Tag Archives: Author Interview

An Interview with Elke Feuer

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An Interview with Elke Feuer

elkeThe Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Elke Feurer as our guest today. Before we meet Elke, let’s find out more about her.

I was born and raised on Grand Cayman where I live with my husband and two wonderful kids. To my surprise, I enjoy writing romantic suspense, and even more surprising, writing about serial killers. I’m fascinated by what motivates them to kill. I also write historical, time travel and contemporary stories to even out my dark side.

Reading, spending time with my family, traveling, and meeting people, are my joy. Writing is my passion.

I sometimes wonders if I’m not Billie Holiday incarnate because of the strong connection I feel, along with the urge to sing jazz, but I quickly remember I’m too chicken to get onstage. I pacifies the urge by listening to jazz while I write, and dancing. My favorite dance is salsa, however since having kids the only dancing I do is to get my daughter to sleep.

Let’s meet Elke.

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

Elke: It’s a pleasure to be here, Barb. Thanks for having me. I’m happy to answer anything but my deep dark secrets. 🙂

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Elke: Oh. I always go blank when people ask me this question, but here goes. I live on the island of Grand Cayman. I’m married, with two wonderful kids. Reading, traveling and meeting people is my fun. Writing is my passion. My favorite music to write to is jazz or salsa.

I have a strong connection to Billie Holiday and sometimes wonder if I’m not her reincarnated. No, not really, but I am a big fan.

I wrote really bad, heart wrenching poetry in high school that I use to sing as lyrics. I can laugh about that now, but I took it very serious at the time. LOL!

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Elke: Oh yes! I got my first typewriter (yes, I’m that old) for my ninth birthday and I’ve been writing ever since.

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

Elke: Hmm, it used to be editing. I’d rather have a root canal, but I made peace with it and now enjoy it. I think of it as making my work better. Now writing settings give me the heeby jeebies. I could write a whole book and not think about the settings at all. The only exception is my debut novel. The settings (the house and jazz club) floated around in my head for years, so it was easy for them to become part of the story.

TRC: For the Love of Jazz is your debut novel. Can you tell how you came up with the idea of this story?

REVIEW: For The Love of Jazz

Elke: Yes, I was having a bubble bath (This was long before I had kids.), listening to jazz when the image of a house came to me along with the main characters. I dreamed about the club a few nights later. It rattled in my head for years before I got it down on paper.

For The Love of Jazz

 

TRC: Would you please tell us the premise behind For the Love of Jazz?

Elke: Love can overcome any obstacle: death, race, social background, and of course, murder attempts.

 

 

 

Links to order For The Love of Jazz:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

TRC: You write Romance, have you ever thought about writing in another genre?

Elke: Not until recently. I love a good ‘who dun it’ and really enjoy writing them, so I’m thinking about mysteries and thrillers. I’m fascinated by serial killers. Not in the creepy I want to write them in prison way, but what shapes them and motivates them to kill. That’s not creepy at all, right? LOL.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Elke: My next book is called Deadly Boodlines. It’s about, you guessed it, a serial killer. The story is based where I live. I’m hoping to turn it into a series. Murder in Cayman, maybe?

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

Elke: My perfect schedule got thrown about the window the second I had my second child six month ago. LOL. Now I write when I can: when the baby sleeps on the weekend, after the kids good to bed at night, and during my lunchtime.

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

Elke: I brainstorm or write my ideas in a journal for later. I change my mind too often and would drive my family crazier than I already do. My best friend Katie is my critique buddy. She’s provides me with invaluable feedback. I’ve been warned, however, not to bring her my first draft. I tend to change the story before she gets the next chapters.

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

Elke: I loved reading Nancy Drew and it’s probably why I still love mysteries today. When I got older, I read Amanda Quick, Johanna Lindsay, and Jude Deveraux, more than any other authors.

Definitely, Leigh Michaels. She teaches on-line romance writing classes at Gotham. I sat in my own little writer bubble for many years writing a lot of stories, but getting nowhere. Her class dragged me into the reality that I had a lot to learn. I still do, but she helped me come a long way. Without her classes I wouldn’t be published today. 

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Elke: I love writing, but the thing that surprised me the most is how open and supportive everyone is. There are no writing groups in Cayman, so I don’t have that support like other authors. Thankfully over the years I’ve met some amazing people on-line whose friendships mean so much to me. I couldn’t survive without them.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Anything I can fit in my mouth. LOL. I love to eat and there’s very little I don’t like.

Favorite Dessert: Anything covered in caramel or peanut butter. YUM.

Favorite Author: That’s a tough one. Historically, Amanda Quick.

Favorite Novel: Too many to mention.

Favorite Movie: The Holiday

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Dark

Thank you Elke, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with For The Love of Jazz.

Elke: Thanks for having me, Barb. It was fun!

If you are interested in finding out more about Elke, you can find her at the following links:

Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

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An Interview with Bella Andre

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An Interview with Bella Andre

2_bellaandre_inthesullivanssanfrancisco

The Reading Cafe is happy to have the wonderful Bella Andre as our guest today.

Bella recently her 7th book in her simply wonderful Sullivan Series.  Our review of Come a Little Closer posted yesterday.

Let’s meet Bella.

 

 

Hi Bella and welcome to The Reading Café.  We would like to start with some background information.

TRC: Please tell us something about yourself?

Bella: I’m married to an amazing man. We have two children and our family splits our time between Northern California, where The Sullivan series is set, and the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Bella: Yes! Before I wrote books, I wrote songs. I even toured and open for Jewel and Santana. I love telling stories. 

TRC: What challenges have you faced getting your novels published?  Especially with you being one of the top digital authors, and have made a great success in self publishing?

