Zara West's Blog, page 23

Awesome Romance Author Allie Harrison

Zara West Suspense

~Is He a Ghost?~

Today’s guest is multi-talented, multi-published romance writer Allie Harrison. Allie shares where she gets her ideas and what she is working on.

Take it away, Allie…

Hi!

Nice to meet everyone and see you all here. I’m Allie Harrison. I write suspense and paranormal. (And for those of you who want something racier, I write erotic as Allie Quinn. But for now, I’m Allie Harrison.)

Why do you write what you do?

I remember being a very young girl reading as many gothic romance novels I could get my hands on. Then of course I just seemed to sail into reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz and Sandra Brown.

So I think the paranormal/suspense genre picked me instead of the other way around. I love reading and writing anything that keeps me on the edge of my seat! As Allie Harrison, I’m presently working on a series called the Haunted. So if you’re in the mood for a little ghostly romance, please feel free to check out Hargrove House, Montgomery Manor, or Camden Place. Camden Place is my latest release and was released March 1, 2017. It’s a fun, creepy little ghostly romance set in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most haunted cities I’ve ever visited, and one that holds a special place in my heart.  I dare you to step inside Camden Place. Just stay away from Death Alley. (I even included photos of Death Alley.)

Before I go any farther, let me tell you ALL of my books are stand alone books, even those which are part of a series. So you can read them in any order. The Haunted books all have a ‘supposedly’ haunted house with a super hot hero. He might not be human, but he’s super hot.

Why ghosts?

I have always been intrigued with ghostly things, which is why I enjoy writing about them. I also like ghostly places, which is why I visit them. I don’t mind riding my bike around the cemetery at dusk. And I have to admit I would be more afraid of falling through a rotten floor in an old house than I would meeting a ghost.

And if you’re interested in suspense without paranormal, you can check out my Invisible where you will discover just how far a mother will go to keep her son safe. There is also A Twist of Betrayal which will leaving you wondering how many secrets a husband can keep from the wife he loves.

Where do you get your ideas?

Writing has always come easy to me. I remember many years ago when I was in 7th grade our teacher used to give us pictures of strange things like hands on a stained glass window, and tell us to write a one-page story about what we saw. In my story, the hands would be alien hands on the window of our spaceship that just landed on Mars. It was my favorite class! And other people would ask me to write their story.

I get my ideas from everywhere. And I people watch all the time. I can be in WalMart and see a lady yelling at her husband. Then I can go home and make that husband into a serial killer.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on my 4th Haunted series book, Winsgate Drive. It is a re-write of the very first book I ever wrote. In it, the hero, Jake, is an artist and is repainting an old carousel. I got the idea at our local mall, which has an old-fashioned carousel in the courtyard. I happened to be walking past it and looking at the kids riding it and I wondered What if you went back in time when you rode it?

Imagine if you will having a dream lover visit you in the night while you’re sleeping. And then the next day after work, you arrive home to find that hot, sexy dream lover standing on your front porch! That’s what happens to Kate McCoy. I had planned on having it released Fall 2017, but for the first time ever, I’m way ahead of schedule with it. So the tentative release date is August 2017.

What do you do for writer’s block?

I seldom suffer from writer’s block. I have too many burners burning at the same time. If something doesn’t work for me, I back up and take it a new direction. I have even been known to actually stop a story that just isn’t working and work on a completely different story with new characters who feel like having their story told. As a matter of fact, I’m usually trying to finish one story while other stories are fighting to push their way to the front!

Any tips for fellow writers?

I wish I had true, perfect, guaranteed-to-work advice for those of you out there who would like to write. The only real advice is: Write. If you want to write, then do it. Is it easy? Not always. There are so many things that interfere with writing — family, day job, kids, aging parents, other obligations.

Then there’s so much more to it when you actually do put your duff in the chair and do it — marketing, selling, editing, what’s the best cover, just to name a few. I know, that may seem scarier than one of my Haunted books, but don’t be afraid. It’s not nearly as creepy as venturing down into one of the haunted cellars in one of my stories!

If you really want to do it, set up a writing schedule, join a group of fellow writers for support and input, and let your stories out. I know from my own experience that if you’re meant to write and you don’t, your untold stories will try to eat you alive!

Thanks,

To my readers and fans and to Zara West for allowing me this opportunity, I’d like to give a heart-felt thank you.  Thank you for reading my stories. Thank you for your support. Thank you for the reviews you post. Feel free to like me on Facebook where you can always message me. I hope to hear from you soon!

And see all my books and read free chapters on my website:  www.AllieQuinn.com

Happy Reading!

Allie

Blurb [image error]

Camden Place

by Allie Harrison

Her past is a mystery.

