Interview Marcella Burnard Author of Enemy Within
Give a warm welcome to Marcella Burnard, author of Enemy Within.
What defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one in the same? Do you daydream? What about? Glorious beaches? Umbrella drinks? Hot weres? Cool vampires? I daydream about spaceships, laser guns, aliens, and adventure. I just get to daydream on (virtual) paper. So maybe wish fulfillment defines me as an author. What defines me as a person? That’s harder. Fairness, maybe. Justice. Standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. I’m in animal rescue in Florida, where pets seem to be a commodity to be thrown out for reasons unknown and incomprehensible to me. (There. I can be a little judge-y when someone is mean to an animal. That defines me, too.) I help manage a feral colony, locally, and do foster work. Someone dumped a litter of kittens at our feral colony in September last year. They were 10 days old. I bottle fed them. When one of them turned out to be special needs, my husband and I foster failed those kittens. They are still with us. One of them nurses on my earlobe every night before he can go to sleep. So. Are these things one and the same? I think they feed into one another. I usually have dead bodies in my novels. I assure you that every single one of them is someone who dumped an animal or hurt an animal. It’s the only legal way for me to act out what I wish I could do in real life. Some of the most grotesque deaths in my books may or may not represent political figures who shall not be named. Like I said. Wish fulfillment. Cheaper than therapy.
What inspired this particular story? A friend’s husband served two tours of duty in Iraq several years ago. He came home with a raging case of PTSD. He could only sleep in the bathroom floor with the shower running. It was his only sense of safety. That image struck me straight through the heart and stayed with me. You actually see a tidbit of a scene in the book that’s in tribute to that. As I sat with the emotions surrounding having your sense of safety so shattered, I wondered what would happen in a romance where the hero had to actively get in the middle of the heroine’s trauma and push a few of those buttons as a means of getting what he believes he needs. (PS. The young man who could only sleep with the shower running sought treatment and is doing very well.)
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block? Is there one??? DANG IT. Why didn’t anyone TELL me??
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why? Edie. She’s the heroine in Enemy Storm. It’s because she emerged from a massive multi-player online roll playing game. I played for a very, very long time. The character I created in game was a toss off, intended for comic effect, but she took on a life of her own through game play and interaction with other characters. She’s snarky and dangerous and fun. When I started looking for a heroine to spark off of the hero in Enemy Storm, she volunteered. The game itself died out, as most games do, but I still get to hang out with this beloved character who’s had to morph pretty radically to make the transition from computer game to novel.
What inspired you to write? A movie with an ending that deeply offended my twelve-year-old sensibility about what was RIGHT. So I sat down to rewrite it and fix it. It took a lot of years, but now that I think about it, Enemy Within is a pretty strong candidate for having finally fixed that movie. Man. I thought I’d moved on decades ago. Guess not.
How long have you been writing? Since third grade when I made up a story about one of my cats stealing and eating a whole chicken. The incident never happened, but my teacher was so highly entertained, the light went on in my head and never shut off.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer? If we ever meet for tea or lunch, we’ll be chatting and having a good time, and you’ll see my gaze wander off to focus on some distant point. It may be seconds. It may be a minute. Eventually, I’ll blink, blush, and meet your gaze with a sheepish, “Sorry. Idea.” I am a writer. I can’t stop being a writer even when there’s no paper, pencil, or computer around. It really defines how I perceive and filter the world, I suspect. So I generally tell people I’m a writer to explain away the moments when my attention gets snagged by the juicy conflict conversation three tables over that would really fire up my WIP. What I don’t usually do is talk much about the books I’m working on unless it’s with other authors.
Do you see yourself in your characters? Good heavens, yes. See wish fulfillment, above. My characters are usually people I wish I could be. Smarter. Stronger. Braver. But their emotional core is a generally a mirror of mine with some extrapolation – if only because my emotional core is the only one I can ever really know. I can *think* I know what someone else is feeling, or I can look at action and reverse engineer what emotion must have driven that action. That’s the extrapolation part. So yes. I feel like my job is to be an actor stepping into a role – looking at what the character wants, why they can’t have it, and then, I have to ask, “What if that were me. For real. How would I go at that?” This may be a reflection of the fact that my degree is in acting.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books? My fondest wish is that readers come away with hope. Entertained, too! I want my stories to be a roller coaster (in a good way). I just want them to end on a sense of possibility. If anyone wants a taste of what and how I write, I have a hot novella serialized on Radish called Enemy Mine. The first few episodes are up now. You can find it by title, or you can search on my name. The story is set in the same world as the novel Enemy Within. In fact, you meet the hero of Enemy Mine in Enemy Within.
