Far Shore (After Series #3) by Traci L. Slatton-Review and Interview with the Author

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Sandy

Far Shore (After Series #3) by Traci L. Slatton-Review and Interview with the Author

Far Shore

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

FAR SHORE (After Series #3) by Traci L. Slatton

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 10, 2013

An old enemy wreaks new havoc at the end of the world…

After the mists’ lethal apocalypse, mankind’s only hope for survival lies broken and battered, the prisoner of a ruthless sociopath who will stop at nothing to hurt him. Emma sets out to rescue him. She faces an ultimatum and must relinquish everything she holds dear. As Arthur teeters on the brink of life and death, Emma’s healing ability fails. Her own despair tests her, and she must grow stronger than she ever dreamt possible as she confronts the truth of her own heart.

In a time of apocalyptic despair, love is put to the test…

A mystical odyssey, a haunting love…

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: FAR SHORE is the third instalment in Traci L. Slatton’s After series set in the post apocalyptic dystopian future following the Day when the lethal mists began to ravage the world’s population and lands. In the After, many of the survivors have developed psychic powers and special abilities that will play an important role in the survival of the world.

At the end of Cold Light our ‘hero’ Arthur had been taken prisoner by a mad man who knows what it is like to lose everything to the mists. Alexei blames Arthur for the mists and ultimately the death of millions of people on earth including the only woman that he has ever loved. There is only one sure way to make Arthur suffer and that is to take the one thing that Arthur loves-his Emma.

Emma is a woman who is torn between the man that she loves and the family that she has risked everything to save. And Emma is the only person who is able to save Arthur and bring him back from the brink of death. But Arthur is no longer the man with whom Emma fell in love and it will take a supernatural miracle to find the man buried deep in the mind of tortured soul.

Traci L. Slatton brings together most of the previous storyline characters-each of whom has suffered in one way or another. From Emma’s family in Canada to the family she left behind in France, a terrible price has been paid by all of those who have survived the attacks from the raiders, the rogues and the mists.

We are pulled into a story of survival against all odds. The death of so many weighs heavily on the few that have survived; but there are also bright spots amongst the gloom when a new life is brought into the world. Our survivors have had a difficult journey and one that has had its’ share of losses and pain. There is heartache for a woman who has lost the man that she loves, but also for the man who has lost himself in a fight for his sanity and his life. Relationships continue to form while others begin to crumble under the weight of betrayal and loss.

Far Shore (and The After series) is a story that makes you wonder about the what ifs and whys of a world at war. If the ultimate weapon of mass destruction is let loose onto a world of innocent people, what will happen when said weapon evolves and comes looking for the creator? Do we really trust the people in charge of our daily lives and if not, what will happen when the people at the top, can no longer control the monster within?

Traci L Slatton has written another wonderful and amazing storyline that looks at the aftermath of an experiment gone horribly wrong. It is a story about love and loss; betrayal and pain; and a second chances to make everything right. And it is also about two people, who have found love amongst the chaos and destruction, only to lose each other at the hands of a man tortured by his own loss. Sometimes there is only one choice and that choice is to survive, no matter what someone else has in mind.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview beige

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome back Traci. We previously spoke with Traci in the summer of 2012 with the release of Cold Light-the second book in her After Series.

Traci L Slatton TRC: Hi Traci and welcome back to The Reading Café.

Traci: Thanks for having me back! I’m glad to be back.

TRC: For anyone who does not know Traci L. Slatton, would you please tell us something about yourself?

Traci: I am the author of 9 books and the mother of 4 girls, three and a step; I practice yoga daily; I live in Manhattan with my husband Sabin Howard, who is a classical figurative sculptor. I was a Navy brat. I like horses and chocolate and Renaissance art and travel.

TRC: It has been a little over a year since last we talked, what have you been up to?

Traci: Writing during the day and posing at night for Sabin, who is using me as the model for a bust. Posing for my husband isn’t strenuous, but it is challenging. I have to hold my head at a certain slight tilt, and maintain a small smile, and keep my shoulders relaxed down my back, for several hours after dinner every night, unless Sabin is teaching. Sabin is polite, but when he’s sculpting, he’s very demanding and clinical. There’s no funny business. And he doesn’t reimburse me in cash for posing, but he’s supposed to pay me in something else I can’t mention because this is a G rated blog. Unfortunately, by the time we’re finished sculpting for the night, I’m too tired to ask for payment. 🙂

Of course, I’m always raising my little one, who is 8.5 now. I’m also researching WW2 for two historical novels set during that time period.

TRC: FAR SHORE is the third instalment in your After series focusing on the ramifications of a weapon of mass destruction-literally-gone wrong. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Traci: The premise is that most of humanity, and our physical structures, has been wiped out by a global ecological cataclysm. The survivors are struggling to stay alive as best they can. They’re beset by danger on every side, and inflicted with psychic gifts that presage madness. Within that context, a woman who is very strong develops a healing gift, and she falls in love with a man who is hiding a terrible secret.

TRC: The AFTER series was originally a trilogy, how many books have you planned for the series and what was the decision to write past three instalments?

Traci: I think it is a 4 book series. I meant for it to be a trilogy, but I got to the end of FAR SHORE, which is Book 3, and I had story left over to tell. Unexpected.

After Series

Click HERE for our review of FALLEN
Click HERE for our review of COLD LIGHT

TRC: The premise of the series contains a major sociological, environmental and ethical disaster with a death toll rising into the billions. How do you think today’s society would fair or survive under the same circumstances? Or is the storyline a virtual interpretation of what you believe may happen after an apocalypse of this nature?

Traci: This storyline is an interpretation of what I believe may happen. Not the specifics of Emma and Arthur’s story, but the broad sweeps: people will band together and form tribes for safety and survival. Some of those tribes will be more civilized than others. Some people will rise as heroes, showing the finest and bravest that human beings can attain; others will show the worst of us.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Traci: Good question! The answer is actually nuanced. I create characters whose qualities demand that they act in certain ways, but I as the author am always governing the fictional universe. That is, a character who is coherent will behave in ways that grow naturally and organically from his or her self. However, a brave person will sometimes be fearful; a crazy person will have moments of lucidity. There may be a greater reason why I as author set the character up to act out of character, as it were. But I have to strategize that situation very skillfully.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Traci: Both. I love the oceanic sweep of creative inspiration, and I usually surf that blissfully into a book for a few chapters. However, structure in a 65,000 word story is crucial. Without structure, the story falls into disarray. It becomes incoherent. So I work both from an outline and from the lightning bolt of creativity, back and forth, back and forth. The one informs the other, always.

TRC: Has their ever been one of your characters that you would have liked to re-written, perhaps change up the personality or characteristics-good or bad?

Traci: I sometimes wish I had made Luca Bastardo of IMMORTAL (BantamDell, 2008) a little more proactive. He tended to react rather than initiate. But he is a well liked character, so perhaps my readers are more forgiving than I am.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Traci: Excellent, and hard, question. When a writer can wring emotion out of a reader, and that is one of the ultimate goals, it’s a function of a few things. One is creating relatable, three-dimensional characters for whom the readers care, in whom the readers are invested. Another is diction. Sloppy or over-flowery diction will alienate a reader. Also, it helps if the narrative is cohesive and if the events of the story are compelling.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Traci: That’s the trick, isn’t it? Well, this goes back to my 3 Rules for Writing Novels: 1, What is story? Story is how your protagonist does NOT get what he or she wants. 2, What is story? All story is an argument for a specific value. 3, What are the stakes? So the plot all happens to keep the protagonist from getting what he or she wants. And at each event, I ask, what are the stakes? What does the protagonist stand to lose or gain? So keeping those questions in mind helps me stay fresh while also maintaining verisimilitude.

There’s also revision. My family and friends have heard me say it, so I’ll repeat it here: revision is writing. I don’t usually hit a bull’s eye the first time I write a scene or a chapter. Sometimes I can’t even get the arrow in the same town as the target board. But a revision or five later, I usually have something good to work with.

TRC: How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of deadlines?

Traci: Somehow I got really lucky in that I am highly self-motivated and disciplined, and I rarely procrastinate. (Maybe God was making up for my extra wide, double E size feet and unnaturally large, ET-like forehead.) My motto is, why wait until tomorrow when you can do it today? It makes the people around me a little crazy sometimes, but I can usually deal with deadlines, by racing ahead of them.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?

Traci: Ooo. People think I’m strong, and they think strong means “unfeeling.” While it’s true I tend to have a lot of forward motion, and I will stand up for myself and for what I believe is right, that doesn’t mean I’m invulnerable. People, especially those close to me, see my strength but not my vulnerability. It’s led to a lot of painful situations in my life. I always want to say, to my two older daughters and to my mother and to my vengeful ex-husband, “I am a person. Don’t I have eyes? Don’t I have hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Am I not fed by the same food? If you prick me, do I not bleed? If you tickle me, do I not laugh?”

TRC: Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life and why?