His future is in jeopardy.

 

From the first moment Clare Newman steps into Camden Place—from the squeak in the floor and the sweet scent of apple pie to the candles she lights on the dining room table—it feels like home. It’s a place she can find refuge from her nightmares. It’s a place where she can make a fresh start… …

Except there’s a misty figure with a knife who disappears into the library. …

Except there’s Liam Camden, the man who built Camden Place over a century and a half before, who doesn’t disappear, who seems to be the only one who can see and talk to Clare.

But who is the real ghost? Clare, who somehow found the doorway to 1847? Or Liam, who died mysteriously one hundred and fifty years ago?

When danger creeps closer, will the timeless love they share be enough to keep them safe? All of Allie Harrison’s Books are Stand-Alone Books.

Learn more about Allie Harrison

Twitter:  @ImAllieHarrison

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/The-Official-page-of-Allie-Harrison-Author-106928505995715/

Website:  www.AllieQuinn.com

[image error]

Allie would love to hear from you.
Please post your questions and comments below.

 

 

Related Posts Awesome Romance Author Starr Gardinier Awesome Romance Author Hywela Lyn Awesome Romance Author M. L. Stoughton Awesome Romance Author Susan Vaughan Awesome Romance Author Susan McEachern

The post Awesome Romance Author Allie Harrison appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Awesome Romance Author Susan McEachern

Zara West Suspense

~Research & Imagination~

Do you like romances that are out of this world? Meet Susan McEachern. She has just released her fourth paranormal sci fi romance. Susan has based her novel somewhat on a famous UFO incident that happened just down the road from where I am living. Today she shares what goes into writing her otherworldly books. Welcome Susan!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A bit about me … mmmm, let’s see … I’m from the east coast of Canada and spent most of my twenties in Halifax, Nova Scotia, working on an International Development honour’s degree at Dalhousie University. I also worked at Dalhousie alongside some pretty big names in ocean development, until I married an Airforce officer and entered the life of a military nomad.  We’ve lived all over Canada, travelled half of the world—we’re working on the other half now—and even spent a year in England during which time we were invited to Buckingham Palace for tea with the Queen. My life is rarely boring, and I’ve met so many interesting people in my travels, experienced diversified cultures, and walked through some pretty amazing landscapes, that I have acquired a wealth of inspiration for my many fictional characters and worlds.

Shag Lake is your fourth, and most recent novel. Can you tell us how you came up with the title?

LOL! The title has caused a stir among my fellow romance writers as well as quite of few of my readers. In fact, I’ve had to put a disclaimer on the book that there’s no graphic shagging in Shag Lake, which has delighted some readers and disappointed others

Don’t Get Sued: Get Permission to Legally Quote from Another Writer

Zara West Suspense

~Have You Covered All Your Bases?~

Do you know how to legally quote from another writer in your own commercial works? In scholarly works, it is usually acceptable to quote from someone as long as you put it inside quotation marks, footnote, and include a bibliography. That just doesn’t work in commercial fiction and non-fiction.

When I was writing my first novel, I wanted to include a quote and a few lines from a poem by Giorgios Seferis, a Nobel prize winning Greek poet. I knew that I would need permission to do this.

When I wrote textbooks for a major publisher, I had to search for the referencing information, and then they did the final application and made the payments. But for my romantic suspense my small press publisher tasked me with searching for and obtaining the permissions.

So I set out on a detective hunt…

Finding the Source

To start with, the Seferis quote I wanted to use I found on one of those quote collection websites. Here it is:

“We have many monsters to destroy. Let us think of the answer of Oedipus.”  ~Giorgios Seferis

All I had were the words and the author’s name. I assumed at the start that it was a line from Seferis’ poetry.  After extensive Google searches on a variety of words and after a reading of his poetry, I discovered that the quote actually came from his acceptance speech before the Novel Prize Committee.

Getting permission to use the quote was easy. I followed the directions on their website, communicated directly with the Nobel Committee Public Relations Officer, and was granted free use.

The poetry excerpt was a bit more difficult. First, I had to find the original publication in English which turned out to be by Princeton University Press. They sent me to the Copyright Clearance Center. I had to fill out extensive forms and pay a fee. In my case I quoted 4 lines of poetry and was charged $70.

Finding Success 

It took several weeks and a number of e-mails to obtain both permissions. But in the end I was granted my permissions. Both organizations required specific wording.

Here is the final wording that appeared in my novel Beneath the Skin.

