New Release Feature: Starlight’s Curse by author K.C. Sprayberry

I am pleased to announce a cool book release by K.C. Sprayberry, an author I met during my journey! Her romantic suspense, Starlight’s Curse, officially released today, April 26th! Yay! That’s awesome, K.C.!

When a new book comes out, it is always an exciting time for an author!

K.C. is giving us a fun look at her new contemporary suspense novel, Starlight’s Cursre, today.

Nice cover! As the author, can you tell us a little about your book?

Author K.C. Sprayberry:  The South is full of mansions of the former glory, some restored to how they were back then, and others left to rot over time. Those homes are the ones that fascinate me, drive me to wonder what stories their walls could tell. Starlight’s Curse was born of a local home that was once beautiful but even more than a million dollars in renovations couldn’t restore it to its former glory. Seeing that place, one can’t help but get a creepy feeling… and that was the beginning of Starlight.

Marie: Ooh! Love a story centered around a creepy house. 😉

My assistant is telling me your characters just arrived. How exciting! It was lovely talking to you, K.C. Pardon us for a moment while we learn a bit more about your awesome new release…

We have Jayme Barclay on the stage. Hello, Jayme! It’s such a pleasure to meet you!

Character Jayme Barclay: Hello! It’s nice to be here.

Marie:  Introduce yourself to our readers. Where do you fit into the story? And what should we know about you?

Jayme: My name is Jayme Barclay. I grew up in Landry. Went away to college but came back after only a semester. My baby, Tawni, was all I cared about once she was born. Not that some of the old women around here thought the same. They were always giving me trouble about being an “unwed mother.” Everyone wanted to know who Tawni’s daddy was, but I couldn’t let those women destroy his life, like they tried to do to me. No one was going to make me hide away in shame… until that night.

Marie:  Okay. What are your feelings about this story, Starlight’s Curse?

Jayme: We have to tell this story. Everyone has to know, so they realize it’s never all right to accept what you know is wrong as the truth. And to fight for what you believe in. At first, after I lost my baby, I just wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere and join her. But then I found a reason to live, a reason to tell her daddy what I took from him, and a reason to fight back.

Marie: I can respect that. How do you feel about being a character in this book?

Jayme:  People won’t see me at my best, but the time frame of this story was possibly the worst moment of my life. So, I like being a character in this book. Everyone will think I’m a fool at the beginning, for running away and hiding, but I come back and I’m ready to fight to do what’s right. That’s all that counts.

Marie: What do you see in your future? No spoilers please!

Jayme:  I love my future. And if you want to know why, you’re going to have to read the whole book.

Marie: Great!

Is there a sequel to Starlight’s Curse in the future? Will you be part of it?

Jayme:  Oh, I can’t spoil the ending, but honestly… I’m not sure.

Marie: Say a movie producer comes knocking. What actress would you want to play you and why?

Jayme:  Poppy Montgomery. She not only looks exactly like me, but her role in Unforgettable is the same kind of person I am.

Marie: All right. Thank you for stopping by, Jayme! (Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Now we have Brad Patterson on the stage. Hello, Brad! 😀

Character Brad Patterson:  Hi. Thanks for having me here.

Marie: My pleasure. So, if you can, take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers. Where do you fit into the story? What should we know about you?

Brad:  Brad Patterson here. Jock in high school, graduated Purdue with a Criminology degree, and came back home. Boy, was I knocked over with a feather when I saw the girl I’ve always loved had a kid. And there was no daddy around. That didn’t matter to me. Tawni and me? We got along great. She was always like my kid. You should have seen her fishing when she wasn’t but six. Sat for hours until a catfish grabbed her bait. And her mama, what can I say? I’ve loved Jayme since we were both in high school. One day, I’m gonna marry Jayme.

Marie: (Sighs.) Lovely to hear! I love romance…;)

So, what are your feelings about this story, Brad?

Brad: I got knocked in the gut by a bunch of stuff that happened in this story. Nobody, and I do mean nobody, should ever go through what Jayme endured. That evil, wicked stepmother of hers deserves whatever happens to her. Nobody hurts my Jayme and gets away with it.

Marie: Okay. How do you feel about being a character in this book?

Brad: Wouldn’t be a book without me. (Laughs.) Well, I guess it could, but I certainly wouldn’t want to let Jayme handle a situation like she faced alone. Although, (cough, cough) I still want pictures of that one move she made. Lots of pictures.

Marie: (Chuckles.) What do you see in your future? No spoilers please!

Brad:  Oh, my future is definitely looking up. Jayme and I… ah, that’ll spoil the ending. Guess you’ll have to figure out where Jayme and I go by reading the book.

Marie: Definitely! 🙂

Is there a sequel to Starlight’s Curse in the future? Will you be part of it?

Brad:  I’d like to say I hope not, but I’m a cop. There’ll always be jerks in this world trying to make people hurt just because they can. Sure hope there really isn’t another one like what we went through. That just plain hurt.

Marie: Say a movie producer comes knocking. What actor would you want to play you and why?

Brad:  A movie? You mean someone would actually want to make a movie about our story? Well… I think Eddie Cibrian would do a fine job portraying me. Kind of looks like me too.

Marie: (Giggles.) Uh, yeah, you are so right there. Sounds like a plan! 😉

Well, Brad, it was a pleasure meeting you! I think one of your co-stars is coming up shortly.

Brad:  Thanks for letting me visit! (Waves and heads off the stage.)

Marie: (Returns the wave.) Of course. (Clears her throat.) So, readers, we also have Jake Haskins, pardon me, I mean…Sheriff ‘Big Jake’ Haskins on the stage!

Wow! I don’t think we’ve had a sheriff before! A pleasure to meet you! (Shakes his hand.)

Character Sheriff Big Jake Haskins:  Hello. The pleasure is mine, ma’am.

Marie: Please introduce yourself to our readers. Where do you fit into the story? What should we know about you?

Big Jake:  You want to know about me? I’m just a country sheriff, who grew up on the mountain. Like a lot of mountain folk, I didn’t have an easy life. Big Jake Haskins is my name. And I treat everyone fair, until they break the law. You see, I’m not at all like the typical Southern sheriff. That’s because I made a vow when I was just thirteen, and I aim to keep it the rest of my life.

Marie: All right. What are your feelings about this story?

Big Jake:  Sorry story, if you ask me. If the sheriffs who’d been in charge when I was a kid had been honest, it wouldn’t have happened. But they were as corrupt as they come, so it was up to me to fix things. Took me forty years to figure everything out, but I’m not someone who gives up easy.

Marie: So, how do you feel about being a character in this book?

Big Jake: Pretty good tale, if you ask me. Kind of glad I got to be in it. As I said, I grew up hard, didn’t ever have much. Thanks to a pretty good bunch of people who believed in me, I’m going places. Might not be too happy about that now, but things will change. They sure will…

Marie: What do you see in your future? No spoilers please!

Big Jake: Oh, a lot of things. Definitely changes. Can’t say much about that, though. It would give away too much.

Marie: I respect that.

Is there a sequel to Starlight’s Curse in the future? Will you be part of it?

Big Jake: (Leans back in comfortable studio chair, shakes head slowly.) Now, I’m a realist. Had to be, after what I saw and experienced as a kid. I’d sure like to say there’s no chance of all that happening again. But I know people, and some are pure evil.

Marie: All right.

Say a movie producer comes knocking. What actor would you want to play you and why?

Big Jake: A movie. (Snorts.) Who’d want to make a movie. (Nods head.) Yeah, I can see there being a movie. It’s got all the elements of a good story. Who would I want to play me? Why, that David Boreanaz fellow. You know, that guy who’s in Bones.

Marie: (Grins.) I Love Bones! 

Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Sheriff. (Shakes his hand once more.)

Big Jake: Thanks for the invite. You have a nice day, ma’am. (Heads off the stage.)

Marie: (Looks a little starstruck.) It’s uncanny, right? He really does look like David Boreanaz. I hope my palms weren’t sweaty. Good Lord, his hands were huge! (Laughs a little.)

Well, there you have it, readers. After meeting the author and the characters, let’s learn more about this fascinating book.

Here is the blurb for Starlight’s Curse.

The discovery of three teenage girls found hanging from an ancient elm tree, alleged suicides, on the grounds of abandoned Starlight Mansion by a teenage boy sets him on a mission to find the truth. Nearly forty years later, now the sheriff, Big Jake finds himself drawn into the investigation of a mysterious “suicide” and the disappearance of another teenager.

Jayme Barclay sees her fifteen-year-old daughter swinging on a rope from a tree at the mansion the county commissioner is turning into a resort. Brad Patterson loses a piece of himself when he answers the 911 call to get to Starlight on a snowy December night.

A year later, the mystery surrounding Tawni’s alleged suicide still haunts both Jayme and Brad. Big Jake has been shackled in this investigation, much like another sheriff so many years ago.

Reluctant teens hold back information, until Jayme returns to the hometown she abandoned, to find the truth. Brad hates that he had to intrude on her grief, but also believes this is his chance to redeem himself for not protecting the daughter of the woman he loves. Big Jake suspects who the killer is and that the person isn’t done yet, but must stand back and allow a younger man to stand up against a powerful and corrupt group of politicians.

Here is an excerpt.

Sleet and snow whipped around Starlight Mansion. A young teen, a mere thirteen-years-old, scampered in and around the tree stumps, scooted around boulders filling a former field where corn had once grown tall, and laughed as the winter storm pelted his face and bare hands. Jake Haskins had no problem with the bitter cold. Not one bit. Even the legends surrounding the long abandoned, decrepit mansion didn’t bother him.

Being the normally curious boy that he was, Jake crept up on the rear of the fabled house and tiptoed onto the back porch. Planks creaked under his boots, held together with duct tape around the toes. There’d been hints he’d get a new pair tomorrow, if he was good. He figured being good meant staying away from Mama until she cooled off after their earlier confrontation. Of course, she might not cool off much, since their words had been those of an exasperated woman putting up with half a dozen young children and a surly teen stuck in a house that was too small at best. Getting angry with his life had never been something Jake did, but he was fed up with being called a poor pig farmer whose daddy couldn’t rub two nickels together.

His dreams were big. Huge, some might say. No one up here on the mountain, with the exception of the Gleasons, had anything but a hard life. They worked from sunup to sundown, Monday through Saturday only to have to start again in the new week. Children went without more often than not, and parents bewailed their lot in life, all the while teaching the next generation to continue the same problematic lifestyle, dropping out of school and taking low paying jobs at the local factories and mills.

But not Jake. He’d decided long ago that he’d one day be the county sheriff. He’d be a most excellent lawman, never once lying, or falsely accusing a family of doing wrong because they were dirt poor. Heck, he figured he’d seen enough up here to put the current sheriff, Jameson Emerson Waldon II in prison, if anyone outside Wallis County would believe Jake when he reported the mystifying comings and goings at Starlight Mansion. It was purely wrong for all those men to creep about inside that falling down building for hours on end. And the screams from what sounded like women hurt his ears and his heart. Jake had tried more than once to get the goods on the people Sheriff Waldon brought up here, but had been caught and threatened with the Mountain Home for Unrepentant Boys on more than a few occasions.

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B01ERRNFWQ

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/6232743

Ooh! ♥♥♥

This looks like an interesting romantic suspense!

Thank you for telling us about your book, K.C.! It sounds like a riveting tale! 

Author Bio

 

Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.

She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Some of her short stories have appeared in anthologies, others in magazines.

Author Links

Website:  www.kcsprayberry.com

Blog:  http://outofcontrolcharacters.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/KC-Sprayberry/331150236901202

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/kcsowriter

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005DI1YOU

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KcSprayberry/posts

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011219.K_C_Sprayberry

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/kcsprayberry/boards/

Manic Readers:  http://www.manicreaders.com/KCSprayberry/

AUTHORSdb:  http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/5230-k-c-sprayberry

 

K.C.’s Books:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again, K.C., for showing us your new release and letting your characters come to the studio!  ♥

Happy reading, everyone! And we hope to see you back on ILRB sometime, K.C.

