MP-How has your previous work experience helped you avoid the pitfalls many writers fall into?

JC–Writing is a learning experience and it's ongoing. I've been fortunate to have good friends in the industry and I ask them a lot of questions about what to avoid, what to look for. I took some writing and lit courses in high school and college, to learn the elements of good story telling. I read a lot of books to see how other authors crafted their stories. And I've been really lucky to have submitted to a handful of agents that gave me good feedback and helped me grow even more.  After that, I just keep writing.

MP-Tell us about Edin Road Radio?

JC–Edin Road Radio is my way of meeting new authors and finding new books, and letting listeners come along for the ride. With an eye for storytelling, authors are invited on the show to read an excerpt from their latest and then, I get to chat with them afterwards to find out a bit of the backstory of the book and the author. If I'm having fun, I know the listeners will, so I tried to keep it very informal and just chat with the authors.

The show broadcast live on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 PM Eastern. But listeners can also catch a podcast anytime they want. The podcasts are available 24/7 on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, the Edin Road Radio website, and through hour host, BlogTalkRadio.

MP-Do you enjoy writing your short stories or novels better?

JC–In a way, that's like asking me if I love one of my kids more than the other.  I have no easy answer for that question because writing anything fulfills a need in me.   

  Short stories are instant gratification to me because I have a finite amount of space to fill up with a story. They're condensed into one moment in time and then that moment is done. Sometimes I need that quickie.

  Novels have a longer payout and afford me time to get more in-depth with the story, I can take my time do develop the story, the characters. I can have more details and make it a bit more layered. Sometimes, I like to take my time.

  The answer is, I enjoy them both. Which is why I do both.

MP-Which book has the most of your personality in it?

JC–The Savior, hands down. Of all of the books I've written – even though I've had a tendency to make myself a character and I'm not telling which characters; read the books and see if you can figure it out – The Savior was the most personal. I wrote it at a time when I was going through some serious searching as to who I was, what did I want. I was exploring religions to see what bound them all together, what was the essence that reached out to my soul and answered those fundamental questions we all have. And then I told a story about what I was going through at the time but used Toby Riordan to go through it for me. The people I knew and loved were all characters in the story, from my Mother, Aunt, and Grandmother, to my brothers and my friends. In an essence, I told my story and I literally lived in the pages of that book as I wrote it.

MP-How does your religious background tie into your books?

JC–Other than The Savior and one or two shorts that I wrote, my religious background hasn't appeared in the other books. My spirituality tends to be very eclectic. I consider myself to be Pagan but I think that I could really be considered a Deist. I don't think that any one religion has it all correctly but I don't think any one religion is totally wrong about it either. They're all basically saying the same thing; some are just more self-centered about it.

  The Savior explored the aspects of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Paganism, and Toby is shaped by them all – as I was and am. I've written a few short stories in Illusions & Reality that played with religious movies more than explored religion and I think that somewhere in my career, I'll have other characters that have an alternative religious aspect of their characters but I don't know if they'll be my religious perspectives. I usually tend to keep those private. But since I'm out of the broom closet, who knows.

Follow Jesse at www.jessevcoffey.com

Stephan Cameron is impetuous and lusty; William Cameron is measured and romantic. Only one thing can divide the brothers--an attraction to the Lady Jessica Chynoweth, a flirty redhead who seems to have eyes for both--and Baron Joseph Turnbull as well. Only one thing can bring them together again--bringing the murderer of their father to justice. If it doesn't kill them first, they will!

MP-Catch us up on your series?

LR-The series begins with by Right of Blood, which was actually written as a prequel to My Brother’s Keeper, continuing on to  In the Wake of Ashes.    The series chronicles the life and adventures of William Fylbrigge, the second son of Lord Henry Fylbrigge, a wealthy nobleman in early 17th century Scotland.   It is notable that he is the second son, born twenty years the junior of the his old brother, Thomas.  As the elder son, Thomas had always enjoyed his status of ‘only heir’ to his father’s fortune. As was his “right of blood”, Thomas should not have had any issue of there being any younger siblings, as the laws of inheritance favored him as a sole heir, except for a 'troublesome' addition to  father’s will — which left a large chunk of things to William, and excluded Thomas of much of his own inheritance until William reached majority.  Because of this, when Henry died very soon after William’s birth, Thomas became the boy’s reluctant guardian who saw to his well being only in as much as he didn’t allow the boy to die.  Another stipulation in Henry’s will made provisions for young William to be fostered by his good friend Lord Edward, the Duke of Stonehaven, upon the boy’s 12th year.  

The story begins with William’s arrival at Stonehanven, and all of Thomas’ plottings against him comes to light.  Also during this time, William finds his own footings in life, meets new companions, Sean and Laurel, and his introduction to “The Olde Ways” — the forbidden Pagan religion practiced in secret by much of the country folk.  