The quote from Giorgos Seferis’ speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1963 from Nobel Lectures, Literature 1901-1967, Editor Horst Frenz, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1969 Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 1963 is reprinted by permission of the Nobel Foundation.
The selection from the poem “Mythistorema” by Giorgios Seferis from the volume George Seferis, Collected Poems by George Seferis, 1995, is reproduced with permission of Princeton University Press.
A Flow Chart to Get Permissions

Jane Friedman has published a Basic Guide to Getting Permissions that all authors should keep as a reference.  She also explains why you need to get permissions, gives examples of permission request letters and discusses costs. Check it out! I have reproduced her chart below:

Some Suggestions for Writers

If you are thinking of quoting from another writer, here are some things to plan for based on my experience.

Allow sufficient time to get the permissions – it may take several months.
Quotes taken off the Internet may not be in their original form. You may need to do some creative searching to find the original source.
You will need to have access to the original source material as you will be asked to give page numbers when asking permission.
Be prepared to pay a fee. Note: Poetry is the most expensive to quote.

 

Have you considered quoting from another writer in your own work?
I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Related Posts All Fired Up for NaNoWri: How I’m getting ready Awesome Romance Author April Kihlstrom Zara West’s Book Reviews: Kerrelyn Sparks Awesome Romance Author Amara Royce Awesome Romance Author Barbara Bettis

The post Don’t Get Sued: Get Permission to Legally Quote from Another Writer appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Dark, Sensual, and Engrossing ~Dark Maiden: A Book Review

Zara West Suspense

~What Makes a Pair of Perfect Lovers?~

Dark Maiden by Lindsay Townsend is set in the the plague years of the 1300s, when people were terrified by strangers who could be carrying evil spirits and death.

No knights. No damsels in distress. No castles or kings.

For the unusual hero and heroine inhabiting this world, life is always a risk. Finding food and shelter and friendly people is hard enough, but it is even harder for a woman exorcist of Ethiopian descent and her travel companion and potential lover – a bell-bespangled magician and juggler attired in ragged motley.

As the characters face challenges, accusations, and exorcise ghosts, they grow closer together until love wins out.  It sounds like the typical romance.

A Unique Pair of Lovers

However, Lindsay Townsend has selected two unlikely people to become lovers. Yolande is strong, self-confident, and self-sufficient and does a man’s work dressed in men’s clothing.

Geraint, is not a burley knight, but a poor dark-skinned Welshman, small and lithe for a man. He has learned to survive on his smarts and his ability to distract and move with agility. When these two people come together, they form a powerful whole.

A Great Read

Lindsay Townsend shows in this work that not all medieval romances have to be about knights and castles and rich men’s daughters fighting to hold on to their land. These two impoverished people find joy in simple things – good food, peaceful nights, and their love for each other. It is enough. You will find joy in this book too, as the lovers find their happy ending.

Do you read medieval romance?
What do you like about this dark, death-filled period of history?

 

Related Posts Awesome Romance Author Barbara Bettis 10 Characteristics of a Great Romance Hero Opening Pages: A Book Review of Deception Island by Brynn Kelly Six Things a Romance Book Review Should Do Zara West’s Book Reviews: Julia Quinn

The post Dark, Sensual, and Engrossing ~Dark Maiden: A Book Review appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Awesome Romance Author Jacki Renee

Zara West Suspense

~It All Starts With J~

Today I am interviewing romantic suspense writer Jacki Renee. Jacki is a passionate reader, an even more passionate writer, and is inspired by the music she hears. Take it away Jacki…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Born and raised in sunny Southern California, I am a single mother of two amazing daughters, ages 24 and 16 (the age difference is a blessing and a curse). We have pampered 3 dogs with 3 different personalities. We have a “J” tradition in our family, it started with my parents and continued with my siblings and myself. Everyone’s name starts with the letter J. Invitations and holiday cards come addressed to: The J-Family. Yes, family gatherings are funny when someone gets a name mixed up and has to run down the list of “J” names until they get the right one. It’s even funnier when my mom does it; she calls out each name in age order.

What do you do when you are not writing?

In high school and Jr. college, I took sewing classes. A few years ago, I took knitting and crocheting classes, and I loved it. I’ve decided to get back into crafting clothes in between writing. I’m attempting to sew linen wrap pants with a matching no collar half-jacket, and tank top to wear to the RWA 2017 Conference in Orlando, Florida. If it doesn’t look a hot mess, I will take selfies in the outfit at the conference and post them on my social media sites. Wish me luck.

Where do you get your ideas?

Music sparks my inspiration to write, and I listen to a variety of music. I credit my story ideas to the emotions I sense when listening to music. It’s the tone of the artist’s voice mixed with the sounds coming from the instruments that sends my literal mind into another dimension. For example, NECESSARY LIES, the first book in the Lies trilogy started as a short story for a post on a free social publishing site.

