Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Never Surrender - Character interview with Kate coming up!







      A few of my readers have asked to learn more about Kate from Never Surrender so I'll get 'in touch' with her...and pick her brain regarding her thoughts on going back in time, being frustrated with Taima and his need to control her temper and willful ways! How did she feel being so close to Taima and when did she realize their relationship had changed from kidnapper/tormentor to a need only he could fill?

      Stay tuned later this week for an insight into the woman who tore down the walls around a man's heart and pulled him into her world!

Mmmm...does it just melt your heart?


Monday, March 28, 2011

Author Interview - Dominique Watson



Thank you all for stopping in to read about Dominique and her books. This is one of her stops on her Virtual Book Tour; check out her banner below for links and more info should you want to follow her tour. She also has a magazine she produces so get comfortable and read on!

Deanna:  Dominique, thank you so much for being with us today! Tell us a bit about yourself that our readers might not know.

Dominique:  I LOVE Ice cream *big smile* I’m a big reader and spread my interest across various genres. I have no fears when it comes to writing or publishing. The best satisfaction I have is the response of my books from readers.

Deanna:  Most of us have always loved to write which is why we’re still doing it. What made you want to become a writer?

Dominique:  I’ve been writing all my life. I have a weird passion; love for the pen. I buy notebooks just because they look good. But I love to inspire others through my words and if anything, that will always keep me writing.

Deanna: As authors, we love all of our characters. Is there a certain type of character that is easier to write than another?

Dominique:  Good question, I have yet to write from a male’s perspective. That’s something I’m iffy about even though I live with a man, I don’t know the feelings of a man so I would say that would be the hardest but one I’m not afraid to try.

Deanna:  Do you read in the same genre that you write in?

Dominique:  Yes, but I also ready mystery and suspense which I haven’t had the pleasure of writing in yet. I like Erotica but have never dabbled into that genre.

Deanna:  Many of have different ways we write. Tell us about a typical day in your life as a writer.

Dominique:  Well I don’t have a typical day as a writer, I’m a business owner. So I run a business full time and write part time. I don’t know how I even have the energy to write but when it comes I’m in full force to get moving with my pen.
       If I am writing for the day and have decided to not work on my magazine, I like to go to Starbucks or simply sit in my office and write. I do like the outdoors, so I use my patio to write as well and I write until I feel I’m done for the day or have other plans.

Deanna:  Congratulations on your business. Sometimes that’s why we get things done, because we stay so busy all the time. Most of us have pretty vivid imaginations when it comes to story lines. Where do your story ideas come from?

Dominique:  Things I just think up, or TV, someone’s life. I decided to write a book about a girl who is the product of a rape. My favorite TV show is Law and Order SVU and all they talk about is someone getting raped. Olivia, one of the characters, is a product of a rape so I said I bet I could tell a really good Christian Fiction story about being the product of a rape and I’m doing that now.

Deanna:   Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created?

Dominique:  Yes, Ari. She is one of the main characters from my book, Too Much Untold and Truthfully Untold. She’s a strong mother-type female with no children that holds everything together for her friends and family.

Deanna:  Being so busy, we can’t always do it all, though we like to think we can! What mistakes have you made as an author?

Dominique:  I don’t promote enough. Running a magazine takes up a lot of my time so my books get pushed to the back burner. I’d love to have a PR do all that stuff for me.

Deanna:  Virtual Assistants are out there! Maybe I need to include a link to them on my sites! *laughing*  Is there a genre you are interested in trying but never had the guts to write?

Dominique:  Yes, Mystery and Suspense. I love that genre a lot!!! And I only have two authors I’ve put my time into and that is James Patterson and Jean Holloway. I would love to write a Mystery and Suspense book someday and I’m sure I will…whenever the inspiration comes to me, a book will be born.

Deanna:  How often do you publish a book?

Dominique:  Once a year. If I’m in a collaboration with some authors, which I have been a few times in the past, it’s twice a year. But I put out a book once a year, never miss a beat. I don’t know why I do that but it’s something I’ve always done.

Deanna:  Goals are good and keep us going. How many books have you published so far?