Bella: I wrote for 3 New York publishers for eight years, and then when my next books weren’t picked up for publication a friend suggested that I try self-publishing. Consider that my readers were emailing me daily asking for a sequel to TAKE ME, my first full-length novel (which was released by Simon & Schuster), I decided to write LOVE ME for my fans and release it digitally. I spent a week writing a personal email to every reader who had contacted me for five years and their response to the story I’d written for them astounded me! That was when I decided to throw myself wholeheartedly into self-publishing. And I’ve loved every second of it!

TRC: You have recently signed an agreement with Harlequin Mira for the print rights of the Sullivan series.  This is wonderful news for you, and congratulations are in order.  Will this change anything in your plans for future books or series?

Bella: Thank you! I’ve reached over a million new readers with my e-books and now that the first 8 Sullivan books will be put into print between June 2013 and April 2014, I can’t wait for new readers to discover my Sullivans. The sale of my print rights won’t change my future plans for The Sullivans: Lori’s story will be out in ebook Summer 2013 (the paperback will be coming April 2014), followed by her cousin Rafe from Seattle in ebook Summer 2013. I am planning to tell all 5 of the Sullivan cousin’s stories….and I have something very special in mind for Mary Sullivan (the matriarch) winter 2013. 

TRC: The Sullivan seriesis Contemporary romance, and has become immensely popular. Can you please tell us, for those who may not know the premise of this series?  How did you come up with the idea of this series?

Bella: The Sullivan family is a large, close-knit Northern California family of siblings (Six brothers and their two twin sisters) who find love one by one. I’ve been so amazed by how readers have responded to my Sullivans! I absolutely love sitting down to write every single day. There’s lots of laughing and sniffling over my keyboard as I write…just ask my husband and he’ll tell you what he sees when he walks past my home office. 

I’ve always loved reading about big families like Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons and Stephanie Lauren’s Cynsters. It was a natural fit for me to bring that big family dynamic into a contemporary setting…and to make the stories both super-sexy and emotional.

Come a Little Bit CloserTRC: Come a Little Bit Closer is your latest release in your Sullivans series.  Can you please give us a brief description of the story?

Bella: In COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, movie star Smith Sullivan can’t afford any distractions. He’s staking his entire reputation on his new film…but he can’t stop thinking about Valentina Landon and the fire he sees smoldering just beneath the surface.

Valentina isn’t averse to sensual pleasure, or even to the idea of finding true love, but as a Hollywood business manager she’s watched too many smart women fall for actors…only to be torn apart when the fairytale comes to its inevitable end.

But when intense weeks together on set turn their heated attraction into red-hot flames of passion, Smith knows he has to find a way to convince Valentina to let him get a little bit closer. Close enough to completely steal her heart…the way she’s stolen his from the start.

Links to order Come a LIttle Bit Closer:
Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Kobo

always on my mind

 

TRC: Always on my Mind, is book 8 of the Sullivans series, will be released on March 5th..  What can you tell us about it?

Bella: Always on My Mind belongs to Lori, the “naughty” Sullivan twin. I can’t give too much away about her story….but I can tell you that her hero just might be the hottest I’ve every written. I can’t wait for everyone to read her story! It’s been a long time in coming for her.

 

Always On My Mind Preorder Link: Amazon

 

TRC: You have written erotic romance for Ellora’s Cave. Do you have a preference between writing Erotic or Contemporary romance novels?

Bella:  I love writing love stories, period. While I don’t write erotic novels anymore, my books will always be super-sexy because I think lovemaking is such a huge part of falling in love and the growing connection between my heroes and heroines. 

TRC: What are you working on now? Do you have any plans for a new series?

Bella: This spring I will begin writing about the 5 Seattle Sullivans that my readers have met in the past couple of books, and they have their own adventures brewing. I also have a brand new idea for a group of AMAZING heroes that I’m hoping to start writing soon…but mum’s the word on that for now.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information between each other and their family and spouses.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

Bella: I have an amazing group of talented writing friends who help me brainstorm, and my husband is also a great help when I need to brainstorm a scene or character. 

TRC: Can you please tell us your writing process?  Do you have a favorite spot or specific time to write?

Bella: I write anywhere, everywhere, any time that I can. All I need is my MacBook Air. When I’m on “lockdown” mode on a book, I write 5-8 hours a day until I’m finished with the draft. At that point I revise and rewrite like crazy for several weeks until I’m happy with the book.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Bella: Thank you so much for having me! I’d love to hear from readers – you can find me at http://www.BellaAndre.com, at http://www.twitter.com/bellaandre, and http://www.facebook.com/bellaandrebooks.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Slim Jims

Favorite Dessert: thin mint cookies

Favorite TV show: right now I’m loving Go On and The Mindy Project. And Castle, of course.

Favorite Movie: Pretty Woman

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Neither. Can I have an oreo instead?

Favorite Author: Jennifer Crusie

Bella, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions.  The Reading Café wishes you good luck with your books, and we look forward to having you visit us again.

Giveaway-Green/Gold

Bella is graciously offering a $25.00 gift card from your favorite retailer  to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must be a registered 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 the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter, please post your email address along with a comment as Twitter does not allow for email addresses.

3. Giveaway open to USA.

4. Giveaway runs from January 24th – January 27th, 2013

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An Interview with Julie Cross

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An Interview with Julie Cross

julie cross
The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Julie Cross as our guest today. Julie has her second book, Vortex being released today. 

Check out our review of Vortex below this interview. 

Direct link to Review: Vortex

Let’s meet Julie.

 

Julie, we at the Reading Café would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. 

TRC: Please tell us about yourself?

Julie: I’m a mom of 3 kids. I live in Central Illinois with my husband and kids. Before writing full-time, I was a program director at the YMCA for the gymnastics program.

TRC: When and how did you first become interested in writing?

Julie: I started writing in May of 2009. It began with a short story in a notebook that eventually turned into a full novel after a couple months. Then I began learning about the publication process and writing more stories. A year after starting I had an offer for three book deal with Thomas Dunne Book/St. Martin’s Press.