banished to her father’s scientific expedition to finish a PhD she doesn’t
want, Ari refuses to fly a desk. She intends to have her command back by any
means possible, until pirates commandeer her father’s ship, and she’s once
again a prisoner. Perhaps this cunning captor isn’t what he pretends to be.
concerned, the same goes for Ari. Her past association with aliens puts her
dead center in Cullin’s cross-hairs. If she hasn’t been brainwashed and
returned as a spy, then she must be part of a traitorous alliance endangering
billions of lives. He can’t afford the desire she fires within him. His mission
comes first. He’ll stop at nothing, including her destruction, to uncover her
true purpose and protect what is his.
“You know how to use that thing?” He nodded at the energy blade in her hand.
She swallowed outrage and awarded him a tight smile. “I am proficient.”
He grinned. “Ever fight for your life?”
“No,” she said, pleased her tone remained steady.
His smile deepened. “Then this isn’t so different. We aren’t fighting for your life, are we? We’re fighting for theirs.” He gestured at the knot of scientists.
Fear gripped her. She’d won matches. She had awards. She practiced religiously. Sure, she’d fought Chekydran with the might of an Armada Prowler at her disposal. But energy blade combat had always been a highly regulated sport, a dance with specific choreography designed to minimize injury. She’d never dueled for anything of more value than a bit of metal or a piece of paper to hang on her office wall. Swallowing hard, she eased into guard position.
Taking his time, he matched her stance. Ari did her best not to frown at the avid smiles on his men’s faces or at the effortless way he sank into position and crossed his blade with hers.
Her mind raced. She had to find a way to keep everyone alive. No matter the cost.
Captain Cullin Seaghdh tapped her blade with his, bringing her attention back to her predicament and his damnably cocky grin.
“You’re willing to trade your life for theirs?” he asked, his question pitched for her ears only, his smile gone and his gaze searching.
Troubled, she shook her head. “Are you intimating I have a choice?”
“Then fight.” He lunged.
Ari scrambled back, her parries thrown off by the aggressive attack. He didn’t press his advantage. That maddening grin flashed at her as he backed off. One step. Two.
Charity. She wanted to scream at him. She clamped her jaw shut and advanced the ground he’d offered.
“Out of practice?” He opened his defenses, daring her.
She accepted, ignoring the taunt. She had no intention of explaining that she’d had a hard time keeping up on weapons practice while a prisoner of war. Her attack wavered, but she pulled it together and forced him back a step to avoid her blade. He drew her in and then pushed her back, like a teacher hearing lessons. She ached to wipe that smile from his face.
“Point,” he said, nodding at her chest.
She glanced down. The bastard had sliced clean through her jacket and the buttons of her shirt. A shiver ran through her. One millimeter more and she’d be bleeding, probably on the floor. A slice like that one took enough control and skill to scare her.
“Lesson one,” he said. “Watch the man wielding the blade, but never lose sight of the business end.”
Lessons? Or something more? From the shock of physical awareness twining through her blood, she suspected they were no longer discussing energy blades.
Snarling to cover the grudging admiration at Seaghdh’s skill welling up within her, Ari charged him. He did not retreat. They locked, body to body, blade to blade. Feeling the leashed strength coiled in him, she knew instantly that she’d made a mistake, one that in any other circumstance would have been fatal. Scorched where their bodies strained against one another at chest and hip, she struggled to control the rush of yearning crashing her defenses. What was wrong with her?
She met his hooded gaze. Desire glittered in the golden depths of his eyes. Pleasure rocketed through her, almost painful in its intensity. She’d forgotten what if felt like to be appreciated as a woman, and the want in his eyes, shadowed by surprise, took her breath away.
Marcella Burnard graduated fromCornish College of the Arts with a degree in acting. She’s a Tarot-reading,
Third-degree Wiccan who knows far too much about space travel because she
desperately wanted to be an astronaut when she grew up. Turns out she gets air
sick. She wisely decided to write space travel instead. Marcella writes science
fiction romance, urban fantasy, paranormal, and fantasy. If a story brings the
weird, Marcella’s right there for it. She lives in Florida where she and her
husband are outnumbered by cats. Marcella is actively involved in feline rescue
in the Tampa Bay area and you can always find cat photos and videos on her
Facebook page or on her Instagram account.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Enemy Within!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Enemy Within, Marcella Burnard, Sci-Fi Romance by Tena Stetler with 21 comments.
