Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Deborah Kinnard

Deborah Kinnard's latest book, Aloha, My Love, will be avail on 1 DEC, but we thought we'd gush about it this week on the blog. Here's a great Q&A with Deborah.


STEPH - I don't know much about Aloha, My Love. Can you tell us a little about the story?

DEB: Sure! It's a "second chances" story, in which a guy who's just been disappointed in love gets to try once more with his best (female) friend. A lot of healing occurs in this book, because these two "made for each other" people have been dancing around the love they have for each other for a long time...

STEPH - Aloha is set in Hawaii. How did you choose the setting?

DEB: It almost chose itself! My husband took me there for my 10th anniversary, and I loved it so much I knew I would set a story there. If you're listening, hon, I'd sure love to go back for our 25th!

STEPH: - How long did it take you to write Aloha?

DEB: It went very quickly. I'm not the fastest writer on the planet, but once I thought of the church singles taking a winter getaway to Hawaii, I knew exactly the story I wanted to tell.

STEPH - Have you ever been to Hawaii?

DEB: We went to Oahu and to the Big Island. I'd recommend the Big Island for sheer beauty against almost any other place on earth.

STEPH - Do you cast your characters? If so, who are the leads?

DEB: I never have. I prefer to visualize them as they take shape in my mind, and let my readers do the same as they read.

STEPH - How long have you been writing?

DEB: Non-seriously, since age 10. Seriously, since the late 80s. I first sold in 2002, so I guess I'm a 40 year overnight success.

STEPH: - Are you a plotter or a panster?

DEB: Totally, 110% pantser. I rarely plot anything out beforehand. I prefer to write "character-driven" fiction, and the characters don't always tell me what they're up to. The one time I tried to outline, the book bogged down and still isn't finished.

STEPH: - Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

DEB: I don't ... but family, if you're listening, Christmas IS coming!


STEPH: - What was the last novel you read?

DEB: I've been writing so much, I can't think of the last one I picked up and then finished! LOL. I'm currently reading Carla Capshaw's print book GLADIATOR and Richard Mabrey's MEDICAL ERROR. I doubt I'll be finishing those anytime soon!

STEPH: - Any Holiday traditions you'd like to share?

DEB: My tacky plastic candle always goes on display every Christmas. My grandmother had one, and it was very dear to me. I suppose this was because it was hers...my mom used to give her a hard time about it. So naturally when I got my first home, I found one as close to Grandma's as I could. It's still plastic, still tacky...but it's what we do.

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Shawna K. Williams

STEPH: I'd like to welcome Desert Breeze Author, Shawna K. Williams to the blog. Shawna, I don't know much about In All Things. Can you tell us a little about the story?


SHAWNA: In All Things is the sequel to No Other. The story picks up with Jakob and Meri ten years later. Jakob has put all of his effort into fulfilling his promise to Roger by making Meri's dreams come true. They've moved to Hollywood and Meri is a successful actress. But what you have to ask is this; was this really Meri's dream, or was it what he thought was her dream, and by achieving it was he really trying to prove himself?

Meri on the other hand has her own set of issues. She's tried to put the past behind her, but a part of her still craves her parents' approval – something most children want even when they come from an abusive home. She hopes that time and her success have brought a change of heart to her parents, but when she finds that it hasn't she sets out with determination to shove her success in their faces and shame them that way.

Both Meri and Jakob are faced with coming to terms over the fact that success has proved dissatisfying. Likewise, an unhealthy nature to their relationship has stifled their growth in Christ, and they have to overcome that, too.

Along with Jakob and Meri's story is the story of healing that takes place in Jakob's family. Though, some things get worse before they get better. This story is actually more literary in that sense than romance. It's very focused on the characters' personal journeys.


STEPH: What was the inspiration behind the story?

SHAWNA: It was inspired from the same dream that inspired No Other. Then a lot of things evolved just from things I have experienced and observed of human nature. Like Meri and Jakob both wanting to be successful just to "show" someone. If they can't win their object's approval, then they'll ignite their jealousy, right?

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

SHAWNA: Off and on for almost nine years, with one of the 'offs' being two years long. I've always had a knack for it, but it wasn't until three years ago that I decided to really commit to learning and to make a serious effort at getting published.

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

SHAWNA: A little bit of both. I have to have an idea of the overall theme. So I initially write a loose summary of the story. Before each scene I also like to have objectives in mind – meaning, what do I want to accomplish with this scene. How I'm going to do that though is complete panstering, and I always leave room for the unexpected. Sometimes entirely new levels of characterization are discovered this way.

STEPH: Are you doing NaNoWriMo? What are your thoughts on National Novel writing month?

SHAWNA: I would love to participate in NoNoWriMo, but I wish it wasn't in November! This year there was just no way, not with one book just releasing and another coming out in December. But I love the idea, and when I can set aside the time I'm actually a fairly quick writer, assuming the story if fermently cemented in my mind. I wrote over 30,000 words in Orphaned Hearts in four weeks, and that was polished. It's not a stretch to think I could do it in 50,000 in a month. I'd love to try. I'd just need to stock up on frozen meals and be sure the family is all set before I enter my cave.

STEPH: Cast the characters: Who is Meri? Jakob?

SHAWNA: Hmm... this has changed numerous times over the years. When this story first came to me the movie Pearl Harbor had not been out that long, and for some reason I could easily see Josh Harnett as Jakob. Charlize Theron was who I saw as Meri back then. However, as the years trickled on, both of these actors started to seem a little too old to fit Meri and Jakob in No Other anymore, because in that book they are 20 and 22. When I started rewriting No Other to get it ready for publication it was season 8 of American Idol. I'm from Arkansas, and our state had a contestant, Kris Allen, in the contest. He went on to win – something that made Arkansans very proud. There was a lot of publicity surrounding him in our state, and physically, except for his height, he fit the description of Jakob. But manner-wise, he really fit! I even had a friend in Florida, who was familiar with Jakob's character, email me to say so. To top it off, Kris Allen's wife, Katie, fit the description of Meri spot on. So all during the rewrite of No Other these two were who I saw as Meri and Jakob.

BUT, when it came time to rewrite In All Things I ran into the opposite problem. Jakob and Meri were older, now 31 and 33. Kris and Katie Allen seemed too young to picture as my characters. However, Josh Hartnett and Charlize Theron didn't. Sooo, I went back with my original cast. The story had caught up to their ages. Weird.

STEPH: What's your favorite place to go on vacation?

SHAWNA: I love a cabin in the mountains in winter, surrounded by woods. I think I'd pick that over almost anything everytime.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

SHAWNA: Yep! I have a Kindle. I love it! My daughter has a Nook. She loves it! Sometimes we swap, but she always likes her Nook more and I always like my Kindle more.

STEPH: What attracts you to writing early 20th Century?

SHAWNA: It's hard to say. Something about the era evokes warm-fuzzy feelings in me. There was less clutter, and I think an innocence pervaded that seems lost in many way. But even as I say that, I'm fully aware of the dichotomy of the statement. One of the major story elements in No Other is the internment of Jakob's family based solely on their heritage in WWII, and this was something that really happened to many Americans of German, Italian and Japanese decent. Orphaned Hearts is inspired by my granddad's experience growing up in an orphanage. The indifference, or outright cruelty toward orphans was something he endured. These are both horrible things, and not something to feel all warm and fuzzy about. It does seem though, that at people's core there was something more solid... connected. Maybe that's what pulled them through such trials as what I just mentioned. I'm not really sure I can give a concrete answer to this question Steph, other than to say that something pulls me there, over and over, and whispers in my ear.

STEPH: Fun question: Who is your favorite: Picassco, Monet, Renoir?

SHAWNA: Renoir and Monet. I like Renoir's paintings a little bit more, but these two guys were friends, and there is one painting Renoir did of Monet painting in the garden that I love because it shows their relationship. And he didn't take his work too seriously all the time. There is this beautiful painting of his called, "The Thought." I don't think he actually named it, but I could be wrong. The painting is impressionists style of this lovely young girl looking lost in thought, and Renoir was thoroughly amused at listening to the endless chatter of people speculating about what she was thinking of. Apparently he knew the girl, and according to him, "She never had a thought in her life."

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Michelle Levigne

STEPH: I don't know much about Behind The Scenes. Can you tell us a little about the story?