TRC: Tempest was your first book ever published? How did it feel when you found out you were going to be published?

Julie: It took a while to sink in. A week after I’d gotten an agent and negotiated the book deal, I walked into a book store in the Indianapolis airport while waiting to pick up my niece and it hit me that my book would be in a store eventually. That was a surreal feeling.

TRC: Can you please tell us the premise of your Tempest series, and how you came up with the idea?

Julie: The concept for Tempest came in layers as I worked with my now editor, Brendan Deneen. My idea started with a sort of time travel story that was also about aliens and gymnastics. His idea was to acquire a teen version of The Time Traveler’s Wife. Tempest is story that emerged from both our creative brains.

VortexTRC: Vortex is the second book in this series, which was released yesterday.   Can you please give a brief description of this story?

Julie: (TEMPEST spoiler Alert!)

Vortex picks up at the exact moment Tempest ends, walks you think the big decision Jackson had to make at the end of the first installment and his goal to join the CIA division called that deals with all things time travel. You get tiny peaks at the journal Jackson keeps while going through his first few months of training and then, very early in the novel, you are thrown right into a very dangerous CIA mission.

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

TRC: Besides the third and final book in your Tempest Trilogy, do you have any ideas of what you would like to do next? Are you interested in doing any other genre?

Julie: So far, I only want to write young adult. I have lots of post-Tempest ideas but I’m not which is going to be the one to follow. I love realistic young adult fiction and I’d love to branch out into that sub-genre as well.

TRC: If your book does make the movie screen, since you have optioned the film rights, do you have preferences as to whom you would like to play your characters?

Julie:  I’ve only thought about it for fun. Timing is a huge factor in this. I love Logan Lerman and also Drew Roy. Dianna Agron would make a great Holly.

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

Julie: The only consistent about my writing process is that it’s always inconsistent. I’m really very flexible when it comes to a writing time and place. I have found, now that I’m no longer working a full time job, most of my writing time tends to be between the hours of 8am and 3pm while my kids are at school.

TRC: Is there a book that gave you the inspiration to write?

Julie:All the books I’ve read have contributed somewhat to my inspiration to write. I love escaping into a story and being able to leave myself behind. I feel the same way when I write.

 LIGHTNING ROUND:

FAVORITE FOOD: Snow crab legs

FAVORITE DESSERT: Cheese cake

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE: Milk but I’m not a big chocolate person.

FAVORITE AUTHOR: Can’t pick one –
Judy Blume, John Green, J.K. Rowling, David Levithan

FAVORITE BOOK: Little Women

FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTER (not your own): Hermione Granger

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW: Magic Mike

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

If you want to learn more about Julie, you can find her at the following links:
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

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An Interview with Carey Baldwin

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An Interview with Carey Baldwin

CareyBaldwin_headshot_color_webThe Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Carey Baldwin as our guest today. Before we meet Carey, let’s find out more about her.

Carey Baldwin is a mild-mannered physician (still practicing full time ) who happens to write edgy romantic thrillers. What’s a nice girl like Carey doing writing scare-you-silly thrillers? When you’re a former clinical psychologist, writing about psychopaths comes naturally, and when you’re a hopeless romantic…, well, you do the math!

Now let us begin our Interview with Carey.

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

TRC:Will you please tell us about yourself?

Carey: First of all, I’d like to thank you, Barb, and everyone at The Reading Café for having me today. I’m excited to be here and to meet your readers. As for my background, like a lot  of women today, I like to keep growing and learning. Besides being a wife and a mother of three, I’m a practicing physician. But prior to that I was a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology.

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

Carey: I’ve always been a voracious reader, and my first memory of wanting “to be something”, was of wanting to be a writer. But I come from a humble background (i.e. financially challenged), and I wanted a profession that would provide security for myself and my family. So I squashed that urge to become a writer and channeled my writing energy into nonfiction, like scientific journal articles and such. As you can see though, my love of writing and books eventually caught up with me. Sooner or later, if you are a writer, you are going to write, regardless of your circumstances.

TRC: You are still an active physician, how do you find time to write your stories?

Carey: That’s a tough thing. I write mostly in the wee hours and also on weekends.

First do no evilTRC: First Do No Evil is your debut novel, how did you come up with the idea for this        story?  Can you please tell us about the premise of the First Do No Evil? 

LINK TO OUR REVIEW: First Do No Evil

Carey: As we’ve already mentioned, I’m still a full-time physician. I remember distinctly the first time a pharmaceutical representative came into my office and "detailed" me on a vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. I was thrilled to learn about this "miracle drug".  A vaccine that could actually prevent cancer! I could hardly contain my excitement.

In the months and years that followed, however, I observed the controversy that arose as this new, unfamiliar type of vaccination was implemented, and it got me wondering, "What's coming next? Will we be able to prevent other types of cancer, like breast cancer, through vaccines in the near future? How will those vaccines be received?"

These were the questions that set me to work on my romantic thriller, FIRST DO NO EVIL.

In FIRST DO NO EVIL, Dr. Skylar Novak and detective Daniel Benson find themselves at the center of a violent storm swirling around a controversial new vaccine that prevents breast cancer.  Specifically, it prevents breast cancers caused by the BRCA gene (which is real) by repairing the faulty gene with special RNA.  Sadly, the vaccine is fictional, but many researchers are hard at work to develop a real one. It's my hope and my expectation that a true breast cancer vaccine will be available in the near future.

I call FIRST DO NO EVIL a romantic thriller because that's exactly what it is. It's absolutely a romance, but at the same time it's a full-blown thriller. If, like me, you love both, this story just might be for you.

Links to order First Do No Evil: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

TRC:Your website notes that you have a second book in this series.  How many
books are you planning for this series?

Carey: I am working on a second book that features Danny’s sister-in-law, Faith.  She’s a wet-behind-the-ears psychiatrist, and her very first patient confesses he’s a serial killer. Poor Aunt Faith!