One morning, while driving to work and listening to Ryan Seacrest on KIIS-FM, the first two lines of the song Stay With Me by Sam Smith made me ask myself, ‘what if Bryan felt that way?’ and the seed was planted for the story to grow into a full-length novel with plot twists and turns and a secret backstory.

One evening I was watching Dancing With The Stars and heard Leela James sing Fall For You live. Her soulful voice gave my story its journey of trust and love. While sitting in the car waiting for my daughter to return from middle school grad-nite, Not A Bad Thing by Justin Timberlake came on the radio. My hero now had a voice and a purpose, and the one book turned into the Lies trilogy. Necessary Lies, Lies You Tell, Secret and Lies. But the other characters demanded to have their story told, and the Men of Phantom series was born.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

The brotherhood and bond between the Men of Phantom is based on the friendship my nephew has with his friends. They have known each other for 20+ years. These young men are ‘ride-or-die’ friends and all successful in their own way. I try to capture that bond in each story of the series. When they gather together you can best believe they have me laughing so much tears roll down my cheeks and my sides hurt. I’m also secretly taking notes.

I also like to people watch to give my characters personality. Give me a tall cup of ice cold lemonade, something to snack on, and a crowd… I can spend an entire day writing character profiles.

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

Come hell or high water, Secrets and Lies, book 3 in Lies trilogy will be out in October 2017.

Although the trilogy was written prior to the release of the first book, the release of Lies You Tell was late because of health issues and the need to write a better story. Immediately after the release of the first book, I started editing Lies You Tell and found that Bryan’s story wasn’t appealing enough. In my heart and mind, my characters evolved. Therefore, my writing had to adapt to the new and improved characters.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

My advice to aspiring writers is to use industry guidelines as an example to be different. Memorable authors are the ones who dared to take a risk and stand out from the crowd. The very first writing contest I entered, a judge wrote: ‘You need to read more books in your genre and follow those examples. It’s obvious you are clueless about what romantic suspense is’ [copied directly from the scoresheet]. Little did that judge know, I do read romantic suspense, but I believe there is more than one way to spin a suspense tale.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I’m fascinated by the way the brain processes words, and I purposely use that knowledge to keep readers guessing. The method to my madness is for you to see the story through the eyes of the characters. I strive to create a portal to a different reality. So come on— travel the road with me. Experience the peaks and valleys, twist and turns, as my characters walk into the arms of Happily Ever After.

Lies You Tell
by Jacki Renee

In the second installment of the Lies trilogy by Jacki Renée…[image error]

Once a liar…

Danielle Hawk should have known better. As a trained psychologist, she constantly asked herself how she married a man she really knew nothing about—a man she’s still not sure she knows much about. There are too many unanswered questions, too many unexplained absences from home. In order to protect her heart, Danielle decides to pull away from Bryan emotionally—even though she can’t make herself give up the physical side of their marriage. But an up-close view into the world of a government operative, makes her question her true role in Bryan’s life. Worse, she fits the description of an enemy operative.

 Always a liar…

Bryan Hawk makes his living lying. And he’s damn good at it. But the lies he’s told are ruining his relationship with his wife, Danielle—and things will go from bad to worse if she finds out there are still secrets he must keep. But as second in command of PHANTOM, a secret military agency, there are some things Dani can never know in order to keep her and the children safe—not least of which is that he and PHANTOM know Dani’s first husband is still alive and being held for interrogation by Bryan’s team. With homeland safety on the line, Bryan and Dani must have faith in each other again in order to save themselves and their children.

But is it too late to rebuild that trust?

Buy Links
Amazon  |   iTunes  |  KOBO

 

[image error] Learn more about Jacki

Website http://www.iamjackirenee.com/product/telling-necessary-lies/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iamjackirenee

Twitter https://twitter.com/iamjackirenee

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iamjackirenee/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomJacki_Renee

 

 

Want to know more about Jacki? Have a question for her?
Post your comments below, and she will get back to you.

Related Posts What Type of Romantic Suspense Novel are You? Zara’s Romantic Suspense Book Review: Blood Code by Misty Evans Romantic Suspense Beneath the Skin is Different What Makes A Villain in a Romantic Suspense? What Makes a Romantic Suspense Suspenseful?

The post Awesome Romance Author Jacki Renee appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Awesome Romance Author C. F. Francis

Zara West Suspense

~Strong Women. Strong Men. C.F. Francis’s Romantic Suspense~

Today I am interviewing fellow Kiss of Death member C. F. Francis. Francis writes romantic suspense featuring strong women and alpha males who protect the ons they love. C.F. Francis shares about what influences her writing.

