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Lynsay Sands-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

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Lynsay Sands-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

Lynsay Sands

Immortal Ever After is the 18th storyline in Lynsay Sands Argeneau Series. With her latest release we would like to introduce you to the author:

From her website: Click HERE for more information.

I love books. Reading books takes me away to other worlds and on grand adventures I just couldn’t have otherwise. Writing them does the same, but also lets me play God for a bit. I know that sounds weird, but when writing my stories, I decide who lives and dies, who succeeds or fails and so on. I can give the good guys the happy endings they deserve and be sure the bad guys lose and get their comeuppance. Unfortunately, that’s something that doesn’t always happen in real life.

Perhaps that’s why writers write. Maybe we writers are all secret control freaks, wanting to control the world. Or maybe we’re just dreamers lucky enough to be able to make a living at dreaming. Either way I love writing and would do it whether I was paid for it or not. But I’m very very grateful to be able to share these stories with you. I hope they help you escape your troubles and trials if only for a little bit, and I hope they make you smile…You can be certain I’m often chuckling myself silly while writing them. Enjoy!

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TRC: Hi Lynsay and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of Immortal Ever After

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Lynsay: Uhm… I was born in a small town in Southern Ontario where there were only 12,000 people, and spent a good part of every year on an island in the middle of the Great Lakes which had perhaps 500 people. I mention the island because I really think that growing up there is what turned me into a writer. Whatever inborn urge, skill, or desire I had to write was definitely fostered and nurtured in that environment. There was no TV on this island, at least we never had one there, and reading was my entertainment of choice. I read on the beach, on the cliff, on the boat, in a lawn chair, anywhere I could find a comfy spot. I got lots of fresh air with my romance. I also ruined several books along the way. Fortunately, my grandmother was a demon romance reader and always had a large supply to pilfer from while I waited for my soggy books to sun-dry. However, when I eventually did run out of books to read, I started writing…on the beach, on the cliff on the boat…LOL

TRC: Nano-technology is part of the premise of your best-selling ARGENEAU series. How did you come up with the idea and how much research was involved?

Lynsay: I stumbled upon a great idea for a book about a vampire but I just couldn’t bring myself to write a romance where the main characters were dead. I needed some sort of scientific explanation for my vampires’ existence so I hit the library and did research there as well as on the net in the latest scientific developments and nanos seemed to be the best explanation. I’m not sure how much research was involved. It’s been a while, but I do recall someone commenting that I should take a cot and move into the library. LOL.

immortal ever afterTRC: Immortal Ever After (March 2013) is the latest release in your ARGENEAU series. Would you please tell us about the premise of this storyline?

Lynsay: It’s about Anders. Many of you might recognize his name, as he is a rogue hunter that has appeared in a few books in the series, the most memorable of which would have been The Renegade Hunter. In Immortal Ever After he meets Valerie, a survivor who has escaped a rogue serial killer vampire only to land in Anders’ arms. He quickly discovers she could be the life mate he’s waited over 600 years for. The only question is… When Anders finally explains things to her, will Valerie be able to accept Anders for who he really is, or will she only see him as a bloodthirsty vampire like the monster she escaped.

Argeneau SeriesTRC: How many books do you have planned for the ARGENEAU series?

Lynsay: LOL… there was never a plan. The reason the series is still going is because to date I’m still coming up with new story ideas and readers are still enjoying the series. If either one of these factors change then the series would come to a halt.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the ARGENEAU series, which actors or models would best represent the main characters?

Lynsay: I get this question a lot and honestly I don’t know. I haven’t modeled my characters after any actors or actresses. Their character comes from an amalgamation of people I know; never just one, and they don’t look like anyone I know. They are unique so I wouldn’t be able to pick actors, at least none I can think of off-hand. Sorry!

TRC: The premise of the ARGENEAU series is set in and around the Toronto Ontario Canada area. What were the factors behind your decision to set the series in Canada’s largest city?

Lynsay: The main reason I put the series in Toronto is because I know the city. I won’t write about what I don’t know so rest assured if someplace is in one of my books as more than a pass through, then I’ve been there!

TRC: What five (5) things would you like to accomplish in the next 10 years?

Lynsay: Jeez, I don’t think I have that much I’d like to accomplish… LOL.
Well I’d like to get my renos done on my house because right now I feel really cluttered and disorganized with the way things are at the moment.
I’d like to go on a proper vacation of at least two weeks, as I haven’t had one of those in a very long time.
I’d like to settle into more of a routine with writing so it’s more regular hours like a nine to five thing.
I’d like to go to the biggest amusement park in the world. I love rides.
Other than that I’d like to be queen for at least a day or two. Ok, maybe three. After you’ve been queen then what more could you really accomplish after that? LOL

TRC: What challenges or difficulties have you faced in your writing career?

Lynsay: My first challenge was getting published which luckily I overcame.

I think every writer has bouts of writer’s block. Although frustrating you have to figure out where the block is coming from so you can get around it. Trying to write through the writer’s block just does not work. It’s like hurtling toward a car accident. You have to find a way around it or you will end up in a big pileup in the middle of your story.

TRC: BONUS QUESTION: Who or what is responsible for the selection of the book TITLES and COVERS for authors and their individual series?

Lynsay: My publisher is responsible for the covers although they do ask my opinion so if there’s a real problem with it then they will normally adjust it.
My publisher is the one that comes up with most of the titles, but I have come up with a couple myself that they liked.

TRC: Thank you Lynsay for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best.

Lynsay: Thank you for having me! I appreciate your thinking of me for an interview. Take care!

*****************

IMMORTAL EVER AFTER
by Lynsay Sands
Released February 26, 2013

immortal ever after

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository /

A kiss doesn’t mean eternity . . .

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until she is kidnapped by a fanged psychopath! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate!

. . . Or does it?

Anders felt a connection to Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for!

