Zara West's Blog, page 8
April 14, 2021
Brenda Lowder has a Romantic Comedy for You
Love light-hearted romance that make you laugh? Meet romantic comedy author Brenda Lowder. Today she shares about her upcoming release, why she writes comedy, and how she comes up with her ideas.
Welcone, Brenda…
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi! I’m Brenda Lowder. I’m from the Atlanta, Georgia area, and I write romantic comedy novels. Thanks so much for having me here today, Zara! I’m so excited to talk to you and your readers! I have two elementary-school-aged children who are doing digital school, and I don’t get out much. I’d still be excited to be here, though, even if that wasn’t the case.
Will you have a new book coming out soon? Do you know the release date?
My fifth novel, Sparks Unlimited, comes out on May 6th, and I’m so excited about it! It’s about a divorce attorney who meets a beautiful woman, but little does her know she’s secretly getting all of his high-profile divorcing couples back together and helping them continue on with their happily ever afters. And then shenanigans! Then love.
Why did you choose to write romantic comedy?
I’ve always loved romantic comedies—books, films, however I can get them! I’d happily live in one! But there never seemed to be enough. When I got serious about writing, I knew right away I wanted to write romantic comedies because I wanted more of them out there. Though I also love reading across genres. I love suspense, thrillers, mysteries, classics, women’s fiction, sci-fi/fantasy. All of it! I love it all.
Where do you get your ideas?
Before I wrote my first novel, I thought a writer might get an idea and sit down and study it and then write a whole book from that one idea. It’s not really like that. It takes hundreds of little ideas to keep the action going during the course of the book—everything from what the main character likes to eat for lunch to her opinions on fashionable footwear. And an idea for any of it can hit at any time. I got the idea for my first book, Keeping the Pieces, when my then three-year-old daughter was watching Barbie: Life in the Dream House and I was thinking about Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I put them together and then, woohoo! I had my story.
For my new book, Sparks Unlimited, I was inspired by the idea of a little girl loving the Disney movie Parent Trap and then growing up and holding onto the idea that she could help divorcing people get back together—until she falls in love with a divorce attorney who is all about helping them be apart.
Do you have any advice to give aspiring writers?
It’s been said a lot, but the best advice I ever got was just to keep writing. The first thing my agent said to me after offering representation for my first book was, “What else have you got?” It’s so important that as you’re sending out your book and querying agents and editors that you’re working on the next one.
For one, it keeps you busy so you’re not obsessing quite as much about when or if the agent will ever get back to you, but it also means that you’ll have other books ready to go when an agent or editor asks what else you have. It also means that you’ll have more than one book ready to sell if you decide to go the indie publishing route.
This interview was so fun! Thanks so much to the amazing Zara West and all of you for letting me drop by today!
Sparks Unlimitedby Brenda Lowder
Sasha Timmerman’s purpose in life is not to find love for herself, but to help divorcing couples get back together—like she did for her mom and dad. Which is why she’s willing to don last-minute disguises and chase people down in frozen foods. By rekindling the sparks between couples experiencing a relationship hiccup, she enables them to continue their happily ever afters.
Contented bachelor Cole Chase is one of Atlanta’s top divorce attorneys. He scores the best settlements with the least amount of emotional fallout—until all his biggest cases start unraveling. Suddenly his promotion to partner isn’t looking like a done deal, and the mysterious Sasha Timmerman is at the center of every one of his cases-gone-wrong.
The world’s biggest action star hires Cole to handle his divorce, and the star’s wife secretly hires Sasha to reconcile them. When everyone gets stuck on the movie star’s private island, Sasha and Cole must fight their growing feelings for each other in order to battle on opposing sides in the bigger game of love.
Releasing May 6th – Available From AMAZON*Free on Amazon UnlimitedLearn More About Brenda Lowder
Do you love romantic comedy as much as I do? Brenda would love to hear from you. Post your questions and comments below.The post Brenda Lowder has a Romantic Comedy for You appeared first on Zara West Romance.
April 7, 2021
S. L. Hollister Writes Romantic Suspense
Let’s welcome, romance author S. L. Hollister. She writes in a variety of romance genres. Today she explains where she gets her ideas for her stories and how much she loves doing research.
Welcome, Sherri,
Hi. My full name is Sherri Lupton Hollister. I write romantic suspense thrillers set in a small southern town on the North Carolina coast.
Where do you get your ideas?
