Rie McGaha

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?
RM: Writing romance. Seriously, it is writing romance but also creating worlds from my own mind and then having other people get lost in them too and say, "Oh, I just loved"…it's a great feeling.

What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?
RM: Suspense from James Patterson. Romance from Karen Marie Moning. Vamps from Lynsay Sands.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
RM: Getting my cat to stay off the keyboard. lol I've got this kitten who thinks he's my baby and when I'm trying to write he usually wants me to cuddle him and bite him on the ear.

Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
RM: My books all take place in America and I've been to every one of the places I use as a backdrop in my books.

When writing your description of your hero/ine what feature do you start with? Eyes, age, hair color, etc?
RM: Hmm, I don't know. I've never really thought about it before. It seems like they are real people to me so I just know them as who they are (in my mind) and describe them as I would anyone else I know.

Is there anything special you do to get in the mood to write?
RM: Well, not really but lately, I wish there was. On June 18, 2010 our house burned to the ground and I joke that the only fatality was my muse. Except it's getting less and less of a joke and I'm beginning to wonder when I'm going to really write something worthwhile again.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
RM: That depends on what I'm writing. Grounded and Two For Hire had no plot, rhyme or reason. They just sort of came out and I went with it. I write humor on the cuff like that but the others are kind of plotted out, not on paper but in my head. I get an idea and roll it around and around and around, sometimes for weeks or even months before I have a real sense that I know the characters and story well enough to begin writing.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
RM: I would first ask what you prefer because even though I write romance, the sub-genres are as varied as one author can get. I've got suspense, paranormal, historical, time travel, humor, shape shifters, fantasy and sometimes, that's all in the same book! For men I recommend Blood Line because it's more of a "manly" type story, which makes perfect sense because the idea came from a dream my truck driver husband had. The sequel to that, Ancient Blood also has male appeal.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
RM: Enjoyment. I don't write to make a statement, to change anyone's view of life, or to instill some moral into their life. I write for the same reason I read.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
RM: Use condoms.

How long have you been a writer?
RM: I began writing as soon as I could make my letters. I told stories before that. I wrote my first novel in the eighth grade, followed by the requisite morose poetry and song lyrics as a teen, then bedtime stories for my children, and I've never stopped writing or progressing.

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
RM: That's a quirky story. The very first published work took about a month but it didn't work out with that publisher. I was new to being a published author, had no idea what to do next, and the publisher didn't help. About two years later, with more than a hundred WIP's in my files, I met Jill Noble of Noble Romance Publishing. NRP was new at the time and Jill had time to help me learn what came next. Not only that, she was kind enough to teach me the mechanics of writing for publication. I was very lucky to have met her and that she was so patient and had time to kill on her hands.

Did you have any other careers before devoting yourself to being a full-time writer?
RM: Ha! Quick list: LSI Assessor for Community Corrections, AOD counselor, drug court counselor, drug counselor in an all male prison on a unit with me the only female and 120 male inmates, cross country truck driver, bartender, waitress, cashier, floor sales person…

Do you write under more than one name? Why?
RM: I was going to say no, but that would be a little white lie. I have in the past, I wrote 3 books under another name because they were way off genre and I was just kind of feeling my way through something. And no, I'm not telling any more than that!

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
RM: I think all my characters take on something of their personalities from actual people I've known but the only one that really intentionally did is in Closure. I killed off my ex's!

How would your friends describe you?
RM: My friend Candi lives in another state and thinks I'm awesome! My husband says I'm a painintheass.

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?
RM: I really think I'm so normal I'm nearly mundane but most people seem to get a kick out of the fact I ride motorcycles, rescue dogs and have 12 kids and 33 grandkids.

What books or authors have most influenced your life?
RM: No book other than the Bible has influenced my life. I do enjoy reading James Patterson's Alex Cross series. I also enjoy the classics like The Great Gatsby, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Of Mice and Men, etc. Two of my very favorite books are Two Old Women and One Thousand White Women.

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
RM: They couldn't care less. Seriously, it's something that keeps mom busy and none of them are the least bit impressed with me!

Where are you from?
RM: I was born and raised in northern CA but I've lived in eight states and I've been to all except Alaska. I've lived in SE OK for the past twenty years or so.

How do you come up with the titles?
RM: That's the worst part for me. My titles usually suck so bad the publisher's change them but recently I've gotten better at it.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
RM: Not one iota. I live in a very small town in SE OK in the Kiamichi Wilderness with the rivers and lakes nearby. No one here cares what I do and don't really even seem to know I'm a writer. When someone asks what I do and I say I'm a writer, I get this weird look from them. Then I say I'm an author, they grin and say okay. I don't know if the concept is just really strange or they don't believe me.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
RM: When I write I usually have three or four stories going at the same time, plus I'm doing promotions, chatting with my friends, Casey or Bryl, and talking on the phone. I guess you could say I multi-task.

When not writing, how do you relax?
RM: Um, I'm sorry, I don't think I understand the question.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?
RM: I've had some pretty good luck and the last few months I saw a lot of releases. My personal favorite, Cross The Line came out December 2, 2010 from Solstice Publishing. This book was five years in the making. The research alone was several months. This book takes on prejudice, slavery, and interracial relationships just after the Civil War during a period of time known as The Indian Wars. The hero is a former slave, and the heroine is the daughter of a former plantation owner who meet because of an accident and then develop an on going relationship that becomes a romance. This book received a 5-cup review from Coffeetime Romance before its release.

In March 2011 One Good Man is coming from eXcessica publishing. In this one, the heroine is a BBW whose boyfriend runs off with her best friend, so she takes a job on one of the floating casinos in Biloxi, MS. She's through with men, and then her mother falls in love with her boss, her books come up short, the boss's hot and sexy son who only dates long-legged blondes is pursuing her, and to top it all off her sleezy ex shows up like nothing happened. Could anything else go wrong? Oh yeah!

What song would best describe your life?
RM: Wild, Wild Life by The Talking Heads

If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
RM: Weremouse

What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
RM: All of them

What sound drives you crazy?
RM: The keyboard tapping

If you were a tool, what would people use you for?
RM: A couple of minutes at a time

What’s the perfect romantic evening?
RM: Answering these questions

You can erase one embarrassing experience from your past. What will it be?
RM: Wouldn't you like to know

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
RM: Hot

A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be?
RM: Seriously?

What’s for dinner tonight?
RM: I don't know, what are you fixing?

What is sexier boxer or briefs?
RM: Skin

Who’s more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen and why?
RM: Perfect gentlemen who can have their inner bad boy coaxed out. Why? Cuz it's fun.

Where is the craziest place you’ve ever had sex? Or where is the craziest place you made your characters have sex?
RM: In Ancient Blood Ganda has sex in an Egyptian tomb. The graveyard is the closest to that I've ever come.

If you were a superhero, what special power would you have?
RM: Invisibility

What’s your favorite curse word?
RM: Crap.

If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
RM: My dogs wouldn't fart in my face at night
My cats would learn to use the toilet
My husband wouldn't fart in my face at night



If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
RM: My dogs
My cats
My husband

If you could be a shapeshifter, what form would you take and why?
RM: Weremouse…small, sneaky and deadly, come on who wouldn't want to be that?