 

Giveaway-Blue:Black

Lynsay is offering a signed paper copy of IMMORTAL EVER AFTER for  giveaway.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway is open to USA /CANADA  and Europe only

4. Giveaway runs from March 11- March 14, 2013

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An Interview with Mindee Arnett

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An Interview with Mindee Arnett

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mindeeThe Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Mindee Arnett our guest today. She is here today to discuss her new book, The Nightmare Affair, (our review below this post), which was just  released this past Tuesday.

Here is a snippet about Mindee:
Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.

Now let us meet Mindee.

Hi Mindee.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Mindee: Thanks so much for having me. I’m happy to participate.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Mindee: Sure. I’m a Whedonite, Whovian, and all around fangirl, although I’ve never done any real cosplay, I’m ashamed to say. I’m also a horse nut and animal lover.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Mindee: I’ve always been interested in storytelling, for sure. As a child, I would make up very elaborate and plot-driven stories for my toys. My She-ra dolls would battle monstrous villains and fall in love with He-man or Bow. My Breyer Horses were often captured by evil horse wranglers who would tie them up, only to have the other horses come rescue them. Very epic stuff here, I’m telling you.

My interest in writing grew naturally out of my love of reading. My mother is a voracious reader and so is my sister, and they were a huge influence on me as a young reader.

But the idea of writing my own stories down didn’t occur to me until the 6th grade when my teacher assigned us a weekly story assignment. She would give us writing prompts and then turn us loose. This was an eye-opener for me. A real life changer. I owe her a huge debt.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Mindee: I’m not very particular about time or place. With my busy life style—full time (non-writing) career, kids, husband, animals—I have to be able to write anywhere and anytime I have available. The only process I follow is that I have to do a “warm-up” before starting. I always read/review the previous day’s writing and make any edits that occur to me. This warm-up gets me in writer mode and helps me remember the tone and voice that I’m going for in a particular scene. Unfortunately, this means that starting a brand new story is always the hardest for me. It takes me forever because I have to do it cold, but I get there eventually.

TRC: Is The Nightmare Affair your first novel? Can you please describe your reactions when you found out your book was going to be published?

Mindee: The Nightmare Affair is actually my fourth completed novel. And by completed, I mean beginning-middle-end. My previous novels were complete in this sense, but none of them went through the same rigorous editing/revising that Nightmare did.

My reaction when I first found out was complete and utter joy and complete and utter disbelief. To this day, I’m still experiencing that. I’m so happy it’s happening, but it all seems unbelievable. Totally surreal.

TRC: The Nightmare Affair is the first book in your The Arkwell Academy Series.  Can you please tell us how you come up with the idea of this series?

Mindee: The series evolved naturally through the events of the first book, but I can’t talk about that much for fear of spoilers. I will say that I wanted to write a mystery/detective series set in a fantasy world. A lot of The Nightmare Affair was inspired by my love of Veronica Mars. Dusty is a little like a fantasy version of that character, only she’s way more of a wannabe than Veronica.

the nightmare affair
TRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind The Nightmare Affair?

Mindee: 16-year-old Dusty Everhart is a Nightmare who must identify a murderer at her magical high school by following clues in her crush’s dreams.

Links to order The Nightmare Affair: 
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository/ Kobo

 

 

TRC: The Arkwell Academy is YA Contemporary Fantasy. What exactly is Contemporary Fantasy?

Mindee: I consider a contemporary fantasy to be one set in the modern world but which takes place primarily within a separate fantasy world. So it’s a world within a world scenario. Like Harry Potter, for instance. Harry is set in the modern world, but the wizarding world is isolated from it. The modern world only serves as a surrounding frame. This is also true of The Nightmare Affair. The modern world surrounds Dusty’s world and it has an influence on it, but Arkwell is complete fantasy. The only actual human in the story is Eli. The rest are all magical creatures.

TRC: You also have another YA series due in 2014, Avalon (formerly Finding Eden) is the first book in this Sci-Fi Thriller series.  Can you please tell us the premise of this series?

Mindee: Avalon is about a teen mercenary, Jeth Seagrave, who is leader of a group of talented thieves, and who find his life on the line when he takes on a high risk job for his crime lord employer in order to earn a way out of the life for him and his sister. It was pitched as Firefly meets White Cat.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Mindee: I recently turned in the first draft of book two of The Arkwell Academy series as well as edits for Avalon. I’m now working on an Avalon prequel right now and hope to start book two in that series soon.

TRC: What books, authors or people in your life have influenced your writing?

Mindee: I’m a huge fan of both Stephen King and J.K. Rowling. But one of the authors who influenced me most is Jennifer Roberson. I adore her Cheysuli Chronicles series as well as her Sword Dancer series.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Mindee: Again, thanks for having me! (And I mean that in a totally non-ghoulish kind of way)


LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Sushi and Mexican. Either one and I’m happy.

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate cake.

Favorite Author: Stephen King

Favorite Novel: Harry Potter (What? It’s really just one looooong novel, right???)

Favorite Movie: Too many to mention. I love everything from Lord of the Rings and Star Wars (original only) to Wonder Boys, Pride and Prejudice, and The Avengers.

Favorite TV Show: Firefly, followed closely by Veronica Mars, Doctor Who, and the BBC Sherlock. I also love Justified, Supernatural, and Castle.

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark all the way!

Thank you Mindee, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with The Nightmare Affair.

If you would like to learn more about Mindee, you can find her at the following links:
Website: http://www.mindeearnett.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

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Catching Up with Anne Bishop

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Catching Up With Anne Bishop

 

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Anne Bishop photo

 


The Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome back the wonderful Anne Bishop.

Anne has her new release, Written in Red being released tomorrow.  This is the first book in her new series, The Others.

Let’s talk to Anne.

 

 

 

Hi, Anne.  Thank you for taking the time to visit us at The Reading Cafe, to discuss your new release “Written in Red”, as well as to give us an update as to what else you may be working on.

TRC: You have just released the 1st book in your new fantasy series, The Others; can you give us a description of the premise of this series?  Also, how did you come up with the idea of the series?