Traci: I’ve been fortunate to have met a lot of compelling people who have taken an interest in me. It’s hard to pick one. I guess my grandmother Granny Bee was a big influence. She was a raucous, funny, lively, experimental person. She had only a 3rd grade education, she was part Cherokee, and she spent her early life traveling the South picking crops, but she was one of the most engaging people I’ve ever met. She had 5 husbands and we joke that only a few of them died under mysterious circumstances. She was going to nudist colonies in the 50’s–who was doing that? She built her own home, with her hands and nails and boards and a hammer. When she needed plumbing, she dated a plumber. When she needed the electrical system put in, she dated an electrician. It wasn’t easy for my mom as a little kid, but I always admired Granny Bee’s resourcefulness, courage, originality, and willingness to take risks.

TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?

Traci: Usually my husband Sabin. We fight a lot. It’s not easy to be two artists in the marriage, because that means there are actually 4 of us in the marriage: Sabin, his sculpting, me, and my writing. We’re both creative, opinionated, and pathologically persistent people. But Sabin does have a different perspective than I do, and when he’s not triggered by the situation, he has a lot of smart things to say. He can help pull me back when I personalize something; he’s good at reminding me, “That’s the other person’s stuff. Don’t take it on.” He is also often very sensible and practical. He also gives excellent hugs.

TRC: If you could be a contestant on a reality television program, which program would you chose and why?

Traci: Ugh. I hate reality TV. I have a whole rant about how reality TV is the end of western civilization and Enlightenment ideals.

TRC: On what are you currently working? Planned for 2014?

Traci: Having finished FAR SHORE, I am working on BROKEN, the story of a fallen angel in Paris from spring, 1939 to the Vel d’hiv in 1942. I have another WW2 novel planned for 2014. Then the 4th book in the After Series. Then a King Arthur retelling.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Traci: Thank you for these intriguing questions! And check out my husband’s sculptures HERE

LIGHTNING ROUND

Dog or Cat: DOG

Roses or Tulips: LILACS

Iron Man or Thor: THOR

Winter or Summer: SUMMER

Last Movie you Saw: ELYSIUM (Isn’t Matt Damon hot???)

Pet Peeve: When my husband doesn’t rinse out the sink after shaving

Secret Celebrity Crush: Eric Bana (sigh)

TRC: Thank you Traci for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of FAR SHORE. Please come back and keep us up to date with Arthur, Emma and the gang.

Feather Light by Lorenz Font-A Review, Interview and Giveaway

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Sandy

FEATHER LIGHT by Lorenz Font-A Review, Interview and Giveaway

Feather-Light-Banner

Feather Light
by Lorenz Font
Release Date: October 10, 2013

review

Feather Light

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 10, 2013

Parker Davis has conquered three major American cities and is the new ‘it’ man in massage. He earned the nickname ‘Feather Light’ for his sensual touches, tender caresses, and soft voice eliciting an almost orgasmic release. Clients from all over clamor for his services and his clientele are growing by the minute. Business is at its peak, which makes Parker a busy man who has no time to deal with problems, let alone dwell on his blindness. With his declining vision, Parker has to accept his limitations and the changes brought forth by this disease, but he is not ready to relinquish the last control he has left. He is still the master in his bedroom.

Kelly Storm, a Hollywood actress, will do whatever it takes to get some much-deserved peace. Being famous has its perks, except the little privacy her popularity afforded her is slowly eating at her. With the paparazzi hounding her every minute of the day, and her personal life under constant scrutiny, Kelly wants a semblance of normalcy wherever she can get it. Under the urging of a close friend, she agrees to give Parker a try.

••••••••••••••••••••

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Feather Light by Lorenz Font is classified as a contemporary erotica novel. This is the first book I have ever read by this author and I found it to be an interesting read. It didn’t blow my mind but I felt engaged in the story and characters enough to keep flipping the pages! The erotica was mild in my opinion. There were elements of BDSM, role playing and an honest desire to please between our main couple. There was no sexual line crossed that made me cringe and reading these two get to know each other sexually was quite sweet and humorous. I can see an average couple who want to spice up the bedroom engaging in kind of play these two do.

Our main man is Parker Davis, massage therapist, business owner, kinky, dominant, smart, hot, funny and fun and everyone loves and admires him. He also is suffering from a degenerative eye disease that has left him legally blind (he can make our shapes and such if the light is just right). Parker has refused to let this disease slow him down and hold him back in his life. With the help of his trusted brother and close female friend, Parker can accomplish anything and you had better think twice if you try to pity his fine ass. Parker has a reputation of providing the best massages money can buy. It’s not sex he is selling on the massage table but his feather light touch and beautiful soul somehow speaks to his clients and allows them a place to be emotionally vulnerable. Many have found emotional release and by referring his services, Parker now owns several businesses across the USA.

Kelly Storm is our main lady. She has become a seriously talented actress who is now quite the overnight sensation. Coming off a bad relationship however, her self esteem has taken a beating. She constantly has to disguise herself when she is in public and she feels suffocated by the oppressive paparazzi. When she is booked an appointment on Parker massage table, she is disguised and absolutely blown away at the capacity that this man has at stripping away all her pain.

These two have an instant connect. Parker knows there is something special about this woman despite the fact that he can’t see her. Kelly hides behind the name Ann and before she realizes that this lie will bite her, she is head over heels in love with Parker. Parker is desperate to dominate Ann (Kelly) and he also begins to fall hard. Can this relationship survive on the lie that is between them? Can Parker forgive Ann (Kelly) for the deceit he is surely soon to discover??

This book would of been a 3 out of 5 for me if it were not for the last quarter of this book. The first three quarters was a little choppy (meaning that I interpreted an abrupt end scene, enter new scene) and I wish there was a smoother flow. I rolled my eyes a couple of times but I always found and adored the humor. I wanted to smack Kelly and tell her to spill it already and thought she was kind of an idiot for holding her secret back … but that is what the story is about right?? LOL The last quarter, I have to admit I had a book of tissues with me. I cried my eyes out as the hurt and the betrayal came out, and especially for Parker who is seriously deep inside truly full of issues himself. I think the author did absolute justice to this aspect of the book.

So while this isn’t a light fluffy read, it isn’t as heavy as it could of been! This is a good book for those that have never read anything with the BDSM element.

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel T.

Copy supplied by the author.

Interview

Lorenz Font TRC: Hi Lorenz and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of Feather Light.

Lorenz: Thank you. It’s nice to be here.

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

Lorenz: I’m a late bloomer. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Literature, I had no idea what to do with myself. I stumbled along until one day I found myself with grown children, a contented husband, and nothing much to occupy my time. With my free time came the realization that I have this little untapped gift for telling stories. That was when I discovered the exciting and crazy world of fiction writing, and I’ve never looked back.

TRC: FEATHER LIGHT is your October 2013 release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Lorenz: Feather Light is a different take on erotic romance. First of all, the leading man is not your usual hero. Parker projects a confident façade while harboring a deep resentment for his physical limitation. He also enjoys controlling his partner in the bedroom. Then he meets Kelly, our leading lady who is not quite upfront with her identity from the first day they met. What we get is a whole lot of static filled with playful scenes and a heavy dose of reality.

TRC: Many readers are very tactile. They like to ‘feel’ the emotions of the characters–and your leading male is a very ‘tactile’ character. How difficult was it to write about a character who is blind and everything he feels and touches must be delivered to the reader through touch and emotions?

Lorenz: It wasn’t difficult to write Parker’s character. In order to write a believable story, I did a diligent research. This included reading articles about blind people and their challenges. I found myself closing my eyes in several instances and directing my energy toward using my hands to feel surfaces. I tried to put myself in my character’s shoes in order to create a realistic scenario.

TRC: What or who was the inspiration behind FEATHER LIGHT and the leading characters?

Lorenz: Feather Light was a 500-word drabble that I’d shelved two years ago. It wasn’t until I joined the contest at TWCS that I figured out that I’m ready to deal with the real issue. It’s inspired by a person dear to me.

TRC: Are any of the characters or situations in the storyline based in reality or an amalgamation of your imagination and current headlines?

Lorenz: It is pure fiction. By the time the contest was over, I stumbled upon this touching video on YouTube. Allow me to share it with you and your followers.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters in the series, which models or actors would be represent your projected image?

Lorenz: Oh, this is going to be difficult. I can never come up with faces of famous people to associate with my characters.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Lorenz: It’s a two-way street. I try to develop the characters in my head before anything else. This could include their behavior, quirks and how they’d respond to any given situation. By the time the developmental stage is over and the story has taken off, the characters often times take over and does most of the writing for me.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Lorenz: I don’t do story outlines. I realize that there is an inherent peril to this, but I can’t get myself to write an outline only to move away from its premise come writing time. I dislike the feeling of being caged. There is a liberating feeling that I get when I freestyle. I work with a firm beginning and idea of the ending of the story, the rest is going to be an exciting journey.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, etc) did you encounter writing this particular story?

Lorenz: It has more to do with a certain violent scene that might be a trigger for some readers. It took me several rewrites to get the manuscript to an acceptable level.

