Interview Mariah Ankenman – Daemon Deception
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 Mariah and her Daemon Deception! Sounds a little dangerous to me. LOL
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
Music and exercise. I pop on my headphones and take a walk around the block. The right song can really get the creative juices flowing again. For my paranormal stories, I like to listen to Nightwish and Within Temptation.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Lizzy from Love on the Wild Side, the second book in my Peak Town, Colorado series. I loved writing Lizzy. She was so much fun. She had sass galore and loved with fierceness. I also love her little tic of making up words by mashing two real words together.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
I hope people take away enjoyment. The reason I love reading and writing Romance is because the genre revolves around hope and happiness. Something we need much more of in this world. If my stories can allow the reader to escape for just a little while and come back to life a touch happier then I feel I’ve done my job.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Read (of course), play musical instruments, crochet, scrapbook, hike. I love watch Horror movies, especially the really bad creature features. Anytime it’s Mega(something) versus Giant(animal) I know I’m in for a good movie night.
“What do you need?” he asked, once he reached her side, bag in hand.
“There’s a vial inside. A potion I made to lessen the effects of the blood curse. I took one before I broke the spell, but I’m not sure it did much good.”
As horrible as her wounds were, he suspected her potion did help. If Racine’s account was accurate, the blood curse could have been a lot worse. “This?” He held up a glass tube with blue liquid inside, so bright it almost glowed in the dark room.
“Yes,” she panted, clearly in pain. “Pour it directly onto my wounds.”
He hesitated. “Will it hurt?”
She managed a small shrug. “It can’t hurt any worse than it does now.”
If he ever discovered the Sorcerer who created this blood curse, he would put him or her in the ground. After he made them bleed, a lot. Removing the stopper, he tipped the vial over her wounds. The blue, shimmering potion dropped into the deep gashes and started to bubble. Celia sucked in a sharp breath.
“Does it hurt?”
She giggled. “No. It tickles.”
Odd, but better than hurting. If he had his way, Celia would never feel any pain again.
He watched in amazement as the potion bubbled and sparked. Before his eyes, her wounds started to shrink. The skin began to knit itself together. In just a few short minutes, those deep, raw cuts reduced to three long, thin scars. The skin remained red and tender, but the wounds had closed.
“Wow.”
“Did it work?”
“Baby, you are one amazing Witch.”
A smiled tipped her lips as her cheeks tinged a tempting pink. She rolled to her side, then winced and rolled back.
“Well, it’s better. That’s a start. I guess I’ll have to sleep on my stomach tonight.” She frowned and he found the expression adorable. “I hate sleeping on my stomach. I can never fall asleep that way. It’s so uncomfortable.”
He stood and started to unbutton his shirt.
“Damien?”
He didn’t answer, just continued to undress until he was down to his boxers. Then he slipped into bed with her and pulled her onto his chest.
“There. Better?”
She buried her face in his chest. “Much.”
Careful of her back, he wrapped his arms around her and immediately realized his mistake. Celia was naked. He’d removed her clothes himself, but had been too distracted by her wounds to notice or appreciate her nudity. He noticed it now. Silky, soft flesh pressed against every inch of his body. Her firm breasts smashed against his chest, and he felt her nipples begin to harden. One leg draped across his groin, moving slowly back and forth. Yeah, he noticed all right. If the rising tent in his boxers was any indication, he appreciated it, too.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mariah_ankenman/
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Daemon, Daemon Deception, Mariah Ankenman, Paranormal Romance by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.
Interview Kwen D. Griffeth, Author of Shadow of the Moon!
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 Kwen D. Griffeth and Shadow of the Moon.
What defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one in the same?
As a writer/storyteller, I have two foundations I build every book on. First, I think of myself as a rollercoaster operator. I want the reader to take a ride that blocks out the rest of their life for a short period of time. You have never heard of a person worrying about their taxes in the middle of a good coaster drop. I write for the entertainment of my readers. I want to give them a break from the responsibilities of real life, for a short time.
My second foundation is my characters tell their own stories. I try to never describe a setting, but let the character tell the reader about it. Doing so, allows the reader to not only know what the place looks like, but how it smells, and the emotions it generates in the character. I’m often complimented or criticized on my characters, as they are never perfect.
As a person, I no longer want to change the entire world. My youth, at least, drove me to attempt that and I failed. I still however want to make my corner of it a little better. Portions of money raised by my books have gone to breast cancer research, and currently I’m setting up a way to financially support rescue dogs. When Christ told us to help the “least of you,” I don’t think he was species specific.