Anne: The Others series is urban dark fantasy set on a re-imagined Earth where the supernatural creatures—the shape-shifters, vampires, etc.—are the predominant predators throughout the world and control most of the world. Then there are the humans who have been granted land for cities but are always being watched for any potential wrongdoing.

The idea for the series evolved over several years. Whenever I read urban fantasy, I thought it would be fun to write a story about werewolves and/or vampires. But my early, flittery story thoughts were either similar to what was being written or didn’t hold my interest for more than a few days. And let’s face it, since writing a novel is a long investment of time, you want a story and characters that will continue to intrigue you for all the months that go into creating the story. So I held on to the thought that it would be fun to write about the furred and fanged and worked on the stories that called to me.

Then I began seeing things that looked interesting. In 2007, I was talking with some other women about teenagers who cut themselves and wrote down an idea of someone who might have visions of some future event every time she cut herself. In 2009, I saw a market square that I thought would be the kind of thing the Others would want in their Courtyard. I didn’t know who the Others were or what a Courtyard was, but I knew they would like boutique shops around an open space. This is how my brain builds a story: it finds interesting bits of shiny and ponders them for a while, putting them together in various formations until something clicks.

What clicked was the idea that the Others weren’t the hidden races; they were the dominant predators who ruled everything in the world except for the specific places where humankind had evolved. What clicked was the idea of girls who saw visions and prophecies every time their skin was cut. What clicked was the idea of humans being a minority species who are dependent on the tolerance of the Others for their survival. Once those ideas came together, the world and the characters began to emerge, and I found myself intrigued by the possibilities.

TRC: How many books are you planning for this series?

Anne:  I just turned in the second book in the series, so there are definitely two. After that, it depends on the characters and what they tell me.

TRC: What have been some of the challenges or difficulties with research etc, as it pertains to The Others series?

Anne:  Being geographically challenged, my biggest challenge in developing the city of Lakeside was creating a street map of the part of the city I needed for the story. The Courtyard, on the other hand, was fun to build. For a couple of months, half of my living room was an interactive map. I laid out the shape with masking tape on the rug, and had a few matchbox cars to drive around the roads. That became the template for the map that’s in the book. As for the rest of it? Since Namid is a re-imagined Earth, I didn’t have to worry about historical accuracy because the world’s history would be different. Cities are contemporary but not up-to-the-minute with technology, so I could pick and choose what humans would have. Basically I did the same kind of research I always do: I imagined what the world might be like and then looked up information as different bits captured my interest.

Written in RedTRC: Written in Red (released today, March 5th) is the first booking this series.  Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Anne:  Meg Corbyn is a blood prophet—a girl who sees visions of the future when her skin is cut. After running away from the man who owns her, she ends up in the Lakeside Courtyard, the area of the city that belongs the Others who are tasked with the assignment of keeping watch on the humans. Simon Wolfgard, the leader of the Courtyard, hires Meg to be their Human Liaison. When the police start looking for a thief who looks like Meg, Simon has to decide if she’s worth a fight that could wipe out a city.

Links to order Written in Red: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

TRC: Would you like to share with us what you are currently working on?

Anne:  By the time this interview goes up on the Reading Café, I’ll have turned in the second book about the Others and will be pondering what to write next unless the characters have already decided that for me. They tend to do that.

TRC: Do you still plan on revisiting some of your other series?

Anne:  I check in with my characters on a regular basis to see what story ideas might be simmering. So it’s possible that I’ll revisit some of the other worlds, but I won’t know what or when until a story gains enough substance and rises to the surface.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Anne: Folks can check my website at www.annebishop.com for updates on conventions or news about the latest books.

Thank you, Anne for giving us an update on Written in Red, as well as what we can look forward to in the future.   It was a pleasure having you visit us again.

Anne:  Thanks for inviting me.

If you would like to learn more about Anne, you can visit her at the following links:

Website:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

Giveaway-redandblack_zps8ff4dc4b

Anne is offering the Australian edition of Written in Red to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway open to USA only.

4. Giveaway runs from March 5 – 8, 2013

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An Interview with Zoe Forward

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An Interview with Zoe Forward

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Zoe Forward

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Zoe Forward as our guest today.

She is here today to discuss her new book, Dawn of a Dark Knight, just recently released, as well as to tell us a little bit about herself.

Let’s meet Zoe.

 

 

Hi Zoe.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Zoe: Thank you for inviting me to visit!  I’m a veterinarian with a passion for writing fiction, and a special love for archaeology, especially anything Egyptian.  Although I’ve gone on field expeditions into rain forests, I’ve never had a chance to visit a hot sandy country and see a real archaeological dig site. It’s a goal. And I’m good at goals.

TRC: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Zoe: I had a lot of characters and stories bouncing around in my head for years.  About five years ago I took a leap of faith and penned some of those characters into words.  Now that the floodgate has been opened, there are stories and characters screaming to be heard.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Zoe: How I wish I had the luxury of time to schedule my writing. I’m thrilled to steal a few minutes in a busy day to pen some pages. Most plotting and brainstorming happens on my work commute or walking the dog. Bottom line is that I make it happen.

TRC: On your website, it states that you are veterinarian for small animals, how do you find the time to write and work your full time job?

Zoe: I’m a full-time veterinarian by day, a mom after work and a writer late at night.  My life is about schedules and taking it one day at a time.  Some people wear capes and save worlds at night. I have a laptop and create worlds.  I’d say my way is a bit less life threatening, but equally heroic.

TRC: Dawn of a Dark Knight is your debut novel, can you please describe your reactions when you found out your book was going to be published?

Zoe: What a fantastic moment. Handel’s Hallelujah chorus sang in my mind for about an hour.  All that time and work finally vindicated!

TRC: Is Dawn of a Dark Knight a stand-alone book, or is this part of a series.  How did you come up with the idea of this book?

Zoe: This is the first of a series. The idea really just came to me all at once.  I love the mystery of ancient Egypt, and created this small band of warriors trying to make it in a modern world while obeying rules set down by ancient gods.

dawn of a dark knight

TRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind Dawn of a Dark Knight? 