What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
RM: Finish this interview

What is your favorite candy bar?
RM: Dark chocolate Milky Way-frozen

http://www.riemcgaha.com
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Laura Tolomei

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

To make up my own twists and turns in plot and characters is what I like most about being a writer, particularly when I decide how little or how much sex I’ll put into it. I guess this is basically the reason I became a writer in the first place, because I didn’t always agree with how authors handled the plots in the books I read as I got older.

Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
Actually, I travel for the sake of traveling, then use it extensively in my books to describe settings, culture differences, moods, nuances. I guess it depends on my having traveled around and changed countries since the age of five when my parents got transferred to Lagos, Nigeria. We stayed there five years, my formative ones as it turns out, and loved growing up on the Equator, under fierce sunlight and sweltering heat all year long. Then I moved to the States and this experience was the basis of my first full length novel, Piccolo Crocevia A Cinque (loosely translated Little Five Points), available only in Italian I’m afraid. I also lived for a brief time in India and the country, which already attracted me even before I ever set foot on it, fascinated me to the point I couldn’t keep it out of my books, from Trespassing All Hallows Ever, to Divinitas, to Re-Scue and Tasting Leon’s Mark. I keep traveling today and many of the places I visited find their way in my books, like Sicily in Spying the Alcove, and Jordan above all because it was the setting in which I based the planet Sendar of my ongoing fantasy series, Virtus Saga.

When writing your description of your hero/ine what feature do you start with? Eyes, age, hair color, etc?
Actually, I start with how tall they are. This is the foremost feature my characters all have in common. But I don’t linger on their build, rather concentrate on the face, with eye color and shape of jaw being the things I mention most. But these are just teasers to introduce what I notice primarily in a person, the hair. And I like them long, like many of my characters from Prince Duncan Caldwell, the hero of my Virtus Saga, to Leon Sterling, the protagonist of Tasting Leon’s Mark. The interesting thing is my latest release, Visionquest, focuses a lot on the hair issue. In Ilenio’s, the main character and narrating voice, own words: “And of course, the rugged features were partly covered by raven black hair hanging down below his shoulders as was common to most noblemen in our area. I liked this tradition so much I had taken the liberty to imitate them, even against my father’s strenuous objections, by letting my hair—” So naturally, Ilenio, who is just a peasant, breaks the rules and lets his hair grow long, which is what will get him noticed and will eventually change his life.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m still not sure on how to go about creating a series since mine, believe it or not, simply happened to build itself on its own. Virtus started with a recurring image in my mind—a horse rider lost in a place close to home who finds shelter from a thunderstorm in a beautiful woman’s run-down shack, and she looks too familiar to be a stranger, though he has no recollection of her, of who she is, not even of a name—and everything developed out of this, details being added as I went along without any pre-conceived plot. As incredible aw it sounds, it felt like I was reading the Virtus Saga, rather than creating it, for I gathered information much like a reader does, without the possibility of glimpsing ahead. All I had was a concept, which I’ll gladly share with your readers for the first time ever.

The planet Sendar is controlled by a mechanical device as part of a vast social experiment. This sophisticated mechanism channels people's aggression into sex, which in turn guarantees their feudal society knows no violence.

Other than the above, I didn’t know myself where the story was going when it started, so much so I still don’t have a definite ending to it.
It’s obvious therefore, I’m more of a panster, usually letting inspiration lead me, however strange or inconclusive it may sound at first. Then again, I’m too straightforward to be a good plotter or think up outrageous schemes beforehand LOL.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
If you liked the M/M genre, something easy would probably be my best choice, so I’d recommend To Seduce A Soulmate, my bestseller. It’s an intense novel about making choices in life, which is what my writing’s all about. I like to raise doubts in order to make people think and not blindly accept the prejudices and conventions society wants to feed us. And in To Seduce A Soul Mate, new as well as old readers are challenged to think with their own heads, like Drake is forced to do by the chance encounter of a special person however wrong his gender is.

Where are you from?
Italy, specifically Rome, the Eternal City, a place so full of history, art and culture one lifetime wouldn’t be enough to live it whole. It’s also the reason I love history and put it into my books often, like in Roman Seduction and Divinitas,.

How do you come up with the titles?
I don’t. My husband does and he’s great at it. One word and he describes what takes me a whole book to tell. It amazes me every time! How he does it is beyond me, but it’s perfect to tell readers exactly the kind of story they’re going to be reading.

When not writing, how do you relax?
Lying on a beach under a hot, sweltering hot sun, letting the heat sink to my bones and enflame my imagination.

What song would best describe your life?
“An Easier Affair” by George Michael, not because I’m gay, but because it talks about being free from the inside and that’s exactly what I strive for in life.

What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
I feel no guilt or regret in pleasure, only sadness when it’s over because it always lasts too little. And that goes for all pleasures, mostly the sexual ones.

What sound drives you crazy?
My husband’s voice.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Highly intoxicating material!

A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be?
Mmmmm….have to ask my husband about that.

What’s your favorite curse word?
Damn!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
My husband.

If you could be a shapeshifter, what form would you take and why?
My husband’s to know what goes on in that wonderful brain of his.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?
Is it kind of obvious I’m in love with my husband? And to think it took me 20 years to find out about it!

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.
My future’s as busy as a bee…I have to finish up the edits on Re-Scue, which is probably my most original concept to date, even if I already used it in Divinitas somewhat. To be fair, Re-Scue came before Divinitas, only it’s such an extreme, borderline story, it had trouble finding the right editor. Now it’s housed with Romance Divine and it’ll be coming out first months 2011. The originality is in the fact it’s not one book, but four where the protagonist are the same two souls, only reincarnated in different bodies every time. But if in Divinitas these souls had a purpose, and a strong religious one at that, in Re-Scue there’s no high ambition except in their pursuit of a bloody game of knife and bondage, which neither character can do without no matter how many lives he undertakes. And their connection is so strong, they inevitably pull one another into the same life so that they get a chance to play their game over and over. But of course, the game’s just an excuse and the underlying feelings will bring them to tragedy every time unless something changes soon.
Then I have to continue with my fantasy series, the Virtus Saga. Already released the first three chapters—The Sex, The Game and The Festival—I have the next two almost ready, The Leader and The Pledge, so watch out for those beginning next year.

Please share any links you would like listed in the Interview. Website, Myspace, blog, facebook, yahoo group etc.
My Web
Website http://www.lallagatta.com/

GoodReads Author Page http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2903352.Laura_Tolomei

Amazon Author Page
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002DBFPDQ

Authors Island
http://www.authorisland.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=874&category_id=27&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

Whiskey Torrid Publishing Author Page
http://whiskeycreekpresstorrid.com/authors/Laura_Tolomei.shtml

Coffee Time Romance feature page
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/OurAuthors/LauraTolomei.html

Authors Den http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=93230,

Biblio Scribe
http://www.biblioscribe.com/profiles/LallaGatta/


Networking
MySpace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=152533159

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1464230924#!/profile.php?id=1554716201&ref=nf

Twitter http://twitter.com/LallaGatta

Goodreads Friendship requests
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1025370-laura-tolomei

Gay Starta http://www.bebo.com/c/home/index.html

The Blood Bank (Bitten by Books)
http://bittenbybooks.ning.com/profile/LauraTolomei

Erotic Romance Writers & Readers
http://eroticromance.ning.com/profile/LauraTolomei

To Seduce a Soulmate
Laura Tolomei
Extasy Books
Gay, Holiday, Contemporary, m/f, m/m, m/m/f
Available now
Buy at Extasy books HERE

He thought finding a soulmate would be his hardest task, but he was wrong. To seduce Pirate Drake…that proved Martin’s real challenge.