Got to agree with you there.
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do?
Without hesitation, I would walk with Picket’s army during the last day of the battle of Gettysburg. I am a history nerd and the study of courage displayed by warriors, when they knew the cause was lost has always amazed and humbled me. How would it have been to stand in the pass with the Spartans at Thermopylae? Or be on the wall with Crocket and the defenders of the Alamo? But if I could only visit one, it would have to be Picket’s Charge. Shoulder to shoulder, the army marched just over a mile on a slight uphill grade of July 4th. They wore woolen uniforms and many had not bathed in weeks. They marched into aimed rifle and cannon fire. At times, as many as a dozen went down together. The reaction was to dress left and close the ranks. To me, it is not a question of Blue or Grey, Union or Confederate. It is a question of the individual soldier determined to face odds so against him, that many wrote goodbye letters prior to the order to march.
Interesting.
A peek between the pages of Shadow of the Moon, First book of the Shadow Series.
“I’m Professor Lloyd’s assistant. Is he expecting you?” Her smile never wavered, though the hand dropped to her side.
“No, as I said, I’m with the FBI, and we don’t normally make appointments.”
Miranda, with smile still in place, walked to the door leading to the professor’s office as she said, “Let me check with him, but I’m sure he will be able to meet with you. I keep his appointment calendar, so I know he’s not overly busy.”
“Hey, I was here first, and I’ve waited thirty minutes.”
Trakes turned back to the office and noticed a blonde had stood to announce her displeasure. She tried to show her indignation with the agent, but her glare fell short.
Trakes smiled at the student and held out her FBI credentials for the blonde to see.
“I’m with the FBI, sweetie. We get cuts.”
Behind her, she heard Miranda say, “Sit down, Shelly, you know as well as I do the professor won’t change your grade.”
Trakes turned back to Miranda and waved the credentials one more time.
“These are really the only announcement I need, but thank you. I’ll just pop in. Then the professor and I will get acquainted.”
Before Miranda could object, the agent turned and stepped through the door.
Her first impression of the office was the desk. It was large, made of wood and appeared antique. The floor was wood, with a large rug that covered most of it. Like the outer office, this one was also wainscoted with dark wood paneling. Opposed to the other space, this one was painted an off-white the rest of the way to the 10-foot ceiling. Again, keeping with the theme set by the outer office, this one also had pictures and paintings on every wall. Bookcases, shelves and glass cases flanked the desk, with two chairs centered in front of it. A two-person sofa along the wall to the left and a coffee table finished the décor. Professor Lloyd sat behind the desk.
He studied papers with his head lowered, and her first glimpse of him took in the breadth of his shoulders and his hair. It was thick and dark, almost black down the center of the head, but shaded to grey by the time it reached the man’s ears. It was combed back, but a natural part down the center caused it to fall to each side. She wondered what it felt like, then forced herself to refocus.
As she stepped through the door, Trakes announced, “Good afternoon, I’m…”
He looked up from his papers.
The eyes were a pale blue. Ice blue. The shade of blue used to sell breath mints, and her intake of air seemed fresher as it travelled to her lungs. The eyes were hard and unwelcoming. Andee wished she had waited to be announced. She stepped into the room and tripped on the edge of the rug. She whispered a curse, caught her balance, held her blush to a minimum and muttered an apology.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”
Those eyes, still focused on her, softened enough to indicate his irritation at the interruption had grown into a mild curiosity. As he studied her, he allowed an eyebrow to raise and his head to cant to one side. She suddenly felt exposed, and her blush from the ungainly entry deepened. Her heart paused, and then quickened. Her stomach tickled, then settled into nervousness. Her underarms damped and a question about deodorant flashed through her mind. She tried again to introduce herself, but discovered she had forgotten her name.
“Professor, I’m…a…I’m…”
Her words came in a small squeak. It may have been the squeak a mouse makes when she sees the hawk dive, but it was certainly the squeak of prey. She froze. The corners of his mouth turned.
“Uncle Alwyn, you stop this. Stop it, right now.”
The commands came from Miranda, and the professor looked past Trakes to his niece, who was standing in the doorway. As he broke eye contact, Andee gulped air. She realized she’d forgotten to breathe.
“Uncle Alwyn, I’m ashamed of you,” Miranda continued, and she took Andee’s arm and assisted her to one of the chairs in front of the desk. Andee smiled her gratitude as she felt dizzy. She looked up at the assistant, who smiled down at her.