Zoe: In DAWN OF A DARK KNIGHT Dr. Kira Hardy jeopardizes her brilliant medical career to save Ashor Vlahos, Scimitar Magi commander, after a brutal daemon attack. Their attraction is instant and, for Ashor, forbidden.  As an ancient nemesis resurfaces and targets Kira, they face a crucial decision—follow the gods’ rules or follow their hearts.

Link to Order Dawn of a Dark Knight: Amazon

 

TRC: How do you keep your writing/story different from others in the genre?

Zoe: I created a new hero.  As a passionate reader of paranormal romance I’ve read my fair share of vampires, weres, fae, shape shifters and demons. And loved them all.  But I decided to pen something new. In DAWN OF A DARK NIGHT the Scimitar Magi are ten pseudo-immortals that live within our world, but struggle to remain incognito. The guys are not exactly thrilled to discover they vowed their eternal soul eons ago to serve the Egyptian gods, and now must execute daemons for the rest of their life.  With no past-life memory, they’ve got no clue how to wield the powers gifted to them by the gods.  Man to super warrior in five minutes with no instruction manual.  So it takes a long time for each Scimitar to work it out. At first losing control is the norm. Incidents happen like blowing up a gas station, which is misinterpreted as a terrorist act.

And then there’s the women. The Scimitars each get matched to one woman for all-time, and she is also reincarnated.  But when and if this woman shows up is entirely up to the gods, who love to muck things up for fun.

TRC: Dawn of a Dark Knight is Paranormal Romance.  Are you interested in writing any other genre?

Zoe: I love writing paranormals – it just fits me so well. However, the future is unchartered territory. I love Sci-Fi and fantasy.  And, someday, there may be a story to tell in those genres.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Zoe: I’m working hard on the sequel to DAWN OF A DARK KNIGHT, which is deliciously exciting.  A magus cursed by a sorcerer thousands of years ago must try to reverse the spell before the woman he loves is forced to kill him as she does within days of meeting in every lifetime.

TRC: Tell us about your favorite character(s) in your new book.

Zoe: I just love the main characters in DAWN OF A DARK KNIGHT.  The heroine, Kira…who wouldn’t want to be her? She’s an adrenaline junkie good at handling weapons with a cousin that drags her on black market art deals.  And she’s got a magical ability to heal by touch, which propels her towards a mind-blowing relationship with the world’s hottest, yet tormented hero.

And then there’s the raw, tormented Ashor. He struggles to obey the rules laid down by the gods he works for, but stresses when he can’t.  He desperately desires the woman destined to be the sacred healer for the Scimitar magi (Kira), but the gods’ rules dictate he cannot be involved with her. On top of this he keeps blacking out and going on hunts to take out the guys that do most of the daemon summoning, the Hashishins.  Killing these guys, even though they are clearly hostiles, violates the no-killing-humans-unless-attacked rule.

TRC: What books, authors or people in your life have influenced your writing?

Zoe: I love to read, but I don’t get a lot of time to do so anymore.  Sometimes, I’ll have time to pick up a new book, but if I’m awake with free time, I want to be writing. I love paranormal romance, but also action contemporary fiction.  Some favorite authors that come to mind are Linda Howard, J.R. Ward, Heather Graham, and Sandra Brown.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Zoe: Thank you for the interview! This has been such a blast. Readers can visit me at http://www.zoeforward.com or email me at zoe@zoeforward.com.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: baked potato with toppings

Favorite Dessert: baklava

Favorite Author: Too many to name one

Favorite Novel: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Favorite Movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones

Last Movie that you saw: The Bourne Legacy

Thank you Zoe, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you The best of luck with Dawn of a Dark Knight. 

If you want to learn more about Zoe, you can visit her at the following links:

Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

Giveaway-Blue:Black

Zoe is offering one winner a choice of an e-book copy or paper copy of Dawn of a Dark Knight.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of our social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comments as Twitter etc does not allow for email information.

3. The giveaway is open US only for paper, or International for e-copy..

4. The giveaway runs from March 1-4, 2013

 

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An Interview with Kasie West

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An Interview with Kasie West

kasie west

 

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Kasie West as our guest today.

She is here today to discuss her new book, Pivot Point, just recently released, as well as to tell us a little bit about herself.

 

 

 

Hi Kasie.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Kasie: I am a stay at home mom of four amazing kids. My oldest is 14 and my youngest 6. Which means I also answer to ‘hey you’ or ‘what’s for dinner’. I eat Jr. Mints by the bucketfuls and love listening to good sappy rock ballads. Of course I love to read and write, probably more than is good for me, so I counteract all that sitting by letting people kick my butt at the gym four days a week.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Kasie: No. I’ve always been a reader but never thought to write until about six years ago when I had an idea for a book and decided to give it a try. That book was not Pivot Point and it was pretty awful. But I liked writing so much that I kept at it and got better with practice.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Kasie: Writing with kids is quite challenging. The amount of times I’m interrupted can mess with my flow a lot. So I try to write when the kids are at school or asleep.

TRC:  Pivot Point is your debut novel. Can you tell how you came up with the idea of this story? How many books do you plan for this series?

Kasie: Pivot Point was inspired by the movie Sliding Doors. But I also love the idea of alternate realities. It was fun to explore that part of the story. And as for now, Pivot Point has a sequel, but I’m playing with the idea of a third,  perhaps with different  main characters but set in the same world…..we’ll see.

pivot piont

TRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind Pivot Point?

Kasie: Pivot Point is about a girl who when faced with a choice has the ability to see both outcomes. That’s the simplest way to describe it, but of course, there is more. Boys and friendship, choices and heartache, murder mystery and past injuries.

 

 

 

Links to order Pivot Point: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

TRC: You have another Contempory YA novel coming in the fall of 2013, would you please tell us a little about this?

Kasie: Ah, yes. I love contemporary. This is the first one I have coming out and I adore it. Caymen works in her mom’s porcelain doll shop where she meets Xander, who is coming in to pick up a doll for his grandmother. He is beyond rich and therefore automatically uninteresting to Caymen. But between his persistence and charm, Caymen finds herself letting go of some long held beliefs and letting herself believe he is different.