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

Lorenz: I have several trusted friends who will jot down notes for me while I babble on about a concept I want to develop. They usually ask me questions to keep my ideas rolling. It’s a fun process for me.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Lorenz: I approach a certain conflict and twist it into two scenarios in my head. I usually choose the one that makes the most sense to me.

TRC: How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of deadlines while still having time to raise a family?

Lorenz: As I mentioned earlier, my children are grown. The two younger ones are in college while the eldest graduated three years ago. So it’s safe to say that they’re self-sufficient. My hubby took over the cooking and running errands to give me enough time to meet my deadlines after my busy day at work.

TRC: If you could be a contestant on a reality television program, which program would you chose and why?

Lorenz: Sorry, I don’t have time to watch TV these days, although I did check out the much anticipated season premiere of Sons of Anarchy for a brief moment. It’s an intense show and I wouldn’t mind watching if I ever find a free moment.

TRC: What are your thoughts on book reviews-good or bad?

Lorenz: Any form of review is welcomed. Of course, a positive review makes me happy but I won’t begrudge a negative review. Whether I agree with a negative review or not, the reader is giving me their opinion. I try to take each one with a grain of salt and see which part of their comment I can work on in future projects.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Lorenz: I’m currently writing Ascension, the third installment of The Gates Legacy Trilogy—a paranormal romance. It’s scheduled to be released in May 2014. At the same time, I’m working on editing the first draft of a young adult novel I recently finished writing.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Lorenz: I have another contemporary romance novel that is slated for July 2014 release. It’s about a career soldier returning from the war with serious emotional and physical scars.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food- Tofu and Sushi

Favorite Dessert- Haagen Daz coffee ice cream

Favorite TV Show- none at the moment

Last Movie You Saw- I think it’s Star Trek-Into Darkness

Dark or Milk Chocolate- Milk Chocolate

Favorite Flower- Tulip and Mums

Last Vacation Destination- Kauia, Hawaii

Pet Peeve- Slow drivers in the fast lane

Secret Celebrity Crush- James Franco

TRC: Thank you Lorenz for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best with your writing career.

Lorenz: Thank you for having me. More power to your blog.

about the author

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website / Twitter / Facebook

Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her debut novel Hunted, the first book of The Gates Legacy Trilogy and Indivisible Line, a romantic thriller. Her newest novel, Tormented, the second installment of The Gates Legacy, is now available for vampire lovers everywhere.

Writing is a therapy for Lorenz, and a perfect day consists of writing and playing with her characters while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She enjoys dabbling in different genres with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.

Lorenz currently lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. She divides her time between a full-time job as a Business Office Manager for a hospital and her busy writing schedule.

rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter

Rafflecopter giveaway

Her Wicked Angel by Felicity E. Heaton-Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Sandy

Her Wicked Angel by Felicity E. Heaton-Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway

Her Wicked Angel
Her Angel #6
by Felicity E. Heaton
Release Date: September 21, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Her Wicked Angel

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

The King of Demons and the Devil’s right hand man, Asmodeus is a dark angel born of evil and created for destruction. When his master orders him to venture into the mortal world and retrieve a female for him, he seizes the chance to leave Hell for the first time, uncaring of what the Devil has planned for her… until he sets eyes on the most beautiful woman he has ever seen—a female who awakens new feelings within his black heart, unleashing passion so intense that it controls him and desire he cannot resist.

He will not let his wretched master have her. She will belong to him.

Liora is a witch with a bad reputation and an obsession with fighting demons. A mission gone wrong sees her sent to Paris to cool off, but when a dark and deadly warrior with a gaze of golden fire lands in her life, she ends up burning hotter than Hell for the wicked angel. Nothing will stand between her and the immense, forbidding male. Not her cousin. Not Asmodeus’s sworn enemy and twin, Apollyon. And certainly not the Devil.

Caught up in a tempest of danger and soul-searing passion, can they survive against the odds and seize their forever after?

Interview beige 2

Felicity Heaton TRC: Hi Felicity and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of Her Wicked Angel.

Felicity: Thanks for having me here.

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

Follow: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Felicity: Sure I can. I’m a paranormal romance writer, although I do also dabble in science fiction romance. I’ve been writing since 2005, and went indie in 2006, before all the cool kids were doing it. I’ve written over forty-five books in my career as a writer, and around forty of those are still available. I love to write passionate paranormal romances, with high-octane action, intense emotion, and heroes who will make your toes curl!

At the moment, I have two major series on the go and one I completed this year, and I have another series about to begin in December. The completed series is the Vampire Erotic Theatre series, with the delicious heroes of Vampirerotique, London’s premier naughty theatre for vampires. The ongoing series are the Her Angel series with my take on sexy passionate angels determined to protect their women from a terrible game between Heaven and Hell, and the Vampires Realm series I write as F E Heaton, which is packed with twisting plots, vampires to die for, and is a huge world encompassing ten books at present.

TRC: HER WICKED ANGEL is the September 2013 release in the Her Angel series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Click HERE for our review of HER WICKED ANGEL by Felicity E Heaton

Felicity: Her Wicked Angel is the sixth book in my popular Her Angel paranormal romance series. It’s about Asmodeus, the wicked King of Demons and the Devil’s right hand man. He’s an angel born for destruction and evil, but beneath his cold and often cruel exterior there is a glimmer of good, a seed that he hides from his master and the three realms (Heaven, Hell and the Mortal realms) because in his world, good is a weakness.

When he is sent to the mortal world to retrieve a female for the Devil and sets eyes on the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, a woman who challenges him at every turn and seems to have a mystical power over him, that sliver of good begins to grow and he realizes that he can’t let his master have her… because he wants her for himself.

Liora is a witch and has always known that angels existed, but she never thought she would meet Asmodeus. The glowering dark angel warrior with his black wings and golden eyes makes her burn hotter than Hell itself and she can’t resist the fierce attraction that blazes between them. He’s dangerous and deadly… and he might just be her only hope for survival.

TRC: The last three books appear to building up for a war within the series. Would you please tell us whose storyline is next and which direction will the story take?

Her Angel Series

Click HERE for our review of HER ANGEL series books 3-6 by Felicity E Heaton

Felicity: I can admit that the next novel will feature Nevar as the hero and that it is going to be epic, but can’t say much more than that without giving away huge spoilers for both his book and for Her Wicked Angel. Nevar is very much an angel on the brink. He’s been through a lot since his first appearance in the fifth book in the series, Her Demonic Angel, and in his book, he’s going to have to come to terms with some things about himself and learn to deal with them, and in turn become more like the man he used to be.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, historical, theological etc) did you encounter writing this particular series?

Felicity: I had a great time coming up with the series and didn’t really have any problems at all. It all sort of took shape during my regular walks to work when I was employed in London.

I was walking to work one morning and questioning a plot idea I had been writing down notes for. It was a vampire romance at the time but I wanted to see how I could make it different, and then for some reason I decided to see if it would work better with angels rather than vampires as the protagonists. It would. Because I started thinking about angels for that story, I started thinking about them in general too, and what it would be like to have an angel series where the angels weren’t all fallen and were still working for a higher power, but while they were messengers of God, they were their own beings too, able to make their own decisions and pursue their own passions without castigation. They’re all male and they’re passionate, frivolous at times, and like to bend the rules as much as they can without breaking the ones still in place, and they’re curious about anything that was previously forbidden, such as alcohol and other things, just like a human would be.

I wanted the first angel I introduced to straddle the line between good and bad. I wanted him to be dark, powerful, and alluring. I started to research angels and look for names for this hero forming in my head, and I came across Apollyon. There’s some debate about whether Apollyon is an angel or another name for the Devil. Either way, he’s cited as being the “Great Destroyer” and “King of the Bottomless Pit”. I thought he would be perfect as the hero I had wanted to write, and Her Dark Angel began to take shape in my mind and the series formed with it.

TRC: Have you ever had negative comments regarding the theological direction of Her Angel series?

Felicity: Never. Readers from around the world love the series and I’ve never had a negative comment about it from any of them. I had been concerned about it at first, and especially when Her Guardian Angel came out as that was all about an eternal game between Heaven and Hell, and let’s just say that good and evil isn’t white and black in that game. Both sides do some terrible things. The first three books have been translated into Spanish by a large publishing house there and have been well received, which really surprised me given that it’s a very religious country.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters in the series, which models, rock stars or actors would be represent your projected image?

Felicity: Someone once suggested that Bradley Cooper could play Apollyon and for some reason that has stuck in my head and every time I see him in a movie (especially if he has longer hair), I just see Apollyon. Other than that, I can’t honestly think of anyone I would cast in the roles of the characters. I’ve always said that if someone made a movie of any of my books, I’d want to cast people who really looked like the characters, and that would probably mean a lot of unknown or little known actors.

Unleash TRC: UNLEASH was the sixth instalment (May 2013) in your Vampire Erotic Theater. Would you please tell us something about the storyline?

Felicity: Unleash featured a very popular hero of mine, Snow. I don’t think I’ve ever written a hero who has captured as many hearts as he did from the very moment he burst onto the scene in the first book in the series, Covet.