“Don’t mind my uncle. He does that sometimes. It’s because he is an Alpha.”
“He’s a what?”
Andee felt as if she was clearing a fog.
“He’s an Alpha, and sometimes he takes advantage.”
“An Alpha? Is that a fraternity?”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwen-griffeth-3b146084/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Shadow of the Moon!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Fantasy/Murder/Romance, Kwen D. Griffeth, Shadow of the Moon by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview with Michelle C. Reilly Author of Savage Winds
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 Michelle C. Reilly and her time travel romance, Savage Winds.
Michelle, tell us what inspired this particular story.
I actually started this story back in 1990. My mom, who’s passed away, was a huge fan of the Outlander series, and passed her (first edition!) copy of Outlander down to me to read. A few years later, I was reading a history book about the Battle of New Orleans and how the British offered Jean Lafitte a full pardon if he’d assist them against the United States. He passed that letter onto the officials in New Orleans. Word of it was passed to then General Andrew Jackson. He sent a spy to find out if it was true. And immediately the story sprung to life in my mind. That spy became my hero, and I knew it had to have time travel in it.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
I am a firm believer in allowing the characters drive the story. I’ve only experienced writer’s block once. My character wanted something to happen that wasn’t supposed to happen until further in the story. She wouldn’t let me past it. So, I gave in. I wrote it the way she wanted it, and then eventually made my way around it. Later, I placed this event in where it belonged, and then deleted the portion put in earlier.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
I often get ideas in the middle of the night. I have a whiteboard in my room where I’ll write things. I also have a notebook in my nightstand drawer. Sometimes I get a ideas while driving. So, I’ll turn on my video recording app on my phone and record the idea.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to read, of course. And I also like to do a bit of gaming.
How about a sneak peek between the pages of Savage Winds?The latch lifted and Captain Jacen Stirling entered. When he turned to shut the door, she noticed the captain’s own pants had the same double rows of buttons hers had. She made eye contact and found him staring at her with a stone face. Her mouth dropped open, and she stuttered as she realized he’d noticed where her gaze had been.
“I was… It’s your pants… And mine, too. They’re, like, really old-fashioned.”
He glanced down at his black britches. “My trousers aren’t, I admit, at the height of the Parisian
fashion standards, but since we are currently at war, I believe priorities are in order.”
She blinked. “I know I’ve been busy finishing up my doctorate, but I hadn’t realized things had become
so much worse in the Middle East that they’ve affected fashion trends.”
“The Middle East?”
“Uh huh.”
“Do you speak of war? In the Middle East?”
“Uh, yeah… The last time I checked. Why? What war are you referring to?”
He stood taller. “I speak of war with Great Britain and their continued efforts to prove our young country isn’t valiant enough to stand on its own.”
“Uh huh,” she muttered. Is he off his meds? “Great Britain, huh?”
He gave a curt nod.
“So, you’re, like, talking Revolutionary War?”
“That war ended some time ago. I speak of our current situation that began in 1812.”
“1812?” She suddenly felt like she was watching the final round of Wimbledon and each opponent kept
gaining the edge to win, only to lose it again. “As in one-eight-one-two?”
“No,” he scoffed. “As in one-nine-one-two. What bloody year did you think I was referring to?”
“Oh, you know, nothing like referring to a war that took place over two hundred years ago,” she said dryly.
He froze, and the edges of his lips rose in a grin. “Two hundred years ago? What year do you think this is?”
“I don’t know… Maybe 2017?”
Newsletter: https://www.michellecreilly.com/newsletter/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Savage Winds!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Michelle C. Reilly, Pirates, Savage WInds, Time Travel Romance, War by Tena Stetler with 18 comments.
Interview Kay Harris Author of Don’t Let Him Go
Give a warm welcome to Kay Harris, author of Don’t Let Him Go released on Valentine’s Day!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a frosted heart sugar cookie or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Kay and Don’t Let Him Go.
What inspired this particular story? I spent one glorious year living and working in San Francisco. The city herself inspired me to make her the setting of a love story. As I traveled home from work each day on the ferry I crossed under the Bay Bridge and the idea of that bridge, connecting two places – one a little fancier and flightier than the other, one a little more raw and down to earth – it stuck in my mind. When I got home each night I sat at my computer and Candace and Jack’s story just flowed out of me. Three years later I am seeing it published and it’s a bit like a dream coming true.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why? My favorite character is Sean Rush. He’s the hero in my first book “Love on the Rocks.” It’s no secret that he’s not-so-loosely based on my husband. Big, quiet, and sexy-as-all-get-out, Sean still makes swoon.
