Featured Author: Karolyn James

Prolithic author Karolyn James is here to talk about her novel, All Access (Brothers of Rock #1), published on March 1, by Hundred to Home Publishing.

Interview with Karolyn

Welcome, Karolyn. What do you like best about writing?
My favorite part of writing is thinking of characters and stories, then letting them come together in my mind. It sounds strange but that’s seriously how it works for me. I think of people and I think of what kind of mess they can get into...then I sit back and make them get out of it! 

How did you come up with the title of your book?

Well, to start with the series...Brothers of Rock: It’s about a band. They’re brothers through music, through the connections they make with fans with that music, and in concert. I wanted a titled that was catchy but had meaning.

How did you create the plot for this book?

For All Access, I wanted to bring in the lead singer, Johnnie, in a sexy but fun way. I also wanted him to be deep. Very deep. The premise is fun - he gives a woman money to buy him a coffee so he doesn’t get recognized in a café. She does and gives him the coffee.  To his shock, she has no idea who he is. That’s something Johnnie isn’t used to. The story built from there...and as Johnnie and Jess started to get closer, they both realized they had major life choices to make within their personal careers that could affect their romance.

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants, or let your characters tell you what to write?

Oh, I’m an outliner! I have to be. The story usually comes to me so fast, I have to write, type, whatever it takes. I treated myself to an iPad over the holidays and use an index card app to keep track of notes. I need to have a detailed outline before I write...but it’s never set in stone.

Sophie’s choice: Do you have a favorite of your characters?

I knew this question would come up! I’m going through the entire band of Chasing Cross in my Brothers of Rock series.  And I already ‘know’ each member long before writing the books...but I really like Johnnie. He’s tall, built, and beautiful. His heart is huge, and without him, the band couldn’t function. THEN AGAIN...I also have a special spot in my heart for his younger brother, Danny and the always-in-pain drummer, Rick. 

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

For the Brothers of Rock books, I have to know what’s going on. The series is connected even though you could read each book as a stand alone. The band is in each book and elements will carry through book to book. 

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

As of now, it’s the female lead in the second book in the Brothers of Rock series (Broken Sound). Anna is such a sweetheart. She’s left in debt from student loans and credit cards (the latter thanks to an ex boyfriend), and she fights everyday to survive. She’s a teacher and works part-time as a waitress. She’s as regular as they come, but her fairytale dream, after meeting guitarist, Davey, is just the beginning...Something about her being innocent, smart, and yet strong just made her appeal to me.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

In All Access, Johnnie wakes up and catches Jess singing in the shower. He sneaks into the bathroom, but instead of perhaps enjoying the moment of a naked woman in his shower, he tape records her singing. He’s so enamored by her voice that he can’t help himself. I loved writing it because it showed Jess opening up (finally), and it showed just how important music was to Johnnie.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

I read it and I appreciate it. I respect everyone and their opinions, and my gosh, without readers, I wouldn’t have a job! Now, I certainly can’t please everyone, but I do my best to see if there’s something suggested over and over...something maybe I can work on. I try not to let it get to me personally, but we’re human as writers, so yes, sometimes it stings. But I always handle it professionally and remember that someone took their time and their hard earned money to buy my book. They have every right to voice an opinion.


Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?

I LOVE writing early in he morning. I’m using up at 5am and going, well before my house is awake and crazy. My family works on a tight schedule, and since this is my full-time job, we have to treat it that way. 

Do you ever get writer’s block? What do you do when it happens?

I work on another project when I get stuck. Sometimes you just have to remove yourself and let your mind work it out. I’ll move to another book or just mess around with notes and ideas. I try to keep my mind off whatever caused the writer’s block and let it work itself out.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m looking at the working outline for Brothers of Rock book three! It’s titled A Bitter Farewell and follows Johnnie’s younger brother (and guitarist), Danny, as he must face some tragic news. Since he’s Johnnie’s younger brother, he’s always been somewhat sheltered. Now he has to stand up and face things on his own. 

Besides that, I actually have another romance series in the works. It’s a series about second chances. None of the books are connected but have the same underlying theme...people going back to move forward.

And of course, for all my steamy readers out there, I have some erotic romance projects in the works. I’m continuing my Rock Her Curves series and have a concept for a curvy photographer series too. I never stop writing!