By Right of Blood, is William’s rite of passage story, taking him from frightened, timid child to his adulthood and growing consciousness to the atrocities and injustices plaguing the countryside for those who are scooped up in the heresy hunts and witch trials.

My Brother’s Keeper picks up right where the first book ends.  When we re-encounter William, he is at the top of his game, strong, popular and about to marry Lord Edward’s daughter, Mehlyndia.  At this point, William is poised to inherit everything left to him in Henry’s will.  Thomas must step up his game in order to prevent this, and takes a much more sinister approach to destroying his brother by using William’s reputation as a hero to the country folk against him.  William finds himself the target of the heresy hunters, and all that goes with that.  This book takes him from zenith to nadir turning rapidly from light humor to dark drama. 

In the Wake of Ashes picks up five years after the conclusion of My Brother’s Keeper.  William is a far different man at this point.  He is literally half the man he was, having lost his memories and mobility as a result of his ordeal in the previous book.  He and his family have been sent to New France, and the newly established colony of Port Edin, by Lord Edward, to give William an opportunity to restart his life, away from the perils of the heresy hunters and all that went with them.  Unfortunately, his secret is discovered, and it is not long before the hunt is on once again.  

At present, this is the last book in the series, however I am working on a fourth book that will complete the arc.  

MP-How do research for you books?

LR-When I have the seed for the idea, and want to use a place or time, I start with history books, reference books about the day to day doing, clothing, food etc.   I spend a good amount of time researching on the Internet.  I find out what was happening in that time and place and try to just bring in the ‘flavor’ of the period, and not specific historical events.  This leaves me free to keep the story strictly fiction without getting entangled in ‘true’ details.

MP-Tell us about William Fylbrigge?

LR-William is a good soul but naive in his belief that he can change the status quo. He wants to make the world a better place, but doesn’t ‘get it’ that even though he may not like how the world he lives in works, it’s better if he accepts what he can’t change. He does become a bit more cynical as he gets older — or more of a realist.  

MP-Your series seems to go back to learn about William instead of forward like a normal series have you found that difficult?

LR-The only difficulties I had were in filling in subplots that would make sense in the later books.  For the prequel, I knew where it would start and end, and only needed to fill in the middle.  When I was writing My Brother’s Keeper, I always knew what William’s history was.  In fact, I had written personal biographies for all of the characters so I knew them better.  In the end, the difficult part of writing the prequel was more like fitting the last jigsaw puzzle pieces in place and making sure the overall picture made sense in the end.

MP-If you read your books in opposite order would that give away too much?

MP-I never thought of it, but you could read them backwards I believe and read about new things each time. I tried to write the sequel in such a way that it was a complete stand-alone story, with enough hinting around about the previous books that would intrigue the reader enough to go back and read it, but still have a satisfying story without it.  The prequel could also stand alone, however I intended that one to continue, so there is that sense of “what happens next” left at the end of that one.

Book Blurb:

William Fylbrigge is ill prepared to claim what is his by right of blood and his place among the powerful clan he has been born into. His older brother Thomas doesn’t want to share what he thinks is rightfully his, secretly arranging to have the young lad killed in a convenient “accident.” William could lose everything, including his life. 

Sean Wilbrun, the son of a common groomsman, transcends the barriers of his class and station when he is elevated to the esteemed ranks of guard for Lord Edward, Duke of Stonehaven. His first assignment, however, is not to wield a sword to protect his duke, but instead to attend to the newly arrived foster son. 

William and Sean soon form an unlikely duo and a lasting bond as together they face Thomas’ accusations of murder and treason. 


Follow Lorrieann at http://lorrieannrussell.wordpress.com/
Available at Amazon.Com  in both Kindle and Paperback.  

MP-What’s your favorite nursery rhyme? 
MK-Growing up we had a Mother Goose book that I adored.  I read it every day.  The one that always stood out in my mind was of this beautiful blonde woman who was riding a horse.  She was not only beautiful but had jewelry and music.  I just wanted to be her! Here’s the nursery rhyme:
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse.
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She shall have music wherever she goes.

MP-There are three Pigg’s in the detective agency.  Rank the three brothers who would you Marry? Dump? And Date?

MK-Jonah is who you marry.  He is steadfast and will always take care of you.

Marcus is who you date because he has the fun-loving temperament that will always make good times roll!

Luke is the one I would dump.  He is very silent and seems to be harboring a secret. 

MP-What do you think is the way to bridge from an adrenaline rush to a permanent situation?

MK-I think the best way to bridge that jump is to just close your eyes and jump right in. I know, be serious… Often it is the lust of that first attraction that pulls two people together but when you have a lot in common and share your thoughts, feelings and emotions… you develop a strong foundation for love.

MP-What book that you have written is closest to your heart?

MK-Second Time’s the Charm is by far the book that is closest to my heart.  It is the story of a woman who’s been told that she isn’t good enough and was cheated on by her husband.  This damages her self-esteem.  But when she takes a chance on someone she never thought she would… she finds love again. 