A Character Interview with Kristen from THE GUARDIAN OF MY SOUL plus a conversation with author Emily A. Lawrence!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Emily Walker’s character on December 1st and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Emily A. Lawrence, the author of The Guardian of My Soul, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Kristen Mancuso, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Emily in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Kristen!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Kristen.  Please have a seat.

Character Kristen Mancuso: Thank you for having me here.

Marie:  Of course!

We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Kristen: Okay.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Kristen:  I graduated from UCLA with a degree in management, and now I work for my mother, who is a fashion designer, in her marketing division. I enjoy the experience and being able to learn from her, but one day I hope to be my own boss.

Marie:  Oh…interesting!

So, tell us. What is your family like?

Kristen: Born and raised in a wealthy family, I’ve always had everything my heart desired, except the freedom to make my own choices in life. Ever since my father passed away when I was little, I’ve lived with my mother. Her overprotectiveness increased as I grew older. Even though I know she means well, that she loves me and wishes nothing but the best for me, she sometimes smothers me too much. That’s when I wish I had other siblings the most.

Marie:  Parents can be difficult sometimes. 😦

Let’s try something else, shall we?

What did your childhood home look like?

Kristen:  I was raised in my family’s mansion in Los Angeles, where we still currently live. Located in Beverly Hills, it offers a wonderful panorama of the rolling hills north of Sunset Boulevard. My home is peaceful and it’s equipped with any facility one could possibly wish for, including a gym and a large swimming pool.

Marie:  Wow! Impressive!

So, do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Kristen:  I love horses and I’ve been riding ever since I can remember. Whenever I get some free time, I’m eager to escape the madness of the city and head over to my family’s ranch in Kentucky where I spend most of my time with Marley, my fourteen-year-old black stallion.

Marie:  Nice! I’ve always wanted to learn how to ride horses.

So, tell us…what is your greatest dream, Kristen?

Kristen:  One of my other passions is designing jewelry. My biggest dream is to one day have my own company. I’m just waiting for the best moment to bring it up to my mother, who is unaware of anything that has to do with my love for sketching all kinds of new designs, nor of the stash I’ve created, which I keep hidden from her. She’s always envisioned us working together and one day passing on her company to me. Now that her dream has come true, I’m not sure how she will receive the news, but I can’t help but hope she’ll be supportive.

Marie:  I see. Well, I hope it works out! \

Let’s try a different question.

What kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Kristen: I wish I could be a normal twenty-one-year-old girl and experience the freedom that comes with that age. What’s stopping me? My mother’s fame. I can’t go anywhere without a bodyguard. She says it’s imperative to be protected at all times. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just another way for her to keep up with what I do or if there’s really any danger out there…

Marie:  That is unfortunate, but I’m sure she has a good reason.

All right, so I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Kristen:  I used to tell myself I would never fall in love…until I did. Problem is? He’s the very last person I want to love, the man I consider to be like a symbol of my lost freedom—my twenty-four-year-old bodyguard.

Marie:  Love can certainly be unexpected.

So…what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you, Kristen?

Kristen:  My father’s death. He was my everything and then he was gone. Things were never the same after that…

Marie:  I’m so sorry to hear that. 😦

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?

[Kristen nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Kristen:  I’ve always wanted to be independent, to be able to do everything I set my mind to do, travel the world and grow outside the influence of high society. I’m still working on that…

Marie:  Dreams take time, for sure.

Can you tell us…who is your role model, Kristen?

Kristen:  My father. He was gentle, caring, successful, and he always knew the right things to say.

Marie:  Sounds like he was a really special person.

Well, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Kristen:  There are quite a few…but the one who creeps me out the most is the CEO of Jaya Cosmetics, Niall Tomlinson, who’s helping Mother with launching a fragrance.

Marie:  All right.

So, what is your deepest desire?

Kristen:  To grow old with the man I love and our children. To live life to the fullest and at the end of the day to have no regrets.

Marie:  Well, that’s not a lot to ask. I think everyone wants their little slice of happiness in the world.

Let’s try a different question.

What is your greatest fear?

Kristen: Losing another person I love. I’ve watched my mother suffer for so many years. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to survive another loss.

Marie:  Aww…again, I’m so sorry about your father. (Pats her guest’s hand.)

Well, it looks like we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Kristen. It was so interesting getting to know you! 🙂

Kristen:  Thank you for having me, Marie!

Marie:  My pleasure!

(Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Marie:  Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Emily A. Lawrence on the stage today. It’s such a pleasure to meet you! Hello, Emily!

 

Author Emily A. Lawrence:  Hello, Marie!

Marie:  We just got to talk to the heroine of your story, Kristen. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about her?

Emily:  Kristen is a twenty-one-year-old girl freshly out of college, who, instead of being offered more freedom, is shackled with a new bodyguard, whom she can’t stand at first. Or can’t she, really? She likes to be in control…until she meets her match—Alec Warner.

All right.

So…what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Emily:  She’s smart and cocky, and knows how to get herself out of a difficult situation.

Marie:  Works for me!

Now, let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are Kristen’s greatest weaknesses?

Emily:  Alec. No one has ever impacted her as much as he did. He opened her eyes in many ways and showed her a different world than the one she was accustomed to. She would do anything to protect him and their relationship.

Marie:  I see.

So, let’s try something else.

What are some of her favorite foods?

Emily:  She loves chicken, chocolate, and her favorite food is pancakes with maple syrup.

Marie:  Can’t blame her for that, but certainly not all at once!  (Laughs.) 😀

What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Emily:  Despite her wealth, she’s a humble, down to earth person.

Marie:  Great!

So, will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Emily:  Hmm, I think they will love her once they get to know the real her. She’s a strong woman who’s been through a lot, and I loved watching her grow throughout the story and become a woman in the end.

Marie:  All right.

So, now that we have a real taste of Kristen, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for The Guardian of My Soul?

Emily:  It was the idea of impossible love. Bringing together two people with apparently nothing in common, and from totally different backgrounds and social statuses, and watching them overcome all the obstacles they had to face in their relationship.

Marie:  I like it!  (Sighs.) I love romance…;)

Let’s try something else.

What is your writing style like, Emily? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Emily:  I never sit down and plot. I don’t have an outline when I start a new story. I have an idea on how I want it to begin, certain events that should take place, and a vague ending, but I never know what’s going to happen next. I’m never sure what a writing day is going to be like. I get ideas as I write. Sometimes I have several options on how to continue and when that happens, I usually take a breather and detach myself from it for a while, thinking about how the story could develop depending on the path I choose. That said, I am definitely a pantser.

Marie:  Great!

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing The Guardian of My Soul or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Emily:  My biggest challenge was and still is time. Since I am also an editor, I am always working on something, so it’s difficult to find time to write. When I do sit down to write, though, I shut everything off and focus on the words playing around in my head. If I were to offer any advice to aspiring writers it would be to write what they know, in the genres they enjoy reading most. If anyone wants to become a writer, they must be readers first—and most importantly, they must be willing to learn. It’s the only way to constantly improve oneself.

Marie:  Oh, I totally agree! That’s great advice.

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story The Guardian of My Soul appears to be.

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Emily A. Lawrence, a very talented author! 🙂

 

Here is the blurb for The Guardian of My Soul:

When Kristen Mancuso turned twenty-one, she thought she would finally find the freedom she craved. She was wrong.

In spite of the luxury she lived in, Kristen was unhappy, a prisoner in her own home. When her overprotective mother hired Alec Warner to be her personal bodyguard, Kristen rebelled against it, unaware of the true reason why he was needed. She didn’t know the kind of danger lurking just around the corner.

Having Alec shadow her every move was the last thing she wanted. Or, so she thought…

Kristen was drawn to the handsome, intimidating Alec. While committed to his job, he refused to allow her to control him the way she did other men. Though their relationship was volatile and explosive from the start, they discovered they had more in common than they ever dreamed. They battled each other while they fought demons from their past and secrets which could tear them apart.

This was a battle where losing could very well give them everything their souls desired…

*Content Warning: intended for mature audiences 18+

Emily is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

I heard a banging at my door, not a gentle knock but a loud racket which shook the whole door. My eyes sprang open. What in the world? I looked around the room, trying to get my bearings. The hotel room was bathed in warm, bright light and my heart skipped a beat when I realized it was morning.
“Oh, Kristeeen?” Alec’s grumpy voice sounded over the loud banging.
Fred jumped off the bed and rushed to the door wagging his tail, visibly excited to hear him.
“Fred, how can you fraternize with the enemy?” I grumped, heading to the door. As soon as I opened it, my traitor of a dog jumped into Alec’s arms and licked him as if he were his favorite person in the world, making him chuckle.
“Finally, the princess decides to greet the day,” he said and grinned at me once he was done petting the dog. Suddenly, his eyes dropped and his smile slowly faded away.
I blinked, perplexed. Is he staring at my breasts? My God, he’s staring at my breasts! The realization elicited tremors all over my body, causing my nipples to strain against the fabric of my nightgown. Holy crap! My nightgown! I tensed when I remembered the transparent lace across my chest.
“Give him to me!” I snatched Fred out of his arms and used him to hide my aroused state. “What’s wrong with you, hammering at my door like a crazy man?” I fussed.
He cleared his throat as if to regain his voice before he answered me. “I’ve been standing here for more than five minutes calling you and nothing. What was I supposed to do? You said eight sharp and it’s almost eight-thirty.”
“Damn it!” I hurried back inside the room and put Fred on the bed, then quickly looked for something comfortable to change into. I took out a pair of denim shorts and a white shirt from my suitcase, then tugged at my nightgown to pull it off over my head. I stopped halfway when I noticed him sitting on my bed, casually assessing me. “Alec!” I gasped. Shock made me freeze. “What are you doing in here? Can’t you see I’m trying to change clothes?” I couldn’t believe he’d gotten a glimpse of my equally transparent panties.
“I’m just waiting to take your luggage.” He gave me a smile that set my teeth on edge. Clearly he didn’t find anything wrong with his actions.
“Wait outside, you peeping tom!”
“My bad,” he said dryly and left my room.
It took me a moment to recover and register the warm wetness between my legs. I sighed, once more feeling betrayed by my own body. “I can’t believe him! And I refuse to be turned on, no matter how he makes me feel!” I grumbled.
When I exited the room, I found him waiting in the hallway, and I marched up to him. “You saw me in my underwear! I’m furious with you.” I walked on, eager to put some distance between us.
“Hey!” He grabbed my arm and pulled me abruptly, my chest slamming against his hard torso. “You’re right. What I did was inappropriate. I’m sorry. I just found myself absentmindedly walking in. I didn’t mean to be rude,” he excused himself.
“You expect me to believe that?” I murmured, flush against him. His sudden change in attitude astounded me.
“Yes, I do.”
“You were checking me out.”
“Was not,” he retorted calmly, his face inches away from mine. Then I caught the smile in his eyes. He was lying like a dog.
“Let go of me,” I whispered, my chest heaving in agitation.
Being this close to him was doing funny things to me. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Everything in me wanted to move closer, to lean in, to touch, but I stubbornly resisted the unwelcome temptation.
What are you doing to me? I cried out in my mind.
He leaned toward me slowly and I panicked, my breath catching in my throat. With a sudden jerk I managed to free myself from his grip and rushed to the elevator, never looking back. He followed me in silence, hauling my luggage after him. We traveled down together, and I was so aware of him, my whole body reacted as if he were a powerful magnet. I was drawn to him, hanging onto the rail just to stay upright. His eyes held mine with an intensity which made me feel lightheaded, and I gasped for air as the space around us suddenly appeared to be too small.