Unleash begins with Snow in a bad place because of his bloodlust, a terrible affliction that means he loses control and he has to chain himself in order to protect others from his thirst for violence and bloodshed. He receives a visit from someone while he’s in the grip of his bloodlust and is roused by her singing to him, but she remains a mystery at first. When she reveals herself, Snow is enchanted by the beautiful, mysterious female. She awakens his protective streak and stirs dark desires to claim her as his female, even though he knows that he will ruin her if he does.

Aurora is tied to Snow, and has been since an event long in both of their pasts. When she sees him losing himself to his bloodlust, she breaks the rules to come to him and aid him, guiding him out of the darkness, but she can’t resist returning to him even when she knows she mustn’t. It takes a single forbidden kiss to unleash emotions she shouldn’t possess, leaving her torn between duty and desire… and then it’s a race against time to save Snow’s soul and maybe her own in the process.

TRC: Do you have any plans to continue this series? Novellas? Re-visits?

Vampire Erotic Theatre

Felicity: There’s a new series in the works that is set in the same world as the Vampire Erotic Theatre series. The Eternal Mates series is set in the wider world that Vampirerotique is only a tiny part of and features all kinds of paranormal species—from demons and witches, to dark elves, shifters, vampires and fae—as well as a demon hunting organisation. I will be releasing the first book in the series, Kissed by a Dark Prince, in December 2013 and the second book, Claimed by a Demon King, in early 2014. Both of those books will feature cameos by heroes and heroines from the Vampire Erotic Theatre series.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Felicity: The characters always direct the story. I try to rein them in at times and make them conform to the plan we laid out, but sometimes they will go off on a tangent and I sit back and let them play.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Felicity: A plotter. I write outlines for all of my books, compiled from all the notes / scenes I’ve written down while working on other stories and then filling in the gaps. The outline for my current WIP is around 25,000 words! That just shows you how serious I am about plotting before writing. It really helps me work in any plot twists and misdirection if I plan it all out in advance.

TRC: Has there ever been one of your characters that you would have liked to re-written, perhaps change up the personality or characteristics-good or bad?

Felicity: None. I love all my characters and I wouldn’t change any of them.

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

Felicity: Sometimes I bounce ideas off a fellow author who writes as Alexandra Marell / C A Nicks, and my husband is always there for those long sessions where I try to tie his brain into knots by talking about whatever series I’m writing at the time… I like to watch his eyes slowly glaze over and then give him a pop quiz at the end.

Felicity: This is all about creating believable characters that readers can relate to and feel something for. I tend to do what I call “method writing” where I live the emotions my characters are experiencing at whatever given point I’m at in the book. I really pour emotion into my stories and craft characters in such a way that they’re imperfect, have pain in their past, and things they need to overcome. I feel with them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. When I’m writing a scene that is tearing them apart inside, then I’m feeling that too. I often cry when writing scenes in books and I’m not afraid to do very bad things to characters in order to pack a real emotional punch into the book. With Unleash, I cried every time I read certain scenes too, which was a first for me.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Felicity: This is where writing an outline comes into play so beautifully. I can play with misdirection and layer in clues and hints, and lead readers on false trails. It’s all about those drip-fed clues and then a big reveal. Because I write paranormal romance, I can get away with some pretty big twists without sacrificing believability. It just sort of happens in a smooth manner that ties everything together and suddenly things make sense to the reader.

TRC: How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of deadlines?

Felicity: Not very well. I do my best to have a very clear schedule, complete with a wall planner in combination with one very busy diary, and also another calendar in a spreadsheet for my writing schedule, AND a series of Google calendars that tell me all the guest posts / interviews / giveaways / cover reveals / etc that I’m doing. My schedule is always hectic. My diary is always full. Each day is packed with everything I have to do—writing, guest blogging / tour posts, interviews, blogging, promotion, work on upcoming tours/cover reveals and work for current events like those, plus so much more. Sometimes the pressure can become too much and I just have to accept that I’ve tried to push myself too hard. It’s very easy to be unrealistic with deadlines but I’m trying to get better at allowing enough time.

TRC: If you could be a contestant on a reality television program, which program would you chose and why?

Felicity: I’m going to admit now that I really don’t watch reality TV. I can’t even think of a program name.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Felicity: I’m currently working on Claimed by a Demon King, which will be the second book in the Eternal Mates series. After that, I’ll be working on the first Guardians of Hades book.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Felicity: Only that it was great to be here today and I hope readers will check out the rest of the Her Wicked Angel tour, and that they can visit my website to learn more about the series and download long samples of the books.

Readers can learn more about the Her Angel series at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebookseries.php?series=Her%20Angel

Readers can follow the tour (and enter the grand giveaway) at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/her-wicked-angel-book-tour.php

FREE EBOOK: Want to get a free taste of this series? You can download the first book, Her Dark Angel, for free at selected ebook stores (and two other free paranormal romance ebooks too). Find all the links at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/paranormal-romance-ebook-offers.php

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Anything with cinnamon in it.

Favorite Dessert – Anything with cinnamon in it – yes, I love it that much.

Favorite TV Show – Several… The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, Agents of SHIELD (so far), Once Upon a Time, Lost Girl… the list goes on.

Last Movie You Saw – In the cinema, it was White House Down. At home, it was a really terrible sci-fi rom-com called Earthbound that I would like to erase from my memory.

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Dark all the way!

Favorite Flower – Purple and white tulips.

Last Vacation Destination – The wilds of Scotland, but that was a family visit. Last non-family visit was Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Pet Peeve – When people spell piqued wrong (and other words).

Secret Celebrity Crush – Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth all the way!

Thank you Felicity for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of Her Wicked Angel and Unleash. We wish you all the best.

Giveaway beige

Be sure to follow this fantastic tour to learn more about the passionate heroes and sassy heroines! You can also find yourself in with a chance to WIN a $50 or $25 Amazon Gift Certificate if you follow the tour. More details, including how to enter and a full list of stops, are available at the Her Wicked Angel Virtual Book Tour page: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/her-wicked-angel-book-tour.php

__________________________________________

All of the books so far in the series are available in paperback, and in ebook from Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Barnes and Noble. Excerpts are available for all of the current releases in the series, so you can get a taste of these paranormal romances.

Read more about Her Wicked Angel below, and visit my site for links to all the retailers and a 6 chapter excerpt:

Her Wicked Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 6)
by Felicity Heaton
Books in the Her Angel romance series:

Her Dark Angel (Her Angel romance series book 1)

Her Fallen Angel (Her Angel romance series book 2)

Her Warrior Angel (Her Angel romance series book 3)

Her Guardian Angel (Her Angel romance series book 4)

Her Demonic Angel (Her Angel romance series book 5)

Her Wicked Angel (Her Angel romance series book 6)

Find out more about the Her Angel series at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/series/54822-her-angel

About Felicity Heaton:

Felicity Heaton writes passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, Felicity Heaton’s best selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series she writes as F E Heaton or any of her stand alone vampire romance books she writes as Felicity Heaton. Or if you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try Felicity Heaton’s new Vampire Erotic Theatre series.

In 2011, five of her six paranormal romance books received Top Pick awards from Night Owl Reviews, Forbidden Blood was nominated as Best PNR Vampire Romance 2011 at The Romance Reviews, and many of her releases received five star reviews from numerous websites.

Follow: Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Cache a Predator by M. Weidenbenner-Review and Interview with the Author

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Sandy

Cache a Predator by M. Weidenbenner-Review and Interview with the Author

Cache a Predator

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28, 2013

Officer Brett Reed will do anything to gain custody of his five-year-old daughter, Quinn. But when a judge grants Brett’s drug-addicted ex-wife custody and slaps him with a protective order for losing his temper, he fears for Quinn’s safety. Who will protect her now?

When Quinn is found abandoned on the streets, she’s placed in a temporary foster home until Child Protective Services can complete an assessment. It should only take a few days.

But a lot can happen in a few days.

Especially when there’s a deranged psychopath on the loose, someone who’s attacking pedophiles, someone who wants to protect children like Quinn, and someone who’s planting body parts in geocaching sites.

Cache a Predator is a novel about a father’s love, justice, and the unhinged game of hide-the-cache.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Let me begin by letting you know this book is such a thrilling read! That said; let’s get into the premise and beginning of the story.

I don’t want to give too much away, but we’re dealing with abuse (physical and sexual) and its aftermath years down the road and how it affects the lives it touches, I know – not a wonderful subject, but this is really well done. The story begins with the narration of a person going a crime…describing feelings, past and present, what they’re doing now and the whole scene. The crime is an interesting one, breaking into a mausoleum and cutting off the male member of a dead abuser…then taking that and sealing it in a plastic bag and hiding in in a geocache location. Geocaching is an interesting hiking activity of a sort of treasure hunt game people are playing all over the world…Google it!