Second Time’s the Charm is my pledge that even when life is bleakest, you will find the person you are meant for—that everyone has a happily ever after.

MP-Time for the obligatory Friday the 13th question…what’s the superstition you hold tight too?

MK-I still to this day find myself avoiding cracks.  Do you remember the saying “Step on a crack and you break your mother’s back?” My mom isn’t alive anymore but I can’t stand the thought of hurting her.  Or maybe it is more of a fear that the crack will open up and I will be sucked down into the earth… hmmm… could be!


Protecting her Wolfe
Betsie Wolfe was a small town girl who left her cozy little life for a job in the big city. She never expected to become a witness to a murder or face vicious threats. Detective Jonah Pigg was immediately attracted to Betsie’s lavender eyes and small frame huddled in the gray wool blanket when he arrived on the scene of the murder.

 

When threats on Betsie's life surface, Jonah takes her into his home under the protection of the three Pigg’s who own the Pigg Agency. It will take all of his detective work to keep her safe. Passion has a way of igniting when people are in stressful situations and lust leads Betsie and Jonah into each other’s arms. But is their relationship only a matter of desire or is it something more?

EXCERPT:

Finally fed up with the tension, she left her desk, shut down the lights in the office, and locked the door. With her small clutch purse in one hand, she started the lonely walk to her apartment, six blocks over from the employee parking garage. Someday, I’ll have enough money for a car of my own. She thought with envy. Maybe something in a green color but with good gas mileage.

So focused on the noises around her, Betsie tripped over a patch of broken concrete and went sprawling on the floor, her purse hit the concrete and one lipstick tube rolled across the garage floor. Crawling on her hands and knees, Betsie yelled at herself in her head for her accident. Oh no. Isn’t that my luck! Everything has gone wrong today! Where is my purse? What fell out?

Suddenly a car appeared around the back of the garage and screeches to a halt. The sounds of yelling and gunfire erupted in the silence of the parking garage. Diving flat on the ground, Betsie begins to say all the prayers she remembered from the past twenty-three years of Catholic Mass. As a body crashed to the ground, the black sports car with the silver trim drove away.

Betsie hid on the ground near the edge of a large blue sedan, praying no one could hear her. The silence after such a deafening noise grated on Betsie’s nerves. Without thought for herself, she rushed over to the body to see if they needed help.

“Oh, my, gosh, it’s Johnny from the warehouse. Johnny, Johnny, are you okay?” She placed her hands on his chest to see if he was still breathing, only to pull away abruptly when she felt the wetness of his shirt.

Looking down at her hands, “Oh no. Blood! Johnny!” But his death was as evident as the large hole in the front of his shirt gushing blood on the pavement.

“I can’t be caught here.” Betsie realized with the dead body beside her that the garage wasn’t a safe place.

After a long argument with her conscience over what was right and what might happen, Betsie found her purse with the office keys inside and went back into the office to call the police.

Buy Link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-protectinghiswolfe-834918-148.html

BIO:

Melissa Keir has always wanted to be an author when she wasn’t hoping for a career as a race car driver.  Her love of books was instilled by her mother and grandparents who were avid readers. She’d often sneak books away from them so that she could fantasize about those strong alpha males and plucky heroines.  In middle school and high school, Melissa used to write sappy love poems and shared them with her friends and still has those poems today! In college her writing changed to sarcastic musings on life as well as poems with a modern twist on fairy tales and won awards for her writing. You can find many of these musings along with her latest releases on her website and blog.  

Melissa doesn’t believe in down time.  She’s always keeping busy.  Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature happy endings and is often seen plotting her next story.

Melissa loves hearing from readers!

www.melissakeir.com

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MP-What triggered the Ramblings?

AF-Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman is a collection of poetry that for years, sat locked away in a journal.  The short stories arose from not only bits and pieces of my own life, but experiences of others that I wrote for my Creative Writing class in college.

After the success of my first two novels, Accountable to None and Zero Balance, I was jokingly bequeathed the title “Queen of Revenge” by several of my author friends.  While I appreciated the sentiment, I wanted readers to see the softer side of me, one that doesn’t deal directly with seeking revenge.

The title was inspired by the name of my blog.  When I first entered the realm of “published author” I was inundated with all of the social media options available to communicate with my audience. The one that I was least familiar with was “blogging.”  Trying to juggle a full-time job, college, family and kids plus the whole new world of promoting my work overwhelmed me.  The day I decided to start a blog, I sat staring at the screen wondering what in the world I would call it.  My husband happened to call me during that time and asked me how my day was.  I replied “I feel like a rambling mad southern woman trying to sort all this out” and thus, the title was born.

MP-Do you think there a difference between horror and thriller?

AF-The difference is strictly in the mind of the reader.  What one might classify a horror novel, like one reviewer did for my second novel, Zero Balance, others that read it might prefer to classify it as a suspenseful thriller.  Perspective from the individual in terms of their own life experiences may guide them to their own interpretation of the works they are reading.