Ooh…love the tension. I definitely want to know what happens next! 😉

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00GQMHNNI

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guardian-of-my-soul-emily-a-lawrence/1117525594

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/4536309

About Emily A. Lawrence

Emily A. Lawrence lives in Transylvania with her family, hence her love for anything paranormal. Her passion for writing began in high school, and she hasn’t stopped since.

Having her family’s support, and encouraged by friends and fellow authors, she pursued her dream of becoming a published author, landing her first contract in 2013.

Emily loves immersing herself in the worlds she creates and giving life to characters readers can identify themselves with. Usually, she writes contemporary romance in three heat levels: sweet, sensual, and erotic. However, she plans to try her hand at other genres, too, such as paranormal or mystery.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling and experiencing new cultures, new sceneries, food, meeting new people, or simply reading a good book.

Emily’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Emily A. Lawrence, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  http://authoremilylawrence.blogspot.ro/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/author.emily.a.lawrence

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/EmyALawrence

Amazon Author Page:

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/20344150-emily-a-lawrence

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/116252410801447580127/posts

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

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/emily-a-lawrence/

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Kristen, the female main character of The Guardian of My Soul, and Emily A. Lawrence, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

A Character Interview with Julie from JULIE’S ASCENT plus a conversation with author Emily Walker!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Eryn Black’s character on November 24th and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Emily Walker, the author of Julie’s Ascent, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Julie, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Emily in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Julie!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Julie.  Please have a seat.

Character Julie: Thank you for having me here.

Marie:  Of course!

We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Julie: Okay.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Julie:  My occupation, if you can call it that, is Succubus. I guess I should explain. I know a lot of people think we feed from sex with men and that we survive and kill that way. It’s not what I do. My task is to send the bad people of the world where they belong. They pass through me and go directly to Hell where their punishment awaits them.

Marie:  Oh…interesting!

So, tell us. What is your family like?

Julie:  It’s hard to remember them since I went to Hell and then came back to Earth. We’re kind of supposed to let it go, the memories. I loved my parents, though, and when I got lost in another dimension, the scariest thing my mind conjured was my parents being tortured. I think about them a lot, even if I can’t remember everything.

Marie:  Oh, so sorry to hear that. 😦

Let’s try something else, shall we?

What did your childhood home look like?

Julie:  I can’t remember it. I can’t remember being anywhere except the dorms and the park. It’s sad, but some of my memories just didn’t return.

Marie:  All right.

Do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Julie:  I like spending time with my mentor Asa, and staring at him. That’s not a hobby really. I enjoy reading some. At first I couldn’t find joy in anything, but reading these days helps pass the time.

 

Marie:  Can’t blame you there! Reading is awesome! 😉

So…what is your greatest dream, Julie?

Julie:  To send people to Heaven. I can’t; it’s not what I do. I just think it would be nice to send someone to a good place for once. I don’t even know what it’s like.

Marie:  I see.

What kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Julie:  I truly wish I could be alive again, tell everyone I care about that I do and soak in every moment so the memories would be too strong to erase. I am dead, so that’s stopping me. (Laughs.) I’m truly not being funny, it’s the truth. It just still makes me laugh uncomfortably to admit that I’m dead.

Marie:  It is unfortunate. I can’t even imagine it…:(

All right, so I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Julie:  I fell in love with the wrong kind of guy for my first time. I don’t really want to talk about it.

Julie in her old life…

Marie:  Okay, I respect that. I think most of us are guilty of that kind of mistake.

So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you, Julie?

Julie:  Drowning was terrible. Being lost in some scary dimensions and not thinking I would ever get out was also terrible. I think they are tied.

Marie:  Again, I’m so sorry that happened to you. 😦

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?

[Julie nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Julie:  I don’t remember my dreams and aspirations so I’m just going to guess. When I was in college, I think I was majoring in Science – Biology, if I am not crazy. When I was majoring in Biology, I wanted to be a scientist, like a legit breaking discovery scientist. I gave that major up when I met him so I didn’t achieve that. Then when I changed majors to something else, I can’t remember what, I died.

Marie:  All right.

So, tell us…who is your role model, Julie?

Julie:  Asa, my mentor, is my role model. He’s also supposed to be teaching me, but the dude has been through a lot, and he’s been in Hell a long time. He’s kept a sense of humor; that takes something special. At least I think so.

Marie:  I agree.

Okay, let’s try something else. Well, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Julie:  Not in this lifetime. Unless you count my teachers. Since I have to pretend to be a college student and Asa makes me actually go to classes, I dislike pretty much all of my teachers.

Marie:  All right.

So, what is your deepest desire?

Julie:  I think my deepest desire is to find peace. It’s hard putting horrible people through me and seeing what they did, how they did it. The world is full of some bad people.

Marie:  That’s true.

Let’s try a different question.

What is your greatest fear, Julie?

Julie:  Disappearing.

Marie: I  see.

Well, we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Julie. It was so interesting getting to know you! 🙂

(Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Marie:  Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Emily Walker on the stage today. It’s such a pleasure to meet you! Hello, Emily!

Author Emily Walker:  Hello! Thank you for having me!

Marie:  My pleasure!

We just got to talk to the heroine of your story, Julie. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about her?

Emily:  Julie dies in the beginning of the story, so that’s no spoiler she was handing out there. She goes to Hell and has to deal with the fact that even though she doesn’t remember it, she did something on Earth while she was alive that put her in the situation.

All right.

So…what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Emily:  Julie’s strengths are her drive; she goes into this job pretty much head first and doesn’t know what’s going to happen to her. She accepts it, so she’s driven to find out what happened to her and she thinks doing the job is the way to do it.

Marie:  Guess I can’t blame her there!  I’d want to know too.

Now, let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are Julie’s greatest weaknesses?

Emily:  Slowly remembering things that don’t make sense are really hard on her and so is the fact that she has to control her power. If she doesn’t control it, she can kill everyone around them just sucking in their life essence. It’s like a drug.

Marie:  I see.

So, let’s try something else.

What are some of her favorite foods?

Emily:  Asa cooks a mean breakfast with bacon and all the fixings. Since they are in a married dorm, pretending to be married, he makes her food, although she doesn’t have to eat.

Marie:  Okay.

What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Emily:  She was pretty; she was just insecure. In her Succubus form, she’s as close to perfect as it gets, but she doesn’t realize when she was alive she was just as appealing.

Marie:  I think a lot of women can relate to that…

So, will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Emily:  I think they will like her. She’s dead and succubae, but she has some real insecurities, a crush on Asa, and fears. She’s realistic about what happened to her. Once it starts coming back, you have to root for her.

Marie:  Great!

So, now that we have a real taste of Julie, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for Julie’s Ascent?

Emily: Originally the name of the story was The Reluctant Succubus, which I still like. It’s the name of the series and the prequel to Julie’s Ascent, where we explore some characters a bit more before Julie died. Julie’s Ascent has a couple of meanings; she rises to the challenge of finding out who she is, and she rises from Hell to Earth to do her job.

Marie:  Works for me! 🙂

Let’s try something else.

What is your writing style like, Emily? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Emily:  A little of both. I pantsed Julie’s Ascent, but I’ve become a lot more fond of plotting.

Marie:  All right.

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Julie’s Ascent or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Emily:  Writing Julie’s Ascent was hard sometimes; it was dark. It gets dark and while it’s a paranormal romance, there are some scenes that kind of make you cringe a bit. Those are hard for me sometimes to write when I sit back and think man, where’d that come from. Also my mom was like, “Where do these thoughts come from?” I think she was a bit disturbed, but I balanced it out with humor, angst, and romance so I think it all comes together nicely. I don’t think I would do anything differently. I learn every day as a writer, and this one has been written for a while now so thinking things through and just going with my gut, a lot of the same the whole time I’ve been writing.

Marie:  Isn’t it interesting how the muse works?  🙂

Emily: Yes. Thank you so much for having me and Julie today! It was a lot of fun.

Marie:  Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Julie’s Ascent appears to be.

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Emily Walker, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for Julie’s Ascent:

When Julie Monroe ends up in Hell, she has no idea why she’s there.

What she’s sure of is: she’s dead, she’s transparent, and she’s been given a second chance.

Kind of.

Given the unique opportunity to return to Earth as a Succubus, she jumps at the chance to get out of Hell. Problem is, she isn’t too keen on sucking souls for the Underworld. To make things even more complicated, she has a crush on her mentor, Asa. He’s been in the business of the Succubae for hundreds of years, and Julie can’t help feeling drawn to him.

Convinced she can escape, Julie tries to run and hide from the forces of hell. But, as she discovers different dimensions of Hell on Earth, she begins to realize that maybe, just maybe, there isn’t a way to escape her fate…

 

Emily is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

He doesn’t apologize. He just smiles an unnerving smirk and continues telling me about the world in which I would soon belong. I wonder if he is trying to anger me on purpose to see what I can do. Making me angry is not good for him, I don’t know how I know that, but I can feel the power at the end of my consciousness and it is a scary sensation.

“You will have to watch that temper, too, Julie. It will get you into trouble. Another thing you should know is it’s very easy for a succubus such as yourself to go over to the dark side.” He holds up his hand before I can ask him a question. “I know, you are already on the dark side, but you aren’t. You really have no idea how dark things can get, and I promise you the evil that will rape your soul is not worth the thrill you get from letting go.” His dark eyes hide a memory of some sort that he does not wish me to know.

Ooh…I definitely want to know what happens next! 😉

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00ZPM8Q36

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/julies-ascent-emily-walker/1122231067

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/5561086

About Emily Walker

Emily Walker loves creating worlds and stumbling around in them. She is constantly losing her chap-stick, and has an obsession with the color pink. Currently a resident of the mountains and loving the view she writes mostly paranormal fiction, horror and some romance. Her small family consists of her red bearded other half, a rat terrier named Rebel, and a cat called Mr. Creepy.

Emily’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Emily Walker, here are some of her author links:

Website:  http://authoremilywalker.com/

Blog:  http://www.selfpublishordie.com/author-emily-walker/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoremilywalker

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/authorewalker

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Emily%20Walker/e/B0088EDLDS/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+EmilyWalkerauthor/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/64304.Emily_Walker

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/emily-walker

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Julie, the female main character of Julie’s Ascent, and Emily Walker, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

A Character Interview with Eryn O’Malley from THE GANGSTER’S WOMAN plus a conversation with author Ginger Ring!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Isobelle Cate’s character on November 10th and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Ginger Ring, the author of The Gangster’s Woman, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Eryn O’Malley, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Ginger in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Eryn!

 

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Eryn.  Please have a seat.

Character Eryn O’Malley:  Hello.  Thank you for having me.

Marie:  Of course. We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Eryn: All right.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Eryn: I’m a waitress. Am I any good at it? I guess so. Do I like it? It’s a job. With the depression on, we are lucky to have any work. It’s not easy but it’s a job.

Marie:  Forgive me. I didn’t mean to sound uncaring. I completely understand. 

So, tell us…what is your family like?

Eryn:  I have a beautiful daughter named Vivian and a brother named John.

Marie:  All right.

What did your childhood home look like?

Eryn:  I’m from Ireland and grew up in a loving family. When our parents died, my brother and I came to America.

Marie:  I’m so sorry to hear about your parents…:(

(Pauses.)

Let’s try a different question.

Do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Eryn:  I garden and go to movies when I can. What do I enjoy doing? I love to dance and I work hard to pay for dance lessons for Vivian.

Marie:  You’re a good mom. 🙂

So…what is your greatest dream, Eryn?

Eryn:  To have a stable home and for Vivian to become the star she is.

Marie:  Okay.

What kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Eryn: Law-abiding. What is stopping me? We need the money and I am always one step in front of the law and the outlaw, Ed Killian.