Dominique:  Six. “Loves’ Deception” will be book number seven. I’ve been in two collaborations and have another one coming this year.

Deanna:  What is your pet peeve in writing, your career or just in general?

Dominique:  I don’t like the fact that a lot of friends and family don’t take my books or magazine seriously. I feel like if people don’t see you making a lot of money, you aren’t really doing anything. Putting out six books is a lot! If you are not in the literary field then you don’t know the extent authors and writers go to to have their work seen. It’s a serious job that’s fulfilling in ways other than money.

Deanna:  I totally agree. Our world is definitely a different one. Readers have to see your name on more books,  in forum discussions and interviews! What social networks are you actively apart of?

Dominique:  Facebook: Author Dominique L. Watson  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Dominique-L-Watson/270077716591

Twitter: @almondeyesdiva

I’m apart of a few Ning networks but I’m not very active there. I’m on skype through my business: fromawriterspov.

I’m also on goodreads.com and you can become a fan there at:



Deanna:   Dominique, thank you for taking the time to let us view a bit of your writer's life! Good luck with the rest of your tour stops! Readers, feel free to visit her websites and connect with her on FB and Twitter! Most of all, thank you all for stopping in to read the interview!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Read a good book that totally pulled you into the story??


What have you read lately that completely pulled you into the story? Tell us about it and the settings. I know there are some authors who write such a wonderful story that we made to feel like we're right there next to the characters; that we don't even hear what's going on around us because we are so immersed in the setting, the dialogue, the emotions and the characters!

One author who comes to mind for me is Teresa Medeiros - her novels pull you in to stand right there with the characters! When I finish the books, I just sigh and smile because she's allowed me to take a mini vacation and visit with her characters inside their world! *happy sigh*

What books or authors come to mind for you?
Thank you all for sharing.

Don't forget the author interview coming up on Monday - Dominique Watson!


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Author Interview - HD Hatcher


     Thank you for stopping in to visit and learn about today's author, HD Hatcher.    




     Author HD Hatcher is no newcomer on the literary scene. He is author of In the Heart of the Closet, a piece nominated for both the 2006 Stonewall Book Award and the 2005 Lambda Literary Award. He is an avid supporter of gay and lesbian causes, suicide prevention programs, as well as Animal Rights. Hatcher currently resides in the Grand Strand area of South Carolina, near his hometown of Conway, with his Life Partner of ten years, Jerry.


Deanna:  Tell us a bit about yourself that our readers might not know.

HD:  I have friends from nearly all walks of life. However, most of my friends I would identify as straight. I don’t know how it happened, it is what it is and I wouldn’t change a thing about my circle of friends.

Deanna:  What made you want to become a writer?

HD:  Honestly, I don’t know if I consider myself a writer. To do so would suggest that I create for money. This is not the case for me. I write for fun and have no expectations (at this point in time) to make writing my sole source of income. However, I will continue to write because I love creating and sharing my work.

Deanna:  How true! Those of us who write do so because that’s who we are. Do you write under a pen name?

HD:  I do write under the pen name - HD Hatcher

Deanna:  As authors, we love all of our characters. Is there a certain type of character that is easier to write than another?

HD:  For me, the easiest character to write is the one that is quirky, fun, and has a wicked sense of humor. This type of character allows my sense of humor to make itself known. The darker characters are the hardest because I am (in real life) fun loving and easygoing.

Deanna:  Not everyone can write the dark, demented characters. Do you read in the same genre that you write in?

HD:  I do read Gay related works. It is absolutely amazing at how the genre can go from one extreme to another. I tend to like the stories with meaningful plots and as little gay stereotyping as possible. All gay people are not the same, and I tend to like the stories that do not take place in a nightclub or the wooded area of a rest stop.

Deanna:  LOL....how true, HD. Tell us about a typical day in your life as a writer.

HD:  I work with a private contractor for the Federal Government. My job is interesting; to say the least. It is mentally demanding, but I love what I do. On the weekdays, I am too busy winding down from a long day at work in order to write. I often find myself writing on the weekends.

Deanna:  Most of us have pretty vivid imaginations when it comes to story lines. I can get mine from watching TV or the news. Where do your story ideas come from?