Finding a soul mate was the easy part. To seduce him proved Martin’s hardest challenge for nothing in Pirate Drake’s black intriguing eyes seemed to recognize the one person destiny had selected for him. But can the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas be enough to convince him of the contrary in spite of his dilemmas about gender, feelings, connections and sex or can Pirate Drake find a way around the burning desire, the erotic heat, the uncontrollable passion wrecking his senses at Martin’s mere sight?


PG Excerpt:
Martin was about to reply when the waitress brought their platters. He pulled back to give her room, then leaned forward again. “Listen, I’m not asking you to believe in it, but don’t tell me you didn’t feel it because I read it in your eyes, too.”

“Read what?” Drake asked, suddenly feeling very cold.

“The flicker of recognition. When our eyes met, you knew who I was just as surely as I knew who you were.”

“That’s impossible, Devil,” he argued, biting his cheeseburger. “We’ve never met before in our lives.”

“You wouldn’t believe how many unexplainable things defy rationality, Pirate. When I lived in India, I saw more than my share of them.”

“They’re all visionaries over there.”

“I beg to differ, Pirate. They have an age-old tradition, a mix between magic, religion, logic and belief in the unknown. To them, the soul is something alive even when the body dies, with a million journeys behind it and a thousand more ahead, which shape it and mark its path in each successive passage.” He paused to eat a french fry. “And it’s not just an individual affair. I believe there are souls that start out together, soul mates some call them, which inevitably call for each other because alone they’re incomplete. So they go through life seeking their missing half, the essential piece that will restore them to the unity they had started out with.”

“And you think I am—“

“I don’t think, Pirate, I know.” Spoken without any emphasis, the words rang even more forceful despite Drake’s thundering heartbeat clogging his ears. “I’ve been waiting a lifetime to read what I did in your eyes and your reaction was exactly as I’d imagined it a million times in my head. That’s why I behaved like I did that first night.”

“I don’t believe this, Devil.”

“That’s your choice, Pirate. I can’t and certainly won’t force you to believe in this. When you ran away that night at your parent’s house, it became quite obvious that you weren’t ready to accept the truth anyway.”

“What truth?”

The Irish devil stretched across the table. “Just answer me honestly, Pirate. Before you met me, have you ever felt you recognized a complete stranger before in your life? Or felt an electrical current run through your body merely by standing next to someone? Or felt your heart beat so fast you feared it might fall out of your chest?”

With a heavy heart, the pirate realized there was no point in lying so he had to shake his head in denial, long hair flying around.

“But you did the moment you saw me, right?”

Interview with Rhonda L. Print

What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?
RLP: I read mostly paranormal romance. I just finished reading Broken by Kelley Armstrong. I also read a lot of Nora Roberts and everything written by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
RLP: I always have a character or two talking in my head ( does that sound crazy?) so I always take my surroundings in and use them in my books. I live in the desert and its beauty had a profound effect in Nightwalker, A Leah Wolfe SINS Novel.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
RLP: I hope my readers will embrace a love of reading and close the book anxious for the next one!

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
RLP: My family and friends have been extremely supportive and encouraging. My husband and best friend are my critique partners and read the books before I submit them.

When not writing, how do you relax?
RLP: I read and maybe watch a little television. My favorite shows at the moment are House and Vampire Diaries.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?
RLP: I love hearing comments and reviews from my readers. Please feel free to contact me at my blog, www.rhondaprint.blogspot.com or my web page at www.RhondaLPrint.com

I try to answer all of my comments and questions and occassionally post reader reviews on my pages!

If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
RLP: My children and my daughter’s boyfriend are in the room as I answer this so I’ll give you his answer. He says, with a laugh, that I would be a vampire because I am a lifesucking witch. :D Then he ran away! LOL

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
RLP: Do not talk to me before I’ve had my coffee!

What’s for dinner tonight?
RLP: Again, my kids chimed in on this one. My son said ‘nothing’ and my daughter answered, ‘whatever you can make yourself.’ The real answer, "I have no idea!" J

What’s your favorite curse word?
RLP: Depends on the day. Usually it’s "Shit!" But on occasion it’s been "Evil Cockroach Fucker!" "ECV" in front of the little ones. LOL

What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
RLP: I want to hold my great-great grandchildren!

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.

I am currently working on the second book in the Leah Wolfe SINS Novel series.

Please share any links you would like listed in the Interview. Website, Myspace, blog, facebook, yahoo group etc.

http://www.rhondalprint.com/
http://www.rhondaprint.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Nightwalker-ebook/dp/B004D9FYKA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1290638329&sr=8-1

http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=linda018&product_name=Nightwalker&return_page=&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact

　

Blurb:

Leah Wolfe has retired from serious police work in favor of seeking a normal life. Her unique, yet not fully

discovered supernatural abilities allow her to speak to the souls of the dead, providing vital information in the search for their killers. Her abilities have also cost her almost everyone she has ever loved including her mother, who abandoned her to fend for herself on the streets, and, most recently, her ex-fiancé Joaquín Wildhorse, Chief Detective of the Native American Reservation Police Department. But when Joaquín’s new lover is found brutally murdered on the reservation, he turns to Leah for help. The hunt for a vicious killer leads Leah to sexy Ian Nightwalker and Leah is unable to walk away from the case that may cost her her most guarded possession of all.

Her heart.

Excerpt:

Ian raised his eyebrows at the question, looking slightly amused. "Do you think I am a killer, Leah?"

I paused for a moment. Did I really think Ian was capable of doing that to anotherperson? God I hoped not. The energy emanating from him had always been serene. I was sitting close enough that I could smell the scent of his skin, feel the warmth of his body. I needed only to lean closer to… I cut off the thought.

Work. Focus Leah… Focus on work. Sure, that would pacify my hormones. Riight.

I took a deep breath, all the while Ian sat patiently, an impassive and slightly amused look on his face, one dimple glinting at the corner of his mouth. He had the calmest aura of anyone I’d ever encountered, even the constant chatter in my own head calmed when I was with him. Violence and fury, at least the kind of rage that was used to kill these women never really cooled, it stayed red hot, a constant glow. It was always boiling just below the surface of the person containing it, releasing its own feel of aura.

"No, Ian." I felt the tension in my body ease. "I think you’re dangerous, but you’re not a killer."

"I appreciate you actually considering the matter." His tone let me know that he could be sarcastic, too. Point for him.

"Now that you know that I did not murder her, what avenue will you pursue?"

"I still have tons of questions about you, Ian."

He spread his hands wide. "Ask away, my love."