MICHELLE: BEHIND deals with the Randolph family "crisis" that is mentioned in several other Tabor Heights books -- Joel and Emily, the parents, were hit by a drunk driver in a construction truck, and the university and church community rallied around them to help out, including staging a Shakespearean production at their theater, Homespun.

Readers also met Joel and Emily in the short story, "Homespun," which shows how they met and fell in love during summer stock.

Max, 4 years old in the short story, is now 25/26, and making a name for herself in writing novels and screenplays and stage plays. She is left in charge of the theater and her half-brothers while her parents are in the hospital. Her best friend and writing partner, Tony Martin, is in CA as a writer-in-residence when the book opens. He hurries home to support Max, and is stumped how to share with her the insight he gained while he was away: He's in love with her. He knows, from writing romance with her, that Max won't appreciate him breaking the news at the wrong time -- but what IS the right time?

Things get complicated when Joel's sister, Rose, shows up, and essentially moves in with him. And Max has a production of "Taming of the Shrew" to stage. And a book that is going to miss its deadline. And a temperamental actor to deal with. And the big problem of a film fellowship that she won -- that will take her to California, right into the path of her birth father, who doesn't even know Max exists. Thanks to Max placing in the fellowship, using her mother's maiden name as her pen name, and the sudden media attention from the accident, Max's natural father knows she exists now. And that, along with someone trying to steal her writing identity, might destroy her career before it can get started.

How's Tony going to convince Max that they belong together, as more than writing partners, when she has so many distractions?



STEPH: What was in the inspiration for the story?

MICHELLE: I honestly can't remember the exact germ of the idea, but it originally started as a series of half-hour scripts for a TV series I proposed to the Family Channel, back when CBN owned it. And the original story began after Joel was killed in that traffic accident, leaving Max and her two brothers running the theater. In the original story, Emily had been dead several years. And Rose showed up for Joel's funeral, having been kicked out of the house by their tyranical father. So she moves in with Max and her brothers because she has nowhere else to go.

So you can see, I changed a LOT of things when I turned it into a book!

As for the TV series ... the production company chose "Big Brother Jake" instead of my series. Does anybody remember "Big Brother Jake"? Nope! Their loss....

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

MICHELLE: Seriously, aiming toward publication ... my sophomore year of high school. I'd been scribbling story ideas, sometimes tending toward fan fiction, since junior high. I remember a Star Trek-type story I tried to write. I had one of those 3-prong folders, that you put reports in. I filled it with notebook paper, and wrote the opening couple of scenes -- stranding the captain's daughter on an alien planet. Then I couldn't figure out what came next, so I flipped to about halfway through the stack of papers -- maybe 50 pages, and started writing the scenes where the ship comes back to the planet. I figured I'd fill in the middle later. Yeah, right!

STEPH: How do you create your characters? Do you cast them? If so, who are the leads?

MICHELLE: Sometimes I cast characters. For BEHIND, I cast Jim Burnes (Joe Dawson, from the Highlander TV show) as Joel Randolph. And Ricardo Montalban was Carlo Vincente, Max's natural father, right from the TV series writing days. Emily was kind of nebulous, as were Joe and Jeremy. I was Max, of course. I always make myself a character in lots of my books -- at least, at the beginning. Then as it grows and solidifies, I take off the mask, so to speak, and step back and let the characters do what they want.



STEPH: How did the story find a home with Desert Breeze?

MICHELLE: I had my Mafia cousin, Guido, make Gail an offer she couldn't refuse.


Actually, I just pitched the first story, "The Second Time Around," and wrote on the cover page, "A Tabor Heights, Ohio Novel." Gail asked if I had any other Tabor Heights books, and if so, what were they about .... and from there it was history. It's kind of intimidating, the responsibility of trying to make sure each subsequent book is just as good as the one before.



STEPH: What's your favorite place to go to vacation?

MICHELLE: Y'know, I don't really go on vacations. Because that kind of means doing things other than writing, and I'm kind of addicted to this thing, y'know? When I was working, and I had paid vacations, I usually used my vacation time to go to conferences. I'd do the sightseeing thing sometimes, but there's always this guilty feeling of "Why aren't you writing?" that kind of ruins any goofing off time.

That's awful, isn't it?

I like the Lake Erie islands. Just for a day. And there was this canoeing trip we took to Canada when I was in high school -- just the quiet and cleanness and scenery. And I liked the inland passage in Florida - we traveled it by water taxi/ferry.

If I went away for a week, you know I'd have my computer open and writing at least four hours every day, and what kind of vacation is that?

STEPH: Fun question: If you were a NASCAR driver, who would you want to sponsor your car?

MICHELLE: Hmmmm, they usually have a few sponsors, don't they?
How about .... TJ Maxx, Target, Fictionwise/B&N, and Hershey's!

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Toni Noel

I'd like to welcome Author Toni Noel to the blog this week for the spotlight. Toni's latest release is called "Law Breakers and Love Makers." Enjoy! Steph

***


STEPH: I don't know much about Law Breakers and Love Makers. Can you tell us a little about the book?

TONI:
Here's a blurb:

Take one resolute wisp of a woman, one conscientious deputy, add some single-minded pets and a few crimes-in-progress and you have a situation that would be funny if the couple falling back in love was not so darn scared. Law Breakers and Love Makers takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride that starts when a house sitter accidentally sets off a silent alarm.

STEPH: What was the inspiration behind the book?

TONI: A lovely, rambling house in a secluded rural neighborhood inspired this novel. I visualized bad guys climbing the lower wall and approaching the house unobserved and when I got home from the party at that house started plotting a romantic suspense.

STEPH: I see that it's a romantic suspense. What attracts you to that genre?

TONI: I'm more of a suspense fan than mystery fan. I enjoy figuring out who-dun-it and sometimes being right. I guess you could say I like light mysteries, so that is what I write about, characters with a problem to solve, and very little violence.

STEPH: Do you have a series planned? What's next on the horizon for you?

TONI: No, so far I have no series planned, although the friends of the sexy business owner in Temp to Permanent, my June 1, 2011 release from Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc., would lend themselves nicely to a series. Who knows? There just might be a series in the works.

I've just signed another contract with Desert Breeze for the release of Decisive Moments, a dark romance, in time for Halloween, 2011. I don't usually write about dark heroes, but I frequently write about ghosts, and as long my hero and heroine find a safe haven for their hearts in the end I'm pleased, and in this novel they do.

STEPH: Do you have a certain process to develop your characters? Do you cast your characters? If so who are the leads?

TONI: Not always with movie stars, but yes, I do cast the characters for my novels because I like to have a firm image of each one in my mind. Michelle Piper and a younger George Clooney were the models for Zoe and Jon. Her sweetly innocent look was exactly the image I wanted for my quirky heroine.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write Law Breakers and Love Makers?

TONI: Six weeks. Once the writing started, the words just came pouring out because my characters took over the writing and I had no choice but to go along for the ride. As for Boomer and Pete, the friendly dog and talkative parrot, I had no idea they were going to show up on about page eleven and steal the scene. I'd stop writing each night, exhausted, but anxious to see what the next day would bring.

I did lots of revision once I'd typed "The End," but I didn't change much in their scenes, since those pets hadn't tried to take over my love scenes.

STEPH: Do you have any hobbies you'd like to share with us?

TONI: I did a lot of gardening before promoting my books took over my life, but I don't want to change a thing, unless it's to have my gardener come more often. I hired him and a cleaning woman when I developed that deep vein thrombosis and had to keep my leg elevated for the better part of a year.

We like to camp, and I knit while watching football more than I should. And you say one of my hobbies is avoiding the kitchen until after we eat. Since his first retirement, my husband has become a very good gourmet cook. Not me. Our now-deceased dog used to hide when my husband went out of town and left me to cook.

STEPH: It's paranormal month. What are you going to be for Halloween?

TONI: The door-opener for the trick-or-treaters who ring our bell. I have a "wrong-way-witch on my security door and hide behind it to pass out treats. My pleasure comes from seeing the imaginative costumes of the little ones. Even the babies in strollers are in costume, and parents bring children in cars to scare the residents of my street.

Borealis Week - Welcome and Author Interviews

The Borealis I Anthology released on 1 OCT and contains stories from Gail R. Delaney, PI Barrington, and J. Morgan. The stories are centered around a space station in the future. This week, the blog will be visited by the Borealis I Authors who share their thoughts about writing, the Borealis and science fiction romance. Enjoy the week!