Marie:  Intriguing…I just know there’s a story there, but I sense you won’t tell me right now.

No problem. I respect your privacy.

All right, so I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Eryn:  Scott Killian.

Marie:  All right.

So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Eryn:  When Scott was killed and I knew my daughter would grow up without her father.

Marie:  Oh, no! I’m so sorry to hear that! 😦

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?

[Eryn nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Eryn: To be an actress. I wanted the excitement. Did I achieve that dream? No. Things changed. I had a daughter to raise.

Marie:  That’s understandable.

So, tell us…who is your role model, Eryn?

Eryn: My brother John.

Marie:  All right.

Let’s try something else. Well, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Eryn:  All the men that I have to pretend to like and let them kiss me before I drug them and take their money.

Marie:  Yikes! What a situation you’ve got yourself in. I hope you find a way out…

Let me ask you a different question.

What is your deepest desire?

Eryn:  To find a loving husband to take me away from everything. To be safe.

Marie:  I would say that’s not too much to ask.

So…

What is your greatest fear, Eryn?

Eryn: That Killian will find me and take my daughter.

 

Marie: I  can certainly understand that worry.

Well, we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Eryn. It was so interesting getting to know you! 🙂

(Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Marie:  Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Ginger Ring on the stage today. It’s so lovely to see you again, hon. I remember when you visited us on the I Love Romance Blog last year, and we covered the first book in your series. Hi again, Ginger!

Ginger:  Hello!! Thank you for having me!

Marie:  My pleasure!

We just got to talk to the heroine of your story, Eryn. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about her?

Ginger:  She was mentioned in the first book, The Gangster’s Kiss. Her brother was searching for her but never found her. When I started the second book, I really had no idea where she had gone. When I found out about a painting at an old gangster hideout in Madison, I went to see the photo. It was of a half-naked woman and it hung above the fireplace. I wondered who she was, why had she posed for the painting, and what had become of her. I had found Eryn.

Fascinating! Isn’t it interesting where the muse takes us?

So…what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Ginger:  She will do anything to survive. She never gives up.

Marie:  That’s certainly admirable!

Now, let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are Eryn’s greatest weaknesses?

Ginger:  Her innocence for falling for the wrong man.

Marie:  Well, it does happen sometimes…

Let’s try something else.

What are some of her favorite foods?

Ginger:  Sweets.

Marie:  (Laughs.) I guess I can’t blame her there! 😉

So, what’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Ginger:  Her strength to love and work hard.

Marie:  Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Ginger:  I think they will like her. She does what she can and most will understand the struggles she has of raising a child alone.

Marie:  For sure!

So, now that we have a real taste of Eryn, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for The Gangster’s Woman?

Ginger:  It is the second story in a trilogy. They are all connected by the Gangster, Ed Killian.

Marie:  All right.

What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Ginger:  A little of both.

Marie:  Okay.

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing The Gangster’s Woman or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Ginger: No, it was just tricky to mix real historical events with the story. What would I do differently the next time? Write faster. (Laughs.)

Marie:  (Chuckles.)  I know what you mean!  😉

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story The Gangster’s Woman appears to be.

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Ginger Ring, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for The Gangster’s Woman:

Now that prohibition was over, FBI agent Michael Flynn hoped to enjoy the quiet life and a chance to finally concentrate on finding his best friend’s sister. He’d been in love with her since he first laid eyes on her picture. Unfortunately, the more he searched the more he realized she wasn’t just missing. Eryn was hiding from one of the most notorious gangsters around. One who wouldn’t rest until he knew she was dead.
Eryn O’Malley had been moving around for years, doing whatever legal, or illegal job she could find to survive. No time for romance or a normal life. A one night stand with a handsome man at the county fair seemed like just the ticket to escape for a moment from her troubled life. However, finding out he was a G-man wasn’t part of the plan. Now he was on her trail. Whether to arrest or rescue her, she wasn’t sure, and she couldn’t wait around to find out. If he caught her, would he forgive her checkered past or would he always think of her as the gangster’s woman?

Ginger is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

He took a seat on the bed, crossed an ankle over the other, and rested his back against the cheap headboard. Interlocking his fingers behind his head, he observed the woman in his room. Her back was toward him as she poured the liquor in the glasses.
The woman could be a movie star or one of those girls in the magazines who held a soda pop in an ad. Tall and elegant, nice round ass, and slender calves and ankles. If she was indeed John’s sister and he slept with her, there would be hell to pay, but it would be worth every glorious second. A wolf call whistle left his lips.
Eryn turned, a glass in each hand, and a slight tilt to her head. “Now, what was that for?”
“Just enjoying the view.” He winked.
“Well, then I better get closer so you don’t strain your eyes.” She took a few steps closer and handed him his drink. Damn, she was a pistol. If he didn’t calm down soon, he’d be firing off a shot of a different kind.
Eryn strolled to the other side of the bed and joined him on it. Her slender legs crossed out in front of her. He swallowed and his fingers itched to slide down that silky skin.
“Cheers.” The click of her glass touched his and he forced his eyes from her legs to the graceful fingers holding her drink.
“Bottoms up.” He downed his in one sip. Eryn took two sips and licked the rim of her glass. This time a groan escaped his mouth and he took her glass and placed both of them on the bedside table.
“Don’t want another drink?” Eryn’s gaze dipped to her hands and then back to his face.
“No, I’d rather do this.” To hell with John, he was kissing his sister.
His fingers framed her face. Her skin soft as velvet and her full lips waiting to be kissed. They didn’t have long to wait. His mouth settled on hers. She tasted sweeter than candy. The hint of alcohol lingered and made for a stimulating mix. Nipping at her lower lip, Eryn moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair. Michael deepened the kiss and echoed her appreciation.
It killed him to break the contact, but he did. Her green eyes smoldered like emeralds in the dim room light. “Stay the night with me.”
“Aye, I will,” she whispered. Her response was in an accent and words so familiar to her brother’s. He could already feel the beating John would be giving him for making love to his sister, but it would be worth it.
Michael slid down the bed and drew her across his chest. Her auburn curls framed her heart-shaped face. Auburn curls? It finally dawned on him that she didn’t even know she had a niece that looked identical to her. Taking in a deep breath, he slid his fingers through her hair. “I always had a thing for redheads, but I’ve never slept with one.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle with you,” she ribbed.
He burst out laughing. “You are something else, doll.”
“You have no idea,” Eryn promised and lowered her lips to his.

Ooh…sexy! 😉

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00VBZQE6C

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gangsters-woman-ginger-ring/1121745401

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/5423263

About Ginger Ring

Ginger Ring is an eclectic, hat-loving Midwestern girl with a weakness for cheese, dark chocolate, and the Green Bay Packers. She loves reading, playing with her cats, watching great movies, and has a quirky sense of humor. Publishing a book has been a life-long dream of hers and she is excited to share her romantic stories with you. Her heroines are classy, sassy and in search of love and adventure. When Ginger isn’t tracking down old gangster haunts or stopping at historical landmarks, you can find her on the backwaters of the Mississippi River fishing with her husband.
Ginger’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Ginger Ring, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  http://gingerring.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/romancewritergingerring

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GingerRings

Amazon Author Page:   http://www.amazon.com/Ginger-Ring/e/B00FOXTYYG/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/118019623261583234943/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7325608.Ginger_Ring

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/ginger-ring/

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/Gingernovel/

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Eryn O’Malley, the female main character of The Gangster’s Woman, and Ginger Ring, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

A Character Interview with Colin Butler from MY HAVEN, MY MIDNIGHT plus a conversation with author Isobelle Cate!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Linda L. Picl’s character on October 20th and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Isobelle Cate, the author of My Haven, My Midnight, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Colin Butler, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Isobelle in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Colin!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Colin.  Please have a seat.

Character Colin Butler:  Hello.  Thank you for having me.

Marie:  Of course. We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Colin: All right.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Colin:  I am the Dux of the Leeds Cynn Cruors. I am one of the best recons the Cynn Cruors have. Most of the time, my right hand, Craig Shaw and I are assigned to missions with the Manchester Cynn Cruors. Sometimes, it’s the other way around. Call it a symbiotic relationship. When I’m not busy fighting, I’m busy making money. I have a club and restos, and organize raves. Do I like it? Oh yeah, especially when I see so many pretty young things. Am I any good at it? It would appear so if we’re raking in hundreds of thousands a night just in one club, Le Club Cinq Mille.

Marie:  Okay. Great! 

So, what is your family like?

Colin: My family? Ahh, Marie, we are treading on deadly ground here. And I mean truly deadly. If it weren’t for the woman I love and Blake Strachan, a Cynn Cruor brother who said something to The Hamilton, I might not be here talking to you. That’s all I can say and it’s already a lot. I’d rather keep the rest to myself.

Marie:  All right, I respect that. But, your response is intriguing, to say the least.

Let’s try something else, okay?

What did your childhood home look like?

Colin:  Much better. It was beautiful, it still is. I have returned to where I was born to raise my family and raise my son as a future immortal warrior.

I have built a home close to Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. There are majestic mountains that buffer my house not from the cold because I don’t feel the cold, but it separates us from the outside world. It’s a haven for my wife and my son away from the life I left behind when I was banished.

We used to have a longhouse where my parents, Makenzie, my brother, and I lived. Da was often with the Hamilton fighting the Scatha as far as I can remember so oftentimes it was Mam, Mack, and I who tilled the lands and watched over cattle with the help of the people who lived with us. These people had been driven away from their homes by the Duke of Cumberland during the Highland Clearances. The longhouse is long gone, but I haven’t built my house over it. I have kept it as a memorial of my parent’s sacrifice.

Marie:  All right, I can see it pains you to admit that…

Let’s try a different question.

Do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Colin:  Hobbies? The only hobby I had for the longest time was to decapitate as many Scatha Cruors I could find. (Grins.) Now that I have a family, I enjoy spending every moment with them. When my son is older, I will enjoy teaching him how to be a Cynn Cruor the way my father taught me and my brother.

Marie:  All right. So, what is your greatest dream?

Colin:  My greatest dream is to see my brother once again and the end to the Cruor wars.

Marie:  Can’t blame you there…

Okay, so, what kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Colin:  I wish I could be the best Dux for the Leed Cynn Cruors. What’s stopping me? Let’s not go there. I don’t want to talk about something that continues to be a dull thorn on my side.

Marie:  No problem. I respect your privacy.

All right. I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Colin:  The woman I married. Amaryllis Hart.

Marie:  (Sighs.) I love romance…

All right. So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Colin:  The loss of Mackenzie, my brother.

Marie:  I’m really sorry to hear that. 😦

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?

[Colin nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Colin:  To be a great Cynn Cruor warrior. With The Hamilton training me together with Craig and the rest of the Manchester Cynn Cruors, I fulfilled that dream. Sure, there is a lot of fighting, but that was what I was born to be.

Marie:  All right.

So, tell us…who is your role model, Colin?

Colin:  My Da. He gave up his life to save a family from the Scatha Cruors who fell on them when they were thrown out of their lands by the Crann Tara.

Marie:  Wow…so sorry. I didn’t realize that’s how you lost one of your parents. How horrible for you, but I can understand why you’d respect the honor he exhibited at the time.

Let’s try something else. Well, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Colin:  No. If I don’t like a person, I just won’t give him the time of day. So far, the only beings that fit that mold are the Scatha Cruor.

Save for one.

Marie:  Okay. You have me curious now…

Tell us. What is your deepest desire?

Colin:  My deepest desire is for the Cruor wars to end so that I can live in peace with Amaryllis and my son, Duncan.

Marie:  That’s understandable.

Let’s try a different question…

What is your greatest fear?

Colin: That I die before my son comes of age. I have seen many Cynn Cruor children who have become orphans so early in their lives. I don’t want that for my son.