"Stop calling me that, it’s irritating as hell."

"Again, my apologies. Can you, however, deny the attraction you feel toward me? I can feel your fascination."

I felt myself immediately tense again. He was right, and worse, he knew it. I felt the attraction between us, too. The question was, should I give in to it or learn to shield like hell to keep him from sensing it.

Maybe both. While my hormones reminded me that I had not been with a man in months, months, my battered heart and head took control and reminded me why. Was my attraction to him simply a need that had been denied or was it truly him? It might have been fun to figure out the answer to that one. However, I didn’t know who or what he was.

Only one way to find out.

Z.A. Maxfield

1. What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

ZA: I grew up reading books of all genres and my favorite part of writing romance is the chance to right (or re-write) the wrongs done to all those hapless couples who suffer tragic endings in literary novels.

While I would never rewrite any specific book, everyone should be aware by now that I truly believe in maturity, loyalty, redemption and just plain good luck.

And okay, the literary books were great, but Catherine should have valued Heathcliff and… I dunno. Gotten some serious therapy because wow... Dysfunction Junction. Romeo and Juliet should have just hitched the first ride they could get -- maybe from a wine merchant -- to France where they could join a theatrical troupe of because dang, drama much? And Cyrano de Bergerac…I can’t be the only person who saw Roxanne as wholly unworthy of a guy like Cyrano. (That shallow biznatch.)

Don’t get me started on Jack and Ennis. Just… don’t. *sobs*

I want to write about lovers who win against all odds. That happily-ever-after is both my goal and my reward. That’s romance!


2. What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?


ZA: Like most of the writers I know I schedule reading time into my workday. (Bwahahah… it is good to be me.) I’m always reading romantic stories, because that’s my thing, but my choices aren’t always specifically from romance: the genre.

I love mystery, suspense, and humorous writers like P.G. Wodehouse and Douglas Addams. I read Arthur Conan Doyle and police procedurals, literary novels. Owning a Kindle is like having a never-ending box of really fine chocolates that don’t make you fat. At any point, when life gets a little boring, you can just open it up and say, hmmm…. What looks good today?


3. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

ZA: I wish I could say I’m a plotter but the ugly truth is I’m not organized enough to give a children’s birthday party, much less plot out a novel. Usually I have a loose framework, like…These guys meet (and a few lines about that). These guys have conflict (and a few lines about that). These guys overcome (with a few more lines).

For me the sequence of events in a book is dependent upon the characters in it. As I write, and my characters interact, I’m creating people and the plot follows. Of course I guess I always have the “story” in the back of my mind. Like a blurb, that tells me what is going to happen as far as exterior conflict, but sometimes how the characters handle that conflict will change based on what I’ve learned as they become more fully realized for me.


4. What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

ZA: I’ve been told I have the running theme of redemption through my work, and my husband teases me that I am going to singlehandedly create a new “Inspirational Erotica” genre. I believe it’s perfectly wonderful when people with hard, unused, or uncertain hearts open up and let love in.


5. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

ZA: I guess if I had a theme, it would be: Sometimes, when people are at their emptiest, that’s when they have the most to give.


6. How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

ZA: This is actually funny since it’s my kids who dared me to write in the first place. My genre, m/m romance, isn’t the first thing people think when they get to know me, and my kids very much enjoy telling their friends (now that they’re old enough to understand what m/m romance is) that I write gay love stories. I got my pen name from mixing up all their names, and my son Maxfield still rolls his eyes and asks why couldn’t I be M.A. Zachary so his twin’s full name would be on the books.

My family is so terrifically supportive. If I had a magic wand I’d wave it and the house would be spotless, I’d be at every event at school, I’d always know when permission slips were due, and I’d arrange fantasy erotic nights out with my man. Since I’m all out of wands, and they love me anyway, I’m the luckiest writer in the world.


7. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything on your road to publication?

ZA: If I had anything to do over, I think I’d get started WAY sooner. I spent a lot of time imagining that my chances of being published were statistically pretty bad, like… getting hit by a piece of Skylab or marrying the Prince of Wales.

While this might be true in the hallowed halls of New York’s publishing giants, e-publishing, POD printers and small presses, niche-driven markets, and affordable, respectable self-publishing has changed the playing field entirely and it’s up to writers to change the way they think.

I tell young writers all the time to spend ten minutes in bookstore just picturing that each and every one of those books was written by a person who gets up in the morning, brushes their teeth, and does virtually the same things we all do. Every writer has doubts. The only difference between all those published writers and you and me --besides the obvious gifts of talent and whatever cocktail of genetics and divine intervention one has no control over– is that they actually acted, at some point, on their dream.

Raine Delight

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?
Raine says: *grins* I get to torture my characters, make up new worlds/setting and have fun with them.

What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?
Raine says: It depends on my mood. Lately it has been a mix of M/M, paranormal/Fantasy, sci-fi/futuristic along with thrillers/romantic suspense.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Raine says: Well *looks over shoulder and makes sure editor is not around*, I am a pantser all the way. I tried the outline method and my characters laughed themselves silly over it. Where I wanted to go left, they went right, upside and sideways. *grins*

Describe your day.
Raine says: Well, I wake up, stumble to put coffee on, get the kids moving for school, shuffle to the shower when DH is done and pray I have hot water, to wake up and then after getting ready for day, have my first cup of coffee heaven as I shoo the kidlets and DH out the door as I get my day job work ready. I then spend an hour answering/checking email, marking down any that are from clients and at 9 AM, I am busy working till lunch then I take a 40 minute lunch then back to work till kids are home. I go offline to make dinner and such but once kidlets are in bed, I am either checking email or answering items while I play on facebook for a little bit. Then I relax with an hour of video game fun with DH or by myself as I unwind before bed.  Very boring and not very entertaining I am afraid. *grins*

When not writing, how do you relax?
Raine says: I spend time with my DH and kids, reading, watching movies/DVD’s of my favorite TV shows and listening to music. We also enjoy hiking in the summer when it is nice.


If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
Raine giggles: a fairy of course. I love fairies and to have the pointy ears and magic while being beautiful is one thing I would love. *grins*

What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
Raine says: Oh man….*thinks*…..white chocolate caramel cappuccino and good white chocolate. Hmmmm think I like white chocolate don’t you? lol

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Raine thinks: Maybe…”Make sure you cover your ears and wear oven mitts when opening”

If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
Raine says: world peace, gay marriage equality and kittens. *blinks* you mean this isn’t the Ms. Universe tournament?
Ok…then…I want a cabana boy to do the house work and laundry; Johnny Depp for inspiration of course *wide evil grin*; and an unlimited supply of white chocolate.

What is your favorite candy bar?
Raine thinks: I like Kit Kats and Reeses Pieces every now and again. Not a big candy eater. It’s for special occasions.

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.