5 QUESTIONS FOR GAIL R. DELANEY:


1. How did you come up with the idea to do a Sci-Fi series?


I can take no credit for this series whatsoever. In truth, fellow Borealis author J. Morgan approached me with the idea. He can be very convincing, and the more the two of us talked about it the more I liked the idea.

I like the concept of individual stories set in a common place with 'threads' connecting them because it's almost like an episodic television show. And since many lovers of science fiction are influenced by episodic television, it seemed appropriate.

2. How did your vision for the Borealis take shape?

I have to refer back to Jmo on this. Once he gave me the original idea, the two of us did a lot of 'back and forth' brainstorming on what the stories could be about and how they would tie in. I loved the idea of not only doing an anthology of 'like' stories, but a series of anthologies that interconnected. We could delve deep without each author committing to a full length novel.

3. What's it like editing an anthology where the stories intertwine with each other? Do you have to tell authors, "well, you can't do that because so-so did this...?"

I worked as a writer on a continuity series a few years ago, and unfortunately, the 'continuity' was lost in the series. By the time I was asked to write the last book, the storylines had gone off course so badly I couldn't write it and match the other books. Anyway, this was definitely on my mind when I began editing these stories. And yes, I've had to point out areas that don't work, or ways to make them work, or even ways to tie in other stories that might not be 'required', but adds interest. It's been a challenge.

4. How did your story in the anthology come to be?

Remember that continuity series I mentioned? ☺ Well, the book was never written for a variety of reasons. The timelines didn't mesh, and ultimately the publisher shut down before the book was done. I'd written about 45k words of the book, and liked several elements of it. So, I took the parts I liked, edited out parts that no longer applied, and added a new ending. It works GREAT in the Borealis setting.

5. Are there more Borealis Anthologies on the horizon?

The first Borealis anthology is October 2010, with the second coming immediately after in November 2010. This anthology has morphed a couple of times. It started as 5 stories in one release, but I realized quickly that the single anthology would be much too long. So we split it and added a 6th story for two releases. Borealis II has contributions by Stephanie Burkhart, Esther Mitchell and Shea McMaster. We also have Borealis III scheduled for next year, but if sales go well, I'm not opposed to also doing Borealis IV next year. Borealis III has stories by Vijaya Schartz, Michelle Levigne and Shay Wells. Time will tell on whether a fourth Borealis will happen in 2011, but if it does, I have a few authors in mind.

5 QUESTIONS FOR PI BARRINGTON:

1. How did you get involved in the series?

Gail (DBP Editor in Chief Gail R. Delaney) invited me to participate in the anthology she was creating which was Borealis (I love that name) and I accepted. I loved the whole concept and Gail is really good at creating sci-fi worlds.



2. Did you pick your story or did it pick you? *grin*

As I said Gail created it, and gave us the bones of the stories so we jumped off from there and created them in relation to the concept.

3. Where did you find your inspiration for your story?
I wanted a different character type for both hero and heroine in Inamorata Crossing. I think the casting I did really developed them and their particular story. Just the fact that they were part of a futuristic military setting aboard a transport and that each had an unresolved past, especially Khai and that Teyrnan had such an annoying/endearing sense of humor was the basis for the inspiration.


4. Did you "cast" your characters? Write character bios? How did you shape the characters for your story?

Yes, I definitely did, I almost always do. Bios I try to do but I'm not very successful at it. Usually just a particular photo of a character gives me the personality and conflicts but also helps me to create dialogue. If I can picture that actor/person in that photo speaking or behaving or thinking then I've pretty much got the character. Usually if I've got the photo and the first line the story falls into place. I picked Eric Bana, because as I told Gail, he started out in stand-up comedy and I've seen him do 'bits' and he fit the character of Teyrnan Sajan perfectly. Evangeline Lilly was perfect for Khai Zafara. For some reason I picture her fairly tall and the character of Khai is a soldier, lean but athletic when needed.


5. Did you coordinate with other authors on your stories? How was that like? Did JMO and Gail play nice in the sandbox? *wink*

I did not. My story was set on a transport ship en route to Borealis and there was no interaction between my characters and other stories' characters because of that. I didn't really think it needed interaction because Khai is a dedicated soldier and she contents herself with that, she would rarely if ever be spotted at a tavern or bar off duty because for her, she's never off duty. It's her life, her compulsion in a way. So I was flying solo, pardon the expression, when I wrote Inamorata Crossing,LOL!

5 QUESTIONS FOR J. MORGAN

STEPH: How did you get involved with the Borealis? 



JMO: 
I believe it started with 'Hey Gail, wouldn't it be fun to do a SciFi anthology based on a space station'. From there, her imagination took over with some nudges from me on details but the heart of Borealis is all hers.

STEPH: Did you pick your story or did it pick you? *grin*

JMO: I'd have to say it picked me, then fought me every step of the way. It was one of the hardest stories for me to write for some reason. I think that was because I wanted it to be perfect and hope I succeeded.


STEPH: JMO, we all know your tag line is "Romance straight to the Funny Bone." Is your story humourous? Serious? A blend? 


JMO: Humorous, of course, with some serious undertones. You can't write a totally comedic story without something to drive the funny. In Kate's case, it is to discover the man both he and his planet need him to be.

STEPH: What's your story about? Where did the inspiration come from?

JMO: I think the title of my story gives the answer to both questions away. Kiss Me Kate is a reworking of Taming of the Shrew and Our Fair Lady, only Sci-Fied up. K'tlyn is a prince from the planet of Pyern. He comes to Borealis in search of the one man who can turn him from a foppish figurehead into a real man. A warrior if you will. Only instead of the Professor, the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy, he gets the Professor's second in command, Richelle Burton. She might not be the man K'tlyn wanted but she is woman enough to turn a boy into a man.


STEPH: Did you coordinate with other authors? What was it like it? Did Patti & Gail play nice in the sandbox? *wink* 


JMO: 
There are no sandboxes in outer space. If there were in this case, I think I'd be playing in Gail and Patti's, since this was my first stab at writing SciFi.

Paranormal Week - Author Interviews

5 QUESTIONS FOR TAMI DEE, Author of the Mists of Time Series:

QUESTION #1 - How did the Mists of Time Viking Series come to you? What was the inspiration?

TAMI: The seed was planted in a dream. The dream was of a wall mural of a Viking ship braving rough seas on the inside of a young woman’s apartment. She ends up being swept into the mural and…. Well, you get the picture.

The funny thing is, the story line of Under A Viking Moon has nothing to do with what that dream. Nether was Dawn of A Viking Sunrise, or Beyond A Viking Horizon. I am still working on book four, Through A Viking Mist, but so far, no wall murals. Lol

One of these days though, I really will write that story.

QUESTION #2 - Do you have a "favorite" book in the series?

TAMI: I have been asked that before, and each time I really, really, try and think if I like one book over the others, and I always come back to the same answer. No. Each book is special to me, I became emotionally evolved with each set of heroes and heroines and I just can’t pick a favorite. ☺

QUESTION #3 - Have you ever been to Denmark?

TAMI: No, never.

QUESTION #4 - Tell us how the Time Traveling pendants work? How did you get the inspiration for them?

TAMI: I’m not a Scientist so as I give you my logic of the ‘how’ please keep that in mind. The pendants clasp together when they are near one another, the reason would be that the materials they were made from are magnetic. The glow which comes from them is based on the principal of those glow sticks, you know, bend the stick and it will glow. As for them sweeping people through Time, well, when the magnetic and ‘glowing’ mechanisms are activated, the result is the opening of a worm hole to another Time and place.

As for the inspiration for the pendants, I had gone through several books on Viking lore and I needed a medium to accomplish Time Travel, pendants seemed a logical choice.

QUESTION #5 - What project are you currently working on?

TAMI: Right now I am working on book four in the series, Through A Viking Mist. This book ‘speaks’ to me day and night, and I really wish I did not have a ‘day job’ so I could get this story out of my head and onto my laptop! Through A Viking Mist will take readers full circle within the series, and I think that readers will be surprised, and then more surprised, by where one goes.