I also have another spin-off series about one of Faith’s friends, a forensic psychiatrist, brewing in my brain as well.

TRC: What are you working on now?  You write romance suspense, is there any other      genre that interests you to write in the future?

Carey: I’m currently working on book two in the Blood Secret Series. I also have a novella I’m polishing (romantic suspense). I’ve even pulled out my first manuscript, a contemporary romantic romp about old flames reunited by reality television, and I am revising that. And…I’ve got this scathingly brilliant idea for a historical romance series. I’m saving that historical series until I get Faith’s book and the suspense novella out, though.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Is there a special time you like to write, or favorite      place?

Carey: I love to write at home in my jammies. And since I’m usually writing at 3am, that’s a good thing. I have a habit of waking up in the middle of the night with dialogue going full speed in my head. I like to get up and start working when that happens. Those are inevitably the best scenes.

TRC: Whom do you credit as influencing you the most in your career, and why?

Carey: There’s a long list of authors who’ve influenced my writing (see the list of my favorite authors below) but I’d have to say that my friends, Tessa Dare, Leigh LaValle, and Courtney Milan – all historical romance authors- have had the most influence. Even though we write different genres, these are the individuals who are always there to read, brainstorm, critique, cheer, cry and just plain support the devil out of me.

TRC:Would you like to add anything else?

Carey: Only that the romance community, readers and fellow authors alike, is the absolute best. I feel blessed to be a part of it.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Lobster – I like to think of myself as down-to-earth, but never low maintenance.

Favorite Dessert: Heavenly Fudge made from the Kraft Marshmallow recipe…you asked!

Favorite Author: Sheesh. I don’t want to pick one…Harlan Coben, Karen Rose, Cindy Gerard, Brenda Novak, Allison Brennan, Greg Isles, Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerritsen, Harper Lee. I’ll stop there but I’m sure I’ll smack my forehead in a moment and realize I’ve left out someone very special.

Favorite TV Show: Dexter

Last Movie that you saw: Lincoln

Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird

Who is your favorite fictional character (not your own): Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird . I have a thing for single-dad heroes who know how to get even the toughest job done right.

TRC: Thank you, Carey for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with First Do No Evil.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases.

Carey: Thanks so much for having me, Barb! It was lots of fun!

If you want to learn more about Carey, you can find her at the following links:
Website:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

BLUEANDYELLOWGIVEAWAY

Carey has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of her new release, First Do No Evil”.

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 U.S.& Canada only

4.  Contest runs from January 11th – January 13th..


 

 

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An Interview with Lynn Kurland

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An Interview with Lynn Kurland

 

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome the wonderful Lynn Kurland as our guest today.

Lynn just released Dreamspinner, her newest book in her The Nine Kingdoms series. We posted our review of Dreamspinner below this Interview.

Let’s begin our interview with Lynn.

 

 

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

Lynn: Thanks so much for asking me to stop by!

TRC: Would you please tell us about yourself?

Lynn:I’m just an average gal, living the dream, getting to work at home in my pajamas and take copious notes about the antics of the people taking up space on my mental stage. Life is good!

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

Lynn: I think I was probably just like many big fantasy-reading teenagers of my generation in wanting to be the next Tolkien. I never really considered it on any level until after college and even then it seemed like something too impossible to take seriously. But I started with an idea, rewrote it a gazillion times, put it away and started on something else. I kept at it until I had a dozen things in various stages of completion and I started shopping a couple of them around. Even when I sold, it felt a little surreal. I’m still not sure it’s sunk in completely!

TRC: Many writers bounce ideas and information with either a family member, a Friend, or another writer.  Who inspires you?  Do you have a muse?

Lynn: I’m a pretty private person in general and a very private writer. There’s something about discussing either a work in progress or future plans for other books that ruins the magic for me. It’s almost as if the story needs to stay in my head all by itself so it can take on a life of its own. So I try never to talk about the specifics of what I’m doing until it’s out there on the page and into my editor’s hands.

As far as inspiration goes, I unfortunately don’t let myself read either fantasy or romance anymore simply because I don’t want anyone else’s ideas or thoughts somehow finding their way into my work. I went through a PG Wodehouse phase recently until I realized I was starting to write dialogue that sounded far too much like something Jeeves would say. 🙂 Rachmaninoff inspires me, which seems pretty safe!

About muses: I once--very arrogantly, it has to be said--told someone “I don’t have a muse; I have deadlines,” and subsequently found myself with about six months’ worth of writer’s block as a result, so I think I’d be wise to step gingerly here. 🙂 For me, while the idea of a muse is very romantic, it makes me nervous to rely on anything but my own heart and mind for inspiration.

TRC: You have three major series, which involves Time Travel, Fantasy, Romance.  Each of your series are different, though you have intermingled two series. For our readers who may be new to you, can you give us a brief description of each series.

Lynn: 

               Nine Kingdoms
This is a fantasy series set in a fantasy world with a definite medieval feel. Magic and mythical characters abound!

              De Piagets
The de Piagets stories stretch from the 13th  century to the present day. It is a family-saga type series, though there are other books associated with this English family that have only a passing reference to them. The books can be read independently.

               The MacLeods 
The MacLeods are Scots. Their story really begins with James MacLeod, medieval laird, who left his own time and came to the future with an American writer, Elizabeth, who had accidently traveled back to the past. Jamie is an inveterate time traveler, attracting all kinds of friends, family, and extended-family who seem to find themselves caught up in similar time-traveling adventures.

TRC: What are the challenges that you find switching back and forth between each series? Do you have a preference when it comes to one of these series?

Lynn: The romances definitely have a lighter tone, which is deliberate. Life is hard and laughter is good! The fantasies are a bit darker and the prose (hopefully) a bit denser, and that’s deliberate as well. I just wanted it all to still sound like me, but have a different flavor.