This is an intricate story or stories as it deals with different people and their lives all touched by the same or similar situations and the aftermath.
The main character in this twisty thrilling tale is Brett Reed. Brett spent twelve years trying to “rescue” Ali, his ex-wife from herself and her issues from her past, but some people just won’t be saved. However, they managed to produce Quinn, a wonderful little girl who loves her parents. Circumstances have Brett wound up in knots trying to gain custody of his daughter, while trying not to harm her mother any further than she already is! You really feel the frustration that courts and their “snail-pace” can and do inflict.

Brett is also a police officer and he and his partner draw the case of the “whacker”, who is now whacking live sex offenders in their area and geocaching their members as well!

Due to complications, I would need to write my own novel to describe; Quinn is placed in Child Protective Services (CPS) care to keep her safe until custody can be determined by the courts, after she is found wondering the streets of the neighborhood in the middle of the night. This brings into play the lovely Dr. Sarah Grinwald, a psychologist and part-time case worker for CPS. She’s to assess Quinn, Ali and Brett and make a recommendation to the courts as to custody and what would be in Quinn’s best interests.

Sarah is a very good psychologist, but also a wonderful human being! The sparks between Brett and Sarah are immediate, but very slow and cautious. Now the fun begins! This story takes off on many levels as crimes, personal issues, and more wind into a marvelously compelling and thrilling tale.

While I’m not a lover of abuse stories, I found this intriguing tale compelling and strangely uplifting. I think this was mostly due to the well written dialog and plot of this story. It’s inspirational, slightly sensual, and very realistically written. I have to say I just loved it and wanted more! This was definitely worth the read!! Enjoy, I did!

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Georgianna

Interview

TRC: Hi Michelle and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of CACHE A PREDATOR.

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

Follow Michelle: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

M. Weidenbenner Michelle: I’m a fulltime writer and blogger, encouraging adults and teens on their writing journey. My blog is called RANDOM WRITING RANTS.

I’m a sucker for emotional stories, sometimes called an empath. I feel other people’s pain. It’s my sensitive side that fuels the passion for my character’s plights, often giving me the ability to show readers the other side of the story.

I grew up in the burbs of Detroit with five brothers. No sisters. Each time my mom brought the boy bundle home I cried, certain my mom liked boys better than girls. But when my brothers pitched in with the cooking, cleaning, and babysitting—without drama, I discovered having brothers wasn’t so bad. They even taught me how to take direct criticism without flinching, which might come in handy with book reviews.

I’m living my dream—writing every day and thanking God for the stories He puts in my path. When I’m not writing I’m winning ugly on the tennis court. I’m known as “Queen of the Rim Shots.” No joke. It’s ugly.

My debut novel, Cache a Predator is a geocaching mystery and an Amazon bestseller in the thriller/crime category.

Scattered Links, a Young Adult novel about a Russian orphan, is slated to be released January 2014.

TRC: July 30 2013 saw the release of your suspense/mystery novel CACHE A PREDATOR. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Michelle: It’s a geocaching mystery about a cop who wants custody of his five-year-old daughter. But first he has to convince the judge, child protective services, and a deranged vigilante that he’s a good dad.

TRC: Do you have plans for a series of novels focusing on Officer Brett Reed and his murder investigations or is this a stand alone novel?

Michelle: Although this is a stand-alone novel, several readers have commented that they’d love for the story to continue, so I might have to consider a series.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters of CACHE A PREDATOR, which actors or models would best represent your ideal image or character muse?

Michelle: Confession—I have no clue. I’m really bad at knowing the names of actors and actresses. Isn’t that pitiful? Maybe if they wore nametags on their foreheads I could remember! I know, it’s embarrassing. My friends make fun of me about not knowing who the big ones are.

However, I have a Pinterest board of CACHE a PREDATOR and photos of what I think the characters might look like.

TRC: What is the significance of the novel title-CACHE a PREDATOR and its relationship to the storyline?

Michelle: In the sport “geocaching” hikers find hidden cache boxes in their communities. They use GPS devices to find the coordinates of where the cache boxes are hidden. In this novel, the “cache” is a predator’s body part, thus “Cache a Predator.” But it’s a play on words too—meant to sound like “Catch a Predator.” The vigilante targets pedophiles and plants a “piece” of them in the cache boxes.

TRC: Who or what was the influence behind the storyline and Officer Brett Reed?

Michelle: I knew a dad who was going through a divorce and he worried the female judge would grant his ex-wife custody of their son. His raw emotion helped feed this story. I also think that there are a lot of great dads out there who are married to women who struggle with addictions, but you don’t hear about them as often as you do men with addictions.

When a friend of mine suggested I write a geocaching mystery I had no clue what geocaching was. But once I researched this sport I was totally intrigued. That led me to thinking, “Who would plant body parts in these cache boxes?” I decided it would be someone who liked to play games and had a backstory that would lend itself to targeting pedophiles–who seemed the least likeable people.

TRC: We have read where a number of readers were caught off-guard with the storyline content in the initial pages of the novel. What ‘warnings’ or information would you like to impart to your readers and followers regarding the imagery or details of the storyline?

Michelle: The first chapter is tough for readers because they’re in the mind of the vigilante—a person who’s been sexually abused and wants to right wrongs, wants to protect other children from abuse. It’s gross because the vigilante targets pedophiles and slices a body part—the part that causes the most damage in children.

I’ve thought of rewriting that first chapter, but it’s important to see what drives the story. Maiming pedophiles is something that people have thought about, but no one has ever written about. I understand why it’s difficult for some readers to read, but if they can get past the first chapter it’s not bad thereafter.

There are 35 five-star reviews at Amazon so many readers have gotten past that first chapter.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do your characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Michelle: It’s a little of both. Characters have specific flaws and strengths so who they are dictates what they do and how they speak. However, the outline to the story is something that I loosely plan. I want the characters to show the readers a certain story, so I have to orchestrate that a little and put obstacles in the character’s way.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Michelle: Great question. How do you? Ha!

Typically there’s a perfect ending. What the characters do is a result of their personalities and their predicaments. It leads to the ending that best fits. Sometimes it’s not what the readers want to see though. Sometimes the main character dies and the reader is disappointed, but if it fits the story then it works.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a panster (‘write by the seat of your pants’)?

Michelle: A little of both. I like to have a loose outline so I know the beginning and the ending, but I might not have the middle plot points figured out. For instance, I’m writing a mid-grade novel about a boy who has to save the canine race and a centaur showed up, a mythological creature who’s an immortal half man/half horse. It’s a supernatural story so it fit, but that creature came out of nowhere. Two months ago I didn’t even know what a centaur was. So, you see, if I had everything figured out to the “Nth” degree it wouldn’t allow for any creativity.

Michelle: I love this question, and I totally believe this is the reason readers keep reading or close the book before they finish. If the hero doesn’t sacrifice something, or if the writer doesn’t make me care for the character, then I’m not going to be interested in finishing the novel.

In Cache a Predator I wanted readers to feel sorry for Brett Reed. He’s a great guy who wants custody of his five-year-old daughter to keep her safe from a drug-addicted mother. He only wants what’s best for his little girl. But he has a temper. That’s one of his flaws. He doesn’t see eye-to-eye with a judge who thinks the child is better off with her mother.

But I also want the reader to feel sorry for the vigilante. I think they do by the end of the book, but not in that first chapter. Ha!

In my next novel, Scattered Links, readers feel sorry for Oksana because they see her on the streets in Russia with an abusive aunt. The first 500 words of this novel won $1000 in the Aspiring Writers Contest with The Reading Room a few weeks ago. Literary agent Catherine Drayton requested the full novel for consideration too! (She’s the BOOK THIEF’s agent.) I think the reason this novel won was because readers cared about Oksana. They felt sorry for her right away. (At least, I hope they did!)

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

Michelle: I have a group of writer friends I “bounce” with. We meet once a week. But one of my favorite “bouncers” is a young mom, Janelle Leonard, in upstate New York—far from my Indiana home. I met her online. We PM at Facebook. Last week we spoke on the phone for the first time and I loved it! I feel like we’re sisters with a different mother. Wait, actually, I could be her mother I’m so much older than her. Ha! But she reads a ton of Young Adult and writes in that genre, so I find her helpful. I love her writing voice—it’s very different than mine so I appreciate it. I like to encourage her too, and listen to her ideas because she’s an amazing and creative woman.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Michelle: I’m in the final edits of my young adult contemporary novel, SCATTERED LINKS. It’s a multicultural novel set in Russia and then the US. It’s about a teen who’s abandoned in an orphanage before she says goodbye to her Mama or tells her a secret that haunts her.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Michelle: Thanks for asking great questions and giving me the opportunity to be at the READING CAFÉ!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Crunchy asparagus sushi

Favorite TV Show – I don’t watch much TV, just mostly FOX news. But Robin Roberts from Good Morning America is awesome too. It’s not that I don’t like to watch TV, it’s just that I enjoy writing and reading more.

Last Movie You Saw – Superman. I loved the Christian elements.

Dark or Milk chocolate – Milk Chocolate

Favorite Flower – Yellow daisies

Secret Celebrity Crush – I don’t really have one. I know. I’m weird.

Pet Peeve – Indie authors who don’t hire a developmental editor or line-editor for their novels. They give other “Indie” authors a bad name when they publish novels with typos, grammar errors, and plot problems.