About the author:

Karolyn James is the pen name for award winning author Karolyn Patterson. She’s been published over 100 times, reached bestseller lists on Amazon, and writes in both romance and erotic romance. Her two newest series are the romance hit, Brothers of Rock, and the erotic romance series, Rock Her Curves.

Connect with Karolyn:
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Featured Book: A Good Kind of Knowing

Kathy Lynn Harris is stopping by on her CLP blog tour to share an excerpt from her novel, A Good Kind of Knowing. Enjoy the read!

About the book:

Sera Taylor's store is the one place in Lakeville, Texas, where individuals from all walks of life share a universal love for music and a respect for the gypsy-like woman behind the antique glass counter. Readers get a taste of the unorthodox connection between Sera and Mack, a young local cowboy and musician, and Sera’s previously untested devotion to her husband Bill. They learn of her relationship with Ruby D., the vibrant but misguided mother of five; with Louie, the shy high school band director; with Beverly, the religious, upper-class socialite; with Antonio, a local bar owner striving to make a life for himself; with Tommy Lee, a rich and directionless gigolo; and with Wes, the only out-of-the closet gay man for miles. As Sera battles a serious illness, the characters must overcome long-held stereotypes to save Sera’s store, and in the end, large parts of themselves.

What readers are saying:

“Engaging, emotionally accurate, visual and funny."

“You pulled me right in.”

“I feel like I’m right there—I can feel the Texas heat and see the small town and the people who populate it."

“The characters are diverse and interesting, and each has a unique personality that adds to the entire canvas of the story.”

“I know these people. What’s more, I like them, even despite their faults.”

“My head is full of your story. It took me only two and a half days to read the book cover to cover, which means I was doing it every spare minute.”

“The pace is comfortable, the characters rich and colorful. The events are anything but predictable; I was always wondering what’s going to happen next.”

Excerpt from A Good Kind of Knowing

Mack made his way over to where the horses were grazing in the south pasture. To the west, a few teasing clouds held the sunset and rolled it around like a ball of clay. Above him, more clouds were building, growing in number like kids on a playground gathering to watch a fight. His brother’s new colt watched Mack from a distance, and Mack could hear him snorting, anxious for something. A black crow screeched nearby.

It was this time of year that Mack most missed the mountains, how they seemed to rise up from the Montana flatlands like afterthoughts. The same had been true for the large grove of aspens behind the barn, their trunks thin and looking like chipped white paint. He always envied the aspens in a way. True, they’d lose their leaves, but they’d always get them back and be whole again.
 
Mack knew there were stories in him, could feel them nesting inside, sometimes moving around like blood cells, or getting caught in the back of his throat. Sometimes the stories sank into his arms and legs, so heavy he could hardly move. And sometimes they rested right behind his eyes and stayed there as he fell asleep.

In his songs, Mack felt like he was trying to reclaim some layer of memory that perhaps wasn’t even his own. He found himself listening for the flat notes in people’s voices as they talked, learning that in the undertones was where the truth hid.

His mother had bought him his first guitar when he was ten years old and sent away for the Roy Clark guitar lessons book. From there, Mack taught himself. He had a natural ear for it. When he was old enough to sneak in without too much of a hassle, he’d drive up to Bozeman to visit the bars. His favorite joint was called the Mint, a place where men gathered during the afternoon to talk of flyfishing the Yellowstone. At night, the place turned rowdy and boisterous, and beer flowed like water. It was in places like that, that Mack listened and watched the hands of musicians. Then he’d head home at two in the morning and recreate what he’d heard.

About the author:

Kathy Lynn Harris is the author of two novels: Blue Straggler, a former Amazon #1 bestseller in three categories, and the award-winning A Good Kind of Knowing. In addition, Kathy has written magazine and newspaper articles, an online column on mountain living, short fiction, essays, and really bad poetry. Her work has also appeared in numerous published anthologies. In April 2013, Kathy will release her third children’s book, Higgenbloom and the Dancing Grandmas. Kathy grew up in a South Texas ranching family, but made the move from Texas to the Colorado Rockies in 2001 to focus on her writing and soak up All Things Mountain. Kathy’s blog, You Can Take the Girl Out of Texas, But …, can be found on her website. She lives west of Denver in a haunted (she’s sure of it!) 1920s cabin with her husband, son, and two fairly untrainable golden retriever mixes. 