TRC: How did you come up with the idea of the Nine Kingdoms series.  Also, why did you do this series in a set of trilogies?  Do you have an end in sight for this series?  Hopefully not.  🙂

Lynn:(You’re so kind!) In reverse order: I’m in the middle of the third trilogy and already wondering where #4 will go and who’ll need to star and will people howl if I jump back in time and leave certain people in a pickle in the present? So, no end in sight so far.

I really wanted the books to be longer so putting them out as trilogies was just how my editor thought that could best be accomplished. I wish I could do them every six months instead of every year, but with kids still at home, this is as fast as I can write.

As far as coming up with the whole idea, well, I knew I wanted to write fantasy and I knew I wanted it to have a medieval sort of feel and I definitely didn’t want it to be a rehash of LOTR. It definitely had to have enough romance in it to suit me. (Tolkien and I will someday have a conversation about his appalling lack of the same, believe me!) In the first incarnation, I actually had Adhémar from Star of the Morning as the hero, but I got about five chapters into that and decided he just wasn’t going to cut it. Things sort of got away from me after that. 🙂

TRC: Dreamspinner is your next novel of your Nine Kingdoms series. Can you please tell us a little about this book?

Lynn: It is the story of Rùnach of Ceangail, brother to both Morgan and Ruith from trilogies #1 and #2 respectively. He’s been hiding out in the schools of wizardry for several years, trying to keep a low profile and stay alive because he has no magic with which to protect himself. He goes to his siblings’ weddings, then takes the opportunity to strike out on his own. His goal, despite being who he is, is to find a spot in as a very unmagical swordsman in a very ordinary garrison.

Despite his best intentions, Rùnach becomes caught up in the life of Aisling of a place she won’t reveal. She fully believes she’s under a curse that states if she doesn’t find within a predetermined amount of a time a powerful mercenary to free her country from a cruel despot, she will die.

Only as they start out on a quest together, they both begin to realize that things just aren’t quite as they’ve been led to believe. ..

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

TRC: Some of our members are big fans of yours, and they wanted to ask you some questions about the Nine Kingdoms.

1.      "Your upcoming release Dreamspinner shows us that Runach is our next hero.  In the first trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms we learn that his father Gair, took his magic during that terrifying day at the well.  In the second trilogy we see Runach as the magicless character he is supposed to be, and yet in a previous book, Miach could sense the echo of something emanating from within him.  The same with a previous book within the second trilogy...a hint that something could be there, and that Runach has secrets.  What can readers expect from our next hero?"

Lynn: Hmmm, I wonder! 🙂 Those are all excellent points. Let’s just say that Gair definitely did take Rùnach’s magic, which Rùnach had resigned himself to. He’d never thought he would need it, but soon finds that the lack of it is a big problem. He’s a clever guy, though, so I have the feeling he’ll find a workaround.

2.      "You have so many well developed, fleshed out secondary characters, Soellier (sp?) for example. It was so sad that he was in love with Sarait, knowing that she would meet her doom, and yet unable to stop her demise.  Is there happiness to be found for this fantasic, and intriguing character in the future?"

Lynn: You know, I really like him too. I would really like to see just what kind of woman can get involved with a man who could unravel the fabric of the world, yet find herself absolutely untimidated by him. I don’t know when or if that will ever happen, but it would be interesting!

3.      "After this last trilogy wraps up, will we possibly see more books set within the world of the Nine Kingdoms, showcasing any previously introduced characters?  Will you continue to write romantic Fantasy?"

Lynn: Yes to all!

TRC: While writing your time travel stories, do you envision a place in time that you yourself would like to go?

Lynn: I used to, yes. Though I’m not sure I would really want to visit it, the Middle Ages has always held an unwholesome sway over my imagination. It’s been a blast to take modern characters back and see how things look through their eyes. I almost think it’s more fun watching medieval characters deal with modern-day life, but that’s just me. These days, though, it’s less about what I want than it is what the character seems to need.

TRC: What are you currently working on? Is there any new projects in the works that you would like to share?

Lynn: I’m in the middle of the second book of the fantasy trilogy that begins at the end of December this year. I have lots of ideas for lots of other things (little ebooks, maybe a YA series, actually updating my website more than twice a year), but it’s just finding the time to make any of it a reality that’s tough.

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

Lynn: For the romances, I think I would have to say probably Madelyn Phillips and Patrick MacLeod. I relate to her probably more than anyone else, and, well, in my opinion he’s dreamy.

In fantasyland, it’s Morgan and Miach, definitely, probably because I lived with them both for so long before they saw print. Well, that and what’s not to like about a gal who wields a sword and a guy who’s unthreatened enough by it to admire her for it?

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Lynn: Just a huge thank you to you and your members for the great questions, and an additional thank you to everyone who has parted with hard-earned money for my books. I hope the trade-off of a book in your hands (or on your Nook/Kindle/ereader-of-choice) is worth it. Thank you so much for allowing me the chance to bring these characters to life!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Chocolate

Favorite Author: Tolkien

Favorite Movie: While You Were Sleeping

Favorite TV Show: Get Smart (the 60s version)

Last Movie that you saw: Narnia 3

Last book that you read: Atlas Shrugged – while being very grateful it was on my Nook and not the print copy!

Favorite character (male & female) not written by you: That’s tough. At the moment, Pongo Twistleton or Shakespeare’s incarnation of Henry V (does he count?) and Elizabeth Bennett.

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

Link to Dreamspinner Review:

If you want to learn more about Lynn, you can find her at the following link:

Website: http://www.lynnkurland.com/
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

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An Interview with Diana Pharaoh Francis

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An Interview with Diana Pharaoh Francis

 

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Diana Pharaoh Francis as our guest today.

Diana is here today to discuss her newest release, Blood Winter (Our review is posted below this interview), which was released yesterday, as well as to tell us a little bit about herself.