TRC: Thank you Michelle for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of CACHE A PREDATOR. We wish you all the best.

Michelle: Thanks! The pleasure was all mine.

Cloaked in Fur by T.F.Walsh-Review and Interview with the Author

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Sandy

Cloaked in Fur by T.F.Walsh-Review and Interview with the Author

Cloaked in Fur

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Review

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 5, 2013

As a moonwulf, Daciana never expected to fall in love with a human. Hell, she never imagined that she’d abandon her pack, endanger everyone around her, and break the worst rule possible. But she did.

A rogue werewolf is killing Daciana’s friends, and she sets on capturing the creature. She’ll do whatever it takes to stop the beast. The police and her boyfriend, Inspector Connell Lonescu, are starting to question her involvement in the murders, which is endangering the pack’s secret existence. But when the pack alpha kidnaps Connell, revealing the awful truth about the creature and its connection to the pack, Daciana must choose between saving the man she loves and saving her pack family from certain death

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: Daciana just wanted to have a normal life. She had lived a year in the city and fallen in love with the man of her dreams, Connell. She wanted to live a happy, normal life with him. But there was one problem that Connell didn’t know about. She was apart of a pack of wulfkin. Currently, she was a moonwulf but in a few days, she would go through the change that would make her a full blown wulfkin forever. Daci was on a mission to find a potion that would stop this permanent change. How could Connell love her if her found out what she was? In her quest to find the information that she needed, she was spending a lot of time away and Connell was becoming distant. Then the people close to Daci started to die from attacks of a forbidden breed of animal called a dracwulf. Daci had to figure out what was going on and protect everyone she loved.

Daci had hidden all the details of her pack life away from Connell. How could she make him understand and accept what she was? She thought it would be an impossible task. That is why she teamed up with Radu, a fellow wulfkin, to help her find a way to stop the change. Once the attacks began, her focus had to shift from her research to protecting her pack and her boyfriend from this monsterous creature. She was afraid to tell Connell the truth and the lying caused their relationship to unravel. Daci’s future was getting more unpredictable with each passing minute.

I really enjoyed this book, there was so much action and storyline packed into each page, never a dull moment. If you like reading about wolves and shapeshifting, this is the book for you. All of the characters played such an important role throughout the story. Daci is not a whiney, wimpy woman character. She is brave, tough and willing to protect her own, no matter the cost.

Review by Tricia

Copy supplied by the author

_____________________________________

Interview

TRC: Hi Tania and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of CLOAKED IN FUR.

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

FOLLOW: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest

T.F.Walsh Tania: I emigrated from Romania to Australia at the age of eight and now lives in a regional city south of Sydney with my husband. Growing up hearing dark fairytales, I have always had a passion for reading and writing horror, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult stories. I balance all the dark with light fluffy stuff like baking and traveling.

TRC: You were born in Romania but now live in Australia. Have you ever had a chance to return to your country of birth? What are your thoughts?

Tania: I haven’t returned yet… but I really want to. I want to go back and see where I grew up, visit my family and do a tour of the town where my book is based – Brasov ☺ I really want to take hubby back there and show him the country.

TRC: How has your Romanian heritage and roots influenced your storyline concept or writing e.g. (historically, geographically, names etc)?

Tania: Absolutely. Cloaked in Fur is based in Romania and I used my knowledge of the country, it’s cultures and beliefs to make it as real as possible for the reader. Romania is probably not a travel destination for a lot of people since it is a long hike, so when people read Cloaked in Fur, I wanted them to feel like they were right there, experiencing what my characters experienced.

TRC: CLOAKED IN FUR is your August 2013 release written in the paranormal genre. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Tania: As a moonwulf, Daciana never expected to fall in love with a human. Hell, she never imagined that she’d abandon her pack, endanger everyone around her, and break the worst rule possible. But she did.

TRC: The storyline features a strong female protagonist. What or who influenced your decision to write a story/series featuring a strong female lead rather than the male driving the storyline?

Tania: I’m a bit believer that females can do anything, and as such, I didn’t hesitate to have Daciana be the strong female lead in this story. The men in her life are also strong so it only makes sense she can stand up to them and look out for herself.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series or is this a stand alone? If you will continue the series, will all of the characters and storylines overlap?

Tania: Cloaked in Fur is book 1 in a longer series, and so far I’ve planned out up to book 3. Each instalment will be from different characters’ POV, but set in the same world with similar storylines and familiar characters. As a sneak peek, book 2 will be about Enre, who plays a big role in book 1.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter on the road to publication?

Tania: Learning the craft was a long journey, but completely worth it. I wouldn’t change a thing because that’s who I became a writer. The other hard part was learning to deal with criticism on your writing… I’m definitely getting better at it☺

TRC: When writing a storyline, do your characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Tania: A bit of both. I tend to set the path for my characters initially. We all know where we want to end up, but once I start writing, my characters do deviate at times. I love it when that happens because it pushes me to explore new ideas I hadn’t previously considered.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Tania: Foreshadowing. I love leaving crumbs of hints and red herrings along, but I find the trick is to never give away too much until it’s needed.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a panster (write by the ‘seat of your pants’)?

Tania: Plotter. My pages and pages of outlines can attest to it ☺

Tania: I love using deep point of view… this means the reader is right inside the characters’ head, knowing everything they know, feeling everything they feel as it happens. It’s quite an intrusive approach for the poor character, but what better way to sympathise and understand them. I think stories that don’t offer such insight cheat readers of really getting to really know the characters.

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

Tania: I have a fantastic critique group and writing friends who read all my stories before I would consider publishing it. I can’t recommend enough for writers to join a critique group for sound advice on their stories.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Tania: Right now, I’m plotting book 2 of Cloaked in Fur. I’m also half way through a new young adult fantasy novel, which is made up of three parts about six characters. It is set a world filled with witches, steampunk monsters and magic, and at the heart of the story, there’s the struggle to find love.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Tania: Just a big thank you to everyone who’s read Cloaked in Fur and enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food Haloumi

Favorite TV Show Walking Dead

Last Movie You Saw Kick Ass 2

Dark or Milk chocolate Milk

Favorite Flower Tulips

Secret Celebrity Crush Kit Harrington (he plays Jon Snow in Game of Thrones)

Pet Peeve Anyone who hurts animals

TRC: Thank you Tania for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations again, on the release of CLOAKED IN FUR. We wish you all the best!

See How She Runs by Michelle Graves-Interview, Blog Tour and Giveaway

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Sandy

See How She Runs by Michelle Graves-Interview, Blog Tour and Giveaway

See How She Runs
The Chronicles of Izzy #1
by Michelle Graves
Release Date: July 2013

Interview

TRC: Hi Michelle and welcome to The Reading Café.

Michelle: Thanks for having me.

Follow: Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook /

Michelle Graves TRC: We would like to start with some background information, please tell us something about yourself?

Michelle: I love to travel. I have spent most of my life moving from place to place. First as the daughter of an Army man, and now as the wife of one. I get restless if I am in one place for too long. With that said, I am a southern girl through and through. I love the heat of the south. I desperately miss it when I am not there. There is just something about the south that soothes my soul. Maybe it is the southern hospitality, or the fried food, maybe even the weather. Who knows? Whatever the reason, that is where I feel most at home.

As to the rest of my life, well I am married to the most amazing man that ever lived and we have a gorgeous daughter we call Squish. They are my reason for breathing. Without my husband’s support, I never would have published my first book. I think he may be my biggest cheerleaders. (Or maybe he is just hoping I get uber famous and he can retire).

TRC: SEE HOW SHE RUNS is your July 2013 release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Click HERE for our review of SEE HOW SHE RUNS

.99cent ebook special: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

Michelle: It is about a girl named Izzy whose life completely changed with one delivery. Up until that point, she thought she was an absolutely normal girl. Through a series of twists and turns, she finds out nothing she believed was really true. She is actually a Seer, a person meant to protect the world from events that aren’t meant to be. Her best friend isn’t who she thought he was. Heck, even her family history isn’t what she remembers it to be. Then, throw on top of all of that, a Corporation is after her. They want to use her abilities in twisted ways so that they can gain profits off of disasters.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Michelle: As of right now, there will definitely be four. Izzy lets me know how much she has planned when I sit down to write. I never intended for this to be a series initially, but she had other plans. I can’t definitively say how many there will be in the end. For now, all I can safely say is that I will write until Izzy no longer has a story to tell.

TRC: What or who was the inspiration behind the story?

Michelle: This sounds a bit cheesy, but really it all started based on my relationship with my husband. Izzy and Kennan’s relationship mirrors ours in a lot of ways. Heck, those characters mirror our personalities in a lot of ways as well. The rest of the story, well I wanted something different. I am really interested in Druids and ancient magic. This series draws a lot of its world-building from there.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters of SEE HOW SHE RUNS, which models or actor would best fit your ideal image?

Michelle: I have a whole board dedicated to them on Pinterest. Unfortunately, I don’t know their names. I just know their faces.