Tell us a little about yourself

I am a native Floridian, born in Tampa and raised in Hollywood, Florida. I’ve lived in most every part of this tropical state including Tallahassee where I did a stint as the committee secretary for the Select Committee on Organized Crime which helped develop Florida’s RICO statute at the time.

Before becoming a full-time author, I was an executive assistant with a diverse background in law, insurance, tourism and health care. Through the help of a website dedicated to assisting troops that are deployed (AnySolider.com), I developed friendships with those who have served in the Special Forces and Military Intelligences. They are generous and helpful with their knowledge when I tap them for research. I currently live in Southwest Florida where Sanctuary Island takes place

How much research do you do for each book you write?

Once I come up with an idea for a plot, I check with my resources to make sure it is feasible. Then I just run with it. If I have a question along the way, I’ll stop and ask. Sometimes, that means I’ll have to backtrack if I got it wrong but most of the time I have the since to look before I leap. I live in the area where the novels take place. Researching locations at the beach is a tough job. NOT!

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

The James Gang series (of which Sanctuary Island was the first installment) is about a team of Special Forces men who get involved in as much trouble off the battlefield as they do on it. In Lovers Key, Lt. Steve Brody and his “wife” must solve a mystery that she has landed smack in the middle of. They have an interesting past.

How did you come up with the title?

The title, Lovers Key, is a double entendre. Steve and Josie are lovers and she holds the key to the mystery. One of the major locations in the book is Lovers Key, a State Park just south of Sanibel Island.

What are you working on now?

Lovers Key is at the editor’s. I assume there will be some rewrites but I am hoping to have that out this fall. In the meantime, I’m working on the third installment of The James Gang. Haven’t settled on a title yet.

[image error] Sanctuary Island by C. F. Francis

Catherine Storm has returned to Sanibel Island. She seeks the tranquility and solitude that her favorite getaway spot has always offered while she struggles with decisions she must make regarding her career and her future. The last thing Cat expects is to find herself in the arms of a troubled, former Special Forces commander – while dodging an assassin’s bullets.

After more than a decade in the Army, Colton James put down his rifle and picked up his camera to block out the haunting images of his last mission in Afghanistan. His days of protecting the innocent are behind him – or so he thinks until he literally runs into the short-tempered, independent pixie who has unwittingly become the target of a killer.

Who wants Cat dead and why? While they search for answers, Colt knows he must do everything in his power to keep this woman safe – because whether she realizes it or not, her future lies with him.

Buy links
Amazon  |  iTunes   |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo

Learn more about C. F. Francis [image error]
Website

Facebook

Twitter  @Francis_Sanibel

Do you have a question or comment for C. F. Francis?
Post it below and she will get back to you.

The post Awesome Romance Author C. F. Francis appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Awesome Romance Author Alexandra Christian

Zara West Suspense

~When Does Naked Not Mean Naked? ~

Uh – when it’s the title of a paranormal romance by Alexandra Christian. Today Alexandra shares with us how she became a writer, why she writes what she does, and proves, that yes you can write a novel while sitting at a cafeteria lunch table.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’ve been published since 2010 and Naked is my 4th full length novel. I write mostly paranormal and sci-fi romance, but I like to dabble in horror and mystery as well. I live in sunny South Carolina with my husband, also a writer, and our epileptic wiener dog.

What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?

I used to teach second grade. That’s actually why I write under Alexandra Christian. When I first became published, I was still teaching small children, and I thought that my books might be a little too hot for the average schoolmarm. My second novel, Beast of Burden, was largely written while sitting at the cafeteria table during our lunch breaks in between opening milk cartons and packs of ketchup. Now I work with the legal system, which is very conducive for getting juicy story fodder.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

My mother and older sisters were romance novel junkies. I resisted for quite a while, preferring my horror and sci-fi/fantasy novels. As I got older, I realized that those books were missing a romantic element. I always loved relationship stories, but I wanted them to happen during a grand adventure. My older sister is romance novelist Lucy Blue, and she encouraged me to write the kinds of romantic stories that I wanted to read. So here I am writing complex interplanetary adventures.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

I feel like my answer to this question is always really boring. Stephen King is my go-to influence. His writing is so engrossing and he makes it seem so effortless. I always knew that I wanted to be a writer like that. One that could completely transport their reader. I am also greatly influenced by Anais Nin. She was just so in love with words. Her erotica is beautiful to read and she had such a fascinating life. And I can’t neglect to mention Julie Garwood and Sandra Brown—goddesses of the romance industry in my opinion. I would be happy if my books were half as smart and sexy as theirs.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

The next book in the Phoenix Rising series, Neo-Geisha, is just about finished and should be releasing sometime in the fall. Unlike Naked, this one takes place almost entirely in the space colonies that were introduced in the first book. Cage and Phoe will be battling space pirates and some old enemies. I’m also in the process of writing a novella as my Sherlockian alter-ego A.C. Thompson. It will be the first in a series with Falstaff books that follows Dr. John Watson as he battles all sorts of monsters. The first one is tentatively titled The Ghost and Dr. Watson and should also be out this fall.