Can you tell I haven’t had to explain this story as much as Pivot Point? Ha. I’m very excited about it though.

TRC: Besides the above new novel, what are you currently working on?

Kasie: I just turned in copy edits for the second book to Pivot Point where Caymen’s story continues, but some new characters and abilities are also brought into the mix. And I’m working on edits for my second contemporary which comes out in the summer of 2014. But I also have some new paranormal ideas that are in there very early stages.

TRC: Do you have any thoughts of writing in any other genres?

Kasie: Don’t tell my agent (I already jump all around within the YA genre) but I have a half finished middle grade that I love so much. We’ll see. It’s been half finished for a while because my other projects have been keeping me busy, but it’s my fun side project that I go back to every now and again.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Kasie: First I open a blank word document and start at the cursor for ten minutes, then I write one sentence, then I check twitter, then I eat chocolate, then I erase that sentence. Yeah, I have no process. Some weeks I’m super productive and write any spare moment I get. Other weeks, I’m very unmotivated. But I do have one very specific chair in my room that I always write in. It’s big and comfortable and green.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas with family and friends.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

Kasie: I’m lucky to have many writer friends that help me brainstorm: Jenn Johansson (Insomnia), Natalie Whipple (Transparent), Renee Collins (Relic), Candice Kennington, Sara Raasch. Plus my husband is very patient and supportive and humors me while I talk through ideas with him.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Kasie: I just want to thank everyone for all the support they’ve given me. From friends to perfect strangers, I’ve been feeling a lot of love for Pivot Point and that means the world to me. Thank you!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Mexican

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate in most forms

Favorite Author: Gah! That is an unfair question. Too many to name! 🙂

Favorite Novel: Again, impossible to answer. I love so many books.

Favorite Movie: Pitch Perfect

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Milk (Unless it’s mixed with mint—then dark)

Thank you Kasie, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Pivot Point. 

If you would like to learn more about Kasie, you can visit her at the following links:

Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

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An Interview with Lois Gresh

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An Interview with Lois Gresh

pictureThe Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Lois Gresh as our guest today.

Lois is here today to discuss her new book, Nightfall, just recently released, as well as to tell us a little bit about herself.

 

Hi Lois.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Let’s start with some background information. Will you please tell us about              yourself?

Lois: I consider myself to be fairly ordinary, although I do have a vivid imagination. I read constantly – magazines and nonfiction books of all kinds, as well as a wide variety of novels. I’m crazy about art, so I enjoy visiting galleries whenever I travel to writing conferences. As for music, I listen to everything from metal to the blues to rock n roll to pop to sound tracks to classical: it just depends on my mood. I swim almost every day, and I also like riding my bike. I enjoy nature – forests, oceans, lakes, birds, animals of all kinds, and in particular, beautiful fish.

Professionally, I’m written 27 books and more than 50 short stories. NIGHTFALL is my first erotic paranormal romance novel. I hope readers give it a try and like it. Half of what I’ve written is fiction -- spanning dark fantasy to paranormals of all types to whatever strikes my fancy at a given time -- and the other half is pop culture.

TRC: When did you start writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Lois: When I first learned how to read, I instantly loved books.  I actually remember the   moment. I began writing stories at a very early age and never stopped. As a child, if I
dared to whine that I was bored on rainy Saturdays, my mother would say, “Go read the
dictionary. It’ll give you something to do.” I found that I loved the rhythm of words, and I became very fond of the thesaurus. We weren’t particularly well off – that’s a nice way     of saying we didn’t have much – and so, I spent a lot of time at the library and reading an    ancient (1930s!) set of encyclopedias that my mother kept in the hallway outside my          bedroom. At 9, I wrote a 55-page science fiction story; at 12, a 220-page “report” about      ancient Egypt; at 16, a 250-page book about poverty; at 22, a 500-page novel; at 23, a        400-page novel; and during college classes, I wrote horror stories featuring my             professors.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information between friends and family. With whom do you bounce your ideas?

Lois: I must be the rare case of writer who prefers to keep my ideas buckled down tightly until I’ve finished a story. This way, family and friends who read my final drafts don’t know anything about the stories. Their reactions are along the lines of typical readers’ reactions.

That said, I’ve spouted a lot of ideas at my longtime agent, Lori Perkins. Whenever I’m around Lori, I spew story ideas. She’s now the publisher of Riverdale Avenue Books (RAB), which just opened in late December, 2012. NIGHTFALL is one of the first books from RAB, and as a newcomer to the erotic romance scene, all I hope is that readers will give it a try.

nightfall-largeTRC: Will you please tell us about the premise of Nightfall, and how did you come up with the idea for this story.

Lois: I like to say that NIGHTFALL is Paranormal Romance Gone Wild. Not only do we have a liberal dose of Forbidden Love — in this case, between an ancient voodoo priestess and a sexy vampire — but I also think we have some new, very unusual twists.  These twists are what made the book fun for me to write, and I would love to immerse myself in this world again and again (and again, etc.) because I really enjoy spinning these tales. When you read NIGHTFALL, you’ll probably realize right away that I was enjoying myself while writing it.

For one thing, writing about a voodoo priestess is a tremendous blast, not to mention writing about her best friend, Skipp the poetic ghost, her anorexic always-drunk girlfriend, the sexy vampire Vadim and his incredibly odd father, and the gargoyle familiar who helps Alex (the voodoo heroine) in all of her exploits. Oh, and lest I forget, the lovely Venus de Milo is also in NIGHTFALL. This is why I say it’s Paranormal Romance Gone Wild.