Marie: I  can certainly understand that worry.

Well, we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Colin. It was so interesting getting to know you!

Colin: It has been a pleasure, Marie.

(Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Marie:  Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Isobelle Cate on the stage today. It’s so lovely to talk to you again, hon. I remember when we interviewed you on the Writing in the Modern Age blog back in March. Hi again, Isobelle!

Author Isobelle Cate:  Hi Marie! Great to see you again. 🙂

Marie:  Thanks! We just got to talk to the hero of your story, Colin. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about him?

Isobelle: Oh yes, he was difficult to write. Colin Butler is a crack shot and one of the best Cynn Cruor scouts. He and his team do the recon for many of Cynn Cruors’ missions. He often has a ribald sense of humor and loves women…a lot. But he has a secret that can lead to his and his team’s death. Literally.

Marie:  I see…that’s quite intriguing, though. 

So, what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Isobelle: He’s reliable, dependable, loyal to a fault, self-sacrificing.

Marie:  Nothing wrong with that!

Now, let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are Colin’s greatest weaknesses?

Isobelle: His being loyal to a fault and self-sacrificing is both his weakness and his strength. It’s how he and Amaryllis, his mate, lost his life.

Marie:  I see.

Let’s try something else…

What are some of his favorite foods?

Isobelle:  Beef and spicy garlic sausages. Sure, he has the vampire DNA inside him, but he doesn’t get affected by garlic.

Marie:  (Laughs.) That comes in handy! 😉

So…what’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Isobelle:  Colin believes that he has to keep proving himself, to show his loyalty because of the secret he had kept hidden for so long.

Marie:  I see.

Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Isobelle:  Readers will definitely like Colin, maybe even love him for the sacrifices he has made through the centuries. He will stay with readers even after the last page of the story has been read.

Marie:  Can’t go wrong with that description! I’m dying to learn more about the book.

Now that we have a real taste of Colin, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

Isobelle:  Okie doke. Fire away!

Marie:  What first gave you the idea for My Haven, My Midnight?

Isobelle:  I was writing Midnight’s Fate and there was a battle scene. In that scene, Finn Qualtrough, the hero in Rapture at Midnight tears through a horde of Scatha Cruors and werewolves – the first time the Cynn Cruors fight the weres since the series began. Colin watches from his vantage point high up the Silver Cave and sees how his fellow Cynn Cruors viciously kill as many Scathas in the same way he does. It was at that moment that I thought, I needed to make Colin more interesting. He has always had this devil-may-care attitude when he battles the Scatha Cruors, he has an incredible zest for life, but he has a tendency to be suspicious. So while I was mulling over the scene, it suddenly hit me that Colin Butler has a reason why he was this way.

This is how My Haven, My Midnight was born.

Marie:  Genius!

So, what is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Isobelle:  I am more of a pantser than a plotter. I do try to plot, but am unable to write down just the plot. Later on, the dialogue will come to mind and I have to write that down lest I forget. I am trying my hand again at plotting. It’s a slow process for me.

Marie:  All right.

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing My Haven, My Midnight or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Isobelle:  Yes. Writer’s Block. I thought I was immune. Wishful thinking! I had it for a while and I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to finish writing the manuscript by my self-imposed deadline. I had to push through that block – I actually imagine it as a moss-covered wall I have to climb to get to the other side. I kept reading the drafts and I was not satisfied until maybe after the 7th draft. When I felt that it was the best that I could make it, then I sent it to my publisher, Beau Coup Publishing. Luckily, they liked it as well.

If there was anything I could do differently? Oh, gosh, I wish I had the luxury of time to write so that I can fully concentrate on writing continuously. And maybe do more plotting that pantsing particularly because the series is getting more complicated.

And to aspiring authors – never give up. All of us now have an opportunity to become a fantastic writer. There are so many readers out there who want to read the stories you are inspired to write. Do not think that just because one reader may not like your writing, the rest will follow. For every disparaging reader, there will be four to five readers who love what you give them. If there are naysayers, separate the constructive criticism from the I-love-to-troll-your-books attacks. There will always be people who have nothing better to do except to put people down. These are the people you don’t need to listen to.

Finally, believe in yourself. If you do, your characters will too, and they will give you the inspiration to be the best storyteller you can be.

Marie:  All of that is awesome advice!

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story My Haven, My Midnight appears to be.

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Isobelle Cate, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for My Haven, My Midnight:

Amaryllis Hart has lived a hard life. Falsely accused of theft, she decides to live the life thrown at her until one encounter tosses her into a world she does not believe exists and into the arms of the immortal who steals her heart.

Colin Butler, Dux of the Leeds Cynn Cruors and his second, Craig Shaw, return to Leeds abruptly after a secret Colin has been keeping for centuries, returns. In their attempts to keep it under wraps, another situation blows up in their faces, bringing Colin face to face with his past and his future—a violet eyed beauty who heals his soul.

As luck would have it, Colin’s secret is unearthed. To top it all, Dac Valerian and Herod D’Argyl are in Leeds and the Ancients’ enforcer arrives to pass judgement on the Dux of the Leeds Cynn Cruors.

Colin has to make the hardest decision of his life. Either he walks away from the past that will forever haunt him or make up for a past he had no control of and lose the woman he loves.

Isobelle is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

“Where are you?” Colin moved away from the group even as he opened his telepathic link with his men. He left the security room and made a beeline for the alleyway.
Keep Seth and the rest occupied.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Mackenzie—”
There was an angry growl. “I’m not Mackenzie. I haven’t been for a very long time.”
“Then why call me brother?” Colin knew he was goading Mackenzie. He could not help it. The need to know if his brother was still inside that Scatha shell was overpowering. He was desperate. He wanted his brother back. He wanted his fellow Cynn Cruor returned. Mack had always been a bit short-tempered, ever since their parents died. Colin pushed the fire door and walked into the alley.
“Fuck you!”
Colin’s hand rested on his hip and he looked up at the sky framed by the buildings’ rooftops. Yup, his brother was still there. A humorless smile crossed Colin’s mouth. “That’s quite a unique name you’ve given me.” When he heard a moan in the background, Colin lowered his head, his eyes narrowing at the brick wall in front of him. “Where are you, Mackenzie?”
“I’m not—”
“No matter what you think or do or say, you’re still bràthair to me.”
A painful moan.
“What the bloody hell did you do now?” Colin asked, his voice furious. He paced the alley.
“Always my fault, isn’t it?” Mackenzie accused. “I didn’t want to be a Scatha. You made it happen but it will always be my fault. Why can’t you get it through that thick skull of yours that you’re to blame?”
Colin’s chest tightened with the guilt that never left him since Mackenzie’s transformation. Now was not the time or place to dwell on it. “Where is she? I swear to God if you hurt her—”
“I’m the worse Scatha there is. I’ve got a fucking bloody conscience! I hate it!” His brother snapped before muttering, “I don’t know why the fuck I’m doing this.”
Colin kept quiet, his empty hand curling. “Where are you?” he repeated. “Let her go. Leave her in a place where we can pick her up. I won’t chase after you tonight.”
“No. I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?” Colin blazed, pacing the narrow alley. He bluffed. “We know where the Scatha lair is.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’m not there.”
“We’re just running in circles, Mackenzie.”
“I’m here. At the Faesten.”
“What?” Colin stopped dead. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want the Scathas to know about her.” He sighed, resigned. “She needs the Cynn Cruors’ protection.”

Ooh, riveting!

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B0106CTVCY

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-haven-my-midnight-isobelle-cate/1122241164

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/5588073

About Isobelle Cate

Isobelle Cate is a woman who wears different masks.  Mother-writer, wife-professional, scholar-novelist.  Currently living in Manchester, she has been drawn to the little known, the secret stories, about the people and the nations:  the English, the Irish, the Scots, the Welsh, and those who are now part of these nations whatever their origins.  Her vision and passion are fuelled by her interest and background in history and paradoxically, shaped by growing up in a clan steeped in lore, loyalty, and legend.  Isobelle is intrigued by forces that simmer beneath the surface of these cultures, the hidden passions, unsaid desires, and yearnings unfulfilled.

Isobelle’s Books:

Coming Soon:

Available Now:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Isobelle Cate, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  https://isobellecate.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIsobelleCate

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Isobelle_Cate

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Isobelle-Cate/e/B00E5OD27K/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+IsobelleCate/posts

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191925.Isobelle_Cate

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/isobelle-cate/

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBbB7h0DL9CEVRPJqByDOzA/videos 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/clpardington/author-isobelle-cate/

Additional:  http://microcerpt.com/isobellecate/

https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/Isobelle_Cate

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Colin Butler, the male main character of My Haven, My Midnight, and Isobelle Cate, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

A Character Interview with Angel Bennett from ANGELEA’S DREAMS OF YESTERDAY plus a conversation with author Linda L. Picl!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Natalie Alder’s character on October 13th and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Linda L. Picl, the author of Angelea’s Dreams of Yesterday, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Angel Bennett, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Linda in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Angel!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Angel.  Please have a seat.

Character Angel Bennett:  Hello.  Thanks for having me.

Marie:  Of course. We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Angel: All right.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Angel: Hi, thanks for having me. I am an antiques dealer. Am I any good at it? Yes, I think so; I have many satisfied customers. Do I like it? Yes, I do. The hunt is the most fun, and then, of course, the sale…that’s a close second.

Marie:  Okay. Great! 

So, what is your family like?

Angel:  I don’t have much family, I have my brother Rick, a beach bum who likes to hang out at the local bars. He’s a great guy though. Then I have my cousin Missy and my fiancé. That’s it. My adoptive parents died in a car accident a long time ago.

Marie:  Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about your parents…

Let’s try something else, okay?

What did your childhood home look like?

Angel:  It looked like a foster home for quite a while until the Bennett’s came along, then it was the typical 3 bedroom ranch in the suburbs.

Marie:  Do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Angel: Oh, I have a great hobby. I love to scuba dive, looking for lost pirate treasure. I enjoy mainly diving and reading about the local lost ships in our area.

Marie:  All right. So, what is your greatest dream?

Angel:  Probably to finally marry Nate and live on the Atlantic Ocean. I want a wide open house right on the beach.

Marie:  Can’t blame you there…I want a beach house as well.

Okay, so, what kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Angel:  I wish I was more assertive. Don’t get me wrong, I can stand up for myself, but I hate to fight with anyone. What is stopping me? I’m deathly afraid of getting punched in the face.

Marie:  (Smiles.) Well, of course, no one wants that…

All right. I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Angel:  Well, that depends if you’re asking about my present life or my past. My past life I was in love with Alexander; he was the captain of a pirate ship. Now I love Nate. He’s my partner in business and in life.

Marie:  (Sighs.) I love romance…

All right. So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Angel:  Having Alexander come back and try to claim me as his wife now. Of course he’s dead, but he sure made his presence known.

Marie:  Wow, that’s a bit creepy! 😦

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter now, shall we?

[Angel nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Angel:  My biggest dream as a kid was to find parents that loved me and my brother. We had it for a short time until they died, but I know we were loved. It was everything I thought it would be. They were excellent parents, very vigilant with everything we did and very giving of themselves.

Marie:  I think we all want that kind of love in our lives.

So, tell us…who is your role model, Angel?

Angel:  I guess my role model is Nate; he shows me every day how to be a good person.

Marie:  Wow, that’s wonderful!

Well, you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Angel:  Some of my customers make me crazy, but most of them are sweet, so no, there’s no one I really dislike.

Marie:  Okay.

So, what is your deepest desire?

Angel:  Just to be loved, and I think I’ve found that with Nate.

Marie:  Happy to hear it! (Smiles.)

Tell us, Angel…what is your greatest fear?

Angel: Probably bringing up another item that has a bad spirit attached to it.