Connect with Kathy:



Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads



Buy the Book:
Amazon 




Featured Book: Murder is Ugly

I love doing character interviews, and I'm happy to have Jinx Delaney here today to talk about her new mystery novel, Murder is Ugly, by Price McNaughton. The book was released on April 9 by Talebearers Publishing.

About the book:

When Jinx Delaney accepted her friend Brynn Brookefield's invitation to spend the summer with Brynn and her family, she expected a relaxed, fun, horse-filled getaway that would hopefully help her find direction and get her life back on track. However, upon her arrival at the Brookefield’s exclusive community, she begins to suspect that not everything is as perfect as the members of the wealthy, picturesque neighborhood would like her to believe. Jinx finds herself embroiled in a web of suspense and deceit as a series of grisly crimes sweeps through the community, revealing dark secrets and tearing apart the residents’ seemingly perfect lives. As neighbor turns against neighbor, Jinx begins to realize that when it comes to high society, murder really is ugly.

Set against a backdrop of a historic, Old South community and a high class horse barn, McNaughton weaves a riveting tale of murder and suspense, filled to the brim with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end, while skillfully painting the ironic tale of a community whose beauty lies only skin deep.

About the character:

Jinx Delaney is a recent college graduate who is looking for her purpose in life. She loves her horse, Ranger, and dreams of competing with him professionally, but she’s not sure what direction to go in. When she visits her sorority sister, Brynn Brookefield, for the summer, she finds herself swept up in mystery. The historic homes in the closed community her friend calls home are filled with secrets and gossip. Jinx finds that her summer may be more than she bargained for when one of the neighbors turns up dead.

Character Interview with Jinx Delaney

How did you first meet Price?

Well, Price had me in the back of her mind for quite some time. A mystery presented itself to her and then I rumbled up in my old blue and white truck, ready to solve it.

Want to dish about her?

She’s nice, but a tad forgetful. She changed my name several times, and I still have trouble going by the new one, though it does have special meaning.

Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?

Not at all! I find that my writer and I are very alike, so I thought I would end up more like her. Definitely not involved in mysterious deaths and a secret community.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

I think the night of the party was pretty special to me. I had never seen anything like it so it made a big impression. But that walk home in the rain...Brrr!

Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?

No, she was willing to put me in pretty much every scene. I’m a little nosy, so it was easy to squeeze myself into some tight situations. In the future though, I want more time with Ranger and a stronger focus on our upcoming competitions. She’s assured me that it shouldn’t be a problem.

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?

I love riding! I can’t wait to start hauling Ranger to some local shows, but I’ve got my eyes on the big time. Maybe you’ll see the two of us in lights someday.

If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?

It was hard on me to lose my newfound friends. I’d like to write them back to existence, but Price has told me that mysteries don’t work that way.

She's right. Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?

To be perfectly honest, I don’t care for many of them. In Murder is Ugly, I really only know one person, my sorority sister, Brynn. I find this closed community and some of the people who live in it to be a bit creepy.

Do have any secret aspirations that your author doesn’t know about?

I’d love to try some trick riding.

If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?

Exactly what I’ve been doing this summer. Riding in the morning and swimming in the afternoon.



What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?

I think they think of me as sweet and innocent, but after they’ve known me for a while they find that I’m much more clever than they thought.



Ah, one of those. What's the worst thing that's happened in your life? What did you learn from it?

It’s hard to name just one thing, but knowing someone who was murdered was pretty terrible.

Tell us about your best friend.

Brynn is hilarious. She’s loyal and sweet. She’s also great with her horse, Banshee. We have so much fun together. 



What are you most afraid of?

Murderers!!!



Are there a lot of murders in your town?

No, not in my hometown, but I have found that there have been a lot of deaths in Brynn's neighborhood. It's rather odd, now that I think about it.

Yikes. What’s the best trait your author has given you? 

I think my best trait is that I’m very down to earth.

What’s the worst?

My worst trait is definitely my overactive imagination.



What do you like best about Max? Least?

Brynn’s brother Max is fun, loyal, and handsome, but he’s also very mysterious. It’s hard to figure him out.



Honey, all men are hard to figure out. He sounds like a keeper to me. How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change?

I’m in a strange place. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my future. It’s definitely time for a change. I would like to start competing with Ranger and work my way up to the pro level.

What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?