With six sons I’m never at a loss for romantic heroes or villains, depending on if they piss me off or not. I used to threaten to put them in my stories and kill them off on page fifty but now my grandchildren are begging to be put in my stories and even coming up with ways to kill each other off. So much for that threat.
In Chrome Pink, my first novel, my husband was my muse. He tells everyone he’s in my novels but he’s a woman. He has the legs for it. My character is a female tow truck driver, motorcycle mechanic and tough with a big heart, just like my husband, but she does look better in a dress.
My most recent novel, Roxy’s Betrayal is a case of opposites. I wanted to show sibling rivalry and how our place in the family can affect how we view ourselves. It’s based on some research I did while raising my sons plus some of their antics with each other. Even as adults, the boys have a hierarchy within the family and often it is difficult to live down your family’s expectations of who you are and where you fit within the family tree. That is the case with Roxanne and Janie, the bad sister and the goodie-good sister. But the truth is a little more complicated.
My Leeward Files series and my newer series, The Harrell Family Chronicles are both inspired by my hometown in eastern North Carolina. They are set in a small town on the Innerbanks of the Atlantic Ocean. The community, the river, the weather are nearly as important as the characters in the stories. Anyone living in a small town, especially on the coast can appreciate the difficulties these people face daily. Add to that the proximity to the coast and it opens ideas for transporting drugs, guns or people. What better place to hide a crime syndicate than a small town?
How much research do you do for each book you write?
Research varies because my stories are modern and take place in a community I am familiar with. I am blessed to have family and friends willing to share their knowledge, so I have firsthand accounts of small-town police officers, volunteer firefighters and librarians.
When I got ready to write Roxy’s Betrayal, I wanted to know some details about living onboard a cruise ship. Thankfully, one of my writer friends grew up with parents who were tour guides and spent much of her young life on a cruise ship. She shared things with me I wouldn’t have thought of and that information was invaluable.
I have to be careful with research because I’m a bit of a geek. I love learning new things. I’ll start researching about drones and white phosphorus grenades and the next thing I know I’m reading articles about dragons and I have no dragons in my stories, yet.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Jayne Ann Krentz. I first fell in love with her historical romance books writing as Amanda Quick. I have always loved historical romance and never thought I’d write anything else but then I found out she was also a contemporary author and a sci-fi romance author, writing as Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle, I devoured those books as well. I love all of her stories. JAK is the one who opened the contemporary door for me. I hope someday to be published in both historical and contemporary romantic suspense.
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
I’m working on three books for my Harrell Family Chronicles series and doing research and planning for my first historical series. The Harrell Family has three brothers, each with their stories and families. Charlie and Liz have seven grown children and his brother John, two. I’m hoping to get at least nine stories from this series.
Do you have any websites, blogs, or books about writing that you would recommend?
I believe in continuing to learn. It is one of the reasons I love being a member of Romance Writers of America. I take a lot of online classes on everything from PTSD to horses, all geared towards the romance writer.
I read a lot of craft books and listen to audiobooks, and YouTube videos on writing. Sarra Cannon of Heart Breathings YouTube channel is one of my favorites. I’ve also taken her Publish and Thrive course which I highly recommend. I’m currently reading Donald Maass’ “Writing the Breakout Novel” and listening to Lisa Cron’s “Story Genius.”
Roxy’s Betrayalby S. L. Hollister
Roxy’s betrayal is imminent! She didn’t come home to fall in love. She came to betray her family. It’s the only way to save her friends.
Can Jorge help her save the innocents or will he be another one of the victims?
Available from
AMAZON | BOOKS2READLearn More About S. L. Hollister
Sherri Hollister would love to hear from you.Post your thoughts and comments below.The post S. L. Hollister Writes Romantic Suspense appeared first on Zara West Romance.
March 24, 2021
Come Meet Romance Author Ann Jensen
Romance author Ann Jensen writes her novels on her phone in her car. Today she talks about her writing life, her restless mind, and her new dark romance series. Book 2 Lost in the Dark released last week.
What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?
From the ages of eighteen to twenty-four I bounced through so many interesting jobs it’s hard to believe, and I lived it. I was a snowboard instructor, a lady fencer in a renaissance fair, shots girl at a biker bar, late night waitress, karaoke host, costumer designer for a theatre and a lovely troop of drag queens, MMA fighter, movie projectionist, actress and computer specialist for a company that I swear was connected to both the Italian and Albanian mafia. Every character I write is inspired by bits and pieces of the wonderful and unique people I met. I’ve always been an extrovert with an active imagination and made friends and learned their stories wherever I went. Taking the things and people I’ve met in my life and playing the what if game (turned up to ten) is my favorite way to craft my stories.