Some tend to classify something as horror if it is rooted in paranormal/supernatural aspects, such as works by Stephen King, and Clive Barker.   A thriller can exist in all sorts of works, including horror, if it keeps the readers glued to the pages wondering what will happen next.

However, sometimes the most frightening thing in life is the cruelty we bestow upon each other which can truly be horrific. 

MP-How has the self-publishing route been?

AF-When I released my first novel, Accountable to None, I could not have been any greener in terms of my miniscule knowledge of publishing.  I made several rookie mistakes but each day, through the help of more seasoned authors, I am learning and growing.  Now that my third book is available, I am much more comfortable with the entire process.  I have an editor that I trust completely, a fellow author that is incredibly gifted in not only cover design but also with book trailers, and several author friends that “beta” read for me prior to publication.

My second novel, Zero Balance, is published through World Castle Publishing, which affords me the opportunity of duality.  I am currently self-published and with a publisher simultaneously, and there are pros and cons to both.

MP-Can you tell us a little bit more about your radio show?

AF-Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman (also the name of my BlogTalkRadio show) started as my way to give back to other authors that are just starting out.  I wanted to offer a free platform for them to tout their works in a friendly environment, making them feel comfortable and at ease.  I also wanted to have more established authors as guests as my way of saying “thank you” to them for taking me under their wings, so to speak.  I wanted to give Indie authors a chance to promote their work to the listening audience.

Bennet Pomerantz came onboard as my co-host a few months ago and it has been so much fun.  He adds a special “zing” to the show because of his vast knowledge of the publishing world.  Although I have enjoyed doing the show, I made the painful decision to shelve it after then end of June to concentrate on finishing the third and final installment of my series.  Running the show and gathering all the necessary information from my guests, promoting it each week, and answering inquiries from writers that wished to be on, simply became too much.

MP-In your horror series what inspires you?

AF-Primal fear of what others can do to you. 

As I said earlier, horror can be construed differently depending upon the reader.  Ghosts, werewolves, vampires and monsters of all sorts do not frighten me since I don’t believe in them.  Don’t get me wrong: a gifted writer of paranormal works may cause me a shiver or two while reading, but the mere fact that I know those things are not real renders the slice of fear more like a dull poke for me. 

Things that truly have occurred or are based upon reality are what frighten me.  For example, The Silence of the Lambs comes to mind.  That book/movie struck a nerve in me because a viscous killer such as Hannibal has existed in our society.  Man’s inherently evil nature is what sends my hair standing on end.  So, when I write, I try to use realistic scenarios that are completely plausible and could actually happen.  To me, that is the scariest thing of all: what we are capable of doing to each other.

Follow Ashley at http://www.ashleyfontainne.com/
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MP-Tell us about Lola?

BW-First things first, Michel – I’m grateful that you invited me to do this Q&A, and I’m honored that you’re going to share this with your readers!

Lola, the main character in ‘Hollowing Screams’ is not a figment of my imagination, but in fact was a genuine psychic medium. A mutual friend introduced me to her in the early 70s. She, along with her mentally disabled daughter, lived in an old broken down trailer about forty miles outside of town. She didn’t advertise her unique ability, nor did she ever charge a fee for a reading. If she saw you out, say at the market getting groceries, she would pick you out of the crowd and begin reading you. Word of mouth spread about her accurate predictions, and I couldn’t wait to meet her – find out what all the hype was about. Without going into detail, she spoke of my past as if she were there, and predicted several major occurrences in detail about my life that unfolded many years later. People said she was a gypsy of sorts, as she didn’t stay in one place for any length of time. Upon my second visit, I found the decrepit trailer abandoned and the front door padlocked. She seemed to have mysteriously vanished, along with her daughter, into thin air.               

MP-What makes the hair on the back of your neck rise up?

BW-Wow, I would have to say reading, or watching anything that has to do with demonic possession sends chills up my spine – human demonic possession that is. Recently I wrote a short story entitled, ‘Spirits of a Jester’ in which a doll is possessed with several evil entities and thoroughly enjoyed writing it, lol! In fact, my co-author, Betty Dravis and I released a collection of six short stories of paranormal/horror entitled, ‘Six-Pack of Blood’ in which ‘Spirits of a Jester’ is included. It actually won an honorary horror award from Zodiac Entertainment – quite proud of that.    

MP-Do you research to put a twist on events that really happened?

BW-I often do research when writing a story, especially if the story involves actual facts. However, I count on my muse to show me the way when the time is ready to weave my web, lol.  

MP-What inspires your stories?

BW-People, human nature, places, things – anything and everything really! I can be out at dinner somewhere, look over at someone, and begin to imagine – Could they be harboring a deep dark secret – a murderous past maybe? I often take from my own nightmares when creating a tale of horror and suspense. Okay, now I’m just scaring myself, lol!   

Of all your books who was the scariest character for you?