HD: My characters can come from literally anywhere. From people that I have known for a very long time, to people that I have met once or twice, I will find aspects of them that I either like or dislike, and create a character. Sometimes, one character can be a combination of people, but I do this sparingly.

Deanna:  In my books, there are parts that I so enjoyed writing. What is your favorite scene in A Cold Dark Place?

HD:  My favorite scene in A Cold Dark Place is the bathtub scene. It’s sweet, endearing, and I have no idea where it came from. When reading back over it, I found myself asking, “Where did that come from?” It is very spiritual and shows the reader just how strong the love is between Luke and Andy.
      This is the place in the story where the reader will realize that the love these two share transcends what love is perceived to be.
      This scene can’t be taken for face value. This entire scene is about washing away the hurt from the past so that the healing process can begin to take place.

Deanna: It sounds like your book tells many things, HD. Is there another book in the publishing pipeline?

HD: Yes there is. Closet Queen will be out before the summer of 2011. Unlike A Cold Dark Place, Closet Queen is a nonfiction piece that has a happy ending.

Deanna:  I’m glad to hear you’re writing more books. Anything additional you want to share with the readers?


HD: I had the honor of working with some very talented authors in the writing of an anthology entitled Unloved. Every story deals with either suicide or bullying. All proceeds from Unloved will be donated to suicide prevention and anti-bully education programs.




About A Cold Dark Place:


On a chance meeting, (at a mutual friend’s house) Luke finds the love of his life. Andy is what Luke has been longing for all of his adult years: the perfect man. But, this perfect man is not only straight—he is married to a woman who is more devilish than Satan himself.

In a bittersweet journey that will change his life forever, Luke must reach deep inside and find the strength he never knew existed. A Cold Dark Place is the story of a man who must pick up the pieces of his broken heart after a lifetime of heartbreak and betrayal.






Deanna:  Where can we find your novel?

H.D:    A Cold Dark Place can be found at online retailers such as Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles, as well as the publisher itself: http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com/

Deanna:  HD, you've been a delight to chat with, thank you. Do you have a website, fan site, or Blog that we can visit?

H.D:  Feel free to stop by and say, hey! My main website is currently being revamped but I also have a Facebook page, a Twitter page, and a Myspace page:
 
Deanna: HD, thank you so much for being here today. We wish you the best with you novels! Readers, please feel free to hop over to HD's past Interviews: 



Deanna: Do you have other news for our visitors?

HD:  I do!  One lucky commenter will receive a copy of A Cold Dark Place in ebook format  - so leave me a comment to be in the drawing! Thank you for allowing me to take up so much of your time. I hope we can do this again soon!



 

Friday, March 18, 2011

Bonus!! Grab your copy of No Turning Back!








 If you haven't heard about or checked out my historical, No Turning Back, I hope this will be the day. This story takes place in England, 1778 and is about finding love a second time. Many feel that when they lose the love of their life, nothing else matters and they will never find someone to love again.

  

That is so not true! Grab your copy and follow my characters on adventures as they become friends and find out they have more in common than they once thought. Vanessa touches Nathan's heart and he begins to heal, though one doesn't ever forget, but it helps him to move on. I've tried to bring to life the historic England, the parks, castles and carriage rides through Hyde Park. You'll attend a few balls and witness a few sword fights!


Apex Reviews did a great review so hop over and read about No Turning Back.
As an added bonus that I'm going to allow you to share with friends, hop over to Smashwords and use Coupon Code JM49V for 50% off the list price and download whatever format you need! This coupon code will be good through March 31st so hurry and pass it along. Thank you so much for stopping in to read about my work!



Make your way up the steps and right into Nathan's castle!


Monday is another author interview so come on back!


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Author Interview - Nora Weston - Speculative/Fantasy Author



       Thank you for joining us on location today with speculative author Nora Weston - thank you so much for being here, Nora! She's all about science fiction, fantasy, and horror. You're wondering exactly where we are, I can tell by that look on your face, but we're glad you joined us! We're on the 23rd floor of the Jykreion Tower overlooking the breathtakingly beautiful city of Azimov, located on the planet Kremora. Doesn't it make you want to become a time traveler into the future?