I like the way she describes spooky scenes.

If your story were a movie, who would play you?

My author!

Describe the town where you live.

The town where I live is very boring, so I’ll tell you a bit about the community instead. It’s closed off and everyone here seems to be rich. You would have to be to afford the upkeep the community demands. Everyone spies on their neighbors, and I’ve never seen people pass more judgement on others than here.

Describe an average day in your life.

Right now, I wake up, go jogging with Brynn, go horseback riding, hang out by the pool, and attend community functions. But after this summer, I don’t know what it will be like.

Why? What happens after summer?

After this summer, I'll have to make new plans. The Brookefields have kindly had me as a guest, but I'll have to leave soon. I'm not sure what I'm going to do or where I'm going to go as of right now. Hopefully, it will come to me.

Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?

Of course! Ranger and I have a lot of stories and adventures left in us. She can’t give up on us now.

Well, good luck wherever you end up. I hope murder doesn't follow you, but if it does, and you end up in another book, come back to tell us about it, okay?

About the author:

Price McNaughton was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. A childhood steeped in the stories and legends of her ancestors as well as the southern way of life led her to carry on the tradition and become a storyteller herself. After years of traveling and working at a variety of jobs, she has finally returned to her roots and devoted herself to writing. A Vision of Murder is her first book.

Note: A Vision of Murder is free on Kindle today, April 15!

Connect with Price:
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Buy the book:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Bestselling Reads iPad Mini Giveaway

The best authors in New Fiction at BestSellingReads.com are
celebrating the arrival of Spring with an April promotion:

BestSelling Reads iPad Mini Giveaway

Enter the BestSellingReads April giveaway for a chance to win an
iPad Mini or an Amazon gift card.

Someone’s going to get lucky, and it could be you!

This giveaway ends April 28th, so enter today!

Prize for winning reader entry: iPad Mini (value $329.00)

2nd & 3rd place winners: $25 Amazon gift card


Enter below or at http://www.bestsellingreads.com

Winners will be chosen April 28th by Rafflecopter. No purchase necessary but always welcome.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Featured Author: Marc DiGiacomo

In A Small Town by Marc DiGiacomo is the first book in a crime series. Marc is stopping by today on his Partners In Crime tour to share an excerpt. This mystery/thriller, published by Infinity Publishing and written by a former police officer, is getting rave reviews. It's a good thing this book is one of a series because it ends with a cliff-hanger.
NOTE: This book contains excessive strong language, graphic violence, and explicit sexual scenes.

About the book:

The shotgun blast catches Detective Matthew Longo by surprise. His world unravels into a nightmare that seemingly won't end. Murder, rapes, pedophiles, the small town of Hutchville, N.Y. is changing. It is up to him to make a difference. While partner Donny Mello is in Italy attending a funeral for a family member who is connected, to say the least, a beautiful F.B.I. agent waits to question him about his family business. Can Matt keep from answering the Agent's questions? More importantly, can he hide a potentially career-ending secret from his community, his brother, and most especially Agent Cynthia Shyler?

Excerpt

Chapter One

Not In Our Town



I can’t get it out of my mind. The lightning that exploded from the end of the barrel. The ripping orange flash off the black steel. The smell of gunpowder. The sound, like an M-80. And the pain—the fucking searing pain. It is permanently scorched into my memory. Everything but his face. The face I didn’t see haunts me every second. All I remember are those ultra-white Reebok sneakers as he ran away. The fucking coward would have shot me in the back, but I turned around and caught the blast in the chest. I didn’t have time to pull my Glock.


The shot knocked me to the ground. I thought I was having a heart attack—I couldn’t catch my breath. Then I understood what happened, and reality hit: I was going to die.


It seemed to take minutes rather than seconds, but I managed to radio into headquarters. The response from the good guys was impressive, to say the least. They saved my life. Cops from my own town and others surrounded the scene. I knew they would come. When a cop gets shot, they all come, and with one thing in mind—-to find the bastard who pulled the trigger. 


Things grew foggy. I saw blue uniforms scurrying around the scene while white-clad EMTs lifted me onto the gurney and loaded me into the ambulance. I could hear people talking about me—-reporters, other cops, curious residents. “Detective Matthew Longo...Only 29 years old, been on the force nearly 10 years...Shot in the fucking chest and shoulder. No wife or children. Parents live in town; Hutchville lifers. Oh yeah, the town is going to go batshit over this.” 