TRC: What difficulties or challenges did you face on the road to publication?

Michelle: I was really blessed to have all of the pieces fall into place relatively easily. I knew going in that I wanted to go the self-publication route. I like having the final say on what my end product is. It is entirely up to me whether it fails or succeeds, which is scary and exhilarating. I have to admit, I spent a lot of hours picking the brains of fellow indie authors. They provided me with a ton of helpful information that made the process simple and easy.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Michelle: I always try to give my stories a concrete sense of realism. I want the route of the problems to be based on real human emotions. Whether it be greed, betrayal, or love, I want them to be relatable. I am often surprised by the turns my stories take. I don’t ever sit down and map out the intricate details of the story. I suppose I am what most people consider a pantser. I just sit down and write.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a panster (write by the ‘seat of your pants’)?

Michelle: Ha ha. I am a Pantser. All the way. I only plot out the main story arc. The overall problem in the story is the only thing I know going in. The small issues that come my character’s way are never planned out. The twists and turns, the betrayals, the big reveals are often unexpected. Even to me!

Michelle: For myself, I feel the emotions of my characters. I experience their highs and lows right along with them. I think that being an emotional person myself really helps me with this. I want the readers to be able to experience the genuine emotions of my characters. Whether it be triumph or failure. I try to never overwrite emotions or overplay them. I want them to be as realistic as possible.

I don’t want to speak for other writers failing in the endeavor, rather I will say that emotions are more genuine when they are relatable. If it is a reaction that a normal person would have, it is easier to understand.

TRC: Do you direct the characters or do the characters direct the storyline as you write?

Michelle: Oh, the characters totally direct the storyline. I am just their mouthpiece. There are things happening in the story that I never would have put them through. I have said numerous times that I feel like I am possessed by Izzy when I start writing her story. My characters have things to say and aren’t shy about it.

TRC: If you could select one reality TV show to be a contestant, which show would your chose and why?

Michelle: Face Off. I would go home on the first day, but I think that show is just amazing. The amount of talent and creativity bottled up in each one of those contestants is unreal.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Michelle: I am editing See How She Fights right now before shipping it off to my editor. Then I will start on See How She Falls.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Michelle: Hmmm, just that I love interacting with my readers. Getting messages from people telling me how much they enjoyed my book means the world to me. I love being able to chat with people and find out what they liked or didn’t like about my book.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Pizza

Favorite Dessert
Chocolate

Favorite TV Show
Doctor Who

Last Movie you saw
City of Bones

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate

Favorite Flower
Mums

Last Vacation Destination
Olympic Peninsula

Secret Celebrity Crush
Brian Williams the news anchor

Pet Peeve
Bullying. I will never understand why people want to hurt others. I would rather spend my life building other people up. I hope that the footprint I leave on this world is a positive one.

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

Michelle: Thank you so much for having me! I really appreciate it.

_____________________________________

See How She Runs
The Chronicles of Izzy #1
by Michelle Graves
Release Date: July 2013

See How She Runs

.99cent ebook special: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

One delivery changed her whole life.

Izzy was a normal girl living in Chicago as a bike messenger before that fateful day. She delivered one package and set into action a chain of events she never could have expected.

Now she is running for her life from the Corporation, her best friend is not at all who he seemed, and to top it all off she keeps having visions.

Will she survive to navigate the waters as a Seer? Will her feelings for Kennan be her very downfall? Find out in See How She Runs.

___________________________________

Blog Tour Schedule

Click HERE for the complete blog tour schedule

___________________________________

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Michelle Graves is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:
GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon Giftcard
RUNNERS-UP: THREE (3) runners-up will each receive an eBook of SEE HOW SHE RUNS

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cassandra Giovanni-An Interview with the Author

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Sandy

Cassandra Giovanni-An Interview with the Author

Interview 2

TRC: Hi Cassandra and welcome to The Reading Cafe. Congratulations on the release of Love Exactly.

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

FOLLOW: Blog Goodreads / Facebook /

Cassandra: My two main passions are writing and photography, so naturally I own businesses that surround those two things. I own my own photography company, and a publication marketing company. The marketing company is barely off the ground, but is something I plan to use to help other struggling Indie authors to get off their feet through my own learning experiences. During the day I’m a Retail Banking Operations and Project Manager at a local bank. I don’t take a break, and I am determined to make my mark on the world–my mantra, sleeping is optional, and stress only makes us stronger!

TRC: You are also a photographer and the owner of a publication marketing company. How do you incorporate the business of writing with your photography business?

Cassandra: I use my photography to design custom covers that authors can rest assured are meant for their novel, and their novel only. It’s a refreshing break from the stock covers and stock models who all look the same.

TRC: LOVE EXACTLY is the June 2013 release in your contemporary new adult STICKS AND STONES series. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Check out our review HERE

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Cassandra: The novel was begun with the intention of being light hearted, but ended up being about the journey of two lost souls as they tried to understand who they were, who they are and who they should be. It’s realistic, and sometimes dark, but in the end the two characters learn about each other, and most importantly about themselves.

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series and will Emma and Evan be the featured couple in each storyline?

Cassandra: The series will only be two books, the first Love Exactly and the second Overexposed. Emma and Evan will be featured in Overexposed, but this time it will be written in Evan’s POV. It will start off exactly where the last novel left off, with a bit of overlapping. It’s going to start right as they walk out onto the red carpet.

TRC: What difficulties or challenges (e.g. research, logistics, etc) did you encounter writing this particular storyline?

Cassandra: I had to figure out what borders I needed to establish to make myself comfortable with other people reading a story so close to me, and my own hardships in my past. I danced on a thin line in my subconscious as I dealt with my own pain knowing that some people would pass judgement on Emma for her actions, and that I needed to try to not take it to heart as a judgement onto me. When one reader stated they thought Emma should be in therapy–I wasn’t surprised. I’d already prepared myself for that sort of reaction. I loved writing the story, and I’m very glad that I did.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Cassandra: Honestly, I don’t know. I just write what I write, and then hope it’s believable, I guess. It may have to do with my writing style–I don’t outline, so a lot of the time I don’t actually know what is going to happen anyways. If I have some idea what is going to happen I don’t harp on it. I write as I go, and let things unfold on their own. This style may in itself lend to the plot being less predictable.

Cassandra: I think a writer needs to fully engross themselves in the characters–be the characters. Throw yourself in the roles of each character and get to know them–watch their reactions from others eyes, knowing what they mean but what might not be conveyed. Some 95% of communication is non-verbal, between tone, and physical reactions. In writing it’s important to show and not tell–so describing actions, but not in overzealous detail, as opposed to saying exactly what some one is feeling (think words ending in -ly as tell words) and being in character are important. As for where writers fail in this endeavor; writing is an art, so opinions abound on what’s right and wrong. I don’t like an enormous amount of description, because it pulls me out of character. I describe only what I know my characters would notice (I write only in first person)–not ridiculous things that they wouldn’t, such as the size of a room when someone is holding a gun to their head. This lends to the telling as opposed to showing, but again, is merely my preference.

TRC: Do you direct the characters or do the characters direct the storyline as you write?

Cassandra: I guess it’s a little bit of both. I’m writing the characters, so I must be directing them in some way. Even if it is only in a subconscious way.

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

Cassandra: I don’t honestly do a lot of bouncing off of anyone. I sit down and write–I have conversations with my editor about the novel once it’s done, but I don’t really talk about plot, etc with other people. I do let my readers see what I’m working on one to two times a week on my blog and then watch for their reactions to what I’m doing. I don’t know that their reactions would change my intentions, though. Once the novel is done I also send it out to Beta readers as well.

TRC: If you could select one reality TV show to be a contestant, which show would your chose and why?

Flawed Perfection Cassandra: Honestly, I don’t watch any, so I don’t know of any. I guess seeing I am the matron of honor in my brother’s wedding it would be Say Yes to the Dress, because I know Carley would love to be on it!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Cassandra: The first novel in the Beautifully Broken Series, Flawed Perfection.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Cassandra: I’d like to thank all my readers, friends and family for their constant support.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Jalapeno Poppers

Favorite Dessert
Strawberry Rubarb Pie

Favorite TV Show
The Big Bang Theory

Last Movie you saw
White Chicks

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Favorite Flower
Angel Face Rose

Last Vacation Destination
Sedona, Arizona 4 years ago

Secret Celebrity Crush
Adam Levine

Pet Peeve
Coordinating Conjunctions starting sentences

TRC: Thank you Cassandra for taking the time to answer our questions. We are looking forward to Overexposed in 2014.

The Other C-Word by M.K.Schiller-A Review, Interview and Giveaway with the Author

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Sandy

THE OTHER C-WORD by M.K. Schiller-A Review, Interview and Giveaway with the Author

The Other C Word

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ KOBO /

Review

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 2013

Can she overcome her consuming desire for him? Can he make her comfortable with the other C-word…commitment?

Marley Mason is dreading the arrival of the new business consultant. After all, this man will most likely outsource her job to China. The last thing she would expect is a case of mistaken identity, leading to false accusations of kidnapping when she attempts to pick up the wrong man at the airport, or worse…that she would have such a visceral reaction to the right man.