       Before we begin, I want to tell you a bit about our guest. She's on a Virtual Book Tour and I'm so glad I am on of her tour stops. Nora Weston’s fiction and poetry slips in-between and all around science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her publishing credits include the anthologies Mind Mutations, Cyber Pulp’s Halloween 3.0, and Dark Pleasures. Other venues in print and online include; The Hacker’s Source, The Dream People, Hoboeye, Abandoned Towers, Lost in the Dark, Sputnik 57, Soul Engravings, and Decompositions. Recently, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Worlds Within–Worlds Beyond, Trapeze Magazine, and Four and Twenty published her work. Melange Books has accepted The Twelfth Paladin for a May 2011 release. Nora has had the pleasure of reaching people through the airwaves on radio stations throughout the US, and episodes can be downloaded from Blog Talk Radio’s show Not Picture Perfect.
 
Deanna:  Wow, Nora, you are one busy woman! Tell us a bit about you that our readers might not know.

Nora:  Whether it’s a book, or a movie, I love a happy ending. City of Angels...need I say more?
  • I just discovered Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, a Russian writer who lived from 1860-1904, and I’m dying to read his work.
  • I have a great appreciation for gorgeous book covers and unusual fonts.
  • Learning to speak Italian would be marvelous, because Italy is a dream destination for me, someday.
  • Never, ever will I be able to eat mushrooms.
  • Raising six children made me realize I should’ve had a cow in our backyard. If only I had a penny
  • for every time I said, “We’re out of milk, again?”
  • I could live on glazed donuts.
Deanna:  What made you want to become a writer?

Nora:  My imagination was stirred by anything and everything, especially since my childhood home, in Wheeling, WV, was set against thick woods...that must have had knights in shining armor battling ogres, vampires sucking life from innocence, and werewolves howling until sunlight beamed through my windows. Dark Shadows and The Twilight Zone were my favorite shows, and then as an elementary teacher, writing stories for my students spurred me on as well.    

Deanna: *laughing* I loved Dark Shadows! I used to run home from school so I wouldn't miss the beginning! That may have been when my love of romance started, in movies and books! In Guardian 2632, the protagonist is Zane Grayson, and he’s the executive director of Guardian TMF, a time monitoring facility. Is he laid back, an adrenaline junkie, romantic, and/or a Casanova?


Nora:  Zane Grayson is my favorite character in Guardian 2632. He’s a physically fit soldier/executive director with eyes so dark that, at times, they appear indigo, and he’s been genetically altered to heal faster and live longer than ordinary humans. However, Zane is unaware of this secret about his past, so life goes on at Guardian TMF, a time monitoring facility, with Zane becoming obsessed with time surfing, which means hacking illegal sequences in time. He definitely looks forward to adrenaline rushes, and he’d die to save another life...in particular, the woman of his dreams, so he’s a romantic. Zane would not respect the lifestyle of a Casanova. He’s a one woman type of guy who jumps through time to prevent a tragedy.

Deanna:  Do you read in the same genre that you write in?           

Nora:  I do read in the same genres I write in. I never tire of science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Deanna:  Tell us about a typical day in your life as a writer.       

Nora:  Days with my clan...husband, six kids, two dogs, and whoever else has spent the night, begins with getting everyone to school, or work. Flat tires, dead batteries, and car doors frozen shut, frequently, interrupt our morning routines, which is hardly ever the same three days in a row. Always ticking away, my mind actively plots, builds characters, and solves mysteries all the while I’m stuck working, driving to appointments, or cooking spaghetti and meatballs.
      Once the sun has set, and the moon is shining like my own personal nightlight...I settle down with my laptop to drift away into the realms of mischief known as speculative fiction. Occasionally, I do catch a few z’s, and when my brain has succumbed to the spells in nightmare land, I gather story ideas. It’s fantastic to speak different languages, to travel around the cosmos like it’s part of everyday life, and to be frightened by many things that have no name.

Deanna:  I see you get your story ideas from your dreams. Have you ever dreamed something too frightening to use in a storyline?