Blood oozed from my left shoulder. My friend and paramedic Scotty Franks hovered over me and placed direct pressure on my wound. Even through my fog I could tell he was holding back tears. My shoulder was on fire. I never wore my bulletproof vest unless making entry on a search warrant, or if a hot pursuit was coming my way; then I quickly threw it over my shirt. I was lucky I had it on that night. Maybe someone on the other side was looking out for me.


I fell unconscious even with all the shouting around me. I dreamed of my funeral and who would be there. I saw myself in the blue box surrounded by a sobbing crowd of familiar faces. My parents looked horrible. My poor mother clutched her bible and rosary beads. My dad kept his eyes glued to the floor, angry and broken. My little brother Franny, in full uniform, stood near my casket at full attention, his white gloves damp from tears. Donny was there too, trying to keep it together.


I heard Scotty screaming for me in the distance. The poor guy loved me, but why was he screaming my name, spitting all over my face, at my wake? Maybe I should have had a closed casket.


Suddenly I felt him slapping me. I awoke and found myself back inside the ambulance. Scotty took a deep breath, in and out, and said, “Okay Matt, okay. Don’t do that again.”


The pain was relentless, and I couldn’t help but cry. Scotty put a needle into an IV line in my arm and the pain vanished almost immediately. “Don’t give me morphine Scotty,” I managed to whisper. “It killed my grandparents.” Then I lost consciousness again, falling into a world between life and death.


I heard someone screaming in the night. Was it me? It was too dark to see. Where’s Donny? I really needed him now. Was I dreaming again or was this some delusion of reality? I slapped myself and felt a sharp sting, jolting me awake. 


It has been three weeks of hell living inside this apartment. My social life has been placed on indefinite hold. The phone rings constantly but who cares? I don’t answer. The window shades are drawn. I don’t know if its day or night, and I don’t give a shit.


Thankfully, the wound has been healing well. But I look at my shoulder and am repulsed by the scar and missing flesh. People say scars are sexy but this one may be the exception. My left arm is still in a sling. At times, the pain is still unbearable. The Percocet I’m still taking makes me pass out.


The sink is loaded with paper dishes and plastic cups. Last week’s dinner from my mother sits on the kitchen table still wrapped in tin foil, and the smell is starting to ferment in my kitchen. I can hear my Dad’s deep voice in my head: “Why don’t you pull it together and clean up around here? You’re making your mother nervous.” She’s nervous? I can’t help laughing. 
Hey Dad, your oldest son was almost shot dead in the same small, safe community where we played Little League baseball. Mind if I take a week or two to let that one sink in? 


Only cops—-and maybe some of their wives—-realize how dangerous police work can become in a millisecond. Parents of cops usually choose to ignore the reality—-it’s too difficult to accept that a life-or-death choice awaits their son or daughter at any moment. A bank robbery turns into a shootout; a wanted felon gets pulled over for a broken tail-light and decides suicide by cop is his only way to avoid a lengthy jail sentence. As a detective, this is my everyday reality. 


This isn’t supposed to happen in a small town. We’ve never had a police shooting—-never. In fact, the last time we had any kind of criminal shooting was ten years ago, and it was a domestic dispute between a father and his cheating son-in-law. These old-school Italians are no joke.

About the author:

Marc DiGiacomo is a retired and highly decorated police detective who worked for an affluent community within the State of New York. He has worked with numerous police agencies at the local, county, state, and federal levels on various investigative assignments. He currently resides in New York with his wife and three children.



Connect with Marc:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Buy the book:
Barnes & Noble / Amazon  

Featured Author: Tricia Drammeh

Last September, Tricia Drammeh was here to tell us about her debut novel, The Claiming Words, a YA paranormal romance. Tricia has just self-published her second book, The Fifth Circle
, a novel in the contemporary fiction genre, and I'm happy to have her back today to tell us about it.

About the book:

Sean is no stranger to darkness. He's overcome a dangerous addiction, struggled with mental illness, and faced relentless bullying by his peers. His best friend, Alex, has always been there for him, but when he falls in love with her, he replaces his online gaming obsession with a possessive interest in her.



Alex's survival depends upon her ability to lock memories of her troubled childhood deep inside her mind, but an unhealthy relationship with Sean causes dark visions of her past to rise to the surface. Sean's obsession and Alex's complacency collide, resulting in tragedy.