Marie:  Yikes! That fear is understandable.

Well, we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Angel. It was so interesting getting to know you!  (Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Linda L. Picl on the stage today. It’s so lovely to have you back, hon. I remember when we interviewed you on ILRB around this time last year. Hi again, Linda!

Author Linda L. Picl:  Hello.  Thanks for having me today.

Marie:  My pleasure!  We just got to talk to the heroine of your story, Angel. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about her?

Linda:  She’s a normal everyday girl who happens to get amnesia and think she’s married to a pirate. And she thinks her name is Angelea.

Marie:  Whoa!  Quite the predicament! 

So, what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Linda: She’s stronger than she thinks she is. She’s not afraid to confront her demons.

Marie:  Nothing wrong with that!

Now, let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are Angel’s greatest weaknesses?

Linda:  She gives up too easily on the people around her.

Marie:  I see.

Let’s try something else…

What are some of her favorite foods?

Linda:  She loves burgers and fries, the greasier the better.

Marie:  (Laughs.) She must have great metabolism! 😉

So…what’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Linda: Bravery. There’s not much that frightens her.

Marie:  Great!

Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Linda: They will love her; she keeps going when things get hard and manages to survive an almost insurmountable problem.

Marie:  Can’t go wrong with that description! I’m dying to learn more about the book.

Now that we have a real taste of Angel, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for Angelea’s Dreams of Yesterday?

Linda: I wanted to try paranormal romance, after doing two previous romances.

Marie:  Sounds like a plan to me!

So, what is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Linda: A plotter, although there are times I just start writing to see what comes out.

Marie:  All right.

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing this book or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Linda: The only thing I would do differently is really examine my book for problems. Once it’s in edits there are no rewrites.

Marie:  You’re right about that. And that’s great advice, for sure.

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Angelea’s Dreams of Yesterday appears to be.

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Linda L. Picl, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for Angelea’s Dreams of Yesterday:

Nothing short of a miracle will convince Angelea she’s the person everyone claims she is. She thought she was just waking up from a nightmare, but her nightmare is just beginning. Her doctor tells her she’s someone named Angel Bennett, someone she’s never heard of and the bruises on her body tell her something horrendous has happened to her, but what? That’s something no one can figure out.
Nate Matthews knows who Angelea really is. She’s his lover and he’d hoped his future wife. But when she awakens in the hospital after a routine surgery and she claims she’s married to a man named Alexander from a time long ago, he knows they will both be up against something no one has ever had to face before. Maybe something evil. How will he convince the love of his life she is not married to a pirate?
Linda is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

“I’m not sleeping in there, it looks like a Valentine card threw up all over that room.” She threw him a slight grin and turned to drop the pillow and blankets she clutched on the couch.
Nate exploded with laughter, “Thank you I’ve been telling you that for years, maybe now we can change it?”
“You can if you want, I’m not stepping foot in that room, and it’s all yours.”
Forgetting the situation for a split second he told her, “Babe you don’t like to sleep out here, it’s drafty and noisy. You always complain about it.”
Then it hit him. The reason she refused the bedroom was not the décor…it was him.
Her next statement confirmed his fears, “No, the couch will be fine, thanks.” He felt the air rush out of his lungs and his heart crush in his chest. The night she was in the hospital was the longest night of his life, he missed her so much. Now she wasn’t sick and gone, she didn’t want to sleep with him and refused of her own free will.
“You don’t mean that? Really?” He never had to before, but now he was pleading with her. Raw pain filled his eyes. This couldn’t be happening. They’d worked so hard to get their relationship to this point and now it somehow evaporated right before his eyes.
“Yes, I’m sorry I do.” He could tell she tried to soothe things over and understand his feelings when she replied.
“Listen Nate, I know, I know we’ve been together forever, but in truth I just met you. I’m not kidding when I say that. I can’t jump in bed with you. I am sorry. But the couch will be fine for now unless you want to take it.” He was beyond furious and had an angry fiery look in his eyes that made her cautious of what she said next. What he didn’t want her to know was the truth…he was heartbroken.
He dropped the bag of food on the kitchen table, “Fine. Here’s lunch, enjoy.” He turned, grabbed his keys and without a look back in her direction slammed the door on his way out of the apartment. He literally shook everything in the place to its foundation, including her.
He wondered what he was going to do now as he headed to his car. Everything they’d worked for and built was suddenly gone. Their life together obliterated in one day.
Ooh, love the tension…

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00TWPIOEI

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angeleas-dreams-of-yesterday-linda-l-picl/1121279321

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/5331960

About Linda L. Picl

Linda L. Picl was born in Illinois and got her love of reading from spending time in a tiny library under a police station in a small town there. From there she went on to work at many of the libraries in suburbs all around the Chicago area, which only fired up her love of romance novels.

Following her favorite authors Robyn Carr and Nora Roberts, she went on to write sweet romance books and produced her first book, Next Time Love Comes, and then Solitary Dreamer, both second chance at love romances. Not everyone gets lucky on their first try at love.
Those are the types of books Linda loves to write. She has just published her third book, a paranormal romance, Angelea’s Dreams of Yesterday, released by Beau Coup Publishing, and more books are on their way.

Linda lives in a suburb of Wisconsin with her husband.

Linda’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Linda L. Picl, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  https://lpicl.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lindal.picl

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LindaLPicl

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Linda-L.-Picl/e/B00L5MBE98/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/106195602678238404498/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8329651.Linda_L_Picl

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/linda-picl/

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Angel Bennett, the female main character of Angelea’s Dreams of Yesterday, and Linda L. Picl, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

A Character Interview with J.P. Ryan from CREWEL WORK plus a conversation with author Natalie Alder!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Katherine Rhodes’ character on September 29th and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Natalie Alder, the author of Crewel Work, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, J.P. Ryan, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Natalie in a bit, but now we have on the stage…J.P.!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, J.P.  Please have a seat.

Character J.P. Ryan:  Hello.  Thanks for having me.

Marie:  Of course. We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

J.P.: Sure.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

J.P.:  Race Horse Trainer. I love it and I am damn good at it.

Marie:  (Smiles.)

Great!  So, what is your family like?

J.P.:  My mom passed away from breast cancer when I was seven years old. My dad passed away from emphysema when I was seventeen years old. He smoked a lot. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. The foreman, Tanner Ford, at Bridgeton Pass Farm, where I work, is my cousin.

Marie:  Oh, so sorry to hear about your parents…

Let’s try something else, okay?

What did your childhood home look like?

J.P.:  A small, dingy two bedroom apartment in a nowhere suburb.

Marie:  Do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

J.P.: I like riding. I don’t get to do it as often as I’d like. And I like hanging out on the porch drinking beers with my cousin, Tanner, on the occasional Friday night.

Marie:  Okay. So, what is your greatest dream?

J.P.:  I’m living it. I didn’t know it until I got the apprenticeship to be a race horse trainer, but this is a dream job. And I got the girl. (Smiles.)

Marie:  (Sighs.) I love romance…

Okay, so, what kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

J.P.:  I want to be a good father, one who’s there for the kids, teaches them things, someone they can look up to. What’s stopping me? I don’t have one yet. I’m working on that, though. (Laughs.)

Marie:  All right. I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

J.P.:  Nellie Watson in the first grade. I think she’s a teacher now…

Marie:  So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

J.P.:  My mom died.

Marie:  Again, I’m so sorry you went through that. 😦

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter, shall we?

[J.P. nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

J.P.:  My dream growing up was just to have a good, steady job and not worry about money. Didn’t matter what I did. I’ve more than achieved that dream.

Marie:  That’s great! And I think we all want that for ourselves.

So, who is your role model, J.P.?

J.P.:  My cousin, Tanner. He’s level-headed and easy-going. I tried to be like him.

Marie:  Wow, that’s wonderful!

Well…you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

J.P.:  No.

Marie:  Okay.

So, what is your deepest desire, J.P.?

J.P.:  To have a child.

Marie:  Well, I can certainly understand the urge. And I’m sure you’ll have that some day. (Smiles.)

So, tell us, J.P…what is your greatest fear?

J.P.: Getting hurt so that I can’t work – doing hard physical labor – have kids or provide for my family.

Marie:  That’s understandable. No one wants to be out of commission like that.

Well, we’re out of time, Thank you for visiting us today, J.P. It was so interesting getting to know you!  (Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Natalie Alder on the stage today. Hi, Natalie!

Author Natalie Alder:  Hello.  Thank you for having me here.

Marie:  My pleasure!  We just got to talk to the hero of your story, J.P. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about him?

Natalie: He’s an all-American, good guy who was raised in a home without much love and is a hard worker.

Marie:  Nothing wrong with that package!  😉

So, what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Natalie:  His natural talent with horses, patience and sexy good looks.

Marie:  (Fans herself.) Oh, do tell us more…

(Clears her throat.) I mean, let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are J.P.’s greatest weaknesses?

Natalie:  He can fly off the handle at times.

Marie:  I see.

Let’s try something else…

What are some of his favorite foods?

Natalie: Pizza and BBQ.

Marie:  Can’t blame him there.

So, what’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Natalie:  He isn’t aware of how gorgeous he is.

Marie:  Love that!  Conceited ones aren’t appealing…

So, will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Natalie:  They will like him. He’s the boy-next-door cutie and a good soul.

Marie:  Can’t go wrong with that description! I’m dying to learn more.

Well, now that we have a real taste of J.P., we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for your book?

Natalie:  Daydreaming as a teen.

Marie:  All right.

What is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Natalie:  Pantster.

Marie:  Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Crewel Work or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Natalie:  I had a bit of difficulty being sure to keep the timelines straight. I’d probably use a computer program that can help with that.

Marie:  I hear you. I think with each project, the writer stumbles across a new set of issues. And that’s great advice. Being organized is never a bad thing!

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Crewel Work appears to be.  I certainly want to learn more about the hottie J.P…ahem, I mean, the story! (Chuckles.)

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Natalie Alder, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for Crewel Work:

The key to a successful horse farm is the trainer. At Bridgeton Pass, J. P. Ryan is that key. William Becker is determined to protect his farm and keep Ryan on the job.
That goal is threatened by two things – a sinister act by another employee and the fact that his only daughter has fallen head-over-heels in love with J. P.
Becker can’t allow either of those things to threaten his legacy.
Audra grew up around the handsome trainer and fell in love with him at a distance, enchanted by his kindness and honesty. When they began stealing private but innocent moments, she found that she didn’t want to live without him. Audra is heartbroken when she has to choose between honoring her father and pursuing love.
J.P. wants Audra by his side, but he finds himself with a hard decision.
He is forced to choose between his career and the love of his life. Between the problems caused by the trouble-making barn hand and the frustration caused by his desire for Audra, J.P.’s job has become a ‘crewel’ work.
The story of the Becker family is woven as an intricate Tapestry. It is beautiful as a whole, but like any tapestry, you have to turn it over and look at the back side to see how the threads of love and family relationships are woven together into one intricate whole.
Welcome to the Tapestry series…

Natalie is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

“Audra, don’t.” J.P’s voice was sharp. He was on edge. He was afraid to look at her. He knew he’d have no control if he did. And he didn’t want to see her cry. Grabbing her upper arms, he pushed Audra against the wall. When he did, his left hand grazed her breast. They stood for a moment, neither moving. J.P. let his thumb trace the curve of her breast, then slide over her pebbled nipple.

A small moan escaped her. She arched her back, wanting to feel more. He swallowed hard. Silently, she begged for him to kiss her, touch her, anything. Her need and desire were evident.

Inwardly he hated himself for touching her so intimately and bringing them to this emotional place where they shouldn’t be. He closed his eyes, dropped his arms and left the tack room.