5 QUESTIONS FOR J. MORGAN, Author of the Love Bites Series
QUESTION #1 - What attracts you to the paranormal?
JMO: Being scared of the dark as a kid. Honestly, that's the reason. One day I just decided I wouldn't be afraid anymore. So, I walked a mile in the dark and came home and watched Salem's Lot, the old scary one. After that I devoured every horror novel I could. Mainly, the Stephen King ones. Then, I moved on to Anne Rice and that's when I fell in love with anything paranormal.

QUESTION #2 - What the inspiration for the Love Bites Series?

JMO: Good friends. My very good friend, Lynne Connolly suggested I write a short for this open submission she knew about. Then, in a different chat window, my equally good friend Savannah Chase made a comment and suddenly, I had a first line in my head. The first draft of Love at First Stake took a little over two weeks to write and came to a staggering 20,000 words. So, long story short, I subbed it, the story was rejected. Strangely enough, I loved it. I had wanted to play with it since I hit send, and now I had the chance. Another 20k or so, I thought I had the story I wanted. Then, Desert Breeze/Gail Delaney got ahold of it and said, "I see more story there." Four books later, I'd have to say she was right.

QUESTION #3 - What was the inspiration for the Southern Werewolf Chronicles series?

Duct tape, unsightly hair growth and my wife. None of those things were muse-ically connected. Let me make that perfectly clear. My wife does not have unsightly hair growth, or has ever used duct tape at any time to get rid of said growth. Seriously, I've always read werewolf books that were set either in Europe or in some other locale. I said to myself "hey, people in the South are hairy. How come no one's written a werewolf book about us?" Seemed like a no-brainer to me. From there, it just kind of flowed into Were Love Blooms. Just to set the record straight, I do have unsightly hair growth but am too wussy to use duct tape. I just live with it, and howl at the moon when the need arises.

QUESTION #4 - What's your writing space like?

JMO: Messy. I'll not elaborate any further.

QUESTION #5 - What's your favorite paranormal movie?

JMO: Shoot. Too many to name, but the one I watch the most is Shaun of the Dead. I just love funny and zombie in the same celluloid goodness.

5 QUESTIONS FOR STEPHANIE BURKHART, Author of the Budapest Moon Series
QUESTION #1: What was the first book/movie that got your interested in the paranormal?

STEPH: For the book, I would have to say Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire." I read that my senior year in high school. Growing up, "The Creature Double Features" on Saturday morning fed the inner spook of my 7-year-old self.
QUESTION #2: The Hungarian embodies the best of the Gothic Romance and Paranormal Romance. What were your influences to bring this together?

STEPH: Gothic romance has been around since the late 1790's. Elements include the spooky house/manor/castle, secrets, a possible prophecy, and "supernatural" events with natural causes. (I sound preachy, huh? Pass the Oreos, JMO.)

No one did this as well as Victoria Holt. While Anne Rice isn't a "romance" author, her supernatural creatures wage an inner war between the human psyche and dark, more feral elements – Louis from Interview with the Vampire embodies this. In "The Hungarian," Matthias deals with the struggle between his human and feral natures, all against the backdrop of dark settings, spooky houses, and events with –wink- definite supernatural origins.

QUESTION #3: Would you ever branch out to write about other things that go bump in the night and what would you pick?

STEPH: Definitely! When it comes to my vamps, I'm picky. I do write about a clan in my Moldavian Moon series, Book 1, The Wolf's Torment. In my horror writing, I usually take a page out of Kostova and draw on the historical facts surrounding Vlad Dracula. (ie, my short stories, Red Paint, Crimson Blood, and The Watch Tower.)

I love writing witches and the Moldavian Moon series is going to have a bunch of them. I wrote about a Russian Ruslka in "The Music Box," (a haunted spirit that wasn't baptized) I would like to look at more European myths and explore them.

QUESTION #4: I'm stealing this one from you. What's your writing space like?

STEPH: Would you believe it's in the spookiest corner of the house with candles and incense? –wink- Actually, it's downstairs on the dining room table with lots of light from a nearby window and plenty of noise from my boys.

QUESTION #5: What paranormal author's world would you like to step into for one day?

STEPH: Gosh, this is a toughie. Does JK Rowling count? I love her Harry Potter series. I'd also love to step in Vijaya Schartz's world in the Chronicles of Kassouk, but that's not paranormal. How about Anne Rice's "The Witching Hour" world?

I wouldn't mind visiting Forks, WA either. –wink-

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Celia Yeary

I'd like to welcome author Celia Yeary to the blog day. Celia is a dear friend from the Book Spa and I'm tickled pink to have her here today.

STEPH: I don't know much about Texas Promise. Can you tell us a little about the story?

CELIA: It’s the first in a two-book series called “The Cameron Sisters,” which developed from the first novel about their father Jeffrey “Buck” Cameron and their mother, Marilee Weston, titled TEXAS BLUE. In the end of that first novel, there were two daughters—Josie and True. So, I wrote a novel for each of the sisters and the two became The Cameron Sisters: Books I and II.
TEXAS PROMISE tells the story of the older daughter Josephine Cameron who married her childhood sweetheart, Dalton King. But as adults, they don’t get along as well as they did as children, resulting in Dalton leaving after three weeks to join the Texas Rangers. The plot is complicated when he is presumed dead, but returns just as Jo is packing to leave for the New Mexico Territory to meet her birth father.

STEPH: What was in the inspiration for the story?

CELIA: I wanted Jo to meet her wicked birth father, but I needed a way for her to get from Austin, Texas to the wilds of the New Mexico Territory to do so. Also important was for her to marry Dalton, so I made him a Texas Ranger so he could lead her to her father and protect her at the same time. The rigorous journey gave me the opportunity for Jo and Dalton to become reunited and fall in love, for real this time, instead of childhood love.

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

CELIA: About six years. I’m still considered a newbie, I guess, but I’m a fast learner and very motivated when I learn something new. I never wrote a thing in my life before 2004.

STEPH: How do you create your characters? Do you cast them? If so, who are the leads?

CELIA: This question always stumps me. The characters just appear. I can’t explain “creating” them, can you? Sometimes I do cast characters, but not often, and if I do, I don’t remember the actor I used. Dalton is tall, dark, a little somber (unlike his sunny personality as a child), a good man who wants to do the right thing. Jo was an isolated child, which made her a little timid of the outside world. But when she did break out, she blossomed into a courageous, bold, independent woman.

STEPH: What attracts you to writing westerns?

CELIA: So many possibilities to write a story! I can include danger, adventure, hardships, Western vistas, horses, and a way of life that made our country great.

STEPH: How did the story find a home with Desert Breeze?

CELIA: Finding a publisher with an open mind to a two-book series ready to go isn’t as easy as you’d think. I heard “let’s do the first one, then we’ll see about the second one.” I could have gone that way, but I held on to them, and just as I wouldn’t separate sisters, I couldn’t take the chance I might not get the second one with the same publisher. But Desert Breeze stated in the guidelines the exact words I looked for—that they were interested in series, especially if they were fully developed. Yessss!

STEPH: Do you have any hobbies you'd like to share with us?

CELIA: Reading and writing—now—takes up much of my time. Before writing, I learned how to play golf at age 40, and played hard and fast for years. I had to give that up for various reasons, and I cast about looking for something else. In my younger adult years, I did crewel embroidery and created some very pretty things, mostly as gifts. When I tired of that, I made wreaths—for gifts. When I wore that one out, I painted t-shirts—to give away. After that, I made scrapbooks—as gifts! In between all that, I earned two degrees and taught high school biology.

SETPH: What's your favorite place to visit in Texas? A festival? A town? the coast?

CELIA: I have visited all over Texas, and lived in almost every corner. My favorite is Big Bend National Park, and the towns close by—Alpine, Marfa, and Marathon. Very interesting and unique and wild.

STEPH: Fun question: If you were a NASCAR driver, who would you want to sponsor your car?

CELIA: American Airlines and maybe they’d let me always fly First-Class and Free!

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Jennifer Hartz

I'd like to welcome fellow Desert Breeze author, Jennifer Hartz, to the spotlight this week.

STEPH: I don't know much about Conception. Can you tell us a little about the book?

JENNIFER: Hey Steph! Thanks so much for having me on the blog this week. The series of Future Savior is a combination of all the stories I love. Whether they came from books, television, or movies, little elements from my favorite things crept into my own fantasy story. "Write something you would love to read", that's the advice I followed while developing The Future Savior Series and I'm glad I did because I love the results.