Interview with L.A. McGinnis Author of The Priestess
Give a warm welcome to L..A. McGinnis, and her new release The Priestess. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about L.A. and The Priestess.
Tell us a little about The Priestess
Just because you don’t believe in magic,
Doesn’t mean it can’t believe in you.
Sydney Barrows makes a living out of digging up the dead. Well, not a living, exactly, but a very small stipend. When the world crashes down around her, she didn’t expect to be caught right in the middle of it. Now she’s moved from digging up the dead to worrying about becoming one of them.
Locked away in a stone fortress on the edge of Chicago, a band of immortal gods hold the key to defeating an evil intent on total destruction. When Sydney and Mir’s paths collide, the sexy God of Wisdom awakens her powers in ways she didn’t dream possible. Together, they race against time to uncover the truth about Sydney’s past before it destroys her and everything she loves.
A sneak peek between the pages of The Priestess.
About the author:From the very first time she picked up a book, Laura was hooked. But then came boys and fast cars, and somewhere in between, her dream of writing the really, really big story got lost. Until the day she walked into a classroom at KSU and her love of Old English and Norse Mythology began anew.
An In’D’Tale fantasy finalist, Laura lives in Northeastern Ohio, at the edge of a national park with her husband and one very spoiled german shepherd, writing paranormal, fantasy and dystopian romance.
Laura is a graduate of Kent State University, and belongs to the RWA, FF&PRWA and NEORWA and has attended the annual Sanibel Island Writers Conference, as well as the NEORWA Writers Conference, and participates in their yearly writing retreat.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Priestess!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Fairy Tale Fantasy, LA McGinnis, Mythology, Paranormal Romance, The Priestess by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview Amanda J. Greene Author of Wicked Passion
Give a warm welcome to Amanda J. Greene, Author of Wicked Passion, book three of Under Realm Assassins.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Amanda and her Wicked Passion!
Hello everyone! I’m Amanda J. Greene, a paranormal romance author from Southern California. I’ve been writing for the past ten years and I’m happy to share my latest release with you all today, Wicked Passion (Under Realm Assassins #3). Let’s get started!
If writing is your first passion, what is your second?
Writing is my calling, but I do love cooking. My husband and I host many parties at our home – every Sunday during football season our place is packed. He and his friends can eat a lot, which works perfectly for me since I find it nearly impossible to not cook for an army.
Okay, you’re casting the movie version of your novel – who would you choose for the main characters? We’re talking dream cast.
Katya: Jessica Lowndes
James: Robbie Amell
What is the theme of this book? If it’s part of a series, how does this book fit into the series?
Wicked Passion is a paranormal romance novella centered on James (vampire/assassin/former pirate) and Katya (dark aura succubus with insane power) and is the third installment within the Under Realm Assassins series. This book introduces a handful of characters that will all eventually have their own stories.
Why do you write what you write?
I write paranormal romance because the possibilities are endless. I’ve always been fascinated by the magical/mythical aspects that go hand-in-hand with paranormal themed works.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
Thought my books focus on paranormal creatures, I try to make my characters as relatable and real as possible. I hope that readers feel connected to the story and become invested in the romance.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: The Godfather
Favorite book: Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12) by Kresley Cole
Last book read: Lord of Darkness (Maiden Lanes #5) by Elizabeth Hoyt
Favorite color: Purple
Stilettos or flipflops: Stilettos
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Paperback
Pencil or pen: Pencil
Favorite song: (At this very moment) Like I Ain’t – Tech N9ne
Streak or not: Not
Favorite dessert: Cheesecake Factory dessert menu
Favorite junk food: N/A
Favorite thing to do to relax: Read
Champagne or gin: Champagne
Paranormal or Historical: Paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: 3rd person
I’d die if I don’t have: Coffee
A sneak peek between the pages of Wicked Passion.
He was too strong, too tantalizing. Forbidden. She could find another source. One not so threatening, tame. Surely, he could take her to a city where she could steal bits of energy from others. Happiness, laughter, contentment, love, she could leech off any positive aura. She’d survived doing just that within her tribe. None dared to touch her, or directly interact with her unless they required her healing gifts, so she’d been left to feed off scraps of emotion and energy.
She flattened her palms against his chest and tried in vain to push him away. Her cheeks heated in embarrassment, she was pathetically weak. “I—”
“Need me.” His rich voice was roughened with passion.