I’d have to say of all the chilling characters that I have produced ‘Shannon’ in ‘Hollowing Screams’ was the most fun to create. If you follow ‘Stephen King’ and you’ve read ‘Misery’, then you’re familiar with the character ‘Annie Wilkes’ – Let’s just say that, well, these two gals would have been the best of friends…! If you’re not familiar with Stephen King’s work then you’re probably not into horror – which sucks for me, lol! On the other hand, if horror is your cup of tea – pour yourself a huge cup of ‘Hollowing Screams’ and quench your thirst…!          


BLURB: HOLLOWING SCREAMS

It is bizarre to say in our civilized culture some human beings still act out in a violent primitive manner causing bodily harm and death. For this reason alone incarcerating facilities will always exist. The terror of being thrust into a world in which time cannot be calculated, distance cannot be measured, and our own true existence is in question is incomprehensible. In 1971, a mysterious stranger warned a small community of their impending doom. She prophesied that if they ignored her warnings they would experience a chain of devastating events. The outcome of their fate would remain in whether they chose to believe in something that could not be scientifically validated. Is it safe to say that unexplained phenomenon does exist? If you asked the people of Patton, they would say, “Of course it does and its name is Lola.”


Find Barbara at her website
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MP-Assumed Calling book five of the Identity series is coming out this summer.  Each book is longer and more fun than the previous one…what can we expect in this book?

LM-Assumed Calling is Allen’s story, who has appeared in book 3, Assumed Identity, as well as book 4, Assumed Master. I knew he was an important character and an integral part of the story lines, but it wasn’t until I was finishing up Assumed Master he really began to talk to me about telling his whole story. Each of the Identity books have dealt with different aspects of the lifestyle and each have explored a different way of living it. Assumed Calling is no different. It will explore role playing and fetish fantasies, something I’ve yet to touch base on in the other books. Allen’s had wives and lovers, but he’s never found someone he actually loved with his whole being. And he’s not entirely certain Nicki, his object of desire, entirely fits the bill, but she’s definitely got his attention. The real issue for him is their age difference. Allen’s identity problems come into play when he figures out he’s getting older and everyone around him seems to be getting younger. And you’re right in that the books started out novella size and have progressed to novel length. I started out with the idea to write one novella. Identity Crisis turned into a series and while trying to keep it to the “prescribed” short story size, it seems my characters had a different idea about things and their stories just progressively grew into full length works, which is my forte to begin with. I’ve never fancied myself a short story gal so the novel length suits me better and I’m happier with the way the latter books turned out than the starter installments. I also thought this series would end with book 3, but we’re now up to five and while I’d like to say this will wrap things up, there’s another character Keegan D’Amato that’s constantly pricking at my mind. It’s not beyond imagining he will be next.

MP-As a wife a soldier you know the heartaches and palpations a soldier’s life can bring to a girl.  Which book do you think you achieved the hardest emotional peak?

LM-Concerning the Identity series, that would have to be during the time period that lapses between book 3 and book 4 when Julie’s Master dies. The first chapter of Assumed Master was pretty emotionally taxing to write. However, from my work overall, I’d have to say the hardest emotional peak came in my second book published, Bound by Trust. That story really hits home as it’s about a war widow and when Madi finally is granted access to her husband’s personal affects—it really hit home. Writing her meltdown and subsequent fit, for lack of better term, was exhausting and I found myself in tears right along with her.

MP-Tell us about Realmantic Moments.

LM-My how’s it grown. I remember when I first opened Realmantic Moments it was called Happily Ever Afters, which I soon learned was a quite popular title for many things and realized I needed something more unique. It wasn’t until I found my tag word and catch phrase, realmantica, that I came up with Realmantic Moments for a blog title and revamped my site. That was during the first year. During that year I stumbled through the motions of blogging and irregularly at that. I was lucky if I was there a couple of times a month. Then I realized there was no blog fairy and had to really buckle down and make my blog a place people wanted to be. I spent some time examining exactly what I wanted for my blog and decided I wanted it to be a place where writers could get a bit of advice about the publishing world occasionally, readers could learn more about me, and I could toss in something entertaining—like a guest every so often. At the beginning of this year I decided a move was in order and with some graphics help opened the new Realmantic Moments on a new platform and launched it with an excerpt festival of sorts and invited dozens of other writers to help me celebrate my re-opening. Since then I’ve hosted another excerpt event, which was very successful, have regular guests, participate in Six Sentence Sundays, join in blog hops and scavenger hunts whenever I can, and when there is a free day I talk about me and give some advice to writers. This fall I plan on tweaking even further and I’ll be hosting Flash Me Fridays, which will be an invitational flash fiction party and I think the readers will be excited and pleased with the other talented people I’ve asked to participate in it. It’ll be a regularly scheduled fun time and I’m looking forward to it very much. When I started out three years ago I had about two followers and I think they were both family. J My following has increased significantly since then and I get plenty of traffic. Comments are also on the rise and I love that! Very nice to be able to interact with the people stopping by. If anyone would like to pop in, please do so at: http://realmanticmoments.blogspot.com/

MP-Of all your characters which one would you like to punch in the face?