How did you come up with the title?

The title Naked is a bit deceiving. Given that it’s a romance novel, most people assume that “naked” refers to nudity, but it doesn’t. The hero of the series, Cage St. John, is a former secret agent with MI6 (now called SIS). In trying to avenge his murdered wife and daughter, he has a little gene-splicing accident that gives him special abilities (you have to read the book to find out what…). He ends up leaving MI6 and becoming an “agent for hire.” Naked is a term used for a spy, or operative, who is working without backup or a governing agency.

What other genres of novel would you love to write?

Well, A.C. Thompson is allowing me to write horror, a genre I’ve always wanted to be a part of. Recently, I had a story in a weird western anthology called Lawless Lands: Tales of the Weird Frontier and through writing that story, I have fallen in love with the weird western genre. I’m also a rabid Sherlock Holmes fan girl, so I’d really like to write a novel length Sherlock Holmes adventure.

[image error] Naked
by Alexandra Christian

Librarian at one of Earth’s last paper libraries, Phoebe Addison is about to have a romantic and interplanetary adventure wilder than anything she’s ever read.

OUT OF THE STACKS

Librarian Phoebe Addison has lived her entire life within a seventy-five mile radius of her small Louisiana town, but when she receives a strange medallion from her adventurous, off-world sister, reality tilts toward the bizarre. Everything Phoe thought she knew is…well, wrong. Dead wrong. But bone-numbing fear has no place in this brave new world—nor by the side of the dangerous, exquisite man who saves her life.

…AND INTO THE FIRE

Following the tragic slaughter of his family, operative Macijah “Cage” St. John understands evil in a way no man ever should. He traded happiness for a magnificent and terrible power, and fate isn’t done with him yet. He wasn’t looking for comfort. He didn’t need tenderness. But today he’ll play hero to a damsel in distress, and his quest will deliver him to the uncanny Martian colony of New London—and his heart to the demure Phoebe Addison. The bookish beauty’s hidden talents and deep abiding love just might save Cage from himself.

Buy Links
Boroughs Publishing |   Amazon  |  B&N  |    Kobo  |  

About Alexandra Christian

[image error]Alexandra Christian is an author of mostly romance with a speculative slant. Her love of Stephen King and sweet tea has flavored her fiction with a Southern Gothic sensibility that reeks of Spanish moss and deep fried eccentricity. As one-half of the writing team at Little Red Hen Romance, she’s committed to bringing exciting stories and sapiosexual love monkeys to intelligent readers everywhere. Lexx also likes to keep her fingers in lots of different pies having written everything from sci-fi and horror to Sherlock Holmes adventures. Her alter-ego, A.C. Thompson, is also the editor of the highly successful Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series of anthologies.

A self-proclaimed “Southern Belle from Hell,” Lexx is a native South Carolinian who lives with an epileptic wiener dog and her husband, author Tally Johnson. Her long-term aspirations are to one day be a best-selling authoress and part-time pinup girl. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and Broad Universe—an organization that supports female authors of speculative fiction.

Hook Up With Her

Website: http://lexxxchristian.wixsite.com/alexandrachristian

Blog: http://lexxxchristian.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSouthernBellefromHell/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexxxchristian

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/b5c_Un

Amazon Author Central 

 

The post Awesome Romance Author Alexandra Christian appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Opening Pages: A Book Review of Deception Island by Brynn Kelly

Zara West Suspense

~Keep Turning Those Pages ~

There are all kind of books out there. But the kind I like best are the ones you can’t put down. The ones that keep you awake all night. The ones you just have to finish right now, no matter what else you must to do. Deception Island by Brynn Kelly is such a book.

Deception Island features a smart, strong heroine who’s been betrayed and beaten down, and a tough, cold man who was forced to become a soldier at the age of nine.

From the beginning, these two characters are at each other’s throats and digging into each other’s cast iron defenses as they slowly reveal their pasts and come to trust, and then love, each other. Mistaken identity, constant danger, increasingly more deadly challenges, and a vicious villain make it a page turner. If you like high level suspense and can stand graphic violence, this is the book for you.

This is the kind of book I want to write. So today I am going to look at what made this book suck me in from the start.

Let’s start at the beginning: Deception Island Chapter 1

The first chapter opens with a kidnapping. But it’s not the usual type of kidnapping. We have an ex-con posing as a senator’s daughter making a solo cruise around the world. We have a man forced to kidnap her because his enemy is holding his son captive. And where does this kidnapping take place? Somewhere in Oceania in shark-infested waters.