Katya trembled with yearning. Oh, yes, she needed. But would he demand she surrender? Could she? He was a vampire, an immortal immune to magic, invincible. Perhaps with him, she could let go. She could find pleasure. She could be herself, completely, like never before. He wasn’t like anyone else. He could withstand her darkness. He could match her cravings.
As if reading her thoughts, his hard bronze gaze swirled with challenge, hunger, and untamable lust. “Kiss me as if you want to live.”
“I do.” Her claws sharpened, the tips sliced his shirt and pricked his flesh. “I will.”
She claimed his mouth possessively, her tongue twining his until he groaned for more and took it. His hand clamped on the back of her nape, his grip tightened, holding her still as he slanted his head and deepened the kiss.
Long forgotten sensation rocked her. This powerful male was the embodiment of temptation and danger—irresistibly addictive.
He shifted as if to move away and dread lanced her. A harsh growl escaped her lips. Did he intend to end the kiss? No! She needed this. Needed him.
Katya wound her arms around his waist. Holding him captive, she arched against him, pressing her breasts to his solid chest, the contact delicious, perfect—right.
His mental shields lowered even more and lust battered her senses. Katya unleashed her magic and pleasure slammed into her. His. Hers. She didn’t know where one ended and the other began. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. His origins and her past of no consequence.
The first draw of his power hit her like a cannon, devastating her weakened body, leaving her a trembling mess of tingles and shivers. Good Lady, she’d never known anything like this. Never tasted so much strength. Her body hummed, her blood sizzled, her magic burned and her soul soared. On and on, intense vitality coursed through her, consuming, dizzying. She never wanted this connection to end.
Brazenly, seeking, demanding more of his desire, she stroked her tongue across one of his fangs. He stilled. Was he waiting for her to do it again? Did he want her to draw blood? The idea made her head spin.
Katya caressed his other fang. He groaned into her mouth and his large frame shook—from pleasure or restraint?
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Wicked Passion!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Amanda J. Greene, Paranormal Romance, Under Realm Assassins, Wicked Passion by Tena Stetler with 3 comments.
Interview Sadira Stone Author of Runaway Love Story
Give a warm welcome to Sadire Stone and her new release Runaway Love Story, book two in the Book Nirvana Series! Happy Book Birthday Today!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Sadire and her Runaway Love Story! A great story it is! Check back next week for my full review.
My Review:
This is the first book in the sizzling Nirvana Series. I loved it. I won’t recap the story, you can read the blurb. I will tell you that the author writes with humor, Great Aunt Maxie was fantastic along with her group of artsy friends. I laughed out loud so many times at her antics.
The relationship between Laurel (city gal) and Doug (country guy) is not as different as they appear. Laurel is so sure of what she wants that she completely overlooks the promising future that is right in front of her.
The family dynamics on both sides keep the book interesting while the chemistry sizzles between Laura and Doug.
This is a well-written story with lots of heart that I truly enjoyed. I’m going to have to go back and read the first book in the series. I highly recommend this book, if you like your romances spicy hot!
Sadira share the Inspiration for the Book Nirvana Series:
Until recently, I was one of those readers–literary snobs who look down their noses at romance for the usual stupid reasons: too corny, too predictable, too fluffy. Then I read a few online articles about how fun and lucrative writing erotica can be. I thought, what the heck? Let’s try.
I have never had so much fun with a writing project! My first steamy romance, Through the Red Door, nearly wrote itself, though it damned sure didn’t edit itself. I’ve totally immersed myself in the world of romance, gobbling books like popcorn, filling my ears with romance podcasts, and joining the Romance Writers of America. From skeptic to romance mega-fan in two short years, I’m totally addicted to passionate, heartfelt stories with happy endings.
Why set the series in a bookshop? Ever since I was a wee lass, I dreamed of owning one. Add to that my fascination with historical erotic art and literature, and you’ve got the Book Nirvana series, set in an indie bookshop with an extensive erotica collection behind a locked red door.
I love stories in which a couple’s powerful physical attraction leads them to consider a partner outside their usual M.O.—one who just might turn out to be their perfect match. That’s how it happened for my husband and me, and my romance fiction contains that element.