The story of Conception, book one in the series, revolves around Christina Vaughn, a seemingly ordinary person who is thrust into an extraordinary situation only to find out she's not as ordinary as she assumed. She is sent to a fantasy-like world and as Christina makes her way through her amazing adventure, she learns a great deal about her unbelievable past. She discovers that she has unimaginable powers which she must quickly learn to harness. She falls in love during a journey that has her battling horrific monsters and struggling with her remarkable destiny, a destiny that involves saving the people of this world.


STEPH: What was the inspiration behind the book?

JENNIFER: The Future Savior Series is the byproduct of a ridiculously long commute. I have an hour and a half drive… one-way. That's three hours in the car! One day, while driving, I started to daydream about interesting characters and the fantastical land of Meric. I would let my mind conjure up different storylines for my mystical characters, pulling out the things that really worked and filing them away in my memory bank. For three months these daydreams continued until I finally realized I needed to sit down and write.


STEPH: I see that it's a fantasy. What attracts you to that genre?

JENNIFER: I love anything speculative, I always have. Even when I was a little kid my favorite stories involved fairies and unicorns and leprechauns… things that you just don’t see every day! Stories, in any medium, that are normal bore me. Why would I want to waste my time reading or watching a story about someone that does the same boring stuff I do every day? No thanks. I want my imagination stretched to the limits, wrapped around a couple of Saturn's rings, then brought back and plunged right into the heart of Mordor.


STEPH: How many books do you have planned in the series?

JENNIFER: The story of Future Savior that is milling around my brain is huge. One book simply couldn't hold all of the ideas so naturally it became a series. However, there is so much that happened in Meric before Christina ever arrived that I could easily produce two or three prequels. But for now I'll stick with Christina's story which is the five books in The Future Savior Series that will be coming out over the next few years.



STEPH: Do you have a certain process to develop your characters? Do you cast your characters? If so who are the leads?

JENNIFER: I think it is important to make characters as realistic as possible, that way people can find something in them to relate to and connect with. Even fantastical characters need to have realistic actions and emotions otherwise no one would want to read about them. Sprites are really cool because they have wings and fly, but would anybody care about Luka if she didn't have her snappy quick wit? Probably not. Many of my characters have personalities similar to people I know in real life. This helps me to keep them as realistic as possible.

As for casting my characters, I did not have particular actors in mind while writing Conception. It was only after the story was complete, and I started milling around author loops and writing chat rooms, did I start to think about who would be great in the roles.

Hands down, without a doubt, and no questions asked Shaw would be perfectly portrayed by Kellan Lutz. If you don't know who he is, he plays Emmet in the Twilight Saga.

I've had a slightly harder time casting Christina, but my mind keeps bouncing between either Allysa Milano or Kate Beckinsale. I guess it depends on my mood, but both of these ladies are fabulous.

Charis is such an interesting and intriguing character that I'm not 100% sure who I would place in that role, but Carla Gugino, the Pocahontas guru in Night at the Museum, keeps popping into my head.

Finally, I place Zak Efron in the role of the obscenely handsome Elf Prince Jonus.


STEPH: How long did it take you to write Conception?

JENNIFER: Like I said, I had been daydreaming about the story for about three months before I placed my fingers to the keys. When I finally sat down to write, having such a structured skeleton in my mind to work with was very helpful. I was able to pound out the entire first novel in just under two and a half months.


STEPH: Do you have any hobbies you'd like to share with us?

JENNIFER: Well, writing is my hobby. I work full-time as a teacher. I also coach softball and volunteer at my church on the child care team. But above all of that is my wonderful family. I have a great husband named Chris and an amazing two-year-old son, Vaughn. They were gracious enough to lend their names to the lead character of Future Savior, Christina Vaughn.

STEPH: You know I'm a Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" fan, right? Team Edward or Team Jacob?

JENNIFER: The girls I teach at school always ask me this question and I can't help but answer, "Team Emmett!" Obviously I love Kellan Lutz since that's who I would cast as the lead in my own novel, but if I had to pick between Edward and Jacob, I've got to go with Edward. He's Bella's true love and poor Jacob just won't take the hint! Get over it Jacob, she's in love with someone else!

Thanks so much for having me on Desert Breeze Publishing's blog today! I had a blast! If the readers out there would like to learn more about Future Savior, they can swing by my website. http://jenniferhartz.com

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Carie Lawson

STEPH: I'd like to welcome author Carie Lawson to the Spotlight this week. Carie's latest release is "Beyond Summer," Book 2 in the Twisted Roots Series. Carie, I don't know much about Beyond Summer. Can you tell us a little about the book?

CARIE: Beyond Summer is Zane McCord's story. He's a single father who has good reason to mistrust a pretty face. So when his family goes to Africa and he needs help with his son for the summer, the last person he'd want in his home is former beauty queen, Carly Peterson. Add to her beauty a hefty stash of secrets and Zane is sure falling for her is a bad idea.

STEPH: What was the inspiration behind the book?

CARIE: One of the early criticisms I received from the first book, Beyond Africa, was that Lilly was too perfect. Well, I wanted to write about two people in the second book who were anything BUT perfect.

STEPH: How does it fit into the "Twisted Roots" series? What's the tie to Book 1?

CARIE: The Twisted Roots series centers around the McCord siblings. There's four of them Case, Zane, Haven and Jude. The first book was Beyond Africa and it told Case's story. The second, Beyond Summer, is Zane's story. One of the things I love the most about this series is getting to go back and "see" old friends from the previous books.

STEPH: How many books do you have planned in the series?

CARIE: There are four, one for each sibling. It was also fun to plant "clues" into each book as to the character of the next hero.

STEPH: Do you have a certain process to develop your characters? Do you cast your characters? If so who are the leads?

CARIE: I don't cast characters because the imagining is half the fun. I guess I kind of start with one character trait and build around that. Beyond Summer's, Zane, is stubborn. Carly is sassy under a thick layer of gloss.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write Beyond Summer?

CARIE: It got almost complete rewritten in about four months. The shell of the story was there, but I'd learned a lot after I'd originally wrote it, so I wanted to make it better. I was very happy with how the story turned out.

STEPH: How did the book come to find a home with Desert Breeze?

CARIE: I actually submitted the third book in the series, Beyond Ever After, to Desert Breeze and got an e-mail back that they were interested in the series. When I got the email, I walked calmly down the stairs, into my room and asked my husband to follow me (woo, this could be the start of a really interesting story;). Back up the stairs we went and I pointed at the computer and asked, "Do you think this is for real." Once I got over the shock that someone was interested in publishing my books, I was hopping up and down happy!
STEPH: Do you have any hobbies you'd like to share with us?

CARIE: This is it. Reading and writing. Once upon a time I scrapbooked, I had good intentions of learning to make jewelry, occasionally I reupholster something. They're all fun things, but right now time is very limited. My motto is "someday I'll..."

STEPH: Fun question: If you were a NASCAR driver, what sponsor would you want on your car?

CARIE: Steph, I have to tell you the question is hilarious because any time I'm in the car with my husband, I'm constantly saying to him, "Slow down...you're following that car too close...stop changing lanes." I think the NASCAR guys are safe from me! BUT, the question remains so I'd say Baskin and Robbins so I could have an unlimited supply of chocolate and peanut butter ice cream.

Author Spotlight week - Q&A with Michelle Levigne

I'd like to welcome Desert Breeze Author Michelle Levigne to the spotlight this week. Michelle's latest release is "Detours." Welcome, Michelle!


STEPH: What was the inspiration behind your story, "Detours?"

MICHELLE: Setting: Freelance writing class in the continuing education program at the local vo-ed school. I made friends with Barb and Jesse -- don't remember who hooked up with whom first, but what we all remember is a remark about "Beauty and the Beast," which was in its first season at that time.

We ended up getting together weekly after the class ended, to talk about writing, about screenplays and books and our dreams, and someone made a remark about moving to Hollywood together and sharing a garret apartment (because that's all we could afford until we sold some scripts!) and I ended up with an idea for a book that I originally called "California Dreaming." That turned into a screenplay that I called "Detours and Dreams," about 3 college girls in Cleveland, hoping to go to Hollywood and write for TV and film. And eventually, when all the disparate books I had roughed or planned started drawing together into a community I ended up calling Tabor Heights ... I "discovered" that Kat was the daughter of Morgan and Lynette and it all started coming together.