Nora:  Yes! Every once in awhile, I’ll dream about...well, that’s better left unsaid. Some of my dreams are too deranged even for my writing style, so I try to ignore them. I have no idea where the bizarre content of these dreams comes from, but I wish I’d never experienced some of them.

Deanna:  Our readers would love to know about Guardian 2632?

Nora:  I'm excited to share this with everyone!

Guardian 2632:  Zane Grayson, the most accomplished executive director Guardian TMF has ever seen, is breaking the law…his law against time surfing. Zane has the supreme power, in 2632, to decide which paradoxes in time need altered, or deleted, but he’s frustrated. Something, or someone, is missing from his life.
      Time surfing in illegal time zones is the rush Zane can’t live without. As addictive as the Martian dust called kilred, time surfing becomes Zane’s obsession. And knowing full well if caught by the Elite Guardians, he’ll suffer an unwelcome death by Time Mercs, Zane still dives deep into trouble. Soon, he discovers a mission in 2035 left him trapped in a timehole. This timehole places him in Pittsburgh, PA in 1998, instead of home. In Pittsburgh, Zane strolls into a coffee shop to see the bewitching Julia Emerson. From that point on, his life spirals out of control as he fights to protect what he loves most.
      It’s possible Zane’s future is no longer in 2632...but actually in 1998. Slip through time with Zane Grayson as Guardian 2632 reveals what he will sacrifice to save a life.


Deanna: Your characters have some hang-ups, obsessions, and habits like grinding their teeth, forgetting to lock security doors, a love of wickedly strong coffee, time surfing, and a desire to live life on the edge, so are these attributes reflective of real people?       

Nora:  My characters have borrowed attributes from memorable people I’ve encountered throughout my life, but most of the attributes are fictional, except for the fact Julia Emerson can’t have enough pillows while sleeping. That is a must in my opinion! I’ve also met some amazing people, whose personalities are hard to forget, so they have inspired that living on the edge...there’s no tomorrow mindset, but these people exist in my dreams and nightmares.

Deanna: You enjoy time travel stories, so is there another time/place you’d live instead of Michigan, 2011?       

Nora:  I like options, always have. With that in mind, I’d have to go with the future, and I mean way in the future, like 2632. If I could, I’d live in the future so I could have the rush of visiting the past. Can you imagine meeting Alexander the Great, Genghis Kahn, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Cleopatra, and/or Queen Elizabeth? What a way to live!          

Deanna:  Think about all of your characters for a moment, past and present...who are your favorites, and why?

Nora:  I’m attached to many of my characters...not all of them, because some bit the dust in a big way, but it had to be done. Zane Grayson, of Guardian 2632, has that irresistible combo of looks and intelligence, plus he deeply cares about other people, so he’s at the top of my list. I also get a kick out of Jake Cottrell, the protagonist in The Twelfth Paladin...but he takes a little longer to mature into a hero. Jake’s the kind of guy who grows on you, who literally does go to hell and back for the people he loves, so I have to stand by him as well. Riley McClain, a detective in a short story of mine called, The Dead, I Get, is shaping up to be a favorite character of mine too. Riley’s really tough, has a can do attitude that is relentless, and since she prefers to solve crimes by dipping into the minds of dead victims, many feel she’s cursed. Not Riley...she likes the challenge.

Deanna:  That's an impressive list of characters. Will you be writing a sequel to Guardian 2632?  

Nora:  Yes! I am working on a sequel to Guardian 2632. The sequel will revolve around Lindsay Grayson, who is Zane and Julia’s daughter. All I can say at this time is...she’ll be a guardian to reckon with, indeed.

Deanna:  Where can our readers find you online?

Nora:  I have several websites:



Deanna:  Nora, thank you so much for being with us today. Your books sounds like a great read for fantasy readers, I know you'll get lots of interest on this! Readers, don't forget to leave a comment or question for Nora so you can be in the drawing to win the ebook of Guardian 2632!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Author Interview - Ann Stewart - Romance Author




      I’m so glad to reintroduce you to a wonderful romance author, Ann Stewart. We’re on location at Saddlebred farm in North Carolina so grab your beverages and a space on the fence because Ann has news of her new upcoming release, Brigadoon’s Guarded Hearts!