According to Anne R. Allen there are 10 things a first chapter should do.

Introduce the main character. In the opening chapter of Deception Island, we meet both the hero, a former Lost Boy soldier and the heroine, a convicted grifter, and see them at their best and their worst. As the sharks attack, boats are stolen and recaptured, and men die around them, each character digs deep into themselves to survive.
Make us care about them. How can you not care about a kidnapped child or a girl all alone fighting for her life?
Set the tone. Sharks? Guns? A kidnap for a kidnap? There’s no question this is going to be a thriller.
Foreshadow the theme. Near the end of the first scene, the hero Rafe sums up the main theme of the novel. “He was an imbecile for thinking a past like his could remain buried.” Everything that happens in the story has been set in motion by the past. As Alan Eisenberg says in Tiny Buddha, “You can’t bury your past and pain and expect to be happy.”
Let us know where we are. Moonlit bay. Trade winds. Indian ocean. Those few words in the opening paragraph are enough to set us on course for a South Seas deserted island adventure.
Introduce the enemy.On page 2, Kelly has the hero text/video with the man holding his son captive. We see the terror of the child, the cruelty of the kidnapper, and the despair of the father. The author has won us over. We have to see that little boy saved.
Ignite conflict. It is barely two paragraphs, but it is enough to make us hate the kidnapper. He has the hero’s son, and he is going to turn him into a terrorized boy soldier if the hero doesn’t follow his commands and kidnap the girl.
Let us know what the main character(s) want. The character goals are clear from the opening. Rafe has to save his son. The girl has to save herself.
Show a life changing incident. Being kidnapped sure does change one’s s life, especially when the heroine has been promised a ton of money to pretend to be the senator’s daughter. But once captured, the senator refuses to pay her ransom and abandons her to her fate.
Set out who the important secondary characters will be. Right away, we can see that these two main characters will be battling a force of mercenaries who have hearts of stone. Who the individuals are is not important, but rather the fact that the odds of succeeding against  such an overwhelming force are nigh on impossible.

The open chapter of Deception Island fulfills all the requirements for a great story beginning. The rest doesn’t disappoint either. I recommend this book highly.

 

[image error]

Do you like opening chapters that start with a high level of action?

Let me know. I love to hear from my readers.

[image error]

[image error]

The post Opening Pages: A Book Review of Deception Island by Brynn Kelly appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Awesome Romance Author Barbara Bettis

Zara West Suspense

~ Seeped in History ~
The Medieval World of Barbara Bettis 

If you love historical romance with heroic knights and clever women, you will love Wild Rose Barbara Bettis’s romance. Today Barbara shares why she writes about those olden times.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I’d have to say the genre(s) chose me. The way people of earlier times lived and the challenges they faced have always fascinated me. Admittedly, my earliest recollections of reading were of myths and legends, fairy tales, Knights of the Round Table, all of which captured my imagination. And in school, history and English were my favorite subjects. I loved reading about the different periods of the past. Even then, I’d concoct stories about people living in those times.

Although I loved all study of history, the medieval era and the Napoleonic / Regency periods continued to capture my fancy. When I decided to actually write fiction, the first story that came out of my pen (well, actually, my computer) was that of a knight. I always kind of favored the underdog, so my hero was naturally a mercenary. Mercenaries weren’t usually looked on in a favorable light.

How much research do you do for each book you write?

I research a great deal. My first books, and the one I’m editing now, are medievals, all set in the latter days of the 12th  and early 13th centuries–the years of King Richard I (The Lionheart) and his brother, King John.

While online sources are valuable, I still like to consult hard-copy books. So not only do I have several books of my own, I make a lot of trips to libraries. What’s both fascinating and frustrating about finding information from and about that era is the contradiction of sources. In one reliable source, one might find an event listed for different dates. Or one will find differing accounts of the same event, each one from a source that supposedly witnessed the event.

Deciding which date or account of events to use can be challenging. I usually consult numerous sources to determine which version seems most likely. When I first started researching that era, I found a discrepancy in the spelling of the name of one primary source (it was spelled two different ways) so locating a translation of his writings was my first challenge.

I like to be as accurate as possible, so sometimes I spend extra time finding more than one source for a specific fact. Research is fascinating in itself. I can get lost in research and have to just make myself stop and start writing.

What other genres of novel would you love to write?

I’ve run across some fascinating bits of fact that I’d love to pursue as straight historical novels, but I have so many historical romance plots running around in my mind yelling, “I’m next, I’m next” that I’m not sure when I’ll get to serious topics. They will require a good deal of digging—lots of research!