Future projects include the following:
Club Fantasy trio-Paranormal BDSM club
Book 1 is called Unleashed Passion and is a ménage.
Devon Falls 5: Moonlight & Magic (Paranormal erotic romance)
Devon Falls 6: Yuletide Magic (Paranormal/holiday)
Untamed Passion-Vampire BDSM Novella/Short
Finding Heaven-My first M/M Holiday story

Website: http://authorrainedelight.com/
Blog: http://rainedelightbooknook.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Raine_Delight
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRaine-Delight
Email: rainedelight@yahoo.com
Yahoo reader group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Author_Raine_Delight

Phillipa Ashley Interview and contest, Author of Dating Mr. December

SR recently read and posted a review for Dating Mr. December and the reviewer couldn't stop saying great things about it. We are thrilled to be able to welcome author Phillipa Ashley to Seriously Interviewed and to be able to get to know her a bit better :) Hang around...it's sure to be as fun as the story

1. Do you travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?

I love to use locations I’ve actually visited so I can really make the scene come alive for the readers. I want them to smell, feel, hear and taste the location as well as see it. That was easy with Dating Mr. December, which is set in the Lake District where we’re lucky enough to have a holiday home. With its mountains, lakes, villages and ever changing moods, this stunning area is almost a character in its own right.

My favourite ‘hot’ place is Corsica where I’ve set my second book, Wish You Were Here (Coming out in the US in Spring 2011). It’s a breathtakingly beautiful French island in the Mediterranean, with jagged peaks, beaches to die for and a turbulent history – a dream setting for romance and a great excuse for a research trip!


2. When writing your description of your hero/ine what feature do you start with? Eyes, age, hair color, etc?
Naturally, a heroine’s physical appearance is a clue to her character and lifestyle. Emma in Dating Mr. December is a slick city girl and she really stands out in her power suits among all the locals in their hiking gear. She’s trying and failing to fit in with her new world at the start of the novel and her choice of clothing reflects that.

But whether a heroine’s blond or brunette is very much secondary to the conflicts and challenges she’s facing. Ultimately, I want the reader to imagine herself in the heroine’s shoes, as I try to do.

In contrast, I do have very specific ideas about the hero’s look and have started off whole novels based on a photograph.


3. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’ve tried all kinds of techniques and I’m still not sure what works best. Each book is different but I always rewrite drafts several times.


4. How long have you been a writer?
I’ve been a professional writer (in journalism and advertising) since I left university but I didn’t start writing fiction until 2005.

5. What’s the perfect romantic evening?
Any time after my lovely husband has been mowing the lawn or washing the car. My daughter (a biology PhD student) tells me it’s the pheromones.


6. What is sexier boxer or briefs?
Snug-fitting black boxers, preferably without novelty illustrations.


7. Where is the craziest place you’ve ever had sex? Or where is the craziest place you made your characters have sex?
Two characters in my third book have moonlight sex in a punt in Oxford.


8. What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
Get a surfing lesson. I love body boarding but haven’t dared try the Real Thing yet.


9. What is your favorite candy bar?
Snickers Flapjacks. I daren’t even have them in the house!

DATING MR. DECEMBER BY PHILLIPA ASHLEY – IN STORES NOVEMBER 2010

Praise for Phillipa Ashley:

"Ashley’s writing is deft, sexy, and full of humor."

—Trashionista.com


"Lovely books filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!"

—internationally bestselling author Jill Mansell


"Sharp, sexy, and exuberant."

—SingleTitles.com


She doesn’t need rescuing, she only needs a change of scenery...

After a disastrous discovery loses Emma Tremayne both her boyfriend and her high-profile PR job in London, she moves to the Lake District to recover her confidence and live a simpler life. She loves her new job with the tourist board, and she’s settling into small town life just fine—until she ends up responsible for a fundraising effort that calls for twelve naked mountain rescuers...

Buy it here: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders

ABOUT THE AUHOR

Phillipa Ashley studied English Language and Literature at Oxford before becoming a freelance copywriter and journalist. Dating Mr. December (called Decent Exposure in the UK) was the basis of last year’s Lifetime TV Movie “The 12 Men of Christmas.” A frequent guest on BBC national, local and independent radio on all matters romantic, she lives with her husband and daughter in Staffordshire, UK. For more information, please visit http://phillipa-ashley.com/ , follower her on Twitter or find her on Facebook!

Two lucky commentors will be winning a print copy of Dating Mr. December. Contest open to US and Canadian residents only. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address. Two random commentors will be selected after midnight and notified via email :)

Patricia Snodgrass

Please help me welcome Patricia Snodgrass to SR this week :)

Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
Yes in fact I prefer it. There’s nothing quite like first hand experience of a place to make the scenes real.
When I was working on Glorious, for example, my husband went to the site where Overton, the fictional town in Arkansas, was. In reality the area is Corp’s of Engineer land and a wildlife refuge, but it wasn’t hard to imagine a town there.

Did you have any other careers before devoting yourself to being a full-time writer?
I worked in restaurants, as a punch press operator in a machine shop, as a painter, a bondo girl at a car body shop (that job lasted 2 weeks, I couldn’t take the fumes) I worked in a candy store, a mess hall, worked as a secretary at an army ammunition facility. I also was a certified nurses aid and worked in a couple of nursing homes as well as a home health provider. In the early 80’s I ran my own house cleaning business. During these times, I never stopped writing.

What books or authors have most influenced your life?
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird has had a profound influence especially on my writing life. It’s the one book I read consistently every year. Stephen King has also been a tremendous influence, especially with novels such as Hearts in Atlantis. JK Rowling is also a great influence, I can relate to her financial struggle as a fledgling writer. I hope I can be half as successful as she. I am also a fan of the classics, Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, Charlotte Bronte. Coleridge.

How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
My husband and son are extremely supportive. So is the rest of my family. I have a few friends who think I should give up this foolishness and get a ‘real’ job. But for the most part, everyone is very accepting.

When not writing, how do you relax?
I paint, play guitar, spend time with family and friends. And go on walks.
What’s the perfect romantic evening?
Dinner at Johnny Carino’s with my husband, and afterwards, a long moonlit drive in the country with the radio playing classic rock.

What’s your favorite curse word?
Frak. Compliments of Battlestar Galactica. I use it all the time. It’s so frakkin’ versatile.

If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
1. for my books to sell well
2. to buy a house in the country
3. go to California via train. I think trains are very romantic.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
A computer with wifi
My husband
Books

What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
To meet HH the 14th Dalai Lama

Check out Patricia at the locations below :)
http://thepaleo-adventure.blogspot.com/

You can find me on face book under Patricia Snodgrass

Rachel Brimble

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

Everything! I seriously love every part of it. The planning, the writing, the editing, receiving the cover art, everything. I dream of being able to earn enough to write full time because I really don’t want to do anything else.

I have a wonderful family around me, friends too, and their support and belief me is all the motivation I need. I have my wonderful husband to drag me away from the laptop when my eyes start to cross and put a crisp, chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc in my hand. What more could a lady ask for? So with a successful writing career added to the mix, I will be in heaven.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A plotter – an idea usually comes to me through a character. I tend to hear either the hero or heroine speaking in my mind and then I spend the next few weeks listening until I figure out, firstly where their story belongs – i.e: contemporary or historical, suspense or comedy, traditional or erotic…

Once I have that sorted in my mind, I have a rough premise of the story and then I will sit down to start the painful process of writing a two or three page synopsis.