The story takes place in an ordinary town that could be most anywhere. It’s bleak and quiet there, tucked away in the countryside. But little do people know that also living in this quiet corner of the world are paranormals who seek solitude and isolation. When several local old folks die in mysterious ways, all friends of Alex’ Uncle Frenchie, she’s determined to help save the lives of other elderly citizens in town. Along the way, she falls in love with sexy Vadim, who falls in love with her. Problem is, they come from clans that have been feuding for centuries. Their love is forbidden. Not just because their clans will object, but also because their actual blood cannot be allowed to fuse in any way. It could spell death and destruction. But they love each other, and so, they must find a way to overcome this problem and be together. Yes, you’ve guessed it. I love these characters. : )

Links to order Nightfall: Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Kobo

TRC: Nightfall is paranormal romance, what made you decide to write in that genre?

Lois:  I’ve written about everything from vampires to ghosts to demons to angels. I think that paranormal stories — whether dark or romantic or both at the same time — are interesting for many of the same reasons.

The forms of fantasy — its tropes and motifs, its structures and magic systems — overlap between, say, paranormal fantasy and dark fantasy, paranormal fantasy and urban fantasy, and so forth. The boundaries of fantasy are blurred.

One characteristic of fantasy, in general, is that it involves magical creatures, objects, and/or events existing in our real world. Stories that fuse magic and mythology with reality touch us deeply on the inside and urge us to find order and meaning in our world. Whether dark fantasy or romantic paranormal fantasy, this type of story incorporates villains, mentors, adventures, obstacles, morals, ethics, and the search for truth and identity.

With romance, I like the idea that love conquers all, that things end up okay at the end and people are happy.

TRC: You have written other genres, such as thriller, dark fantasy/scifi, and            children’s book.  Do you have a favorite genre, and if so, why?

Lois: My favorite genre is the one that I’m working on at any given time. I do write in a   lot of different genres, as you say, thrillers, dark fantasies, science fiction, and young         adult and children’ books. I love them all, that’s just the truth of it. The story and the    characters drive me, not the genre. I do tend to gravitate toward writing stories that      include fantasy and thriller elements, though I’ve been known to write a lot of very             strange science fiction stories, too. : )

With NIGHTFALL, I take my love for fantasy and paranormals and merge it with the idea that love conquers all and people can indeed end up happy no matter what obstacles        they face.

Given that I’m currently finishing THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS COMPANION, an unofficial guide to the first seven novels by Cassandra Clare, I’ve been immersed in paranormal romance and urban fantasy for quite some time now. I’ve learned a lot from her books, as well from a lot of other paranormal romances I’ve been reading over the years. I study books as I read them. I find myself drawn to paranormal romances in urban fantasy settings.

TRC: You also have two companion books (The Hunger Games, and The Mortal     Instruments. How did you come up with the idea of writing these companion books?

Lois:  In short, I was gripped by Suzanne Collins’ THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy and felt that the books were filled with important messages. For example, people should focus on what matters (kindness, peace, nurturing their children, health, food for all) than on things such as what they look like and how mean they can be to other people. Is it more important to get ahead – literally to survive in THE HUNGER GAMES — by stabbing other people in the back, or does it make more sense to get ahead by using your skills and intelligence and trying to help the people around you?

As for THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS COMPANION, I love this series of novels by Cassandra Clare. Talk about paranormal romance and fantasy – wow! I’ve been studying these books because they’re incredibly action-packed and spiced with romance and good characterization.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Lois:  As of this very moment on 010813, I’m finishing the draft of THE MORTAL       INSTRUMENTS COMPANION. Then I’ll write a few stories that are due within the                 next month. And then, maybe I’ll work on another novel.

TRC: Where do you like to do your writing?   In a quiet room…by yourself?  Do you have specific times that you like to write?

Lois: I write as soon as I get up in the morning. I head into my cubbyhole space wearing my pajamas and switch on the computer. Then I make two cups of espresso with sugar and bring them into my cubbyhole. I work until I can’t do it anymore, then I knock off for the day and try to get some exercise before tackling household chores and errands -- which as we all know, never ever  end -- and if that isn’t clear enough, what can I say about chores and errands? THEY NEVER NEVER NEVER END!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Lois: Again, as a newcomer to the erotic paranormal romance scene, all I hope is that    readers give NIGHTFALL a try.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: probably espresso with sugar

Least Favorite Food - I hate anchovies, so we’ll go with that!

Favorite Place to Read - in bed

Favorite Movie: MISERY. Stephen King.

Milk or Dark Chocolate: milk chocolate

Favorite Color -  the color of the ocean

Do you have a favorite fictional character (not your own):
Dracula. Loved Anne Rice’s Lestat.

Thank you, Lois for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Nightfall.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.

If you would like to learn more about Lois, you can visit her at the following links:

Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

Giveaway-mauve

Lois has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win an e-copy of her new book, Nightfall.
1.  Please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open Internationally.

4.  Contest runs from February 13th – February 16th.

 

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An Interview with Tracy Wolff

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An Interview with Tracy Wolff

Tracy_blueThe Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Tracy Wolff as our guest today.

Tracy is here today to answer our questions, as well as discuss her newest releases. Soulbound, a wonderful new series, written under the pen name of Tessa Adams, was released February 5th.  Doomed, written under the pen name of Tracy Deebs, was released in January. 

Let’s meet Tracy.

 

TRC: Hi Tracy.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Tracy: Thanks so much for having me. I really appreciate it 🙂

TRC: Would you please tell us about yourself?

Tracy: Sure.  I’m an English professor, mom of three crazy, rambunctious boys and wife of my very own Alpha-male bad boy.  I’m crazy about reading, love to dance and spend waaaaay too much money on make-up.  I also play a mean Wii Sports, LOL.

TRC: When and how did you become interested in writing?  Have you always liked to write?

Tracy: Actually, I have.  I usually say that I’ve been writing since I first understood that letters made words and that’s pretty much the truth.  I remember the first story I wrote on my own was in second grade.  It was ten pages long and written in aqua marker while my parents were in the bank getting a car loan, LOL.  It was about a princess, a rainbow and—of course—a prince.  Happily ever after was my thing even back then.

I always knew I wanted to do this when I grew up, so I got a Bachelor’s degree in English, then followed it up with an M.A. and  Ph.D in American lit and an MFA in fiction writing. So yes, reading and writing has always been in my blood.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you have a favorite spot or time you like to write?