Let’s meet Diana.

 

Hi Diana.  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: Please tell us about yourself?

Diana: I am the stranger your mother warned you about. Okay, maybe not. I’m easily amused, I have a morbid sense of humor, I enjoy some (a lot of) violence in my writing, and I love to torture my characters.

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

Diana: I’ve always been a storyteller. When I was a kid, my friends and I would make up these long dramatic stories and act them out (with horses and on a ranch). We’d also have these complex and huge stories involving plastic horses, barbies, and many other things. We’d take over the houses in the winter and spread everywhere, and then we’d do the outside stories when the weather cleared. I didn’t start writing at all until high school when I tried some bad poetry. It wasn’t til college that imagined that I could write anything at all, and then it occurred to me that somebody has to write novels—why not me? And so it began . .

TRC: What was your first book published? Can you please tell us your reaction when you saw your book published?

Diana: Path of Fate was my first book. It was shocking. It was both overwhelming and underwhelming. Overwhelming because this thing that I’d made, that I’d worked on for so long, had finally arrived on the shelves with my name on it. It was underwhelming, oddly, because I was standing there alone in the store and I had no one to share it with. It was a strange mix of euphoria and bewilderment, like I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs and didn’t dare.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you have a favorite time, or place to work?

Diana: I prefer to work in the morning these days. I used to work best at night, but then I had kids and so my schedule wasn’t my own any more. So the morning became the best time to work. I get the most done then. Though not too early. I’m not at all a super early riser. But in the end, I work whenever I can.

I prefer to work on my iMac in my office. It’s purple, and it’s got a lot of weapons and maps and books all over the walls. It’s got a bank of windows overlooking the front of the house. I love this space. My “desk” is a the kitchen table I had when I was a kid. It’s made of white oak with a formica top and it’s impervious to all damage. I also have the most comfortable and supportive desk chair on the planet. Expensive, but given my back issues, necessary.


TRC: What is the most difficult process in creating your stories?

Diana: It really depends on the story, and it also changes with each book. Mostly because my process seems to be ever-evolving. Sometimes it’s keeping track of the plotlines and ideas. Sometimes it’s figuring out how everything weaves together. Sometimes it’s keeping track of all the details. Sometimes it’s figuring out that the book isn’t going to work as is and I have to start from scratch. Sometimes it’s not being able motivate myself to push through difficult scenes. Procrastination.


TRC: Can you please tell our readers who are new to your Horngate Witches series, the premise of this series?

Diana: I had been thinking about a couple of different things that came together in this story. The first was I’d been reading some post-apocalyptic novels and there was never any real explanation of how that apocalypse came about. The other thing I was noticing was all the devastating natural events that seemed to be piling up: hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, that mud volcano in Jakarta, the bridge collapse in Minneapolis . . . . What if those things weren’t natural, but purposeful?

I wanted to write the story of the apocalypse, but I also wanted to have witches. I had this idea for superstrong soldiers that were tied to the daytime and the nighttime and entirely bound to witch service. I wondered how they would like that servitude? And what would happen if one was caught between hating the witch she served, and her loyalty to doing the job she’d been created to do. And so Max was born.

TRC: Blood Winter is your 4th book in the Horngate Witches series, and was released yesterday. Can you please tell us the premise of Blood Winter.


Diana: In this book, the magical apocalypse has happened, and the focus is on how to get through in the initial aftermath. Stir in a cult leader, some demons, and a bad winter, and Max is in trouble. Not to mention her love life has gone to hell.

 

 

 

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

TRC: You have written in a few different genres, is there any other genre you are interested in writing or going back to?


Diana: I am working on a more traditional and dark fantasy right now. It’s difficult to write because it’s really stretching me, but I love it and if it turns out the way I imagine it, I think my readers will love it too.

I’m also working on a couple of contemporary fantasies. One of which has a mystery element. I am excited about doing a sort of magical mystery, but I don’t know if I can put together a mystery that will work. Especially given the other circumstances of the novel, which also stretch me. I hope I can pull it off.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Diana: And see above :)

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Diana: I’d love for everyone to give Horngate a try. The first chapters are available on my website: www.dianapfrancis.com  They tend to be gritty and snarky and there’s an ensemble cast that I think you’ll all fall in love with. I know I have.


LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food:  It used to be chocolate, but then I had a surgery and I lost my taste for chocolate. I still like it, but I don’t go as nuts for it as I used to. So now I would have to say...pizza. I just adore a good Hawaiian pizza.

Favorite Dessert: cheesecake

Favorite Movie: Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth version)

Favorite TV Show: Whoa boy. I’m going to cheat and ignore all shows that are no longer on the air and say Castle.

Favorite Author: Charles Dickens. No, Jane Austen. No Dickens. No Austen . . . Oh. Dear.

Favorite Character from books you have read: Uriah Heep. He’s from David Copperfield and he is the most creepy obnoxious character and so fun to read.

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Well, you go back to my first question, and I would say dark. But better still, chai.

Thank you, Diana for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck  with Blood Winter.  We look forward to talking with you again in the future.

If you would like to learn more about Diana, you can visit her at the following sites:
Website: http://www.dianapfrancis.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

Diana has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of Blood Winter.

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 U.S.& Canada only.

 4.  Contest runs from December 27th – December 30th.

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An Interview With Katie Jennings

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An Interview With Katie Jennings

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Katie Jennings as our guest today. Before we meet Katie, let’s find out more about her.

Nothing can compare to the exhilaration of discovering, at last, a mode of release for the imagination. Mine came, after years of struggling to visualize my creativity, in the form of written word. I found myself with my nose constantly in a book, absorbing the life of the characters and the beauty of the setting. It was intoxicating, to say the least, and the only thing I knew was that I wanted to give writing a shot, and take the thousands of characters and storylines in my head and put them down on paper, and form them into something real and compelling.