Together, Sean and Alex live in a hell of their own making. One will escape at the expense of the other. Both will discover why Dante chose to condemn the Wrathful and the Sullen in the Fifth Circle of Hell.

Interview with Tricia:

Welcome back, Tricia! Your first book was published with a small press, but you've gone the self-pub route with this newest book. How's your experience been with self-publishing versus small press?

There are definite advantages and disadvantages no matter which path you choose. The publisher for The Claiming Words looked at The Fifth Circle, but it isn’t really a genre they handle, so I decided to take the self-publishing route, and I’m glad I did! It’s something I really wanted to try. For me, the biggest advantage is that everything is done according to my own timeline. I’m not the most patient person, and when you’re working with a publisher, you have to adhere to their schedule. With self-publishing, everything moves so much faster because if you miss a scheduled launch date, you only have yourself to blame.



How did you start writing?

I wrote a little bit of poetry in high school. I’d always wanted to write a book and even tried to write one several years ago. I started writing The Claiming Words almost three years ago, and it’s the first novel I ever completed.


What do you like best about writing?

I love getting sucked into a world of my own creation.

What’s your least favorite thing?

I don’t like it when I have writer’s block or can’t get a certain scene to work.



How you come up with the title The Fifth Circle?

In the book, one of the main characters is assigned the fifth circle of hell as the topic for a research paper. In many ways, she’s been living in the fifth circle of hell her entire life, playing the part of the sullen, or apathetic.


How would you describe your book in a tweet? (140 characters or less.)

Sean and Alex live in a hell of their own making. One will escape at the expense of the other.



How did you come up with the idea for The Fifth Circle?

Well, since I never plot anything out ahead of time, I started out with a vague idea for a young adult fantasy (like I always do). The fantasy elements never came together, and the characters were darker than what I normally write. I set the book aside for a while until I had a dream about the Inferno and the circles of hell. When I woke up, I knew what to write about and the story took off from there.



What is your writing process?

As I mentioned, I never plot anything out. I tend to write as I go, which usually means heavy revisions and rewrites later on. 



What books have you read more than once or want to read again?

I’ve read all the Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings books more than once. I’ve also read Gone with the Wind and Pride & Prejudice several times. I’d love to reread Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction before the next book comes out.

Oh, now stop sucking up. :) 

Have you ever bought any books just for the cover?

I almost always choose books based on the cover, especially when I’m in a book store. A good cover will draw me in and a good back cover blurb will determine whether or not I actually buy the book. I’ve found many amazing books this way.


What would your characters in The Claiming Words think of the characters in The Fifth Circle?

I don’t think my characters in The Claiming Words would have much in common with those in The Fifth Circle. In The Claiming Words, the characters all come from caring, loving families who are close-knit, but I’m afraid in The Fifth Circle, this isn’t the case.


Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

My favorite scene is when Alex sits down to take her English final. The essay topic is: What was the single most significant event of your life? Her teacher stops her before she begins writing and says, “If I asked anyone in this town to write your essay for you, I know what they’d choose to write about. You don’t have to let that one event define you. You choose what to write about.” Those words—-and the subsequent essay Alex writes—changes everything for her.



What song would you pick to go with your book?

Can I pick two?

Sure!

For Sean, his theme song would probably be Lithium by Nirvana. Though Alex makes references to I Cain’t Say No from Oklahoma, I think her song would be Wide Awake by Katy Perry.



What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I’m currently reading Elfin by Quinn Loftis. It’s an ebook review copy for a blog tour.
I’m really, really enjoying it.



How do you handle criticism of your work?

It’s never fun to get a bad review, but I try to remember it’s impossible to please everyone. That being said, there is often valid criticism and helpful advice in a negative review, so I make note of that and try to use it in future writing.



Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Anywhere! I do my best writing late at night after the house is quiet and the kids are settled, but if I’m in the writing zone, I can write anywhere, anytime. Of course, I’d prefer to do my writing in a beachfront cottage somewhere, but we don’t live anywhere near the ocean.



Where’s home for you?

I currently live in St. Charles which is a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.



What are you working on now?