Do you see yourself in your characters? I think there’s a little of me in some of my characters. My passion comes out in Jack from “Don’t Let Him Go” and my emotion comes out in Candace. But in other ways, we don’t have much in common. I think mostly I want to be friends with my characters. And it’s nice to have friends that are not like me, but have differences that fit with my personality, like pieces of a puzzle. I suppose that’s what they are together as well, especially in Jack and Candace’s case. They seem like opposites, but in many ways they complement one another. For Candace, who has always felt out of place in her own family, it is difficult for her to see how that puzzle might fit together, until it does.
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do? November 22, 1963, the grassy knoll.
What’s your approach to writing? Are you a plotter or follow your characters flow (Pantser)? I am mostly a pantser. I am prone to daydreaming. So I start typing out what I’ve come up as soon as I hit a computer. The characters are definitely leading me. But I can’t type as fast as I can dream so I will often put a few sentences down to remind me of my ideas moving ahead in the story. That allows me sleep at night, otherwise I’d be up typing all night long!
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 Abyss (I love you Ed Harris!)
Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Last book read: Unwrapping Hank by Eli Easton
Favorite color: Green
Stilettos or flipflops: Birkenstocks
Coffee or tea: coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Ebook
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: Forever in Blue Jeans by Neil Diamond
Streak or not: Why not?
Favorite dessert: Crème Brulee
Favorite junk food: Chips and salsa
Favorite thing to do to relax: read!
Champagne or gin: neither
Paranormal or Historical: Historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman!
Favorite TV show: The Office
Hot or cold: hot
POV: first sometimes, third sometimes
I’d die if I don’t have: my Kindle
Review or Not: Review
Tell us a little about Don’t Let Him Go.
The only thing worse than getting stuck with a bad client is falling in love with him.
Candace Gleason passed the bar, landed a great job, and is making a killer salary–basically, all of her dreams are coming true. Until she’s assigned to keep the boss’s petulant son out of trouble.
Jack Morrison is the rebellious black sheep of a mighty real estate family. He runs a nonprofit whose mission is to save poor people from evil corporations, like the one his own family owns. He is obnoxious, ridiculously charming, and insanely hot. He is the bane of Candace’s very existence.
Sparks fly from the moment they meet. Candace suddenly has more to worry about than keeping Jack out of jail. She has to keep him out of her heart.
A peek between the paged of Don’t Let Him Go:
I folded my arms across my chest and glared at Jack as he moseyed into the room. “You ambushed me.”
Jack came to a stop a few feet away and nodded. “I did.”
“That’s it?” I spread my arms out and leaned forward. My voice rose despite my effort to control it. “That’s all you have to say?”
“What do you want me to say? You’re smart. You can see what I did back there. I used you for my own gain.”
“You’re a prick!”
“I’m not surprised you feel that way. But I am sorry you had to get caught in the crossfire.” He moved to the couch and took a seat in the middle of it, purposefully giving me the high ground.
He slung his arms over the back of the couch casually, making him look like an arrogant ass. And that is exactly what I thought of him at that moment. So I called him on his supposed apology. “Are you?”
“Yes, I am. But you’re not innocent, Candie. You put yourself in this position by going to work for Morrison.”
“It’s Candace!” I shouted, on the edge of insanity.
He didn’t respond. He just looked at me with that infuriatingly handsome face and waited, an amused grin dancing on his face.
Buy Links:
AMAZON, B&N,: AMAZON CA, AMAZON UK, AMAZON AU, and THE WILD ROSE PRESS.
About the author:
Kay Harris has had a diverse career with jobs ranging from college professor to park ranger. Now she adds author to her repertoire. Kay writes romance novels that contain a little bit of sweet, a dash of sexy, a touch of heartbreak, and a whole lot of fun!
Kay grew up in the Midwest and has since lived all over the western United States including Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. She loves to hike, is obsessed with museums, and enjoys taking her extremely tall and very handsome husband on adventures.
WEBSITE: http://www.kayharrisauthor.com
BLOG: https://www.kayharrisauthor.com/blog/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KayHarrisAuthor
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKayHarris/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15060640.Kay_Harris
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kay-harris
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Don’t Let Him Go.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary, Don't Let Him Go, Kay Harris, Multicultural Romance, Romance by Tena Stetler with 12 comments.