Where is your favorite place to write?
As a single mom, with two teenage children in the house, writing can be difficult. No matter what time of day or night, if they are home, they sense the moment I get in the zone and that is when they want to share quality time with me. Once I started getting serious about being an author, I tried writing in a Starbucks. Mistake. I love people watching and there are some fascinating individuals who come to coffee shops. I found myself making up stories about them, rather than what I was supposed to be writing.
Don’t laugh but now I write the majority of my books on my phone while sitting in my car. Sometimes parked right in my driveway, but usually I go to a nearby movie theatre parking lot. I pick a spot far away from everyone and sit there for hours writing on my phone. The gas cost is worth having heat/air conditioning and my seat recline into very comfortable positions.
I’ll admit that several times I’ve had a police car stop next to me to see what I was doing. You should see their faces when I say I’m writing romance novels, and it is too awkward to do at home with my kids. Though I have gotten to ask them some cool police procedure questions. I’m shameless. If talking with a wonderful cop about what it’s like to write romance is the cost of my quiet solitude, I’ll take it. If I hit the lottery I may have to splurge and buy one of those limo/mobile offices. Then I’ll be able to do my editing in the car too.
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
No. But I do experience what I like to call restless mind syndrome. Rather than writing I find every excuse to do something else. I’ll spend hours researching mood music, creating picture boards on Pinterest, watching writers on Youtube/TikTok, or if I’m desperate I’ll even clean my house. It’s not that I don’t know what I want to write, it’s that I’m not in the mood to write it. If I force myself things go painfully slow, but eventually pick back up. I think the reason I don’t get writers block is that I outline my books thoroughly in advance. I have at least ten books of outlines done, so there is no danger of running out of something to write any time soon.
Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?
Oh, definitely. It wasn’t the first book I wrote but it was the first one I edited and made and effort to polish. It is an Urban Fantasy that I was absolutely sure was going to be my debut novel. I received amazing feedback from Beta’s and sent it out to agents ready for my six-figure deal. Needless to say, no deal appeared. I got wonderful responses from a few Agents who said that my writing was wonderful but there was no market for Urban Fantasy at that time (The twilight mania bubble had just popped). If I re-wrote it as a romance, I should reach back to them. That story is my baby, I won’t butcher the storyline to change it for market, but I did shelf it. Some day I hope to revisit it and the two follow up books I have outlined for the series and maybe try again as the market changes or self-publish.
That was also the moment my brain went….Hmmm Romance, I love reading romance! Wonder if I could write it?
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
Saved by the Dark was the first in my Dark Sons MC series and book two Lost in the Dark came out 3/12. There are seven total books planed for that series the third is already in my publisher’s hands. Each one of the books is designed around a unique strong woman who could thrive in the MC Romance world I created and their perfect counterpart. Then I do my best to put her and her man in as much danger as they can survive and still find time to enjoy falling in love.
I have so many ideas for future series from Mercenary Romantic Suspense to Paranormal Romance. I’m waiting to see how this series goes. When I’m about to start writing book seven I’ll have to put serious thought into picking what set of characters get to come out and play next.
Saved by the Darkby Ann Jensen
Forget knights on white horses, how about a hero riding a motorcycle with shining chrome?
Phoebe’s spirit was forged into steel by a childhood split between foster care and the streets. Now grown, the simple act of accepting the wrong drink traps her in the underworld of human trafficking. On her way to be sold to a Mafia sociopath who’s obsessed with her innocent looks and unbreakable spirit, Phoebe desperately reaches out for help from an unlikely hero.
Sharp, VP of the Dark Sons Motorcycle club and former Navy SEAL sniper, has long ago learned being right is not the same thing as being lawful. With his Brothers, he lives, fights, and loves hard, living every day by their code of honor. He never thought to take an Old Lady, especially not one who looks as delicate or has been as abused as Phoebe. But Sharp soon finds himself losing his heart to her, vowing to protect her no matter the cost.
Far from a natural match, Sharp struggles with whether she can ever accept the man he is and not just the safety he represents.
When Phoebe asked for help, she’d been willing to do anything to be safe. But she hadn’t expected to find a new home, an unconventional family, and a man who sets both her heart and body ablaze. Can she overcome her fear and trauma and convince Sharp she’s more than just someone to protect?