I’m working on edits for Dark Summons, the first book in a paranormal series for young adults. It’s about a high school girl named Abby who accidentally summons a demon during a séance. She learns very quickly that the supernatural world isn’t as fun and exciting as she thought. Her life becomes unmanageable until help comes from an unexpected source.

About the author:

Tricia Drammeh is a wife, a mother of four children, a coffee junkie, and a book lover who lives in the St. Louis area with her family. She's an author of multicultural fantasy, mainstream fiction, and paranormal romance novels for young adults and adults who are still young at heart. Tricia has penned six complete novels including The Claiming Words and The Fifth Circle

.

Connect with Tricia:



Website / 
Blog / 
Facebook / 
Goodreads / 
Twitter 

Buy the book: Amazon

Featured Author: Christine Warner

Christine Warner is here today on her book tour to promote Some Like It In Handcuffs, a humorous light-hearted romantic suspense novel. Enthusiastic reviews talk about the great characters in this fun "sensual, suspenseful, and hilarious" mystery. Don't miss an excerpt from the book after my interview with Christine.

About the book:

Sunny Kennedy, the only female in a family of blue blood male detectives, is determined to prove testosterone isn’t the only qualification required to solve a cold case. Handcuffed while undercover, then taken to the precinct by an attractive detective, her domineering family demands she work with Detective Judson Blackwolf, or she’s off the case.

Judson Blackwolf thinks women in law enforcement should work behind the scenes. The prospect of working with his Captain’s sexy daughter doesn’t thrill him. He only agrees in hopes of solving the murder of his one time mentor’s daughter. Once the case is over, he’s moving to Montana to heal his wounds from the loss of his last partner.

But when their investigation takes a dangerous turn, Sunny and Jud soon realize their feelings for each other cannot be denied.

Interview with Christine:

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. From the moment I won an essay contest and then a Young Author’s award I was hooked...and that was elementary school.

Then of course life took over and my time was filled with school, dating, work, jobs, getting married, and having a family. Through all those years I would talk about how much I wanted to write a romance book. Especially after I finished one. LOL. My sister took the brunt of this abuse.

Finally she got tired of hearing me say it and told me to do it. That was about four years ago. And now here I am...I’m loving it, and I’m very happy.

What do you like best about writing?
My favorite part of the writing process is starting a story. I love getting to know my characters and their traits. It’s like meeting a new friend.

What’s your least favorite thing?

My least favorite part is when I run into a roadblock and I can’t figure it out. Sometimes it’ll take me days before everything falls into place and I can continue to write. The entire time all I can think of is the chapters coming later, but I can’t write out of order. Drives me crazy. LOL.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

It just popped into my head one day. Truthfully, I don’t even know what I was thinking about when it did. I do remember I was in my car driving...which is how most of my ideas come to me.

Do you have another job outside of writing?

I do. I work about thirty hours a week at a large hospital. I work every weekend, which can be a bit of a bummer, but it also affords me five days off each week to devote to my writing. I love that part!

How did you create the plot for this book?

After the title popped into my head, I started thinking about the characters that would go along with the title. They had to be humorous and spunky. I also knew I wanted this to be a romantic suspense, but a lighthearted one. From that five word title I came up with a plot, scenery, and my characters and all their quirks and oddities were born.

Have you ever bought any books just for the cover? Did you enjoy the book(s)?

I don’t know if you’d say I bought a book based solely on the cover, but that is generally the first thing that will draw me to a book when I’m shopping for my next read. From that point I read the back cover blurb and if I’m still interested I’ll flip through a few pages and reads bits and pieces. I have a process to buying.

What do you do to market your book?

Lots of things...I wish I knew if what I was doing was right. LOL. I talk about my book on blogs, do tours, pass out business cards when I’m talking to someone in person and the subject comes up. I also promote here and there on Facebook and Twitter. I don’t let it consume every conversation or post or tweet, but it is mentioned from time to time.

If you have any tips...I’d love to hear them!

Check out my Marketing for Dummies (And Indies) page!

I am planning to do a promotion on Goodreads for my next book Bachelor’s Special, coming out from Entangled Publishing in June. That’ll be a new adventure for me.

How do you get to know your characters?

I start out each story by doing a quickie plot and character sheet. I describe their looks and give them quirks. But I really don’t think I get to know them until I start writing them. Sometimes it can take me well into the third or fourth chapter before I have them totally figured out. When that happens I generally have to back-step to the beginning and make sure it flows.