In truth, I’m just a girl from a small town north of Los Angeles, with an imagination for days and thank goodness a keyboard at my fingertips. And even though my husband thinks I’m a nerd and my mom is undoubtedly my biggest fan, at the end of the day I’m loving life and enjoying giving breath to the characters living in my heart, and sharing with others all the creativity I can harness.

I believe in true love, and I’ve always believed in happy endings. And that is just the beginning of the story

Now let us begin our Interview with Katie

Hi Katie.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book. We will start will some background information.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Katie: I am a huge nerd, first off.  I am addicted to reading romance novels and watching Once Upon a Time, and am a true Disney kid at heart.  I grew up in the northern Los Angeles area where I have lived all of my twenty-five years.  Writing is my passion, and is something I have been doing since I was in my early teens when I first got into Nora Roberts and J.K. Rowling, who are my biggest inspirations.

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

Katie: I’ve been writing since I was in my early teens, when I discovered it was a fantastic outlet for not only my emotions, but my creativity as well. I mostly wrote short stories for fun, many of which I never finished because I’d get too excited to move on to the next idea. But in 2010, I decided it was time to finally try and write a full novel. I was a bit optimistic, as I plotted out for four novels as a series, but I was able to complete them…it is, without a doubt, one of my greatest personal accomplishments!

TRC: Would you tell us your process in writing your books?

Katie: First I take my idea and concept, and I begin creating characters. I heavily reference astrology as I develop characters, and focus on the details and background story of each in order to give them a realistic feel. Then I plot out each and every chapter, starting with main points I want to make and then fill in the rest. I leave very  little of my story up in the air, I like to have it all worked out beforehand before I start writing.

TRC: Was a Breath of Air your first book ever published?  What were the difficulties in getting your work published?

Katie: Yes, Breath of Air is my first completed novel that I published. I self-published it, so the process itself was actually very easy. Amazon has streamlined everything to where there is very little start up cost (if any!) and the time frame to get a new book up is literally just a matter of hours. Of course, I had to create my own book covers, pay to have my books edited, designed, and formatted. But I have learned so much in the months since I’ve published about how to market, promote, and sell my books. It’s been a wild ride, that’s for sure!

TRC: Will you tell us about the premise of your Dryad series?  How did you come up with the idea for this series?

Katie: The Dryad Quartet is a contemporary fantasy series revolving around the fictional land of Euphora, where beings inspired by Greek mythology exist to preserve the balance of nature and human life, and to protect the living from the evil residing in the Underworld. It’s a world where Mother Earth and Father Sky exist, secretly hidden from human awareness, and yet crucial to the creation and stability of their world. They are joined by those who control the elements, the Dryads, as well as the Fates, Muses, and Furies, all of whom play an integral role in preserving Earth and guarding those who inhabit it.

I came up with the idea as a process…it began with me knowing I wanted to write about people who could control the elements. I developed those four characters, the Dryads, and then expanded upon them by referencing Greek mythology and developing this whole new world.

TRC: You have a new series …The Vasser Legacy, which was released in August.  Can you please tell us the premise of the series?  How did you come up with this idea of a modern day Family Saga story? Also how many books are you planning for this series?

Katie: The Vasser Legacy is a series that focuses on the rise, fall and resurrection of the prestigious Vasser Hotel family. It's a story filled with deception, passion, murder, and ambition set in glorious Manhattan in New York City. In book one, When Empires Fall, we see the family deal with the realization that one of their own is a killer, and watch as they struggle with both personal and professional battles.

In the case of When Empires Fall, it was one specific song that I have loved since I was very young that inspired me to write this book.  The song is called “Raoul and the Kings of Spain” by Tears for Fears.  While I didn’t pull my plot line from the song, this basic idea of “the seventh son of the seventh son comes along and breaks the chain…” is what got me, as did this question posed in the song, “can we ever hope to seek asylum from the bounds of faith and family?”  I knew that I wanted to write a novel about a very large, prominent family, an empire of kings in America, well respected and renowned for generations.  Until the seventh son of the seventh son broke the chain, and shattered the family to pieces.  This is a key, underlying component of When Empires Fall, and the cornerstone for the drama and suspense that ties the entire story together.

TRC: When Empires Fall is the first book in The Vasser Legacy series.  Can you please give us a brief description of this story?

Katie: When Empires Fall introduces readers to the prestigious Vasser Hotel family and the newest generation of heirs who run the main hotel in New York City. There’s the strict, cautious older brother, ambitious playboy second brother, and the secretive and powerful younger sister. All three play a crucial role in the book as we see how they deal with the shocking truth that one of their own is a killer, and witness the fallout of their hotel empire. Along the way, they discover love, wage battles with each other, clash with the press, and fight to maintain their reputation.

Links to purchase When Empires Fall:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

TRC: You wrote Fantasy with the Dryad series, and now with the Vasser Legacy series you have written a modern day Family Saga drama.  What made you decide to go a different direction, and is there a preference to which genre you prefer? 

Katie: While I enjoyed writing the fantasy series, I truly found my comfort zone with drama and contemporary fiction. I had never intended the Dryad Quartet to be YA, but as people have read it over the last few months it has taken on that characterization given its mild content (no explicit scenes, only some violence and cursing, etc). I much prefer writing a novel geared toward a more adult audience, not necessarily because of explicitness, but because of things like history, business, politics, drugs, murder…things that younger readers may not find as interesting. These are the topics that fascinate me, and therefore it was fun to explore them in the Vasser Legacy novels.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Katie: After I finish the final Vasser Legacy book, titled Rise of the Notorious which is due out Spring 2013, I want to try my hand at writing a dark paranormal novel, with both horror, mystery and romance themes woven in. It will focus heavily upon ghost hunting and the techniques used (which fascinate me!) and will center on four main characters: a ghost hunter, his tech-savvy sidekick, a skeptical doctor, and a soulful medium. It’s going to be a very fun book to write, and I cannot wait to delve into it sometime next year.

