany. This is a new war, a new way of looking at enemies, and they know they’re a prime target. Then one of their own is taken by the Nazi’s and experimented upon.

It was a real eye-opener researching medical knowledge in the 1930s. For decades, Germany was the place to study science and medicine, so my heroine, Elsa, is a research doctor at a prestigious Berlin hospital. I learned a lot about my wolves and Nazi experimentation during this time, and used it. I also used the Nazi fascination with the occult, since that’s well documented and easy to add in.

Excerpt: (I debated a humorous part or a sexy part, and of course came down on the side of sexy.)

“Have you decided this is our moment?” she asked.
He pulled away just enough to see the eyebrow raised in amused question. But he could also see how her blue eyes darkened, could feel her breath coming in gasps. Could smell the change in her scent.
Trailing his lips along the back of her neck, he breathed her in. Another growl escaped him, louder and stronger, establishing his dominance over her. When Elsa growled back, his cock hardened further.
Yes, this was his mate.
Nipping her shoulder, Christoph was only slightly surprised when she entwined her fingers with his and moved them slowly up her body. Cupping her breasts through the thin silk of her blouse, he felt the harden peaks push through her clothing. Her entire body shuddered when he pinched her nipples.
“Christoph,” she murmured.
Turning her, he slammed her against the bookcases. Mouth on hers in an instant, he took hold of her hands again, pinning them above her head. She tasted better than he imagined, and when she kissed him back, all thought fled.
He had to have her.
A loud crash jerked what little attention was not on Elsa back to their surroundings. Christoph spun to scan the library, Elsa secured behind him. He saw no one. The faint scent of Peter, however, lingered in the air.
He was going to kill his friend.

Books and Purchase links:

Murder & Magick: http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/the-dark-desires-of-the-druids-1-murder-and-magick.php?flypage=0

Sex & Subterfuge: http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/the-dark-desires-of-the-druids-2-sex-and-subterfuge.php

Desert & Destiny: http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/the-dark-desires-of-the-druids-iii-desert-and-destiny.php

Temptations & Treachery: http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/the-dark-desires-of-the-druids-iv-temptations-and-treachery.php

And my bio: A mostly historic, oftentimes paranormal, definitely racy romance writer with a love of movies. And NCIS.

My website: http://www.isabelroman.com/My blog: http://authorisabelroman.blogspot.com/

Happy Autumn! Updates and an important follow up on the "A Word About Reviews" Post.

Yeah! My favorite season and holiday is coming at me fast. Got to get busy with my decor! I love this time of year. A northerner at heart, fall is such an awesome time of year. Still warm with Indian Summer yet so very vibrant. Living in Southern Florida, I truly miss it but this is the time of year that is most comfortable in the south. We get cold fronts that give us the most delectable weather. Breezy and much cooler temps from October through just about May. Ahh...Wintering in Florida is heaven.

I want to mention that this week's Author Spotlight didn't work out. Kelley Heckart's new release has been slightly delayed so her spot will move to November 12th. Be sure to mark you calendars of the change. The first and second week of October are open. Any paranormal authors interested in jumping in to be spotlighted? You don't have to have a new release to be interviewed so don't hesitate to contact me ASAP ( gothscribegirl@aol.com ) if you are interested in some free promo.

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who jumped into the review conversation below. If you have not read this post, please do. It's something that touches all of us as writers and reviewers alike. I've even had two reviewers step up to the plate and talk to us about thier perspective.

An update: The author that I talked about who was given a "0" rating on her book has had yet another review by the same reviewer none-the-less at a different review site! This time she was awarded a 1.5! How is this fair practice?

Reviewers out there, a question. Do you review the same books on different sites? I've never come across this practice before. Please pipe in and let us know what's up with this?

Dayana~

Author Spotlight: Helen Hardt, Erotic Romance

Hi, Helen! Welcome. It's great to have you here. Can't wait to get down to the nitty gritty with you.

Thank you for having me, Dayana! It's always fun to visit you. Don't worry, I'll keep it PG ;). Though I would like to give away a pdf of my most recent erotic release, Montego Lay, to one of your commenters today.

Tell me about yourself. What makes you angry, happy, sad, snoopy dance?

What makes me happy is easy – my husband and my two handsome teenage sons. They mean the world to me. What makes me sad? When my boys are sick, when people I care about are suffering. Angry? People who think the rules don’t apply to them. That drives me crazy! Snoopy dance? A new contract, a great review, watching my younger son win a football game, watching my older son win a music competition.

What works best to keep you focused and on track?

Honestly, a deadline. Better yet, a deadline that others know about. I’ve had great success with National Novel Writing Month, where you have 30 days to write a 50K novel. I don’t want to be the dweeb who can’t make the deadline, LOL. Back in December, I had three weeks to write a 25K novella for The Wild Rose Press’s Lawmen and Outlaws anthology. The Outlaw’s Angel turned out to be one of my best stories, according to my CPs.

hmm...looks like I'm the dweeb. I honestly cannot write under pressure. It just doesn't work for me. I seize up and can't think of anything. LOL Ah well... I truly admire people who can just sit down and write like that. I write when the muse strikes me. Seems you work best under pressure *grin* Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

I hope to make some decent money at some point. I think all writers want that. But if we were doing this solely for the money, most of us would have given up by now.