LM-Oh you make me laugh. Dillon from True Identity. What many people don’t realize is a few of my characters from True Identity that attend the club Steele Image regularly made guest appearances in Force Recon: Somalia, book two in the series, an anthology I co-wrote with BethAnn Buehler, JA Lawson, and JL Oiler. Dillon is a very young Dom and not quite seasoned to say the least. In Force Recon, the Recon Marines become involved with my characters from True Identity and end up visiting Steele Image a couple of times. My character Alli, a female marine who’s been a POW, is a club member at Steele and her second trip back after her rescue, Dillon is tasked with watching her for a few minutes. He fails miserably and as a result, Alli is thrown into a violent flashback. Although I wrote him young on purpose, he turned out to be more immature than I’d bargained for and I would definitely say until I go back to him and make him grow up—yeah, I’d like to punch him in the face. J

MP-Since you write BDSM what’s the funniest ‘safe word’ you’ve dreamed up?

LM-I honestly have to say, I’ve not come up with a truly funny one yet. Not all of my characters use them, as is true to the diversity of the actual members of the lifestyle. Those that do take it very seriously and the safe words they use have some special significance to them so I never really thought of using anything funny. Now you have me thinking and I’ll have to work on that. J

Thanks for having me over, today, Michel!

Assumed Master…

 We may be born to the lifestyle,

Julie Stevens and Dante Larson always knew their tastes were a bit more eccentric than those of the average person, but acknowledgement of their chosen paths came at different times. While their lives have run parallel for the last twenty years, destiny always came knocking at the wrong time. Julie was a closeted edge player and before Dante could pull her free of her fears, Mason came along and dragged her kicking and screaming from her self-inflicted darkness, leaving Dante wanting. Although Dante’s been in love with Julie since the day he first laid eyes on her, he's happily married to Blake. But the tides are turning.

But Lady Fate dictates how it should be lived…

Still mourning the death of the only Master she’s ever known, Julie finds herself forced to live with the one man she’s been terrified of for years, Dante. While she has to admit something between them feels right, just as many things feel very, very wrong, starting with the fact he’s married to her gay best friend. Before she even has time to sort out her current predicament, another man catches Julie's attention. But after losing her mother, her sister, and her husband, can Julie come to grips with the fact that Keegan D’Amate jumps out of perfectly good helicopters for a living, rescue diving for the Coast Guard? And where exactly does that leave Dante, who knows for sure he needs a woman to complete his unconventional marriage? Quite frankly, he's tired of waiting.


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MP-What’s your favorite fairytale of all time?

DL-The Princess Bride is the best told fairytale/love story ever written!

MP-Pick your three favorite characters.  Who would you like to Marry?  Spank? Or Hump?

From my books, my heroes: Toto, Carl, and Hephaestus.

Marry: Hephaestus

Spank: Carl

Hump: Toto

MP-What’s the most original character you feel you’ve written?

DL-Hephaestus. I felt so much with him, when writing. When he was angry, I was angry. My heart broke when his did. I truly believed in everything that I wrote for him.

MP-Are there any fairytales you wouldn’t touch?

DL-I've never been a fan of Peter Pan for some reason. I don't think some little flying woman sprinkling stuff on me so I can fly is too odd.

MP-Since you home school your children how are you able to balance your writing and home life?

DL-I gave up on sleep! That's only part of it really, but mostly, I use my mornings for teaching and by afternoon, we're done. The kids go off to do what they want, the baby watches Disney channel and I try to get some promotions, blogging, and writing done. It doesn't always work out the way I want because my muse is never on the same page, but when that happens, I just stay up a little later waiting for the baby to go to sleep.


Bio:

An avid reader since I was a child, I never found a book I disliked. Mostly, you could find me lost in Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, or Ernest Hemingway, and my most favorite, Ancient Greek literature. Taking my love of books, I started writing poetry, short stories, and even helped with screen writes for my drama club.

By the time I was in my teens, my older sister introduced me to my first romance novel, The Hawk and the Dove by Virginia Henley. The moment I fell into the world of love, I was hooked, and my addiction for more grew until I found myself delving deeper into the erotic.

After being convinced that I had the skills to try my hand at writing, I went to work on my first story Down the Yellow Brick Road: Finding Home. And since being published, I've not looked back.

Now, as a busy mom of three, that homeschools, drives to activities, and manages to find time to just cuddle with my husband of ten years, I have to say, I love being naughty when I get the chance. It's freeing and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Blurb:

When love and war makes a little wager, what could possibly go wrong?

I am Hephaestus. God of inventions, blacksmiths, and volcanoes. Sounds like I'm awesome right? Well, I'm not. In fact, I'm the loser of Olympus and a new bachelor to boot. Living the single life is great until a decade passed. Honestly if my divorce from the Goddess of Love wasn't bad enough, I am still being rejected by the other women of my home.