STEPH - I don't know much about the book. Can you tell us?

MICHELLE: Bekka, Kat and Amy are drama students at Butler-Williams. Bekka writes fantasy and science fiction books, Kat writes screenplays, and Amy writes poetry. The book follows them from the day they move into their apartment, until their first anniversary as roommates. Kat never dates a guy more than twice, Amy is constantly breaking up with and making up with her songwriter boyfriend, Joe, and Bekka is too busy writing and working to have a boyfriend, but she really wants one. In fact, on the opening page, her morning prayers include a request for a boyfriend.

And just by coincidence, Shane also prays for a girlfriend, a "keeper" that very same day before he helps his good buddy Joe move his girlfriend, Amy, into the apartment.

Of course, there are lots of detours along the way before Shane and Bekka can get past longing looks and trying-and-failing to meet up and get to know each other. The reader gets Bekka perspective on the White Rose Killer, the accident that strikes the Randolph family and Homespun Theater, and the reunion between Dr. Morgan and Lynette Teague-Tyler that results in Kat learning Morgan is her father.



STEPH - Is it part of the Tabor Heights Series?

MICHELLE: Yes. All my books for Desert Breeze are set in Tabor Heights. So far, anyway.......


STEPH - How long have you been writing?

MICHELLE: I stopped counting at 25 years.

STEPH - What attracts you to inspirationals?

MICHELLE: It allows me to be fully dimensional -- acting on all the aspects of my life, the things I believe in and am interested in. As I grow spiritually, that impacts every part of my life, how I react to problems and triumphs and tragedies. Many of my books have spiritual elements of one kind or another. In my Commonwealth Universe books, there are very evident elements of spirituality. The Tabor Heights books let me bring it all back to Earth, so to speak.

STEPH- Have you written any other genres?

MICHELLE: Science fiction, fantasy, and drifting into some romance subgenres including futuristic, paranormal and suspense. I've written for YA in SF and fantasy. I write stage plays, screenplays and teleplays. I write all over the board, basically.

STEPH - Do you have any hobbies you'd like to share?

MICHELLE: Who has TIME for hobbies?

STEPH - What was the last book you read?

MICHELLE: Friday -- Percy Jackson #3, Titan's Curse.

Right now I'm reading several books simultaneously -- or else I started reading them, stopped in the middle, and I'm waiting to finish them, eventually: A book on screenwriting, by J. Michael Strazynski -- The Yada Yada Prayer Group, by Neta Jackson -- The Legend of Banzi Maguire, by Susan Grant -- The Chic and the Dead, by Casey Daniels -- and The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel.

Yeah, I read all over the board, too. Actually, I'm concentrating on the Strazynski and Strobel books right now.

STEPH - What's your favorite TV show?

MICHELLE: Current TV -- Warehouse 13. I actually wrote a script for it, for a writing competition. My readers all liked it, but I didn't even make it to the finals ... their loss!

Don't ask me about all-time favorite TV shows, because there are too many. I have a LOT of 1st season DVD collections that I haven't been able to finish going through -- see the discussion on books ..... *sigh*

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Anne Patrick

I'd like to welcome author Anne Patrick to the Desert Breeze Spotlight this week! Anne's latest release with Desert Breeze is "Fire and Ash," and inspirational romance centered on firefighting. Welcome Anne?

STEPH - What was the inspiration behind your story, "Fire and Ash?"

ANEE: The idea came to me while watching the DVD of the movie Backdraft a couple of years ago. I know, I’m a little behind in my movie watching :-). Anyway, I loved Robert DeNiro in the part of the fire investigator and was really intrigued by what all goes into finding the answers to why a fire started.

STEPH - I don't know much about the book. Can you tell us?

ANNE: Fire and Ash is an inspirational romantic suspense. Here’s the book blurb: Fire Investigator Sadie McGregor is called to her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri to investigate a suspicious fire which claimed the life of a local college student. By appearance the fire looks accidental. What Sadie and the handsome new police chief discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community and may cost one of them their life.


STEPH - I see that's about firefighting. Did you have to do research for the story?

ANNE: Of course! I read several books and did some online research. I then had the good fortune of meeting a real life fire investigator named Keith Tarbox who helped me get inside the head of my main character, Sadie McGregor. He also read over the entire manuscript to make sure the fire scenes were believable and that I did my homework.


STEPH - How long have you been writing?

ANEE: I’ve been spinning tales since high school, but I didn’t really get serious about my craft until about three years ago.

STEPH - What attracts you to inspirationals?

ANNE: I like to read and write stories that grab at your heart; keeps you on the edge of your seat, and uplifts and inspires you at the same time. Inspirational romantic suspense does all that.



STEPH- Have you written any other genres?

ANNE: I write inspirational romance under the name Kinzie Monroe.

STEPH - Do you have any hobbies you'd like to share?

ANNE: I love to hike and go as often as I can. I also like role-playing video games, like the Final Fantasy or Tomb Raider series.

STEPH - What was the last book you read?

ANNE: True Courage by Dee Henderson. I have all of Dee’s books and have read each one at least twice.

STEPH - What's your favorite TV show?

ANNE: I don’t watch much TV, but when I do have the time I watch crime shows like The Closer or CSI. Imagine that :-).


You can find Anne's book on Amazon for Kindle, Barnes & Noble for Nook, Sony, All Romance Ebooks, Books on Board, Apple Ibookstore, Kobo and at the Desert Breeze Online bookstore.

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with K Dawn Byrd

Desert Breeze welcomes author, K Dawn Byrd in the spotlight this week. Her latest released is "Killing Time." Welcome K Dawn!

STEPH: What's the inspriation behind your story, "Killing Time?"

K DAWN: I've always been an avid reader and planned to write a book "one day." When I began work as a counselor in a jail, I thought that would be a neat setting for the book. I began to jot down notes about the environment such as sights, sounds, and smells. Before I knew it, my heroine had formed in my mind, begging me to tell her story.


STEPH: I don't know much about the book. Can you tell us a little about it?

K DAWN: I began to wonder what would happen if a strong Christian woman was wrongly accused and incarcerated. Would she lose her faith? Would she crack under the pressure? Here's the blurb from Desert Breeze Publishing:

Mindy McLaurin, thinks it's the end of the world when she's incarcerated on trumped-up embezzlement charges. While in jail, she investigates the death of an inmate who allegedly died of an overdose. Mindy suspects foul play when her cellmate dies and she learns that both women had ingested the same drug. Mindy trusts no one, including Drew Stone, the handsome counselor she can’t stop thinking about. She faces many challenges, including constant interrogation by the Major and emotional abuse from the other inmates. Upon release, someone is stalking her and framing her for the murder. Can she prove to Counselor Stone that she’s innocent of all charges before she loses him forever?

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

K DAWN: I've been writing for about three years and have written five books. Killing Time is my first book. I must have edited it a dozen times as I studied the craft. I'd learn something from a new book and tear it apart again.

STEPH: What attracts you to inspirationals?

K DAWN: I'm a Christian of the Baptist faith and even though I don't "preach" religion in my books, my faith in Jesus Christ is evident because at least one of my characters is a Christian or becomes one by the end of the book. I enjoy reading and writing clean novels that would be appropriate for all ages. This is a must for the Christian market. Even though I write primarily for the adult market, my novels are clean enough for anyone.

STEPH: Have you written any other genres?

K DAWN: I have written one romance (no suspense), but haven't tried to place it with a publisher. I'm such a suspense junkie that it was hard for me to write that one. I absolutely love suspense and it's hard for me to keep it out of my books.

STEPH: Do you cast your characters? If so, who are your lead characters?

K DAWN: I use character worksheets to develop my characters. However, I do scour magazines in search of photos that look like my characters. Isla Fisher, in my mind, looks the most like my heroine. My husband looks like my hero (and he is my hero!). If you take a look at my video trailer, that's my husband on the Harley Davidson at the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncljBid61g

STEPH: Care to share any hobbies with us?

K DAWN: I love to take long walks with my husband and our two Chinese Crested dogs. I enjoy planting flowers. My husband I both like antiques and love to scour antique shops together.