LOL can I relate to that! Definitely not something to take on if you expect to pay the mortgage, at least as a newbie in the world of publication. When was the first moment you felt comfortable saying, “I am a writer?”

June 2008, when I got my first contract from the lovely Diana Carlile, Senior Editor for the Scarlet Rose line at The Wild Rose Press. She gave me some of the nicest praise I’ve ever received for my writing. She’ll always hold a special place in my heart for making me feel like a real writer:)

Oh, I have to agree with you here about Diana. She is a wonderful editor. She helped me to make Eternal Obsession a much better story. Where do you hide yourself away to write?

I am lucky that I have a home office. From time to time I’ve been known to work in other places with my laptop, but most of my writing is done in my office.

Most authors are avid readers as well. When do you have time to read? Where?

I read in the evenings, usually while lying in bed. I also always have a book in the car with me in case I’m stuck waiting around somewhere. That way, I always have something to do. If I ever have a spare moment, I’m reading:)

Okay, so we writers do love to sit down and read for enjoyment and relaxation but as an author what would you say is your least favorite thing to do? Allow me to clarify: query, write a synopsis, write a blurb, market, you get the picture:)

Good question. My least favorite thing about writing is submitting. People who don’t write have no idea how difficult it is to put yourself out there, and I’m the thinnest skinned wuss you’ll ever meet, LOL.

Oh, I will beg to differ with you there, *grin* I am really a nervous Nellie when I submit a work. I have truly not gained in the confidence arena even with several published projects "out there." Quite frankly, I am more nervous and worrisome each time I submit. How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?

I started writing seriously in October of 2006, when I had a problematic mammogram. After additional testing, the mammogram turned out fine, but it was a wake-up call for me. You never know what tomorrow will bring. If I wanted to write, I’d better start. So I did. My first book was published in August 2008, so that’s a little under two years.

Wow! That's pretty impressive. My first novel was pubbed I believe four years after completion, but I have to admit some of that was me being discouraged and shelving it a couple of times then beginning the entire process of submitting again. How long did it take you to get your first project sold?

I started submitting in June 2007, and sold my first story in June 2008, so exactly one year.

How many manuscripts had you written by the time you had your first publication?

Quite a few. Six novels, three shorts, one novella, I think.

Why do you write?

That's the million dollar question, isn't it? Because I don't feel complete if I don't. This drive to write has been a part of my psyche for so long that I'm not sure I can explain it any better than that. Many times I've told myself, "gee, wouldn't life be easier if I didn't have this need to write?" Yes, it definitely would be. Writing is not easy. Not only that, it's fraught with rejection and subjectivity. So why do we do this again? LOL

Wow! did you hit the nail on the head with that one, Helen. I know I could have wallpapered my office with rejection letters with my first novel. Then after you finally do break through and get sold, you get trashed by reviews. LOL A writer really does drop their heart out for all to trample, but boy isn't it wonderful when you get those stellar reviews or letters from readers that 'just love your books.' Do you have an upcoming release?


Montego Lay, an erotic short, released last Friday (September 11) at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses.

Here's the blurb:

Vacationing at a Montego Bay nude resort, Lisa Brooks finds herself volunteering in a bondage demonstration on the beach. She’d like to continue the instructions with the Jamaican native, but the gorgeous resort employee has other duties to perform. Though disappointed, Lisa accompanies a friend to an erotic casino night where the chips are free and redeemable for sex. A night for a mysterious encounter? If only she could buy the island hottie she really wants.

I have two upcoming releases. The first is in your favorite genre, Dayana, dark paranormal. Blood Wolf was one of the winners of The Wild Rose Press’s Got Wolf? Contest and will release on October 9 in a two author anthology. This is one of my favorite stories and favorites heroes, so I’m very excited! My next release is a very hot western ménage called Slow and Wet, and is my first release with Ellora’s Cave. It’s coming on November 24.


Here’s the blurb for Blood Wolf:

When mysterious Damian MacGowan saves Suzanne Wood from a gang of thugs in a small Scotland town, she's beyond grateful. But his possessive need to be near her troubles her. Damian doesn’t understand why he’s drawn to Suzanne. He knows only that he must have her, or he will die. As the two get to know each other, love blossoms. But Damian has a secret, and an enemy, that may keep him from Suzanne forever.

Definitely sounds like a must have. Tell us about your Hero. Do you have a favorite, if you’ve written multiple books?

My heroes are all very different, and I love them all:) If I had to choose favorites, I’d go with Bobby Morgan in The Outlaw’s Angel and Damian MacGowan in the upcoming Blood Wolf. Both are fiercely passionate and capable of great love, yet they’re a little tormented. Very sexy!

Thank you again for having me today, Dayana! Readers, remember to leave a comment and you may win a pdf of Montego Lay.

Short bio:

Helen Hardt is an attorney and stay-at-home mom turned award-winning romance author. She met her real-life hero in law school, and they live in Colorado with their two teenage sons. Helen writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and erotic romance. She is currently contracted with The Wild Rose Press and Ellora’s Cave. Her non-writing interests include Harley rides with her husband, attending her sons’ sports and music performances, traveling, and Taekwondo (she’s a blackbelt.) Visit Helen at http://www.helenhardt.com/ and http://www.helensheroes.blogspot.com/.