Ooh, I definitely want to read more!  😀

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00OFCK10S

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crewel-work-natalie-alder/1120965561

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/5189626

About Natalie Alder

I write stories about romance. They center on learning about the characters backgrounds, personalities and life circumstances that mold them into who they are and how they love.

I am a sassy 40-something year old. I live in a quiet farming town in New England with my husband of fifteen years and our three rescued cats. After college I facilitated improvement in the physical abilities of children and the elderly, then took the opportunity to enjoy my creative side. I love to sew, knit, write…sing and drink martinis (not necessarily at the same time).

Natalie’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Natalie Alder, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  http://www.nataliealder.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNatalieAlder

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NatalieRomance

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Alder/e/B00OG20DOG/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NatalieAlder/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8473636.Natalie_Alder

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/natalie-alder/

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, J.P. Ryan, the male main character of Crewel Work, and Natalie Alder, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

 

A Character Interview with Nick D. from NOT QUITE JULIET plus a conversation with author Katherine Rhodes!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Palessa’s character on September 22nd and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Katherine Rhodes, the author of Not Quite Juliet, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Nicholas Dovadsky, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Katherine in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Nick D.!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Nick.  Please have a seat.

Character Nicholas Dovadsky:  Hello.  Thanks for having me.

Marie:  Of course. We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Nick: Sure.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Nick:  By day, I’m a mild-mannered chemist. I work with the coroner for Allegheny County and get to blow stuff up. I’m good at blowing stuff up. I do rather enjoy it.
By night I’m the lead singer in Silver Soul. Damn straight I’m good at it—and I wouldn’t be up there if I didn’t like it.

Marie:  (Chuckles.)

Fair enough. So, what is your family like?

Nick: My mother and father are gone, but my sweet Morgan and her sister make up for it. By extension, my band is my family, too and they rock. Literally.

Marie:  All right. What did your childhood home look like?

Nick:  It was very similar to what I live in now, a gorgeous old home my parents took time and pride in restoring. I loved growing up there; probably a great measure of why I bought my current place.

Marie:  I can’t blame you there…

So, do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Nick:  Writing music and playing with the guys. I also love giving my Morgan private piano concerts. Those are ‘invite only’.

Marie:  Okay. So, what is your greatest dream?

Nick: I kind of think I’m living it. I have my band, my music, my awesome full time job, my girl, my house… I mean, it doesn’t get better than this.

Marie:  All right.

What kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Nick: A little more involved with charities. I know I’ve got it good and I want to spread that around. What’s stopping me? Well, time at the moment. Full schedule all the time.

Marie:  So I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Nick:  Her name was Casey Line.

Marie:  All right.

So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Nick:  My first love.

Marie:  Okay…I would push for more information, as I’m dying to know, but this looks delicate.

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter, shall we?

[Nick nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Nick:  To be a chemist. I always loved finding out what was in things and what made things up. And I’m happy to say I got there.

Marie:  Great!

So, who is your role model?

Nick:  Go ahead and laugh- Hedy Lamar. The woman was a walking sexpot and genius. Did you know that she invented spread spectrum technology that we use in our cellphones? In 1940! Damn. I’d love to have lunch with her.

Marie:  Interesting!

Well…you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Nick:  Vatori’s brother, Simon Garabaldi. Dude is straight-laced and as boring as they come. He’s always on duty even when he’s not.

Marie:  Okay.

Let’s try something else…

So, what is your deepest desire, Nicholas?

Nick:  Children. I had that for just a moment once…

Marie:  What is your greatest fear?

Nick: Having that child ripped from me again…

Marie:  I’m so sorry. 😦  I know nothing I can say will take your pain away…

Well, we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Nick. It was so interesting getting to know you!  (Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Katherine Rhodes on the stage today. Hi, Katherine!

Author Katherine Rhodes:  Hello.  Thank you for having me here.

Marie:  My pleasure!  We just got to talk to the hero of your story, Nicholas Dovadsky, or Nick D. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about him?

Katherine:  Well, he’s the kind of guy I would have loved to date and/or marry when I was younger. Someone who had a crazy creative side, but utterly laced with intelligence and humor.

Marie:  Nothing wrong with that!  😉

So, what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Katherine:  He’s loyal and dependable. He was betrayed badly by his ex-fiancee, so he really doesn’t mess around with that stuff.

Marie:  Well, that’s certainly understandable.

Now let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are his greatest weaknesses?

Katherine:  His past. He’s had a time getting over that betrayal.

Marie:  Well, as a recipient of certain betrayal in the past, all I can say is that is does take time to trust again.

Let’s try something else…

What are some of his favorite foods?

Katherine:  Italian, but he loves good Asian—Japanese, Asian, Indian, Korea. But never balut.

Marie:  Can’t blame him there. Yuck! But I can agree with the rest.

So, what’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Katherine:  His perfect timing. He has no idea that somehow he manages to always say or do the right thing at the right time for everyone.

Marie:  Very nice!

Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Katherine:  I hope they like him! He’s fun to write and fun to find out about.

Marie:  I’m sure they will! I already do, and I’m dying to learn more.

Well, now that we have a real taste of Nick D., we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for your book?

Katherine:  I wanted to write a rocker romance and decided to go with a rom com feel to it. I love books that make me laugh, and rockers seemed like the perfect place to do it.

Marie:  Good idea!

So, what is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Katherine:  I’m a pantser! I start writing on the fly, and about three or four chapters in, I should really write down the ideas that I’m messing with!

Marie:  (Laughs.)

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Not Quite Juliet or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Katherine: I didn’t, actually. This one of the books that fell off my fingers. But I have had trouble with others that wouldn’t finish themselves. I have to walk away from those for a while. I just walked away from a book for eight months because I couldn’t figure it out. Then I realized I was making it too hard, dissected it, and saw exactly what I was looking for.

So for a new author? It’s okay if you can’t see the end right away or have to walk away. It WILL come to you!

Marie:  I agree. We can always use those tips of encouragement, at any stage in our careers! Thank you for that, Katherine!

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Not Quite Juliet appears to be.  I certainly want to learn more!

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Katherine Rhodes, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for Not Quite Juliet:

One fateful night, by the grace of beer and peanuts, Morgan Kirkbride–the self-professed super fangirl of Silver Soul– falls for the sexy rock god, Nick D. Literally.

Lands on her ass right in front of him.

Morgan is sure the lead singer of Silver Soul thought she was a graceless flake, but instead asks her to a midnight diner and winds up back at her place. She’s captivated, but sure it’s just a crazy one-night fling… Imagine her shock when the very next Monday at Allegheny County Courthouse, the highly respected, well-credentialed chemist Dr. Nicholas Dovadsky is called as a witness — and Morgan recognizes him as the rock god who rocked her bed.

Sparks fly between them, but things get complicated – fast. When an ex-boyfriend returns to haunt Morgan and her roommate, no one takes him seriously. But when the simple threats become violent, perverse and horrifying, she realizes someone is out to get her.

Nick doesn’t intend for anything or anyone to stop him from getting to know the spunky, curvaceous, if clumsy, woman. He just keeps coming back…because there’s one thing he knows: he wants Morgan in his life, for good.

**Content Warning: Contains explicit content and adult situations that may not be suitable for all audiences. 18+ Audience**
Katherine is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

I took the offered hand and nearly swooned. Swooned. Who the hell swoons? I stood up and followed him through the mostly empty club as the staff was sweeping and pushing tables around. He didn’t let go of my hand as we wound through the tables to the door stage right.
This time, the little bitch in my head slapped me. I was being led backstage by the man I had a severe fangirl crush on, and we were going out for food and a chat. I almost dropped my cider at the realization. I was walking backstage with Nick D. I realized I had an obligation to women everywhere at that moment–and I fulfilled it.
I dropped my eyes and I gazed upon the most gorgeous denim-clad backside I had ever seen. He walked just enough to press those firm globes into the denim and release them a moment later with the next stride. The cloth hugged him, and it was one of the most delicious sights I’d ever seen in my life. Squeezable Tush. I wondered if I could bottle it.
“Enjoying the view?” he asked.
My eyes shot up to his, where he was peeking over his shoulder at me about to push the door open. Fire rushed into my cheeks. Let’s see, I had proved I was graceless, easily flustered, worked at a BDSM club, and had absolutely no stealth to even grab a glimpse of the World’s Most Fantastic Backside. I’d probably dump the soup down the front of my shirt.
His eyes sparkled mischievously, though, as he looked at me. I took a chance. “Hmm. It could be a little better. Could you just turn to the right a little?” He laughed, and obliged me.
Oh, it was a perfect ass.

(Laughs.) I definitely want to read more!  😀

Purchase Links:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00JJARYYM

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-quite-juliet-katherine-rhodes/1119943535

CreateSpace:  https://www.createspace.com/4892036

About Katherine Rhodes

Author of erotica, light BDSM erotica and paranormal erotica. Expert in the profundities of bad movies and awful literature. Armed with her Bachelors of English, Literature she has set her mind to writing erotic romances which are kinky, dirty, and fun. A lackadaisical laundry goddess, Katherine resides in Philadelphia with her husband, three cats and a betta named Fishtian Grey.
Katherine’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Katherine Rhodes, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  http://katherinerhodes.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/katherinerhodesauthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Mistress_KayR

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Rhodes/e/B00H693JXS/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/108748357441081849146/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091498.Katherine_Rhodes

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/katherine-rhodes/

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Nick D., the male main character of Not Quite Juliet, and Katherine Rhodes, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂

Marie Lavender stops by to chat old flames and a new book!

The lovely and talented Raegyn Perry interviews me on her blog about my upcoming contemporary romance, Second Chance Heart! You can pre-order it today! 🙂

Raegyn's World

When I first got signed with Solstice Publishing, and joined the author’s group, I had no idea what I was doing. Multi-genre and amazing writer, Marie Lavender offered to interview me (or actually one of my characters) on her site. It was the first time I really felt ‘out there’ in the public eye. I will always appreciate her support. Okay, enough of the mush, let’s get to talking to Marie.Hello there Marie, it’s so great having you here! What is the name of your newest book?   Second Chance Heart    

To tease you with her talent, here’s a blurb for Second Chance Heart

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A Character Interview with Devereaux from DEVEREAUX COX plus a conversation with author Palessa!

Today, we’re doing something a little different. If you remember, we interviewed Tracy Kincaid’s character on September 8th and it was so fun that I thought we may as well make an occasional habit of it. I had the pleasure of meeting Palessa, the author of Devereaux Cox, on my author journey and I asked her if she’d let me borrow one of her main characters, Devereaux, from the book. We’ll get a chance to talk to Palessa in a bit, but now we have on the stage…Devereaux!

Marie Lavender:  Hello, Devereaux.  Please have a seat.

Character Devereaux Cox:  Hello.  Thanks for having me.

Marie:  Of course. We’re going to start out with some simple questions, all right?

Devereaux: Sure.

Marie:  What is your occupation?  Are you any good at it?  Do you like it?

Devereaux:  I play football for the Atlanta Mercury, in the Steinger Football League. It’s a semi-professional league with about 20 teams from all around the country. It’s like the pros, but we have a different way to play the game and I think our fans are more intense that the pro league. Am I any good at it? Do I like it? Well let me put it this way, they call me the Mercury Juggernaut. Plus I get to knock guys on their asses on a regular basis. Who wouldn’t love this job?

Marie:  (Laughs.)

All right. So, what is your family like?

Devereaux:  There’s a lot going on right now, that I’m sorting out or at least trying to wrap my head around. If you’d asked me that question six months ago, I would have had a much clearer response. Right now, all I have is ‘complicated.’

Marie:  Okay. What did your childhood home look like?

Devereaux: It was pretty good. My parents were good. I can’t complain. I was their only concern for seven years until Bryson showed up. (Chuckles.) I always remind him how he ruined my childhood. Nah, I’m kidding. Bry is cool. He’s my little bro and my best friend.