This is book one in the Dark Sons Motorcycle Club series and can be enjoyed independently.
Publisher’s Note: This dark contemporary romance has elements of danger, mystery, suspense, adult themes, possible triggers for some readers, adult content, sensual scenes and power exchange. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.
Available from:Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Apple | GoogleLearn More about Romance Author Ann Jensen
TikTok: @annjensenwrites
Email: annjensenwrites@gmail.com
Website: https://www.annjensenwrites.com
Ann Jensen would love to hear from you. Post your thoughts and comments below.The post Come Meet Romance Author Ann Jensen appeared first on Zara West Romance.
March 17, 2021
Meet Awesome Romance Writer Judy Kentrus
An author who writes across the romance genres? Meet romance writer Judy Kentrus. She is here today to tell us about the many different romances she has written and to inspire us all.
Welcome Judy…
Hi, I’m Judy Kentrus. I write Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Seasoned Romance, and Historical Romance.
I’ve always been a romantic at heart and married my high school sweetheart. After raising our two wonderful children, I followed my dream to publish my books. My stories are fun, sexy romances that will make you laugh, cry and fall in love.
I make my home in the north east corner of Pennsylvania. People laugh when I tell them that I have to travel through three states to go food shopping. From PA, I cross over the Delaware River. That puts me in New York State. I get off the first exit. At the light I go into New Jersey.
What are some of your favorite things?
When I’m not at my computer giving couples their happily-ever-after, you can find me in the kitchen, baking. I’ve been dubbed the cookie queen by my family and friends. I make cookies all year round, but at Christmas, I make fifteen different kinds of cookies and put together plates of cookies as gifts. I also post recipes on my website.
Do your travels influence your writing?
We owned a motorhome and traveled all around the country. We visited all but 5 states. Our adventures include ten cruises that took us to Hawaii, Alaska and through the Panama Canal. As a result, our travels have had a great deal of influence in my books. Frozen Hearts, takes place in Alaska. My Vanderbilt Series, brings you to Naples, Florida. I have a US Park Ranger Series. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview two US park rangers to find out about their jobs and the challenges they face.
How much research do you do for each book you write?
I’m a stickler for detail, so I do a great deal of research that includes the education needed for a particular profession. It’s important that you know what you’re talking about. Readers are very smart and will let you know if something that you’ve written is not correct. In A Timeless Kiss, I have a Forensic Odontologist, a forensic expert who examines the teeth of a dead person to determine their identity.
Talk about research. I’m launching my first historical romantic suspense on March 20th. I spent more than two years researching this book – in between writing others. It takes place in 1849. I learned about men and women’s fashions, architecture, and even what it takes to sail a ship. I loved writing the book as well as the challenge.
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, writing plans.
I’m very excited about launching my first historical, romantic suspense, on March 20th.
Spirit of the Winds, is about the maiden voyage of a new a clipper ship. Cadell Leighton’s dream is about to come true, captain his own ship. When Katherine Jameson, a spoiled society chit challenges command and ownership, the storms won’t only be confined to the ocean.
Readers can download a FREE prequel to the novel. I had a lot of fun writing about Cadell and Katherine’s grow up years and the things that influenced their lives.
In July, I’ll be launching the fifth book in my Eden Prairie series. “Tastes of Summer.” It’s about having fun in the summer and a barbecue cook off! Yup, there’s even a kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel. I’ll have a couple of tasty recipes in the back of the book.
All of my books are listed on my website. Quite a number of are available on KU. Click on the cover and it will take you to Amazon.
Thank you Zara for having me as a guest on your blog.
Spirit of the Windsby Judy Kentrus
“All I want is my ship and the sea. No woman will ever run my life. I don’t need love.”
Cadell Leighton
No man is going to tell me how to run my life. All I want is my freedom. I’ll marry when I’m ready and only for love.
Katherine Jameson
“A name for a ship. That was the arrangement. Marriages were based on less.”
Boston, 1849
Cadell Leighton’s dream is about to come true. He’s worked hard to gain the knowledge to captain a new design in sailing ships. Spirit of the Winds, the latest addition to Leighton Shipping, will prove his claim to deliver cargo in record time. Wagers are heavy against him that he won’t make it back to Boston harbor.
His only regret is that his father, a ship’s captain, couldn’t share in the Wind’s maiden voyage. He was forced to leave his homeland under mysterious circumstances. Cade is determined to get answers to his many questions.