STEPH: What was the last movie you saw?
K DAWN: Shutter Island. I'd read the book and it left questions in my mind. I had to see the movie to clear them up.

STEPH: Have you read Stephenie Meyer's series? If so, Team Edward or Team Jacob?

K DAWN: I've read the first couple of books in the Twilight series. I really liked both Edward and Jacob. They each had some good qualities and they both loved the heroine. There were times I rooted for both of them. I guess I'm in equal camps on that one!

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Danielle Thorne

STEPH: I'd like to welcome Danielle Thorne to the Author Spotlight this week. Danielle Thorne's first release with Desert Breeze is "By Heart and Compass." Dani, can you tell us about your latest release, BY HEART AND COMPASS?

DANI: I'd love to, Stephanie. Thanks for having me this week.

BY HEART AND COMPASS is about stepping out of your comfort zone and truly following your heart. Whether it's love, trust or the opportunity to chase adventure, most people hold back because of that niggle of doubt that tells us dreams can't come true. In this adventure, Lacy Whitman finds an antique diary that hints at the location of a long lost shipwreck, and she has to gather her courage to face making a discovery that is more than just pages in a book. She also risks falling for a cynical yet vulnerable dive instructor. Life is all about taking chances and living, and that's what I like to write about.

STEPH: I notice you are drawn to water themes. What's the attraction for you?

DANI: The first time I saw the ocean I was 19-years-old. It had a profound effect. For me, it is a gateway to another world right here on our own planet. Since getting scuba certified a few years ago, I have become very passionate about sea conservation and environmental issues. I had the chance to dive off the coast of Mexico this April, just days after the oil disaster struck in the gulf. It's hard not to wonder if I will ever be able to again down that way. The effects of this crisis break my heart—but I do have my writing to bring the joy and adventure of the sea to other people.

STEPH: What was the inspiration behind BY HEART AND COMPASS?

DANI: I published my first novel, THE PRIVATEER, after over twelve months of in-depth research. The Age of Sail is a fascinating time to me. These were a type of courageous men that you don't see often anymore. When I was finished, I knew I someday wanted to bring the past into the present. Since Blackbeard's ship, The Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered off the coast of North Carolina, I have enjoyed following the excavation and research that is made available to the public online. These events inspired me to think about what it would be like to discover my own pirate ship. Of course as a teenager I was in love with the pirating adventure film, "Goonies," so I'm sure there was some subliminal influence there as well.

STEPH: Do you cast your characters? If so who are the leads?

DANI: I actually start out with names popping into my head when I create a character and the general personality follows. Then I do think about books, film and television and consider people, real and imaginary, that might be similar. But on a whole, no, I do not cast characters in the general sense of the word. However, I do find it very entertaining to talk and read blogs from other authors that do.


STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

DANI: Plotter. I don't have that ability of being able to write and just "know" where to go. I need to plan out my story with highs, lows and then let the characters get from A to B, all on their own. I definitely use plot points. I don't like to waste time and hope not to ramble!

STEPH: Do you write any other genres? If so, what?

DANI: Besides contemporary, I write historical, which comes natural to me with my love of research and genealogy. My first Jane Austen-inspired Regency will be released this winter and I'm looking forward to the response. I also have dabbled in juvenile fiction. I finished my first manuscript, DANNY BOY, many years ago. This Huck Finn-type adventure is my baby and we're still looking for a home.

STEPH: What types of books do you like to read?

DANI: I'm very eclectic when it comes to almost all areas of the Arts. Although I primarily pickup romances of varying sub-genres, I also like historical non-fiction and good government suspense adventures.

STEPH: What's the last movie you saw?

DANI: I just saw the new "Alice in Wonderland" with Johnny Depp. Of course, I am a huge Depp admirer, but it's more of a sisterly affection, I'm not a rabid fan. Maybe it's because sometimes he reminds me of my brother? (Laughs) He is one of the most brilliant actors of our generation and it's a shame he does not get the credit he deserves. No matter what film I see him in, he always becomes his character—he is never himself. I could only hope to be able to stretch myself and write with as much abandon as that man can act. Anyway, I loved the film and thought it was brilliant. It's a new favorite.

STEPH: Do you have any Desert Breeze authors or books you'd like to recommend?

DANI: I have read several Desert Breeze titles and have never been disappointed. That's why I am thrilled to be published by this House. Currently, I am following the Future Imperfect series by P.I. Barrington. Also, the sweet romance, NO OTHER is on my reading summer list, as is THE HUNGARIAN, which is sounding like it's going to be an amazing read.

STEPH: Thanks for being here today, Dani.

Author Spotlight Week - Q&A with Gail R. Delaney

Author J. Morgan (JMO) of the Love Bites steps in to interview Gail. Take it away JMO.

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For those who don't know me, my name is sometimes J. Morgan. The other times, I'm not sure what it is, but that is irrelevant because today, I have the pleasure of interviewing one of the spiffiest Sci Fi authors in the universe. To celebrate the occasion, I've stretched the already thin Desert Breeze Budget to rent a TARDIS. That's right, I'm all Dr. Whoed up and ready to make—or is that rewrite—history. So settle in as, I snag one Gail Delaney from the time stream and make her spill some Phoenix sized secrets.

Jmo: Gail, welcome to the DBP TARDIS. By the way, don't touch the flashy thingie. I'm not exactly sure what it does.

Gail: (glancing over). Oh, that's the Trans-Dimensional Oscilator Regulation Valve. Don't worry, nothing will happen if you hit it. Well, nothing other than giving us a bit of a rough ride. What? Did you forget I write Doctor Who fanfiction? * wink *

Jmo: (Shooting her a dirty look) Remember nobody likes a smarty bootie. Now, before we get into the thick of your fabulous Phoenix series, can you let our readers in on what first ignited your passion for Science Fiction? Was it a movie, television show or book?

Gail: Well, it's ironic that you opted to interview me here in the TARDIS, because Doctor Who played a bit part in developing my love of science fiction. I watched US runs of Doctor Who on PBS when I was a kid every Sunday afternoon. Tom Baker was, as they say 'My Doctor' (Well, until Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant came along). I also watched syndicated runs of Star Trek when I was in elementary school, and ST: TNG came out when I was in junior high - I think. I also grew up in the age of Star Wars. I loved it all.

In later years, I loved Stargate SG-1, Farscape, Firefly... and these days, Fringe. I'm currently watching all 10 seasons of X-Files. ☺

Jmo: As a writer and reader of the genre, what do you thinks brings so many readers to Sci Fi? And, I said don't touch that. Do you want to negate reality or something? Geez!

Gail: Relax! I was just releasing the Mercury Vapor vent system. You don't want a TARDIS with a case of the vapors. Trust me on this.

Anyway, I personally love 'smart' science fiction. Don't just set a book on a space ship or a far planet, and try to convince me it's science fiction. Make sure it's intelligently thought out. Now, that doesn't mean you need to explain to me the viability of a cold fusion thrust drive versus a carbon dioxide based combustion drive, but make me believe what you're saying. Beyond that, we are in an age of dramatic advancements. Every year, something new hits the market. It's not really that far fetched that -- if not us -- then our children and grandchildren will explore space. It's fascinating.

Jmo: I guess I better get to Phoenix before you make us lose the security deposit on this thing.

When you started on the first Phoenix book, did you have a clear vision of how the series would play out? Or, did the series evolve as you started working on it?

Gail: Absolutely the series evolved as I wrote it. There are elements of the final resolution that I honestly hadn't even considered when I began book one. I would write something, and say out loud "Oh! I get it now!" I had certain things I knew would be part of the series -- certain developments and revelations -- but, some of those things I believed to be true in the beginning ended up being proved wrong in the end.

(Hovers hand over Core Flux Relay Initiator just to watch Jmo squirm)

Jmo: As a fan of the series, I've got to ask this. I know I have my favorite characters as a reader, but do you have a character that really gets your mojo going when it comes to writing him or her?

Gail: Michael Tanner... no doubt, no question, no hesitation. When I developed the concept of the series, Michael Tanner was a character just like anyone else: Nick Tanner, Beverly, Victor... any of them. But, as I wrote, I learned that Michael was not only the glue -- but he was and is the driving force -- of the entire series. Without him, the whole of it would fall apart. We all want our characters to grow through the course of a book, but Michael does so much more than that. He becomes.