Marie:  Aww…

So, do you have any hobbies?  What do you enjoy doing?

Devereaux: Well, right now, my hobbies are on hold because I’m in school. Doing my masters in chemistry so I’m basically on lockdown. I was able to finish up my assignments before the season started so that’s off my chest, but if I’m not practicing or playing or hanging out with my folks for dinner, I’m studying. I know, I know, the exciting life of a football player.

Marie:  All right. So, what is your greatest dream?

Devereaux:  A family. I thought I would have one by now but, things don’t always turn out the way you plan, do they? I suppose one day…

Marie:  I honestly believe everything happens when it’s supposed to.

Lets try something else, okay?

What kind of person do you wish you could be?  What is stopping you?

Devereaux:  I wish I could be one of those guys who just goes home to his wife and kids and just lives that contented life. A lot of people think that’s boring, but there’s something about being with the right person all the time that just makes things click and work. As far as what’s stopping me…something like that doesn’t just happen with anyone. So I guess you could say when I find the right one, it’ll work out.

Marie:  Good point. So I’m going to throw another random question at you now. 

Who was your first love?

Devereaux:  She was this girl I met in college. Rebekka. She was just this hard working smart girl and I got to know her and…I’d never felt like that before. But I found out she did something and I tried to look past it, but it was just too much. Funny enough, we found each other again but, it’s like history repeating itself with her and my parents…again, it’s complicated.

Marie:  All right.

So, what’s the most terrible thing that ever happened to you?

Devereaux: I’ll tell you all about it when it’s over.

Marie:  Okay…

Let’s move on to something a bit lighter, shall we?

[Devereaux nods.]

What was your dream growing up? Did you achieve that dream? If so, in what ways was it not what you expected? If you never achieved the dream, why not?

Devereaux:  My dream was to be a football player, a professional one. Back then the NFL was looming large but when I learned more about the SFL, I just felt like this was the place for me. It’s like a big family and the fans are an extension of that. I’m glad I’m here.

Marie:  Great!

So, who is your role model?

Devereaux:  My Dad. He’s one of those chill guys. The way he is with my mom, it’s like he just lets her do her thing and then does his. It’s not that they aren’t partners, it’s that they complement each other so well. My Dad is just calm and likes to see all sides first.

Marie:  I can respect that.

Well…you’ll probably think I’m digging for dirt on the next question. 

Is there someone you pretend to like but really dislike?

Devereaux:  (Shrugs.) I don’t have time for that. I figure, if you like me, fine. You don’t, fine. I’m too busy to play pretend.

Marie:  I agree.

Let’s try something else…

So, what is your deepest desire, Devereaux?

Devereaux:  Just being happy, like I was…back then. I want that kind of happiness.

Marie:  What is your greatest fear?

Devereaux:  Losing my family. I just don’t want to miss a thing. Those moments you just can’t get back and they’re important.

Marie:  That’s true.

Well, we’re out of time. Thank you for visiting us today, Devereaux. It was so interesting getting to know you!  (Waves goodbye to her guest.)

Now, let’s shift over and get the author’s perspective.  We have author Palessa on the stage today. Hi, Palessa!

Author Palessa:  Hello.  Thank you for having me here.

Marie:  My pleasure!  We just got to talk to the hero of your story, Devereaux Cox. Quite an interesting character.  Can you tell us a little about him?

Palessa:  Dev is this big guy with a big heart that packs a punch on the field. Off the field, he’s got his priorities, which is to build on his natural athleticism. Smart guy, really smart and disciplined enough to look ahead to life after football and take care of his business now.

Marie:  I can certainly admire that!

So, what are your character’s greatest strengths?

Palessa:  Dev’s smart and fairly well-balanced. He’s not one to fly off the handle.

Marie:  Now let’s take the opposition on that. What, do you feel, are his greatest weaknesses?

Palessa:  For Dev, it’s this blind trust he has that comes with being such a big-hearted guy. It also makes him take a bit more time to absorb certain things, which is the opposite of what he’s like on the field, where reaction/response time is critical.

Marie:  All right.  What are some of his favorite foods?

Palessa:  He’s a clean eater for the most part. His body is a well-oiled machine and he’s highly regimented about what he eats and needs to eat to achieve a certain result. That doesn’t mean he’s boring. He’s just got his focus on taking care of his body.

Marie:  Okay. What’s a positive quality that your character is unaware that he or she has?

Palessa: He’s a lot like his father, Jeffrey even though he may not realize it. Calm but determined to understand when he feels it’s necessary.

Marie:  Will readers like or dislike this character, and why?

Palessa: I think they’ll like him, but they’ll remember what he did or didn’t do. He’s human, not perfect and he’s made mistakes that he’s trying to put right. For some, it may be hard to forget and maybe even forgive completely.

Marie:  All right.

Well, now that we have a real taste of Devereaux Cox, we have a few questions for you as well as the author.

What first gave you the idea for your book?

Palessa:  The world of American football is fascinating. I’ve always wondered what some of these guys were like off the field because they are these intense, hulking figures that ram against each other for a paycheck and accolades. Of course, we know what some of these guys do, as is evidenced by Michael Vick and Aaron Hernandez and OJ Simpson, but I think that with the sheer number of players in the NFL, it’s like an iceberg. I wanted to create a league where I could go behind the game and see some of these guys and the league itself. It won’t all be love and roses, but I’m prepared to see what I can of the SFL world.

Marie:  Interesting!

So, what is your writing style like? Are you a pantster or a plotter?

Palessa:  My writing style is evolving. Not sure what it’s become yet, but I do some kind of an outline so I can form the idea more clearly. Then I write. Sometimes it’s from start to finish in sequence but lately, some later scenes have come on strong so I’ve had to write those out first and go back. It’s a process.

Marie:  Isn’t it strange how that works out? Only the muse can tell us where to go.

Now, I’m throwing this one in for our aspiring writers. Did you come across any specific challenges in writing Devereaux Cox or publishing it?  What would you do differently the next time?

Palessa:  This book was blissfully smooth. It took me longer to write this than Tobey Fine because it’s a more emotional story and I wanted to really work on that. As far as getting it published, while I’m with Beau Coup, I’m not taking it for granted that they’ll like everything. I just take it one story at a time. What I am doing is I’m working on drafting out a few books in the series at a time. I wrote Tobey Fine and Devereaux Cox together. I did have half-a-draft of book 3 (which is not a full draft), but I’m going to take the time and really work on book 4 and maybe see if there’s a book 5 before I tackle this series again, no pun intended. So just really writing out the first few books of the series is now my game plan. It may take me some time, but I’m more concerned with getting the stories right so it will take as long as it takes.

Marie:  That’s a great plan!

Well, it was a such a pleasure having you here on the I Love Romance Blog!  And how apropos is that, considering what a great story Devereaux Cox appears to be.  I certainly want to learn more!

Readers, you will just have to pick up a copy of this awesome book by Palessa, a very talented author! 🙂

Here is the blurb for Devereaux Cox (Sacked & Tackled, Book 2):

As the six-feet-five juggernaut of the Atlanta Mercury, Christopher Devereaux Cox knows how to make his impact felt on the field. Off the field, he’s the devoted son of a prominent family with ties to presidential history, as well as one of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelors. He is a credit to his family, his team, and his name. Nothing could be more perfect.
Within the SFL, a problem threatens to spread through the organization. Cast as an unwitting scapegoat is Rebekka Stallman, a physiotherapist for the league and the only woman Devereaux ever loved. Seeing each other again after all those years ago when her life took a devastating turn was unexpected, and Rebekka wasn’t about to miss the chance to unleash her fury on her former boyfriend, who turned his back on her when she needed him.
But things aren’t what they seemed then or now.
Secrets and lies will be exposed as Rebekka forces Devereaux to question everything and everyone he ever trusted, including himself. As the dust settles and some facts about the league’s doping scandal come to light, Devereaux must decide whether the life he yearns for with the woman he still loves is worth the price of holding onto his family.

Palessa is also offering us a great excerpt from the book!

“I didn’t do it,” she screamed. “I would never do anything like that.”

The man’s voice just as loud but harsher replied, “You were the only one who handled both of them. And one of the other physios told me specifically that you gave him the stuff with a wink and a nod.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? A wink and a nod.”

“I don’t know but until this investigation is done. You’re suspended without pay.”

“You can’t do that. I’m entitled to plead my case.”

The man’s voice was low, mostly inaudible to outsiders, but it was enough to draw out a mighty curse from the woman.

Devereaux slowly walked past the door. Suddenly it opened and a woman bumped into him and seemed to bounce back. Devereaux actually felt the impact of her which caused him to wobble slightly, which was a feat unto itself.

“Sorry,” he apologized, partly for the eavesdropping. “I didn’t—Rebekka?”

When she heard her name, she tilted her head slightly to look at him and he saw the color drain from her face.

“It really was you,” he muttered and he saw her face move from shock to annoyance.

“And this day just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?” She chuckled mirthlessly as she put her hands on her hips and looked at the ground.

“How—”

“You’re seriously going to ask me how I’m doing right now, Chris?” Her voice crescendoed as she spoke, attracting stares from some of his team mates who were exiting the locker room. “I’ve just been suspended, probably fired or worse, for something I didn’t do or even have a clue how to do or whatever. Some asshat claims I gave him some stuff with a wink and nod. Then I bump into you. So this day is just not…it’s going to shit really. Yeah. Total crap.”

She harshly pulled the rubber band that was holding her hair up and shook it out. It was longer than he remembered. Then she stepped past him and briskly walk away.

Stopping midstride, Rebekka turned on her heel and declared, “Give your mother my best.” The sarcasm in her voice was biting. “Oh,” she exclaimed, putting her finger to her temple as if she were trying to remember something. “Wait a minute. She probably wouldn’t want to hear my name after she sandbagged me back at Kenton, would she? So, never mind, Chris. Been fun.”

Devereaux visibly flinched at the bitterness he heard in her voice. He watched the woman he once loved stalk away and shook his head. For the first time in his life, he felt as if he had been run over by a tank.

And he didn’t like the feeling one damn bit.

Riveting! I definitely want to read more!  😀

Purchase Link:

Universal Amazon link:  http://bookgoodies.com/a/B015C5UR3M

About Palessa

Palessa started reading her first romance novel at the age of 11. Then she got introduced to V.C. Andrews, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Anne Rice and many more notable contemporary authors, as well as some of the classics, A Tale of Two Cities, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Great Gatsby and others. It was during her teenage years that she dabbled in writing. First, it was in her diaries, then she started creating characters, stories about romance, the supernatural and much more. Being an I.B. student as well as entering college, left little time for writing and so she put it and the ideas aside to pursue a career. It would take almost 20 years, a radical move from the city she grew up in, Miami, FL back to her Caribbean birthplace, and a chance Facebook meeting with Sable Hunter to start the juices flowing again. After some fits and starts, the Baxter Family Saga was born. Unchained Hearts is Palessa’s first published fiction book with Beau Coup Publishing.

She considers herself just a storyteller that sees no reason to shy away from the juicier romantic elements. She currently lives in the mountains of Jamaica with her crazy, cracker-munching-mutt Ivy and a farm, primarily managed by agribusiness partner, also known as Dad.

Palessa’s Books:

And, if you want to know how to connect with the amazing Palessa, here are some of her author links:

Website/Blog:  https://authorpalessa.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPalessa

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/authorpalessa

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Palessa/e/B00IMLM4VW/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/100266014519625067283/posts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7765546.Palessa

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/authorpalessa/

Publisher:  http://www.beaucoupllcpublishing.com/palessa/

Once again, I want to thank both of our guests, Devereaux, the male main character of Devereaux Cox, and Palessa, the brilliant author of the novel, for stopping by!  It was so much fun to have you here! 🙂