Because of an incessant need to make me a pawn in his game, my brother, Ares convinces Eros to make a little bet. A wager that puts my lack of love life to the test. Sent to Earth, I'm skeptical, when suddenly I lose myself in the sensual scent and beauty of the full bodied Vanessa. She is my everything, my perfection.

Sadly, from a single caress upon her silky flesh, I sent our lives into a downward spiral of hell. To save her, I must get beyond my demons of the past. And to save me, she will have to decide if I'm worth giving up everything for.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080S7PS4

Blog: http://welcome-to-the-island-of-dxluc.blogspot.com/

MP-Catch us up on the Judgement of Souls series.  

MF-I started at the end. There isn't a person who can tell me why, perhaps I found it easier who knows.  I originally started the novel very differently.  For starters there was no Max, the protagonist was Rachel herself, but I started to feel that it was taking on a wrong direction, so I started the whole thing again.  In the start of this novel we see Rachel watching the mortals and wanting to be part of them.  One night she follows a few of them to a club, it was Halloween so she didn't look out of place.  And there she meets Daniel.   

Book 2 is called JUDGEMENT OF SOULS 2: The Call of the Righteous.  I've already started writing that novel.  It spans over 300 years and sees Rachel befriend a mortal, Marie on the lovely island of Malta where the Righteous have taken the Book of Cain.  Later she moves on to Paris, where she meets a dashing Count, the novel will see her in several adventures as well as Arun in a more demanding role.  The Righteous are strong in this novel, you'll get to see who these people really are and why the vampires hate them.
And of course Max will be up to more evil deeds.

Book 1 is a work in progress.  Every now and again I think of an idea and just write it down as a note.  That book will concentrate more on Rachel's parents and will end at Rachel's birth.  But that's a while off yet. 

MP-How did you feel when a reviewer called you the next Anne Rice?


MF-I was so honoured!  Anne Rice has always been a favourite of mine, I've read all her novels. To be compared to someone as distinguished as Anne Rice is such a buzz.  I smiled all day.   

MP-Is Daniel based on a real person or has he always dwelled in your subconscious?


MF-He's based on few people.  I was at the club one day and saw two men sat near the dance floor, legs stretched out crossed, arms folded looking at the women on the dance floor.  I actually wrote it that way when I introduced Daniel and Tobey.  And the way they looked is transferred to my characters Daniel and Tobey.

MP-Living where you do would you say that the city is your muse?


MF-Definitely!   Cardiff is the best place.   It's modern but it still has that Victorian look too.  On some winter mornings there is a mist that forms in some areas and it gives the whole place an eerie mystical presence.  It's great around Halloween, there are tours and ghostly stories around the central parts of the city and tours at the Castle and the manor houses that are supposed to be haunted.  
We have beaches on one side, hills and mountains on the other, you can find fossils on some of the rocky beach areas if you look hard enough.  In between all that there are castles, ruined cathedrals and churches, lush green fields, it's very inspiring.

MP-Do you still attend the club that helped you write the book?


MF-Yes.  In fact I'm going there this weekend (May 19th).   They've moved since I started writing the novel which is a shame.  But the club was in the middle of a residential area and it got noisy so there were complaints.  Not long after the owners of the building closed it and put a big For Sale sign on the outside, it's quite sad, I loved going to listen to Heavy Metal/Gothic music in an old Gothic church.  The new venue is underground - hence the club name in the novel Underground Palace!  No not really, I'm not that clever, it was called that when they were in the Gothic building too.

Please include blurb, cover art, bio pic if you wish and all links (website buy blog etc)  (Attached)
JUDGEMENT OF SOULS is a Gothic horror in which a naïve pure-blood Vampire is tossed into the mortal world. Rachel meets Daniel, a nightclub owner and his group of friends and after Daniel’s best friend is murdered by Max, becomes embroiled in the search for an ancient vampire artefact. Rachel tries to fight off her feelings for Daniel, even siding with her Vampire friend Arun to think again about Daniel’s involvement, but he’s her love and she’s going to protect him, no matter what.

Buy Links
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Amazon-US


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Having enjoyed Kristen's Embers of Hope I searched out Kristen to find out more about her books.   

MP-You have cowboys and firefighters.  You like the rough type.  What’s your favorite part about those professions?

KJ-Cowboys, firefighters, police officers… There is just something sexy and enduring about a tough, brave man who will risk everything for the one he loves. These men are protectors, too. The cowboy is looking out for the ranch, the animals and any employees, and firefighters and police officers protect and rescue people. In The Enemy’s Son, Nick is a lawyer who loves justice, and he stands up to his mob-like family to help Cora.

I also think women also like to “tame” a man, and I don’t mean change him. Rather, women like to have strong man who is tender and loving toward them.

MP-Is The Enemy’s Son your first thriller type novel?