Jmo: Michael is my fav, too, and of course Jackie. I have to admit something, I read Revolution when it came out from that other company and read the newly updated version. How did the intervening years change the scope of what had gone on before and what readers are seeing now in the series?

Gail: When I wrote The Phoenix Rebellion for 'that other publisher', I wrote it all on my own. Meaning I didn't have anyone reading it as I went. I had someone I bounced ideas off, but they didn't read it in a linear fashion. I wrote the series in a blur, all 4 books in 10 months. I barely remember it now. So, when I read through the books -- I feel like I'm reading someone else's book. Having stepped back from the series for a couple years, when I came back to it, I saw more potential that I hadn't tapped into the first time around. I love that I've had the chance to add the subtle dashes of story that can potentially enhance the whole.

Jmo: End Game, effectively ends the first part of the Phoenix Rebellion but not the Phoenix series as a whole. Not to give away too much, but what can we expect in the second part of the series?

Gail: Phoenix Rising will pick up on Earth just about a year after the end of End Game. We fight the good fight, and while victory is ours, we don't come out of The Phoenix Rebellion unscathed. Phoenix Rising is the story of mankind truly rising from the ashes to rebuild our world. Many (most) of the main characters from the first series will play varying roles in the second series. The story can't continue without them. There will be characters who only made brief appearances in The Phoenix Rebellion who will now step up and continue the story. And there will be some new faces.

Jmo: Before we put the ion drive before the bridge, let's go back to End Game. This book ends the Rebellion part of Phoenix. How hard was it to tie up all the threads you laid the groundwork for in Book 1? Then, again. Are they tied up? I know this question is running on and on, but do you feel the readers will be satisfied with the ending of the series part 1? Or, will they be screaming for more? I know I will.

Gail: A lot of questions will be answered by the time End Game wraps up. The reader will come away with an understanding of things that came before, and hopefully, will see a clearer illustration of it all. But, as it often works, answers lead to more questions. No war ends at the decree of Peace. And no enemy simply disappears.

I can only hope that the readers of The Phoenix Rebellion will be anxious to read Pheonix Rising.

Jmo: Like all great Sci Fi, Phoenix has a lot of underlying themes. Did you make a conscious effort to layer those in or did they evolve as the characters did their thing inside your head?

Gail: Some of them were consciously there, and some of them grew organically from the lives of the characters. And sometimes, I thought I wanted to focus on a theme a certain way, only to learn that wasn't the way it would happen. How's that for vague and ambiguous?

Jmo: Yeah, some pretty good dodging and weaving, there. I'm well known for asking at least one crazy question. So, here it is. If you could step into any Sci Fi book or movie and live out the adventure, which one would it be? I think I know the answer—wink—but shock me.

Gail: (Looks around TARDIS) Does a tv show count? Because who wouldn't want to travel through all time and space in a little blue box that holds nothing less than a universe inside? And have you seen the library here? My toughest decision would be choosing between the Ninth Doctor, and the Tenth. I love them both for very different reasons. Yeah... don't make me pick.

Jmo: Not to sound gushy, but the world of Phoenix looks fun. Any chance of getting me warped into that reality? Before I set you back in your own time, please let our readers know where we can find out about you and your amazing books. Don't forget to let them know where they can connect with you on the Net. And, yes you can drive the TARDIS. Here, but don't touch the flashy thingi…

Great, now we're in an infinite time loop in the 70's of all time slips. For your information, my mother made me wear bell-bottoms. It sure wasn't my idea. Better give those stats, before we totally lose stability. Thanks for stopping by folks.

Gail: My website -- though keeping it up to date is a challenge -- is www.GailDelaney.com. I won't bother with my blog or MySpace, because I'd need a TARDIS to keep that thing up to date. I can be found on Facebook by searching Gail R. Delaney (The R. is important).

And will you stop worrying so much? (Smacks BIG RED BUTTON on TARDIS coral console). See? That was easy.

< Insert TARDIS Whomp Whomp here. >

Welcome PI Barrington - Featured Nov Author

I just want to welcome PI Barrington the blog today. Her release, "Crucifying Angel" is a NOV 09 release! Welcome, PI!



Thanks, Stephanie for allowing me to be your guest today.
As mentioned, I am P.I. Barrington and also a Desert Breeze author! My first novel, Crucifying Angel, is the first in the Future Imperfect series. I like to call it a 'near future' sci-fi crime thriller set in Las Vegas 32 years from now. I'd categorize it as a warm romance, a tiny bit more intimate than sweet. However, romance stops at the bedroom door. Why? I once read an article that claimed the most romantic scene in Gone with the Wind was the one where Rhett carries Scarlett up the dramatic stairway. I completely agree. The mind is the most romantic generator that exists.



STEPH:
Who are your writing influences?

PI
Everybody says this but as for actual writing technique, I'd say Stephen King. I've read almost piece of literature known to man and I'm sure everything has influenced me as far as, say vocabulary, grammar, phrasing, stuff like that. But I just couldn't seriously relate to any of it. I tried different writing styles but I just wasn't happy with them. When I picked up "Carrie" that was it. I identified with his style and technique instantaneously; way more than anyone else. He's not really my favorite writer but his style and technique…I don't know. I just completely get it.

Steph: A lot of people have said King has been their influence. There's no doubt about his mastery over words.


STEPH
Tell me about your muse.

PI
The closest I can come to describing why I write is the word "urge" rather than "muse". Sometimes you just gotta do it. I have no peace otherwise. It won't leave me alone until it's down on paper somewhere somehow. I'll write on my own body if I have to, but most of the time, an idea, setting, dialogue will burst through my synapses and I'm writing the scene in my head as I go along doing shopping, laundry, whatever, until I can get to a keyboard or pen and paper.


STEPH
What do you like to sing?

PI
I love everything from 'classical' which is really a misnomer to rap. My sister used get creeped out when I would play an old Kay Kaiser lp (yes, vinyl!) that I got from a radio station where I worked. It was an old scratchy song from the 1920's. Can't remember the name of the song but she would say it sounded like it belonged in a horror movie. But seriously, I love all music. I'll sing any of it anytime. That's how I ended up working in the music industry—I love the music so much, I just wanted to be near it somehow, performing or not. And yes, I really do like rap.


STEPH
Why did you pick Las Vegas as the setting for "Crucifying Angel?"


PI
I love Las Vegas. It has such a strange fascination for me. It's like Disneyland for adults. When I began Crucifying Angel, I decided to put my personal dream man in it, Tall, Dark and British. But I wanted to really give him an obstacle course to deal with so I stuck him in the place most opposite of cool, green England. Las Vegas pretty much fit the bill.

STEPH: I think Vegas is the PERFECT locale for your book, PI!


STEPH
You are casting the movie - who do you pick for Payce and Gavin.


PI
Payce really doesn't have an actress attached to her. I found a picture of a woman target shooting and that gave me the opening of the book. I mean, I can see her in my head, but no real live actress comes to mind as a match. Gavin? I went nuts looking for an actor that fit my picture of him, which at times is even now still kind of vague to me. I found an actor (who shall remain unnamed) who kind of fit, but still fell short of the mark. Trust me I've tried casting those two. Normally, I almost immediately cast my characters with actors but these two just stand on their own. Half the time they defy what I want them to do or be.

STEPH
Can you give us a teaser for Miraculous Deception?

PI
This book is definitely the heart of the series. There will be a lot of betrayal, intrigue, a character or two being killed off…

STEPH
Has your work in the entertainment industry influenced your writing, including Crucifying Angel?


PI
In the industry, you learn pretty quickly what works and what doesn't. I always write with a film version in mind. Once you understand the different formats, film, television, video, music, you can put it together in a way that works on paper and translates to the screen as well. It's just one big movie in my head and I tend to write that way. Crucifying Angel was written that way, a series of scenes. I write and think visually and that was a big help for the video department where I worked for the majority of my time in entertainment. I think most writers do that, they write the images they 'see' in their mind's eye. The only thing I don't do, which a lot of other writers do is have a soundtrack going, either in their story or as they’re writing playing in the background. I save that for the day I direct!


STEPH: Wicked interesting as to your thoughts. I tend to write in as a series of scenes as well.
*****

Thanks
Steph