Tracy: I can write anywhere, which is a good thing since I have three loud boys who are always thinking up some kind of trouble to get into.  But I do prefer to write in the morning.  I’ll start as early as 4 a.m. then write until I have to get the boys to school, come home and write until I have to leave for class, then try to do a little more in the afternoon after homework is done.  The only time I really don’t like to write is at night—my brain doesn’t function very well on the writing front after ten or eleven p.m.  That’s when I try to answer email or write blogs, etc.

TRC: What was your first book published, and how did you feel when you saw your book on the shelves?

Tracy: My first book was called A Christmas Wedding by Tracy Wolff.  It was a Harlequin Superromance and I can not actually describe how I felt the first time I saw it on the shelves.  I’m pretty sure I cried.  I know I carried pictures of it around in my phone for months.

TRC: You write as Tracy Wolff, and under a few pen names: Tessa Adams, Tracy Deebs, and Ivy Adams. Do you find it difficult switching your writing hats?

Tracy: It’s not hard, per se, but it’s difficult sometimes to go from one book directly into another.  For example, Tessa Adams writes really dark paranormal romance and urban fantasy and trying to switch from that to my light Ivy Adams contemporary romance takes a writing adjustment, especially in voice content.  I’m naturally a dark writer, as evinced by most of my books, so when I try to do light and flirty it’s a lot more work.

TRC: Along the same line, is it hard to write and switch to different genres? Do you have a preference?
Tracy Wolff – Super Romance & Erotic Romance/Suspense
Tracy Deebs/Ivy Adams – Young Adult
Tessa Adams – Paranormal Romance

Tracy: Honestly, my favorite are the paranormal of all types.  Whether it’s witch urban fantasy and dragon paranormal romance as Tessa Adams or mermaids and sci-fi as Tracy Deebs, I really enjoy the challenge of world-building and dealing with fantastical creatures and situations.

doomedTRC: In January, as Tracy Deebs, you released Doomed a YA novel.  Can you please tell us about this book?  Is this part of a series, if so how many books are planned?

Tracy: Yay!  Thanks for asking—I love to talk about Doomed.  Doomed is a modern-day retelling of the Pandora myth, except instead of opening a box, she opens an attachment and hearkens technological Armageddon.  There’s an MMO, a real-life scavenger hunt, a multi-state manhunt for my three main characters, a countdown to nuclear annihilation and a sexy little romance all wrapped up into one explosive package.

Doomed is actually the hardest book I’ve ever had to write and it’s also one I am incredibly proud of.  At the moment, I have three books planned for the Pandora trilogy and am working on the second one right now.

soulboundTRC: Soulbound is your newest release this month, as Tessa Adams.  It is the first book in your Lone Star Witch series.  Please tell us the premise of the series, and a brief description of Soulbound?

Tracy: Soulbound is the story of witch Xandra Morgan, the daughter of one of the most powerful Heka covens in the world (Heka is Egyptian magic and is considered by experts to be the oldest magical force on earth).  She was born with the promise of great power, but through the years that power never developed. She’s totally latent, and while she’s okay with this state of affairs, her mother certainly isn’t and tries everything she can to awaken Xandra’s magic.  But it’s not that Xandra is latent, it’s that she’s soulbound to a very dark, very powerful warlock and once Declan comes into the picture, her powers wake up with a vengeance.  The only problem—her powers are awful.  She sees dead people.  Not ghosts, but actual bodies of people who have died violently.  She has a compulsion to find these bodies and when she does, she relives much of their suffering.

Soulbound follows Xandra as she comes into her powers, falls in love with Declan despite a lot of warning signs to the contrary and also strives to find a serial killer who is murdering women who look a lot like Xandra and marking them with the symbol she was given by the goddess Isis at her birth.  It’s got a smoking hot hero, a tempestuous romance, and a zany cast of supporting characters who will move from book to book with her.  I’m about to get to work on Deathbound, the second book in the series, which centers around Declan and Xandra on the trail of a murderer who is killing members of the Witch, Wizard and Warlock council.

TRC: Besides the above new novels, do you want to tell us about any other new releases you have planned in 2013?  What are you currently working on?

Tracy: Doomed and Soulbound are my winter 2013 releases.  They will be followed in June by Tempest Revealed, the final book in my dark mermaid paranormal trilogy and in November by Deathbound, the second book in the Xandra Morgan series.

I’m also currently working on a new adult series about snowboarders which will be out in about a year, a series for Entangled’s Brazen line that centers around a rock band and will be out later this year, and a duet for Harlequin that doesn’t have a publication date.  Oh, and a trilogy of really fun, flirty, zany contemporary single title romances that a good friend and I are writing together.  The first one is called Lyric and Lingerie.  Oh, and I’m also working on Doomed 2 (which is currently titleless) and a new YA series as well.

TRC: Who is your favorite Female Character in your books?

Tracy: Oooh, this is hard, especially since so many of my books are series and I have ongoing heroines that I see from book to book.  I really like Xandra from Soulbound—she’s kickass but has a sense of humor about her that I really enjoy.  And Tempest, from my mermaid trilogy is pretty awesome in my opinion.

TRC: Who is your favorite Male Character in your books?

Tracy: Honestly, I don’t know.  I’m totally in love with Declan Chumomisto from Soulbound (like seriously, in LOVE with him).  I’m also crazy about Theo from Doomed (he’s my modern day representation of Prometheus as part of the Pandora myth) and Z in Shredding the Edge, the new adult romance I’m in the middle of writing.  They’re all badasses, which is something I have a real weakness for.  Oh, and there’s also Quinn, from Hidden Embers, the second book in my dragon series.  He’s dark and dangerous and sexy as hell too.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Tracy: Just to say thanks so much for having me.  I really appreciate it.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Favorite Dessert: Dulce de Leche ice cream

Favorite Book: Oh, no.  That’s an awful question. There are so many.  Okay, I can do this. Literary: Catcher in the Rye.  Romance: Nalini Singh’s Kiss of Snow (told you I like the badasses)

Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting

Favorite TV Show: Firefly or Friday Night Lights

Last Movie that you saw: The Avengers (with my boys the other night.  I love Iron Man)

Thank you, Tracy for answering our questions. We look forward to continuing to read your books, and to work with you in the future. 