KJ-I began working on The Enemy’s Son first, but I also co-wrote Kauai Spy Games (a spy thriller) and Recovery of Agent M (a Navy Seal thriller) with Jeff Ivanov, and A Miraculous Fate, a mystical thriller with Tommy Garrison.

MP-Let’s play a little game called Marry, Dump or Date.  Chose any three characters from your novels and decide who you’d marry, dump or date.

KJ-Oh boy… The creepy Alexander Pierce from The Enemy’s Son is dump material, along with the spying neighbor in More Than Memories.

I guess I created heroes that I’d consider my dream guy, so I can’t imagine someone dumping any of them! Trent is a once-in-a-life time love that waits for Molly for four years, never giving up hope. She was the only girl he ever kissed, and he planned to keep it that way. So he’s marriage material for sure.

My other male characters all have a point when they’re “dumpable,” when the heroine could have walked away. Brent was cold and irritated at Missy when she showed up on his ranch in A Cowboy For Christmas, but he does warm up to her, whether he liked it or not! In The Enemy’s Son, Nick actually kidnaps Cora and tries to convince her it’s to protect her. She can’t decide if he’s trustworthy or she should steer clear!

MP-What opens your muse’s lips?  Pictures, where you live, a song?

KJ-I often feel inspired by a country song about love, like “Remember When” or one that talks about finding the love of your life. Country songs sometimes tell an entire story in a song, and I love that too. I’ll use the feeling I get from a song to set a mood when I write, so I can think about an enduring love that both people want to fight for.

I know that choosing your favorite book is like choosing your favorite child, but there is always one that digs a little deeper in your heart.  If people could only read one of your books which one would you suggest?

I’ve mentioned Trent and Molly in More Than Memories, and I think they have the most enduring love story. Readers tell me they fall in love with Trent.

I have to include Embers of Hope, Flickers of Passion too. I reached deeper and tried to capture a new level of emotional depth in this story. Savanna has hurts, secrets and baggage, she’s a single mom, her best friend just lost her husband, and she falls for a man who’s been knocked flat on his back. I know these people inside and out, from their insecurities to what their houses look like room to room. I’m working on a sequel right now for Cassie – set at Ocean View Stables from A Cowboy For Christmas. Readers will get to see how Cassie changes, and also how things worked out for Savanna and Jason, and even some couples from other books. I’m having a ton of fun with it and reconnecting with existing characters in a new way.

**Thanks for the fun and different questions!

Kristen James

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The Enemy's Son Cora discovers her father is in trouble… and the only person who can help her is the enemy’s son, Nick Holloway.

Her father couldn’t have stolen a million dollars, so how is he going to replace it? In one week?

Nick claims he wants to help Cora and says he’s deceiving the Hollways to keep her safe…but what if he’s playing both sides? He could be using her attraction to him against her. Nick is ordered to take Cora out into the wilderness to a remote cabin to keep her father in line. Cora can’t allow herself to trust Nick, no matter how sexy he is.

Nick isn’t the only one offering to help. Alexander Pierce could scare the devil but he can also track down anyone in a day. He warns Cora that if she wants to find her father alive, he’s the way.

Soon she’s running from her feelings for Nick, running from creepy Alexander and the rest of the Holloways, and trying to find her father somewhere in the city of Eugene. To make matters worse, everyone thinks she has access to the missing money.

The clock is ticking…

MP-What do you look for in a hero?  Heroine?

KO-I like strong heroes that aren’t jerks.  So many times you see a hero that you have to ask yourself why the heroine loves.  I want a hero that I call in love with as I read the story.

For a heroine, I want someone who is genuinely likable and realistic.  I think women, as a whole, are insecure, so my heroines are generally insecure about something, but they are also easy to like and someone I’d want as a friend.

MP-Do you only write contemporary romance or do you have other genre’s in your WIPS?  

KO-I have written on historical and hope to write many more.  I enjoy reading historicals, and would love to have a bunch more under my belt. 

MP-How do you react to a bad review?  

KO-That’s a hard question.   I react in a lot of different ways.  I try to learn something from each one.  One story, I totally rewrote due to bad reviews, taking into mind what people had told me and have had much better reactions since.  Sometimes I laugh them off, because the people reading are not my audience.  I’ve gotten several bad reviews because people thought my books were Christian romances and there was sex in them.  I never said they were Christian.  It was just an assumption they made.  I can laugh those off.

MP-How do find marketing?  

KO-I honestly don’t do a ton of marketing.  I will respond if someone offers it, but my main marketing is simply putting out the next book.  I think my work should speak for itself.  Generally, if someone finds one of my books, they read them all.  That’s all the marketing I really need.

MP-Since you’re a cub scout leader I’ll have to ask…what’s your favorite scouting song?  

KO-I like Akela’s Trail J

Lily was only six when she met the man she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. When he asked her father for her hand in marriage, he believed the lies her father told him, and immediately left to fight in the war against Napoleon. Once he is finally home again, will he be able to trust Lily again? Or will her father win?
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