Deanna: Welcome back Ann. I'm so glad you've been busy writing and congratulations on the new book!

Ann: Thanks Deanna. I’m glad to be back. Thanks for having me.

Deanna: Last we spoke you were promoting your debut Contemporary, Awenasa Island. I hear you have some news for us about a new story.

Ann: Yes, Deanna. I am very excited about my next release, Brigadoon’s Guarded Hearts. The story is set on a Saddlebred farm in North Carolina, much like the one I grew up working and riding on. Chelsea Bradley is moving on after a divorce and takes an instructor position on the farm only to find the very hot, and hot headed trainer, Steven Bradshaw, may be more then she can handle.

Deanna:  What type of Romance do you typically write?

Ann:  Most of my work is labeled as contemporary. I like stories that focus on the hero and heroine, but also create a since of unity with a small supporting cast. To me, setting is a main character in every story and I strive to drop my reader smack-dab in the middle of my character’s homes. I tend to write on the ‘sweeter’ side, mostly because I know my father will read anything I write and I can’t bear the thought of him sitting blush-faced in his recliner reading torrid sex scenes. I think the lack of actual ‘sex’ deepens the sexual tension between my characters.  They have to really work at getting me to put them in bed together and that tension and conflict adds to the story.


Deanna:  Do you write under a pen name?

Ann:  I write under a version of my real name. I can’t imagine spending months with my babies only to send them out into the world under a pen name.

Deanna:  I understand you’re a mother and work full time. How do you fit writing into your day?

Ann:  I’m not sure if I live to write or write to live, but I do know very few days go by that I don’t put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard for one reason or another. I’m up by five am on the weekdays to get my son off to school and me to work, so I don’t get much done in the mornings other then downing caffeine by the cup loads. I steal a few minutes after work to write or brainstorm and read while the family watches T.V. Most of my writing happens when everyone else is asleep. I’m a morning person, but over the past few years I think I’ve converted in order to write in peace and quiet, but I wouldn’t give any of it up.

Deanna: With a family, making time for both is a challenge for sure. Tell us a bit about yourself that our readers might not know.

Ann: When my muse isn’t playing nice I take her on picture walks. I’ve always had a great love of photography and learned how to develop my own film in high school, although there isn’t much use for that talent in the digital age.  I also love to paint, even though I’m not very good at it, and most weekends you’ll find me cooking dinners for the week. I love to cook but hardly find the time.

Deanna: When you have time to read, what type of books to you tend to reach for?

Ann: As long as the story is engaging, and the writing quality, I’m interested in reading it. That said, I tend to read in spurts. This past month I’ve read a lot of writing craft books I stumbled on at the library. Before that I went on a Young Adult kick, and before that Texas Romance. I’m taking part in the Book-A-Week challenge set up by a friend and so far I’m still on target. I think reading is as important to writing as main characters and plots. If you don’t read, you can’t produce a product that fits into today’s market.

Deanna:  When reading a good book, what pulls you into the story and what pulls you out?

Ann: I am reading the most fantastic story right now, The Demon Trapper’s Daughter, and I think I find the story so fascinating because I’ve never read anything even close to it before and I have no idea where the plot is leading. The writing is tight and cleaver and the character’s jump off the page. When the story is that good, I dream about it, and that to me is the ultimate compliment of a book.
       The thing that pulls me out (queue Steven King) is excessive dialogue tags. I hate to harp on an overexposed writing faux pa, but it really grates my nerves to be reminded every other sentence that I am in fact reading.

Deanna:  That is something that also bothers me when I read because if the writing is good, a tag isn't needed. Can you tell us a little about your upcoming release?

Ann: Sure. Chelsea Bradley is on a journey of discovery so to speak. She’s left her husband and taken a job as a riding instructor at Brigadoon farms only to find herself under the scrutinizing eye of the head trainer, Steven. These two barely get along as it is, but when they find out their pasts are intertwined things really start to heat up.

Deanna: Sounds interesting. Love that kind of conflict! Can you give us a blurb or exert?