Rick Randy is super sexy, scandalously flirty and perfect masturbation material, but a relationship is out of the question. Rick is contracted on a temporary basis to fix Marley’s ailing company, then pull out, although as he expresses to Marley, pulling out is difficult for him, in more ways than one! Marley’s feelings range from utter confusion to intense contemplation as Rick charms his way into her life. All of those C-words Marley can control, but it’s the other C-word she fears—commitment.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: The Other C-Word is a new adult, contemporary storyline that focuses on one woman’s struggle and desire to be accepted for who and what she is. Marley Mason is a beautiful, young woman with some major demons in her past and it is those demons that control her present life. Enter Rick Randy, the man hired to fix the problems at Marley’s company and the man who is hoping for something more from Marley Mason.

The storyline follows Rick and Marley’s growing relationship with one another but also highlights Marley’s inability to get close to the men in her life. As with many similar storylines in this particular genre, our heroine has some issues of control, both in and out of the bedroom, but her reasons stem from an horrific childhood – as the ghosts continue to haunt her nightly dreams.

The secondary characters are likeable and relatable. We get to meet Marley’s sisters and her extended family. There is plenty of humor; daily ‘dish’ sessions and their mother is a former groupie with the Grateful Dead. But there is also a quiet acknowledgement that all is not well with Marley and with it comes the realization that each member of the family is willing to sacrifice in order for their beautiful sister to have a normal life.

The relationship between Marley and Rick begins at the airport under one of the most humorous circumstances and continues to grow with each day and encounter. Their attraction to one another is immediate; the sex is sensual,desirous, hot and you can feel the need especially during their one week ‘wait and see’. There were definitely some funny moments and plenty of sexual tension. But their relationship is also emotional and complicated as Marley continues to push Rick away at every opportunity, fearing that the truth about her past will show her in a different light.

If you are a fan of the HEA (which I know we are all) THE OTHER C-WORD is a wonderful and fabulous read. There is humor, passion and anger, heartbreak and falling in love. There is also the potential for a few more storylines-let’s hope M.K. has a few ideas for the future.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview

MK Schiller

TRC: Hi MK and welcome to The Reading Cafe. Congratulations on the release of The Other C-Word. We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

MK: I have been married to a wonderful man for eighteen years and have two angst-ridden teenagers that provide great fodder for my craft. By day, I have a million duties, but at night I sit at the computer trying to compose what I hope are swoon-worthy stories. I’ve been in love with romance since I could spell the word. It’s been surreal to see my first book published and the outpouring of support I’ve received.

TRC: The Other C-Word is your August 2013 contemporary release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Order Links: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ KOBO

The Other C Word Cover Blurb: Marley Mason is dreading the arrival of the new business consultant. After all, this man will most likely outsource her job to China. The last thing she would expect is a case of mistaken identity, leading to false accusations of kidnapping when she attempts to pick up the wrong man at the airport, or worse…that she would have such a visceral reaction to the right man.

MK: Rick Randy is super sexy, scandalously flirty and perfect masturbation material, but a relationship is out of the question. Rick is contracted on a temporary basis to fix Marley’s ailing company, then pull out, although as he expresses to Marley, pulling out is difficult for him, in more ways than one! Marley’s feelings range from utter confusion to intense contemplation as Rick charms his way into her life. All of those C-words Marley can control, but it’s the other C-word she fears—commitment.

It’s not your typical story. The heroine is not the girl next door. She’s an independent tomboy who is feminine at the same time. Her past has dictated her present. She lives by a rigid set of rules and has many carefully built walls around her. She’s not prepared for Rick, our hero, to bulldoze his way into her life and her heart.

TRC: Who or what was your influence behind the storyline premise? Are any of the characters based on someone you know or a combination of fiction and reality?

MK: Marley is a composite I think based on women in my life that I admire. She’s my mother, my daughter, my best friend, and me. She also has some traits from other great heroines from movies and television I’ve admired. I think building a character is a lot like making a dish your own. You throw out what you don’t want or need and add in a few more dashes of this or that. In this case, she has a lot of spice. All of the characters were developed this way initially and as the story went on, I tried to make them as relatable as possible.

TRC: What difficulties or challenges (e.g. logistical, research, etc) did you encounter writing The Other C-Word?

MK: Luckily, their professions and city didn’t require too much research. I did have to look up some information pertaining to medical issues, but I
was able to find it using my best bud, Google.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

MK: This was hard, because I wanted the reader to find things out about Marley as Rick did, but the story is told from her sassy POV. It was a delicate balance and I hope I achieved it.

TRC: Do you have plans for a series based on the many secondary characters introduced throughout The Other C-Word? Dillon? Billie?

MK: There is actually talk of that. A few people have asked for it as well, which is very exciting. I don’t have any news to report yet, but stay tuned. I think there are more happily ever afters for the Mason family.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a panster (write by the seat of your pants)?

MK: I think I’m both. I have the plan in my head and I do a very rough outline to organize it. Mostly though, I just start and sometimes the story changes so much you wouldn’t even recognize it from the outline.

MK: This was one of the reasons I wanted Marley’s inner conflicts to be sacred. She doesn’t feel like it defines her so therefore, she doesn’t think about it and since she’s telling you the story, she wouldn’t be constantly hashing over it. I’m certainly no expert on this, but of all the stories I’ve read, my favorites are when the heroines/hero doesn’t berate themselves. I want my characters to be likeable in the sense you would want to befriend them or become an honorary member of the Mason family. It’s only when you truly care about them that you can sympathize. I can’t feel heart-crushing, empathy for someone I don’t care for in real life or in a book.

TRC: Do you direct the characters or do the characters direct the storyline as you write?

MK: It’s a little of both. Sometimes I have to tell them to shut up so I can just right. Other times, they tell me that what I’m writing makes no sense. It’s a collaboration and there, now I sound a bit crazy. Occupational hazard 🙂

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

MK: My daughter and friends have been a great sounding board for me. Usually if I can get them to laugh, smile, or sigh, I know I’m onto something.

TRC: How do you handle the pressure and anxiety of deadlines while still having time to raise a family while working a full time job?

MK: It’s not easy, but the ideas are what keeps me going. I feel I need to see them through so I can move on to the next one. My family is very supportive too and I share credit with them for all my work. After all, they had to suffer through take out containers, late appointments, and having to use paper products because I’d keep forgetting the dishes. Now they take care of most of these items for me, so I can write.

TRC: If you could select one reality TV show to be a contestant, which show would your chose and why?

MK: That’s easy. Big Brother. It’s all about manipulation, scheming, and there are always showmances. What more could a romance writer want?

TRC: On what are you currently working?

MK: My next book, The Do-Over, comes out with Loose-Id on October 8th. I also have several works in progress that are in various stages.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

MK: Thank you for the interview and reading my book! I know there are many choices out there so I’m honored you took the time to review my work.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: anything chocolate

Favorite Dessert: see last question

Favorite TV Show: Currently it has to be The White Queen

Last Movie you saw: I can’t remember the last time I was in a theatre, but I saw Argo recently and really enjoyed it.

Dark or Milk Chocolate: both and peanut butter too.

Favorite Flower : Hydrangea

Last Vacation Destination: Universal Studios in Florida

Secret Celebrity Crush: It’s no secret, it’s Chris Pine

Pet Peeve: People who talk in the first person. MK hates that!

TRC: 😉

TRC: Thank you MK for taking the time to answer our questions. Once again, Congratulations on the release of The Other C-Word.

Giveaway

MK Schiller is offering one lucky reader at The Reading Cafe a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Amazon $10

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) 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. You must comment to qualify for the giveaway-say hello or tell us what you think about the storyline.

4. Giveaway runs from September 16- 20, 2013.

5. Giveaway is open Internationally.

The Reading Cafe

One stop pertaining to books and more

Tag Archives: Author Interviews

Far Shore (After Series #3) by Traci L. Slatton-Review and Interview with the Author

Far Shore (After Series #3) by Traci L. Slatton-Review and Interview with the Author

Feather Light by Lorenz Font-A Review, Interview and Giveaway

FEATHER LIGHT by Lorenz Font-A Review, Interview and Giveaway

Her Wicked Angel by Felicity E. Heaton-Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway

Her Wicked Angel by Felicity E. Heaton-Blog Tour, Interview and Giveaway

Cache a Predator by M. Weidenbenner-Review and Interview with the Author

Cloaked in Fur by T.F.Walsh-Review and Interview with the Author

Cloaked in Fur by T.F.Walsh-Review and Interview with the Author

See How She Runs by Michelle Graves-Interview, Blog Tour and Giveaway

See How She Runs by Michelle Graves-Interview, Blog Tour and Giveaway

Cassandra Giovanni-An Interview with the Author

Cassandra Giovanni-An Interview with the Author

The Other C-Word by M.K.Schiller-A Review, Interview and Giveaway with the Author

THE OTHER C-WORD by M.K. Schiller-A Review, Interview and Giveaway with the Author