When you start a new book, do you know what the entire cast will be?

I would generally say yes, but there have been a few times when a new character will just appear halfway into my writing.

How do you name your characters?

Teehee...that is one of my favorite parts. I actually have a file filled with hero and heroine names—-first and last. I will file them away when I hear them. Working at a hospital, I’ve come across some pretty interesting ones—-and since it’s so busy there are lots to choose from. As a matter of fact, I came up with Judson’s name when I worked in the ER. We had an elderly patient come in with that first name and I instantly loved it and knew that was the name of my hero.

If there isn’t a name in my “magic” file...I surf the web and baby name sites. That’s always fun.

What would your main character say about you?

That there’s a little bit of me or someone I know in every one of my characters.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I go in spurts with reading. I am always drawn to romance and true crime. I know, odd mixture. Right now I’m in a true crime reading mode and am reading one of my favorite true crime authors, Ann Rule. The book is titled In the Still of the Night, and it’s a hardcover. Her books are always great reads.

My true crime fascination might last me a couple of months, then I shift back to romance, then back to true crime. It’s never ending. LOL.

Might I suggest a cozy mystery based on a true crime, with a little romance, titled Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction? (cheesy grin)

How do you handle criticism of your work?

If you are talking reviews, I believe they are all based on opinion and not everyone is going to like your work. Sure, criticism hurts, but it is opinion.

Now if you are talking criticism by a critique partner, I take that as something to learn by. I might not always agree with their opinion, but I do try and look it with an open mind. Sometimes as an author we are so close to a story we might miss something that our critique partner spots right away...so we should read and consider each of their comments and/or suggestions carefully.


Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?

My main routine is to be somewhere quiet and comfortable. I also find I’m more productive in the morning. My mind is fresh and free of clutter.

Tell us one weird thing, one nice thing, and one fact about where you live.

We live in a small town and the one weird thing that comes to mind is when we moved here years ago and were just settling into our home. We had a knock on the door and when I answered it the guy wanted to know if we’d seen any llamas walking through our yard. I am sure I must’ve given him an odd look, but come to find out there was a llama farm down the road from us and a few busted out and were taking a field trip.

A nice thing about where I live is that it’s quiet and you see a lot of wild life. I love living rural.

One fact about where we live is that it’s a small, close knit community.

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?

There are so many places I want to go...but the place I would visit first if money was no object would be the Hawaiian Islands. All of them...and I’d get to stay a month on each one.

I might as well dream big, right?

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a contemporary romance that I hope to send to Entangled Publishing on proposal. So keep your fingers crossed for me.

They're crossed! Come back when it's published--we'd love to hear about it. And thanks for stopping in today.

Excerpt from Some Like It In Handcuffs:

“This isn’t how I wanted it between us.” Judson grabbed the neckline of her sweater, dragging her body to meet his with a solid thump. Sunny licked her lips in answer to the question in his eyes. He lowered his head to move his mouth over hers.

Sunny closed her eyes, a small whimper escaping her lips. She didn’t want it like this either, but that wasn’t possible. Unable to resist her attraction she accepted it wasn’t an affair, or a long distance romance she craved, but for him to love her back. It was all or nothing for her. Her heart sank. She accepted this as their goodbye kiss.

With no thought to what was happening upstairs, Sunny rose up on her toes demanding more. Her lips pulsated against Judson’s. When his hand trembled against her cheek in a soft caress she lost touch with reality.

“Judson.” Sunny’s weakened body drifted farther into Judson’s as his fingers glided down her arms, pulling them to her sides where their fingers intertwined. He forced them behind her before his tongue thrust into her mouth.

Their bodies molded together, she heard her own heartbeat and his as well when he curved his fingers around her rear and squeezed.

That’s when the click of the handcuffs against her wrist connected her to the handle of the locked cupboard.

“What the hell...Judson?” She looked up at him, her knees shook, her body still inflamed with fever.

“Like I was saying, you wait here and I’ll go upstairs to check it out. Backup’s already been called, so you’re safe until your brothers arrive.” Judson winked before walking toward the steps to the third level. Once he reached them he turned toward her and smiled. “Gotcha,” he whispered with his notorious grin.

About the author:

Christine Warner is living her dream in rural Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends.

Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmetic. A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities. She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.

A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.


Find the book:
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Wild Rose Press