TRC: Who is your muse?

Katie: Florence + the Machine, hands down. Her music is incredible, and she’s a fellow Virgo like me so I feel an even greater connection to her lyrics and way of singing. Her music envelops and intoxicates, hammering emotions into you until it’s hard to breathe. That’s really the best way I can describe it, and many scenes and character ideas for me have spawned while listening to her music.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Katie: I have a newly redesigned website that showcases all of my books and has lots of fun goodies such as wallpapers for the computer and smartphones. I invite everyone to check it out at www.katieajennings.com.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food:  Cheeseburgers

Favorite Dessert:  Coldstone Cake Batter ice cream

Favorite Author:  Nora Roberts

Favorite Movie:  When Harry Met Sally

Favorite TV Show:  Once Upon a Time

Milk or Dark Chocolate:  Milk

Who is your favorite fictional character (not your own):  Severus Snape from Harry Potter.

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

Katie: Thank you for having me!

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An Interview with Cathy Yardley

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An Interview with Cathy Yardley

The Reading Cafe is happy to have Cathy Yardley as our guest today.

Cathy has a new release upcoming soon, Temping is Hell.  Our review is just below this Interview.

Let’s meet Cathy.

Hi Cathy and welcome to The Reading Café.  We would like to start with some background information.

TRC: Please tell us something about yourself?

Cathy: I’ve been writing and publishing for about twelve years now, and I’ve run the gamut of genres and publishing houses.  I’ve always had a fondness for romantic comedy and humor, and my latest book, TEMPING IS HELL, taps into that.

TRC: Have you always been interested in writing?

Cathy: Yes, although I thought I’d wait until I retired.  I come from a family of accountants and engineers.  Writing wasn’t supposed to be a “job.”  (Actually, many of them are still scratching their heads over that one! <g>)

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

Cathy: Getting past the fear, I think.  I have plenty of ideas, but sitting down to the blank page is still daunting, even after all these years.

TRC: What challenges have you faced getting your novels published?

Cathy: Well, getting this particular novel published has been a challenge!  It’s an Urban Fantasy, but it isn’t necessarily the usual vampire or shape-shifter, or kick-ass hunting heroine type.  I had a lot of publishers say they loved the voice, but they weren’t sure how to market it.  It was frustrating, because if I ever had a “book of my heart” it’s this series!

It’s why I’m so grateful that Entangled is taking the chance with it… they believe in the story, and my writing, which is wonderful.

TRC: Can you please tell us the premise of your new novel, Temping is Hell?  This is your Urban Fantasy series (Necessary Evil), how many books are you planning?

Cathy: The Necessary Evil series is about Kate O’Hara, a temp in Oakland who’s just trying to make ends meet.  She hates working for big, soulless corporations, but ever since her last job with a little funky publisher closed, she’s got to pay some bills.  She quickly figures out that the sexy billionaire (sort of a Southern, cute Richard Branson type) she works for is probably up to no good.  Before she knows it, she’s accidentally signed her soul over… and she’s got one year to help him kill thirteen people, so they both can get their souls back.  It’s crazy fun, sort of like Buffy meets The Office.

This is a closed seven-book series – so when the seven books are done, the series arc will be complete.  (There will probably be some novellas – I have ideas that don’t quite fit in with the novels themselves, and some that relate to secondary characters.)

TRC: You write Chick Lit.  How would you describe Chick Lit?

Cathy: I see Chick Lit as journey, where a woman starts off hapless and helpless and, through the course of a series of misadventures, discovers her strength and herself.  I was born to write Chick Lit, an there are definitely Chick Lit elements in TEMPING.

TRC: Your website lists some of your books as Sexy Reads. Do you consider your storylines erotic romance novels…or ….romance novels in general?

Cathy:  I’ve written erotica, and “hot romance” with the Harlequin Blaze series.  That said, I find I’m more comfortable with humor.  Sexy can be fun, and there’s definitely romantic and sexy elements in TEMPING, but it’s not erotic.

The Sexy Reads are more like the thermometer on a can of jalapenos.  Those would be the “HOT!” ones.  The Fun Reads tend to be more “Medium.”

TRC: You write many different genres.  Do you have a preference?  Do you find it difficult to switch between these genres, when writing your stories?

Cathy:  Sometimes it’s nice to switch, like cross training.  It gives you a break.  But I always gravitate back to romantic comedy/Chick Lit.  That’s my natural voice.

TRC: What are you working on now?

Cathy:  I’m finishing up the sequel to TEMPING, called OVERTIME IS HELL.

TRC: We notice that besides being an author, you are also a publisher for Entangled Publishing.  Do you feel your experience as a writer helps you when working to help another author publish their work?

Cathy:  I’ve been a publicist for Entangled, although I’m not acting in that capacity right now (too busy, alas!)  I also teach writing, and do writing coaching.  I think that being a working writer for so many years does help to a certain extent, because I remember what it feels like to stress before launch day and look at your Amazon ranking and quail over reviews.  It takes a certain amount of hand-holding, I think.  Writers deserve that – and they need support and guidance.  I’m happy to help when I can.

TRC: Many author bounce ideas and information between each other and their family and spouses.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

Cathy:  I have a fantastic support network of four other writers, women I meet with at least once or twice a month.  We eat a lot and laugh until we cry, and sometimes we brainstorm.  Then drink.  🙂

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Cathy:  Thank you so much for the opportunity!  I love this book, and I love connecting with readers.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Chocolate

Favorite Dessert: Caramel Ginger Snap Ice Cream

Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones

Favorite Movie: Moneyball

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark!

Favorite Author: Jim Butcher

Favorite Literary Character (male & female) not your own: Harry Dresden and Eve Dallas

Cathy, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions.  The Reading Café wishes you good luck with Temping is Hell.

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