With that done, I break down the chapters and then the writing begins – but things always, always change so there is a definite bit of a pantser in me too!

Do you write under more than one name? Why?
I do. My mainstream/category romance, both contemporary and historical are written under my real name, Rachel Brimble but my erotic romance is written under the pseudonym of Rachel Leigh.

I did this for two reasons – firstly, my daughters are at the age they are starting to be interested in what I write and asking when they can read it. My Rachel Brimble novels are often rated as ‘spicy’ on my publishers’ websites so it is bad enough they are asking questions about these books but if they were to find out about the Rachel Leigh books? Well, now…

And secondly, I wanted the two to be marketed separately so that my Rachel Brimble readers know what the sensuality level will be between the pages as will my Rachel Leigh readers. But of course, ideally, I’d like my readers to buy and enjoy both…hint, hint!

Describe to us your typical day
I usually wake at seven am and get my daughters up and ready for school. Once I have dropped them off, I rush home and take the dog out for a walk before squeezing in half an hour on the laptop. This half an hour usually entails answering emails or if it’s a Tuesday or Thursday, I use this time to upload my guest authors’ blog posts.

Then it’s a quick change of clothes and off to work from 10am to 2.30pm – then back to school to pick the kids up and then home.

Now, this is where I can either be good or naughty – do I get on with the pile of ironing, cleaning and chores I need to get done or do I grab a couple of hours on the laptop while ignoring all that and the kids?? Mmm, no comment.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
The rule of thumb I try to live by is one Rachel Brimble project and one Rachel Leigh going on at any one time. That way I can flit between the two, depending what kind of mood I’m in.


I really enjoy this method and hope it shows in the finished results that I never become the slightest bit bored with what I’m writing – it keeps my mind alert and fresh and hopefully the same goes for the readers’.

Future Projects/Upcoming Releases

Rachel Brimble – My next release is likely to be from The Wild Rose Press and it is my first novella-length story entitled Transatlantic Loving. I am so excited to have signed the contract on this one! It is part of a new series from The Wild Rose Press, called the Class of ’85.

It is a series set in the town of Summerville and each story revolves around characters who are invited to attend the high school reunion. The first book was released August 11th but my date has yet to be confirmed. I will update my website as soon as I know.

My next novel is due out January 2011, a contemporary romance about second chances entitled Getting It Right This Time with Lyrical Press.

Rachel Leigh – a short story called Explicitly English contracted once again with The Wild Rose Press. This is my first erotic romance and I am excited beyond belief! Still waiting a release date on this one too but I really hope it will be available soon.

www.rachelbrimble.com/www.rachelbrimble.blogspot.com

www.rachelleigh.co.uk/www.rachelleighromance.blogspot.com

What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
With the risk of being judged as the worst mother in the world – there is nothing I like more than paying my daughters’ to rub my feet while I sit back enjoying a glass of wine and catching up on my favourite US dramas! (I know, I know – terrible, terrible mother!)

Which is sexier? Boxers or briefs?
Boxers every time for me!

Who’s more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen and why?
Mmm, perfect gentlemen – bad boys are out there for everyone to see, but a perfect gentleman is like a Christmas present. Surely there is nothing sexier that drawing open the ribbon and slowly peeling back the paper until you find the raw, hot-blooded male who will take you when he wants, how he wants, make you scream out his name while…ahem…yes, perfect gentlemen are my thing!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
A copy of Gone With The Wind – only book I have read more than three times!
Pair of tweezers – don’t ask!
Pen and paper (is that four??)

What’s the number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
Make a comfortable living as a romance novelist!

Susanna Ives

Thank you so much for hosting me on Seriously Interviewed and Reviewed. This is a great site, and I’m pleased to be a part of it.


What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?
I’ve always had stories playing in my head, but I never thought I could write them down, especially considering the grades I received in high school and college composition. After several years in corporate jobs and then staying home with my babies, I decided I had to write a story and that I didn’t care if I were a good writer or not. For several years, I studied writing and craft. I joined writing groups and made friends with other writers. Slowly, I began to feel I could articulate my stories and my imagination onto the page…and that is my favorite thing about being a writer.

Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
I’ve traveled in Western Europe a great deal. Luckily, when I was writing Rakes and Radishes, I got a chance to visit London. I took lots of pictures to help me visualize what my characters would see and feel as they moved through the London streets. I tried to visit museums in the London row houses to see how the floor plans were laid out.

Is there anything special you do to get in the mood to write?
I react strongly to music. I had jazz by Chris Botti and Diana Krall playing in the background when I wrote Rakes and Radishes.

If I need a mood or certain emotional response for a character, I find a song that expresses that emotion and repeat the song, trying to hold the emotion long enough to write how it feels. When Kesseley was spiraling down into rakedom, I listened to Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” over and over. Henrietta seemed to prefer songs by “The Sundays.”

On my website is the Rake and Radishes playlist (http://www.susannaives.com/pages/about.html)

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
That your past and your past mistakes don’t have to dictate your future.

I think what I love about my characters is their resilience. They make terrible mistakes and must deal with the consequences of their decisions both on others and on their own psyches. Henrietta must realize the pain her childish schemes have on Kesseley. Her selfish love for Edward falls away for a mature love for Kesseley. There is even a point in the book when Henrietta realizes she might not have Kesseley’s affections again. She has to let him go to another woman with wishes for his well-being. I think that has to be the hardest, yet most compassionate love of all -- letting someone go.

Meanwhile, Kesseley has spent a lifetime defining himself as what he is not: his father. During the course of the story, Kesseley has to travel into his fears in order to come out his own man. A man ready to truly love Henrietta.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
Yes, I’m a little more stressed (laughs). In truth, it’s made me more protective of my creative space, as well as forced me to define what I want as a writer.

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.

I’m working away on a Victorian romance. I won’t say much because I’m afraid of jinxing myself.

You can find me on the web at http://www.susannaives.com/ On twitter I am @SusannaIves

What song would best describe your life?
Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride.”

If you were a superhero, what special power would you have?
Super Mixologist Chick. I would arrive on the scene and create the perfect mixed drink. Actually, I’m terrible at mixing drinks. It’s a gift I don’t possess.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
iPod, a power supply, laptop – I’m a wired girl.

Madelyn Ford

Please join me in welcoming this weeks author, Madelyn Ford. My Avenging Angel was recently reviewed by Seriously. Don't forget to check it out and see what the reviewer thought of Ms Ford's book :)

What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?

I am both a paranormal and historical junkie. Some of my favorites are Alyssa Day, Alexandra Ivy, Kresley Cole, Alexis Morgan, and Pamela Palmer for paranormal and Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas for historical. I am also a huge fan of Lora Leigh. Absolutely love how well she can write emotional scenes.


Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
I wish I could travel to different locations for research but with three children under twelve, there is not much traveling going on in my life. I either write about places I or my DH have lived in or spend lots of time using Google. I don’t know how writers managed before the internet, but thank goodness for it. It makes my job much easier.


Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I guess I am somewhere in between. I start off totally pantsing it, having a pretty good idea of who the characters are and generally knowing the beginning and the end, but everything in between being a mystery. As I go, I jot down lots of notes, ideas for scenes that come to me. Some of them I use, some get stored away for later books. I think it is what keeps me motivated, the desire to know how the story turns out. It is why the endings are usually the hardest part for me. I tend to lose interest once I know how everything progresses.


Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?
Lol. No. I still get no respect from my three children and my house is still a mess.


Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I wish I could multi-task like some writers do, but I find I lose track of plot points if I jump around. My plots tend to get rather involved so as not to leave threads hanging, I need to stay really immersed in the story. And even then, sometimes I miss things. I reread what I am working on a lot.


If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
Definitely a shifters. The thought of being a vampire and having to drink blood grosses me out but being able to shift form might be pretty cool…as long as it’s not painful. I’m kind of a wimp that way, lol.


What’s for dinner tonight?
Fried haddock, broccoli, and rice. My BIL cooked so it was excellent.


What is sexier boxer or briefs?
I like the boxer briefs. There is something incredibly sexy about them.


If you were a superhero, what special power would you have?
I always wanted Wonder Woman’s invisible jet. Oh—and her lasso. I wonder what that says about me.


What’s your favorite curse word?
Sadly, I like them all. I guess for those who have read my books, that’s not a big surprise, lol.


*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.

I am currently editing the second ms in my Watchers series and am finishing up writing Gabriel and Ari’s story, the second in my Archangel series.

Please share any links you would like listed in the Interview. Website, Myspace, blog, facebook, yahoo group etc.
http://www.madelynford.com/
http://madelynford.com/blog/
http://www.facebook.com/madelyn.ford
Twitter: madelyn_ford

V. J. Devereaux

Please give a warm welcom to VJ Devereaux and don't forget to check out the review for Cherry's Jubilee here at SR.

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

Writing the first draft, when it’s new, exciting and I don’t always know what will happen next.

What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?
I’m pretty eclectic, I’ll read almost anything, even cereal boxes and skywriting if I get desperate.

Do you have travel when researching your books? If yes, where is the most interesting place you’ve visited?
I used to travel a lot for business, and I’ve also taken vacation trips to Great Britain, Hawaii, on a motorcycle up the California coast, and I’ve been able to use a lot of that in my stories.


When writing your description of your hero/ine what feature do you start with? Eyes, age, hair color, etc? For the guys I usually have a hero in mind, a model or actor whose face just suits the part. The heroines come to me as I write but I try not to have one specific type except for height. Being vertically challenged myself, I know how hard it is for some people to believe I could kick some serious butt. *grins*

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a pantser, I get claustrophobic. Box, what box, I don’t need no stinkin’ box. I’m the definition of thinking outside the box.


If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
Actually, the most current one. That’s not a pitch. Both of my others are ménages―you can’t say I’m not ambitious―a vampire ménage a trios, and a contemporary ménage a quatre. Then I’d try Night Moves and have Cherry’s Jubilee for desert.


What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
Characters they love and hate to leave.


How long have you been a writer?
*laughs* I self-published my first novel at eight, did the illustrations and everything. When I say I’ve been writing all my life, I’m not kidding.


How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?
Decades. Seriously. Those early books are lost to time but I came back to writing about five or six years ago and Night Moves wasn’t my first book, just the first published.

Did you have any other careers before devoting yourself to being a full-time writer?
Oh, yes, I’m a jack of all trades and master of none. I’ve been a portrait artist, a software consultant, sold vacuum cleaners and even lived homeless for about six months. All fodder for stories.


Do you write under more than one name? Why?
Yes, my erotica is written under my pseudonym of V. J. Devereaux, to differentiate it from my more mainstream work, for no other reason than when a reader picks up of my books they’ll know what they’re getting. A Valerie Douglas novel might be hot and sexy, but a Devereaux novel will curl your hair.


Are any of your characters based on real people or events?
Yes, definitely, and the characters? I’ve been blessed with knowing some truly great men.


How would your friends describe you?
Weird, wild and wonderful. *grins* With severe ADHD.

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?
I really can’t tell my right hand from my left or north from south unless the sun is shining. Without a GPS I’m totally lost.

What books or authors have most influenced your life?
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, she wrote a gentle tale about prejudice and injustice that influenced millions.


How do your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
My husband struggles with the ‘mad writer’, he’s never sure who it is he’ll be dealing with. *laughing* My family doesn’t know what to make of me. But then that’s been true all my life.


Describe to us your typical day –
Up at 5 AM to work as a supervisor. An hour commute there and back. Do my exercise routine after work most days, 1 hour. Sit down at the computer around five after a quick dinner and either write fresh or edit an existing novel. I currently have seventeen completed novels, not including the ones published.


If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything on your road to publication?
That was in the hands of fate.


Where are you from?
I was born in SE Pennsylvania, raised in NE PA, but now I live in the farmlands of Ohio.


How do you come up with the titles?
They just fit. Only Night Moves had to be changed. Cherry’s Jubilee was obvious once I had the whole story in my head. In the new one Rick, the hero, named the book.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
Most times I work on one project in a fast blitz, then go back and edit.

When not writing, how do you relax?
Reading, of course. If you don’t read, you can’t write. I still love to draw. Then walking, the outdoors.


Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?
None of my stories will ever be the same, but you’ll always be guaranteed a great story, a strong hero and an equally strong heroine.


If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
Modern vampire – out in daylight, seducing men and sucking on their necks. Can’t beat it.


What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
Driving fast – now on restricted license plates *grins*

What sound drives you crazy?
Loud noise of any kind, thunder, music, shouting…


If you were a tool, what would people use you for?
Shining a light in the darkness.

What’s the perfect romantic evening?
A secluded location by the ocean, candles, dinner, soft music


You can erase one embarrassing experience from your past. What will it be?
Truthfully, all those experiences made me who I am, so, none of them.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Contents under pressure (I have a temper. Consider yourself warned.)


A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be?
A Cockeyed Optimist or Are You Insane?

What’s for dinner tonight?
Steak, mushrooms, salad, margaritas. I’m good.


What is sexier boxer or briefs?
Boxers *wicked evil grin* you can get under them easier.


Who’s more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen and why?
Neither, give me the guy with experience, the one who has been through the wars, real or personal, the one with quirks, courage and a code of honor. He might masquerade as either, but that’s who he is at heart.


Where is the craziest place you’ve ever had sex? Or where is the craziest place you made your characters have sex?
Well, covering a heroine in chocolate (Cherry’s Jubilee) in front of a whole party while three hot men dip fruit in it, is pretty hard to top. But I’ll try.


If you were a superhero, what special power would you have?
Flight. I’m terrified of heights but I’d kill to fly.


What’s your favorite curse word?
Boogers. Drives my mother insane.


If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
A book on the NY Times best seller list, a voice in Congress, and a chance to make a difference.


If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
A laptop with a solar array and a satellite card, a hammock and a hot guy. Seriously.


If you could be a shapeshifter, what form would you take and why?
Back to the flying thing… an eagle, or a wolf, with all the sharpened senses.


What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
*laughing* I keep making new lists, but I’d like to go to space. Just to look at the little blue marble we call Earth.


What is your favorite candy bar?
Little Debbie’s Nutty Bars, I’m absolutely mad about them.