I sort of pulled the setting out of a hat. I wanted to set my series in a college town. I’d heard that Eugene, home of the University of Oregon, has a lively arts scene and a rich counterculture legacy from the hippie era. After much online research, correspondence, and hours on Google Earth, I finally made the trip. Eugene is even lovelier than I’d imagined. Kate Rock, a resident author, kindly shared her knowledge of the city’s history and the flavor of the different neighborhoods. I look forward to many return trips.
Tell us more about Runaway Love Story.
High school history teacher Doug Garvey is trying to enjoy his last few weeks of summer vacation, but receiving his final divorce decree hits him harder than expected. After a brief fling fizzles, he fears love just isn’t in the cards for him. If only he could find someone who’s real, someone interested in something beyond herself…maybe a new running partner who can keep up with his more carnal appetite. When sexy, straight-talking Laurel runs across his path, he dares to hope again.
He’s done with social-climbing posers…she’s ambitious and has big dreams.
Fired from an art gallery, Laurel Jepsen shelves her pursuit of an art career in San Francisco to help her beloved great aunt Maxie move into assisted living. While out on a morning run, she’s harassed by a group of teens until a tall, broad-shouldered hottie steps in, pretending to be her boyfriend with a kiss that makes her wish it were true. But she’s only passing through, not looking for a relationship.
Their fierce chemistry burns up the sheets—and the couch, the shower, the forest—but falling in love would ruin everything. Laurel can’t stay in Eugene, and he can’t leave. Doug’s only hope is to convince her the glittery life she’s after could blind her to the opportunities already in her path.
A sneak peek between the sizzling pages of Runaway Love Story.
“I’m sorry she called you the S word.”
“Huh?”
“Sensible.”
She laughed. “Yeah. That’s a curse word, as far as I’m concerned.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I’ll strike it from my vocabulary. Your S word is sparkle.” He traced her jawline with a feather-light touch. “Look at you, Laurel. You’re blinding.” His twilight-blue gaze made her heart dance—a steamy tango with swirls and dangerous dips. He kissed her, and, for a moment, she forgot all about caution, about cutting things off before they became too serious, about San Francisco. Her focus narrowed to his lips on hers, his nearness heating her whole body, opening her like a blossom, soft and willing. Ripe for the plucking.
“God, I’ve missed you.” He scooped her legs across his lap. One hand cradling her nape, the other gripping her thigh, he kissed her senseless. His velvet tongue teased her lips apart. He tasted of sugary coffee. The world around them faded—just two bodies, calling and answering, breathing in sync, their pulses beating the same rhythm.
Another Excerpt
Laurel’s conscience nudged the grin off her face. The customer was right—Doug was a natural with kids. He deserved a nice woman who’d stay in Eugene and build a family with him. She was just distracting him from his true path. If it weren’t for the chemistry pulling them together like an industrial-strength electromagnet, she’d never pick a guy like Doug. Sweet, dependable, generous, outdoorsy…
Shit. Except for not being an artist, he’s pretty much perfect. Leaving him in December is going to be damned painful.
Still, she’d been honest with him. He knew about her plans, and he wasn’t holding back. Why should she? Why deny herself his friendship, and a physical connection of volcanic proportions?
Because she was messing with his heart, that’s why. And her own.
And another, from the inside cover
He stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat rolling off his body.
A flush painted his cheekbones and his long, straight nose. Exercise, sunburn, or something more interesting?
The air between them vibrated with tingly energy. She focused on the floor, because looking into his face felt too dangerous.
He moved still closer, his toes nearly touching hers. “We’re good now?”
Her gaze slid up from his long, muscular calves, covered with blond fuzz, to his powerful thighs, to the impressive bulge between them, then up his slim torso, his muscular chest, his broad shoulders, until her gaze rested on his face.
His lids lowered, his lips parted. As if magnetized, her fingertips skimmed up his arm.
Stop. She dropped her hand. “We’re good. I’m sorry, Doug. I saw something between you two, and I jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
His smile blossomed slowly. “I’m glad that’s all cleared up.”
Not all, but it’s a start. Another thought, a crazy one. I could just kiss him, right here, right now. Get it over with, see what happens next.
Once that seed was planted, it was as if a giant electromagnet switched on, tugging them together. Its power hummed in her bones. Invisible sparks crackled between them. She slid a few inches closer.
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Books Kobo
About the Author.
Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, belly dances, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books. Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.
Sadira wants to hear from you!
Author Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads Bookbub Amazon Author Page
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Runaway Love Story and Book Nirvana Series!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Book Nirvana Series, Contemporary Romance, Runaway Love Story, Sadira Stone by Tena Stetler with 6 comments.