Ann: Sure

Eight years ago, Chelsea Bradley gave up a promising career in equine management to marry Chase Montgomery, a struggling real estate developer with a roving eye.
Now with their divorce settled, she’s turning to a past she’d long thought gone. The ad in the local paper for a seasoned riding instructor at Brigadoon Farms couldn’t have come at a better time. Chelsea sees the position as her ticket back into the career she loved. She has nothing to lose and everything to gain until she meets the man who could make her put everything on the line.
Will she be able to forgive his past to share in his future? All Steven Bradshaw has left of his once glowing reputation is the family he’s acquired at Brigadoon. They took him in after the horse drugging sandal that tarnished his name and gave him the chance to rebuild his life. Now he aims to repay them by protecting the farm from the threat he sees in Chelsea. She walked out on a career at a horse farm before, leaving a farm high and dry during show season. He won’t let that happen to Brigadoon, no matter how much he is falling for her.


I’d love to share a sample, but the book is currently under final edits. I will be reserving one e-book for a reader who comments on this interview. 

Deanna, thanks again for having me back.
Deanna:  Readers, there you have it! Comment to be in the drawing for the ebook and Ann will pull a winner Saturday! Be sure to leave your email so she can get in touch with the winner. Good Luck everyone. Ann, it’s a pleasure to hear about your new books so be sure to let us know when the next one is coming up! Thanks so much for being here!

Here is where you can find Ann so be sure to stop at her sites! Don't forget to leave her a comment or question to be in the drawing for the ebook: 

                                     Ann's Website     Ann's Blog

Saturday, March 5, 2011

What draws YOU to a lighthouse?

  

What draws us to lighthouses?

      Is it thinking perhaps we might see a ghost or signs of one as in the photo above? Can you feel their presence when you visit? I've always been attracted to lighthouses and maybe all of those questions are what draw my interest. Of course, I'm not sure how I would react if I DID ever see a ghost! Lighthouse lovers flock to these places, though, and love to talk ghosts, remodels, fixer uppers, wondering what life was like way back when.


       I love the history of the lighthouse and have been to every one in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along the coast lines there. Some have been kept up and others are privately owned because in Michigan individuals can own lighthouses, unlike along the ocean coastlines. Some states allow residential owners and others don't.
     As you walk up the steep staircase of the tower, do you hope the next time you look up, you'll see the shadow disappear?  Or maybe a mist hanging in the air waiting for you? As in the photo on the left, I think the light just might be from a spirit who hangs around there in the tower. What do you think?


       My next book, Whispers at Ghost Point, will involve a lighthouse along the coast of North Carolina and I'm having fun with this. Being able to include one of my passions into a story lets me pull in so many wonderful traits of lighthouse history. I hope you visit my website and take a peek at what the next book will be about. I've posted a bit of info there to tease you. I hope you will visit often to keep up with the story as it becomes a novel. My goal is to have it ready for you in September 2011.


       Tell us below what draws you to a lighthouse and which ones you have visited. I know there are many out there who have a special spot in their heart for these places. Tell us why. Know other lighthouse enthusiasts? Send them over to comment with us!


Thursday, March 3, 2011

Author Interview - Anne Albert - Romanctic Suspense

 

 
Deanna:  Everyone, thank you so much for joining us on location today. Is this not the most beautiful place? Anne, thank you so much for inviting us to this location. It’s amazing! I don’t think I’m the only one who will immediately feel the tranquility here. What a great setting for your trilogy. Tell us about your virtual location setting.

Anne:  Love to! We’re on fictional Piedmont Island. It’s an island off the north eastern coast of Minnesota, and it is surrounded by the largest fresh body of water in the world, Lake Superior. It’s a glorious place of rugged rock cliffs, rolling meadowland, primal forests and serene natural beauty. But be forewarned, Piedmont Island is a community where troubles outnumber residents!

Deanna:  I’m originally from Michigan and love Lake Superior and the UP of Michigan. Tell us a bit about yourself that our readers might not know.

Anne:  Whenever the weather permits, I often write while sitting in my car. Parked. In my driveway! I call it my “cone of silence”. My very own writer’s cocoon, if you will. I’m certain at least one of my neighbors thinks I’m a little odd, but it’s a wonderful place to write and I plan to keep on doing it.

Deanna:  I have to admit, that writing place is a new one for me! What one line best sums you up as an author?