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

After I finish this medieval, I have a Regency that I’m working on and another Regency that nosing its way into my thoughts. Pesky characters. I work on that plot as I drive.

The Lady of the Forest [image error]
by Barbara Bettis

He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?

When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.

Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate’s past catches her.

When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.

Buy Links
AMAZON   |   TWRP

Meet Barbara Bettis[image error]

Award winning author Barbara Bettis has always loved history and English. As a college freshman, she briefly considered becoming an archaeologist until she realized there would be bugs and snakes involved. And math. She now lives in Missouri, where she recently retired as an English and journalism professor and plans to spend more time creating heroes to live for.

www.barbarabettis.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/BarbaraBettisAuthor

www.twitter.com/BarbaraBettis

Barbara Bettis would love to hear from you.
Please post your comments and questions below. 

The post Awesome Romance Author Barbara Bettis appeared first on Zara West Suspense.

Awesome Romance Author Nell Castle

Zara West Suspense

~Romance in Florida ~

Just in time to add to your summer reading pile, Wild Rose Nell Castle has a new release for you to enjoy. If you like Florida, romance, and women who care, you will want to read her contemporary romance, Turning the Tides. Today Nell shares about her life, her jobs, and her writing.

Tell  us a little about yourself. 

I always loved to write, but I couldn’t figure out what to write about. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I decided to “rewrite” my friend’s life and give her the happily ever after she deserved with an (unfortunately for her) fabricated love interest, that I found my voice. That story became my first novel with The Wild Rose Press, A Leap of Faith.

Is writing something that comes easy to you?

 Writing is easier than talking. I need the extra time allowed by writing to figure out how  to say what I want to say. Writing well is an arduous process for me, full of deletions and re-tries. I’m lucky to complete 1,000 words a day. I usually don’t have to do much revision because I revise as I go, and I plot out each chapter and event.

Where do you get your ideas?

For romance, I just look around at the people I know and start to spin alternate realities for them. The character of Lee Cooper in Turning the Tides is based on a friend from college who was adopted from a Korean orphanage at the age of two. However, her circumstances, her profession, the setting I plopped her in, and the  love interest I gave her were products of my imagination influenced by experiences and interests of  my own, and places I’ve visited or lived.

I’m working on another romance inspired by my oldest friend, who met her husband of 25 years when she was only 15. She’s already living the so-called fairy-tale ending, so I’m re-writing her story to imagine what would have happened if her life had taken a different turn. In the end, I’ll return her to the man she was meant to grow old with.

What are some interesting jobs you have had?

 The worst job I ever had only lasted a day. It was at a bathing suit store in South Florida, and part of my training was to try on about 40 swimsuits and then stand before the sales team and a large mirror, turning 360 degrees so they could help me understand why it looked bad on me. Ostensibly, I would then be able to help customers avoid making the same mistakes. I still cringe at the memory. Years later, I overheard one of my children telling their friends that their Mom had been “a swimsuit model,” a misinterpretation that made my face red all over again.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love the job I have right now, teaching a creative writing class through role  playing to kids between  the ages of 6 and 14 at a summer enrichment program. The kids go on quests and fight monsters, becoming more powerful with  each word they write about their challenges. My day job is teaching a multi-sensory language program to children with dyslexia, a rewarding but taxing occupation; so I love the freedom, expression, and fun of the writing class.

Do you have advice for aspiring writers?

Realize that if you want to write a novel, the only thing stopping you is you. Anyone who wants to write should already be a voracious reader. If you feel you have a story in you that needs to come out, it  will only happen if you have the discipline to work on  it every day, whether the words are flowing or not. Be disciplined and prioritize your writing schedule. The sense of accomplishment when the book is finally written will do great things for your self-esteem!

Turning the Tides[image error]
by Nell Castle

Ever the black sheep of her adoptive family, Lee Cooper has finally buckled down to a responsible job as a social worker in Southwest Florida. Defending her client against charges of child abuse awakens buried memories of her own abandonment in a Korean orphanage. Can she remain objective for the sake of a child?

Bricker Kilbourn, the court-appointed guardian, doubts Lee’s judgments–and his opinion might determine the little boy’s fate. He’s got his own family issues and haunting secrets to keep. Falling for a woman is not part of his plan.

He’s running from his past. She’s searching for answers. Will their resolution to protect a child bind them together or wrench them apart?

Buy links
Amazon  |  The Wild Rose Press 

[image error] Learn more about Nell Castle here
Website   |  Facebook
Amazon Author Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a question or comment for Nell Castle.
Please post it below.

 

The post Awesome Romance Author Nell Castle appeared first on Zara West Suspense.