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases. I’ve got a series on demons I’m hoping my publisher takes. An epic fantasy called A Coming Storm and a classic fantasy called Song of the Faery Queen that has some interesting twists and turns, and a mystery called The Last Resort that has some great characters in it. All are looking for homes.



Please share any links you would like listed in the Interview. Website, Myspace, blog, facebook, yahoo group etc.
Website: http://www.vjdevereauxbooks.com/ or http://www.valeriedouglasbooks.com/
Facebook: V. J. Devereaux
Blog: http://www.vjdouglasbooks.blogspot.com/

Cooper McKenzie

I would like everyone to give a warm welcome to Cooper McKenzie :) http://www.coopermckenzie.webs.com/ And don't forget to check out the review that SR gave to Caught by the Master

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I find the hardest part of writing is to actually find the time to sit down and let my thoughts flow from brain through fingers to the page. If I’m stressed or busy or feeling less than confident in my story, or if the story has taken a wrong turn somewhere, I find it nearly impossible to sit down and write.

When writing your description of your hero/ine what feature do you start with? Eyes, age, hair color, etc?
I usually start with age and then eyes, hair, body.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Definitely a pantser. Usually when I sit down to start a book I have a title, two characters and a first sentence. I may know where I want the story to end up, but usually have no clue how to get from first page to “the end”.

How long have you been a writer?
I’ve been a writer since the beginning of time. I learned to read and write in Kindergarten. That’s also when I fell in love with books. At 13 I announced I planned to be a writer when I grew up. My father’s response was that since I was getting a C in English that grading period I couldn’t be a writer. He’s since changed his mind.

Do you write under more than one name? Why?
Yes, I started writing for children and young adults under the name Susan Eileen Walker. Then I wrote a women’s fiction novel, SHE, under the name S. E. Walker because I did not want my young readers to think this was another book for them. Currently I write erotic romance as Cooper McKenzie and recently had my first Christian/Inspiration romance (Peaches and the Preacher) published under the name Susan Walker.

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?
I am usually focused on only one task at a time though I have several stories waiting in my brain for my attention. If one isn’t working, I might try to turn to another, but usually end up going back to the first one to finish it once my subconscious has resolved whatever the problem was.

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.
Let’s see…. July 26 is the release date for Minding Mistress, the third of the Club Esoteria series (www.bookstrand.com)

I also have several coming this summer from www.redrosepublishing.com. To see the full list, check my website… www.coopermckenzie.webs.com

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Warning, mood may change in a heartbeat causing whiplash to those nearby.

What is sexier boxer or briefs?
Boxers allow for more imagination and easier to get to the goodies.

Where is the craziest place you’ve ever had sex? Or where is the craziest place you made your characters have sex?
Craziest place I ever had sex was in the front seat of a pickup truck parked at a college soccer game. For my characters I think it would be in Love Reincarnate when Donovan and Jayne have sex in a garden a dozen yards from a Halloween party he’s hosting.

What’s your favorite curse word?
Fuck – the all purpose word. In addition to a curse, it’s a noun, a verb and if said very, very slowly, is quite the descriptive.

What is your favorite candy bar?
M&Ms milk chocolate

Erica Anderson

Erica Anderson author of Not Quite a Lady. Check out her website :) http://www.authorericaanderson.blogspot.com/ Pretty Sweet :) Now let me introduce you to this wonderful author :)

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?
I love to submerge myself in another time period and imagine how it would be to live another life in another era. There’s definitely a little bit of me in all of my heroines (or, at least that’s what I like to think!) Our imaginations allow us to live many more times and ways than we’re able to do “for real.” As a reader, I love to escape into the fantasy world of romance. As a writer, I try to make that escape believable for others and take them along for the ride.

What genres and authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?
I read a variety of genres and I’m always discovering new-to-me authors. Of course, romance is my number one favorite genre. I lost patience many years ago with all those books tagged as “literature” in which everyone dies. Even the good people! I love HEAs.

Historicals are my favorite (surprise!). Authors I enjoy are Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas, Madeline Hunter, Loretta Chase. I began reading romance with Regency trads and I have a big collection of old Mary Balogh and Carla Kelly. I also read medievals, but they’re hard to find these days.

My favorite historical fiction always has a romance plot line. Favorites include Sara Donati’s series, which started with Into the Wilderness. I also read Ariana Franklin, Philippa Gregory, Kathleen Givens, and Barbara Kyle as well as Dorothy Dunnett and Cynthia Harrod-Eagles.

Science fiction and fantasy favorites include Jim Butcher, Lois McMaster Bujold, and Guy Gavriel Kay.

And, of course, erotica—I love Samantha Kane and Emma Wildes. Both, not surprisingly, write Regency-era erotic romance.


Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Pants, pants, pants. I couldn’t plot my way out of a paper bag. I start with a scene that has appeared in my head. I write that down and go as far as I can with it. Then I work on another story. Eventually, I’ll figure out, completely subconsciously, what comes next.

Right now, for example, I have about five erotic romances in various stages of completion—two Regencies, one medieval, one contemporary, and one science fiction. I move back and forth between them as ideas come to me. I am easily bored, so having the freedom to write what I want to when I want to is invaluable.


What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?
A warm, cozy happily-ever-after feeling and the sense that there’s a place in the world where everything comes out right in the end.

What’s something fans would find fascinating about you?
I actually have a doctorate in anthropology. While I’d like to eventually be able to support myself with my writing, I’m not there yet. Right now I teach at a university in Alaska. I’ve done archaeological work all over the United States, as well as in Peru, Mexico, and the Russian Far East. I’ve always been fascinated by the past.

When not writing, how do you relax?
I do contemporary-style quilting (bright colors and bold geometric patterns). I am also an avid birder and I’ve been lucky enough to have the chance to volunteer on a couple of scientific studies of endangered seabirds. I spend as much of the summer gardening as I can. And I travel a lot—mostly to Europe and almost always on my own.

If you could be a paranormal creature, which one would you be?
A were-warbler

What’s a guilty pleasure you have?
Eating peanut-butter M&Ms straight from the bag while watching a TV medical drama and petting my rescue kitty, Cyrus (that’s three guilty pleasures, but they sort of go together).

If you could have three wishes granted, what would you wish for?
I’m going to answer this selfishly, rather than wishing for world peace and an end to hunger and violence against humans and animals. Wish #1: a house with a decadent bathroom; #2: property enough to give homeless animals homes; #3: my own happily-ever-after.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?
Books, my cat, and my sister, who is the funniest person I know.

What’s number one on your list of things you hope to do before you die?
Visit the Galapagos Islands and see the incredible animals there.

*Please share with us your future projects and upcoming releases.


I have a science-fiction erotic romance coming out from Ellora’s Cave on July 7th that I’m very excited about. It’s called The Antaren Affair. It’s about a gruff, duty-bound military officer who meets an alien woman during a diplomatic mission.

She’s part of an oppressed class on her planet and she speaks a language that requires her to think of herself only as an object. The hero, who also happens to be a linguist, literally gives her the words to reconceptualize herself as a person, as an individual with her own needs and, er, desires.

http://www.authorericaanderson.blogspot.com/