Anne:  I write mystery and romantic suspense stories that chill the spine, warm the heart, and soothe the soul…all with a delightful dash of humor.

Deanna:  Do you write under a pen name?

Anne:  Yes, I do. I’ve always been an intensely private person, so I chose Anne K. Albert because it is a combination of my daughter’s, mine, and husband’s middle names. That my pen name’s acronym just happens to spell AKA is a wonderful bonus because I adore a play on words!

Deanna:  What are your favorite books to read?

Anne:  The same kind I like to write - cozy or gentle mysteries and romantic suspense stories. I can’t resist a puzzle to solve, a handsome hero, spunky heroine, and a happily-ever-after. It’s also very important to me that the villain gets his comeuppance in the end. Plus, I prefer that all morbid details, harsh language, and intimacy to be ‘off stage’. For that reason you won’t find any of those in my stories.

Deanna:  Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

Anne:  The theme for both DEFENDING GLORY, first book of my Piedmont Island Trilogy series, and FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL, first book of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries, is betrayal.

I recall reading somewhere that most authors do have a common theme that runs through their work, and obviously, I feel very passionate about betrayal, especially when it’s by a friend or family member. Using another person for personal gain, outrages me to the very core.

That said, I’m working on the second book of the Piedmont Island Trilogy and the theme is addiction - which suggests I’m not yet addicted to betrayal!

Deanna:  Tell us about “Defending Glory”.

Anne:  My debut novel tells the story of a woman who believes unconditionally in the Lord, and a man who is convinced there is no master plan, no purpose in life, and most certainly, no merciful God in Heaven.

Suffering from survivor’s guilt and unable to resume his career with the FBI, Mac McKeown moves to northern Minnesota to start over as a general contractor and forget that fateful day that changed everything. When he discovers the body of his nemesis on Glory Palmer’s property, along with a warning for her to leave while she still can, Mac realizes his past has come back to haunt him and an innocent woman’s life is in grave danger. He vows to keep her safe during construction of the retreat, but can he protect his heart as well?


Deanna:  I love suspense and romance tied into one novel! What are readers saying about Defending Glory?

Anne:  One reader reported I kept her up until 2:00 A.M. because she just had to keep reading! Another admitted she finished Defending Glory in a single sitting. It’s such a thrill to know people are enjoying my debut novel.

Deanna:  Congratulations, Anne! You’re also the author of another series. Details please!

Anne:  What happens when a gullible intellectual joins forces with her sexy high school classmate, now an even sexier private investigator, to find a missing woman the week before Christmas? FRANK, INCENSE AND MURIEL, that's what. Add an embezzler, kidnapper, femme fatale, and Muriel's zany but loveable family to the mix, and the result is a holiday mystery with a delightful touch of humor.

This first book of the Muriel Reeves Mysteries series was released in e-book format November 2010. The print version will be available mid 2011. This series is a combination of all that I love about writing and reading. I love to solve a puzzle. I love the chemistry between the two main characters, and I adore the antics of Muriel’s eccentric family. This was a fun, entertaining book to write, and I can’t wait to start the second book of the series.

Deanna:  What one how-to write book is a must on your bookshelf? Why?

Anne:  I own dozens of how-to write books, but the one I continually reach for is Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain. It’s the most technical and in-depth of any how-to book I’ve ever read, yet whether at the beginning, unpublished or published stage of my career there is always some tidbit of information to improve my writing. To paraphrase Shrek, this book is like an onion. It has so very many layers!

Deanna:  Our viewers are anxious to visit your sites. Where can they find you on the web?

Anne:  They can visit my website - http://www.annekalbert.com/.

I also have three blogs:

Plus, I’m on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AnneKAlbert)

Thank you so very much for featuring me today, Deanna. It was great fun!

Deanna:  It's been a pleasure having you here today, Anne. I know our readers have enjoyed this interview! Is there anything else you’d like to add before we end here?

Anne:  For those interested in a chance to WIN a copy of the ebook Defending Glory, they only need to leave a comment and on Saturday a winner will be drawn.

       I’d love to chat with those who wish to leave a comment or question…..so fire away!