If you would like to learn more about Tracy, you can visit her at the following links:

Tracy Wolff Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:
Tessa Adams Goodreads:
Tessa Adams Website:
Tracy Deebs Website:


Soulbound (#1 – A Lone Star Witch Novel) – by Tessa Adams

soulbound

About the Book: Released February 5, 2013
As the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter—and a member of Ipswitch’s Royal family—Xandra Morgan should be a witch of incredible power. But things don’t always turn out like you expect…

While she hasn’t lived up to her family’s expectations, Xandra has come to terms with her latent magic and made a life for herself in Austin, Texas, running a coffee shop where she makes potions of a non-magical nature. While things aren’t perfect, Xandra is happy—until she runs into powerful warlock Declan Chumomisto.

Xandra hasn’t seen Declan in years, and though she’s still overwhelmed by his power, she doesn’t trust him. And when her own powers awaken one night and lead her to the body of a woman in the woods bearing the symbol of Isis—the same one that has marked Xandra since the day she met Declan—she’s filled with a terrible suspicion, soon confirmed: the woman is connected to him.

Xandra doesn’t want to believe that Declan is capable of murder, but as the body count mounts, and Xandra’s own powers spiral out of control, she’s not sure she can trust her own instincts…

Links to order Soulbound: Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Kobo/  The Book Depository


Doomed ( #1 Pandora Trilogy) by Tracy Deebs

doomed

About the Book: Released January, 2013

Pandora’s just your average teen-glued to her cell phone and laptop, surfing Facebook and e-mailing with her friends-until the day her long-lost father sends her a link to a mysterious site featuring twelve photos of her as a child. Unable to contain her curiosity, Pandora enters the site, where she is prompted to play her favorite virtual-reality game, Zero Day. This unleashes a global computer virus that plunges the whole world into panic: suddenly, there is no Internet. No cell phones. No utilities, traffic lights, hospitals, law enforcement. Pandora teams up with handsome stepbrothers Eli and Theo to enter the virtual world of Zero Day. Simultaneously, she continues to follow the photographs from her childhood in an attempt to beat the game and track down her father-her one key to saving the world as we know it. Part The Matrix, part retelling of the Pandora myth, Doomed has something for gaming fans, dystopian fans, and romance fans alike.

Links to order Doomed: Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  The Book Depository

Giveaway-mauve

Tracy is graciously offering 4 of her books, Soulbound, Doomed, Hidden Embers, Full Exposure, to ONE lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment as Twitter and Facebook etc do not allow for email contact.

3. Giveaway run from February 8th to 11th, 2013

4. Giveaway is open to US only.

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An Interview with K Daniels

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An Interview with K Daniels

k daniels

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome K Daniels our guest today.

She is here today to discuss her new book, A Reason to Run,  just recently released, as well as to tell us a little bit about herself.
Hi Karen.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Karen: Thank you for having me. I live in Houston, Texas, am the mother of three great kids, and in addition to writing novels, I also work for a private investigations firm and freelance as a reporter for our local newspaper.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Karen: No. In fact, I never dreamed writing a novel was within my grasp. I was an avid reader from childhood through childbirth. It was after having kids that ideas for novels started coming to me. I took my first novel writing class at the age of 30.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing?

Karen: Getting started each and every day. Once I get past the first page, I can usually find my zone.

TRC: Can you tell how you came up with the idea of A Reason to Run?

Karen: It started with a newspaper article about a man that missed his flight that later crashed. This was in another country. I kept trying to find more information on why he missed the flight, but everything from that point on was in Portuguese. This planted the seed for the novel and I made up my own reason why he missed the flight.

a reason to runTRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind A Reason to Run? 

REVIEW: A Reason To Run

Karen: A Reason to Run tells the story of three women whose paths cross after each makes the decision to run. A plane crashes in west Texas. Robin’s husband was supposed to be on the plane, but missed his flight. Marissa’s husband should have been camping near the area, but lied about his plans. And Autumn’s teenage daughter witnessed the crashed landing, after running away. With nothing in common except their life-altering problems, the women will have an opportunity to help one another when their paths cross. If they do, they will earn a trait they are lacking to help solve their problems. If they don’t, they will be forever stuck. What they are running from and what they are running to, takes them in directions they never imagined.

Links to order A Reason to Run:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

TRC: Can you tell us what are you currently working on?

Karen: Currently I am working on a novel tentatively titled: The Decision. The story revolves around the lives of a therapist and one of her patients. Each is facing a decision they must make in the next thirty days - a decision they cannot hide from.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Karen: I prefer to write in the morning. Creatively I seem to be more open to ideas at this time. And I prefer to edit in the afternoon, away from my desk, in my backyard if the weather is not hot and sticky. (Did I mention that I live in Houston?)

TRC: What else about your book might pique reader’s interest?

Karen: I love storytelling and suspense. My book blends plot and character development evenly. Although I don’t write mysteries, there is something to figure out, a question that needs an answer, a problem that needs to be solved. The reader is usually one step ahead of the main characters.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Karen: My first novel, Three Days in Purgatory, is also women's fiction suspense, and answers the question: Do we every learn if the mistakes we make have purpose.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food:   Anything Italian

Favorite Dessert:  Tiramisu

Favorite Author:  Alice Hoffman

Favorite Novel:   Room

Favorite Movie: Field of Dreams

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Dark

Thank you Karen, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with A Reason to Run.

If you would like to learn more about Karen, you can visit her at the following sites:

Website:
Twitter;
Goodreads:

MintgreenGiveaway

 Karen has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win an e-copy of her book, A Reason to Run.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Giveaway open to Internationally.

4.  Contest runs from January 30th – February 3rd..

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