His command of the ship is contested by a Boston society chit who torments his life beyond reason. Backed into a corner, he’s forced to sacrifice his cherished freedom. The different moods of the sea won’t be the only thing that will challenge his command and his heart.
Katherine Jameson hates the prim and proper life of a society maid that she’s been forced to live by. She’s being pressured into honoring a marriage contract that her mother has arranged to an undesirable clod old enough to be her father.
Riding her beloved horse gives her the freedom she desires. Her dream has always been to go to sea, following in the footsteps of her father, captain of a sailing ship. When she discovers her late father, who died under mysterious circumstances, made her part owner of a magnificent clipper, she sees it as a chance to fulfill her dream.
When these strong-willed characters are forced into a marriage neither of them wants, the storms won’t only be confined to the sea. They’ll have to work together to get answers to the questions about their fathers’ past lives, before they can have their much deserved happily-ever-after.
A page-turning romantic suspense available from:
AMAZON | APPLE | KOBO | B&NSPECIAL FREE – Prequel for Spirit of the WindsLearn More About romance writer Judy Kentrus
Website: http://www.judykentrus.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judykentrusauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyKentrus
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judykentrus/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judy-kentrus
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jkentrus/
Judy Kentrus would love to talk to you and answer questions. Post your thoughts and comments below.The post Meet Awesome Romance Writer Judy Kentrus appeared first on Zara West Romance.
March 10, 2021
Jessica Lauryn Writes Contemporary Romance
Romance author Jessica Lauryn is here today to tell us about her writing life, facing writer’s block, and her upcoming novels.
Welcome, Jessica,
Is writing something that comes easy to you?
I’ve always been writing in some form or another, even before I called myself a “writer.” When I was a kid, I had a number of dolls, a couple of dollhouses and a schoolhouse which I used, first as a schoolhouse, and later as a gift shop. I created my own world with a large cast of characters which probably could have served as great adventures for kids, had I written anything I was saying down.
You’d think this would have been a dead giveaway to me that I wanted to be a writer but it wasn’t until I was a young adult just out of college that I decided to make my suppressed dream a reality. Though I had a lot to learn regarding the craft of writing and editing, ideas for stories have always come naturally to me. I don’t have an infinite number of stories in my head, but I do have many and I never do seem to run out of new ideas.
For me, developing those ideas is when the “work” kicks in – breaking a 60,000 word paragraph I call an “outline” into a “rough draft, “showing” what I’m trying to say versus “telling” it by adding as many sensory details and in-the-moment actions as possible, polishing my work until it sounds like an actual book. Editing is work. Writing, for me, is play!
Is anything in your books based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
When I was first starting to write, I relied on real life experiences as a bit of a jump-off point, to get my feet wet. “Write what you know,” as they say. As a recent college graduate, I worked long hours in grueling jobs, hours that I wished I could be spending writing and instead spent fantasizing, both about what I wanted to be writing and about what I wanted to be happening in real life, which essentially were the same thing at the time, i.e. I wanted Prince Charming to come walking through the door.
My mind was all over the place in those days, and I was spending so many hours at work, “work lingo” running through my head that when I finally did manage to carve out a bit of writing time, those jobs and the experiences that I had while working in them found their way into my stories. Though I will stress that the stories themselves are purely fictitious, my time working at an ice cream parlor, a hotel and a day care center served largely as inspiration for Dangerous Secret and Dangerous Proposal, the first two stories in my debut series, The Pinnacles of Power.
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
I find this question pretty ironic as I’m actually experiencing a bit of writers’ block at this very moment. This rarely happens to me, but I’m at the point in one of my stories where I’ve just completed the first love scene, which I generally time to take place about half-way through the book, and I’m asking myself, how do I get from here to the end? I’m not even sure of when and where I want the second love scene to take place, and that’s rare for me.
As a plotter, I like to write my stories out in the form of an outline before I attempt a rough draft. Typically, just telling myself that I’m writing an “outline” and not a “rough draft” is enough to cut through any writers’ block as it eliminates the fear of the blank page many writers experience when they sit down at the keyboard. I generally have a good idea of where I want a story to go before I write it, so I simply take what’s going on in my head and transfer it onto paper as quickly as I can and preferably, when I’m at my most inspired.
I know the basic formula for fiction and for romance, so I have a general idea of where I want to time my first kiss, my first love scene and the “black moment.” When I do experience the occasional writers’ block, I try to spend some time just thinking about the story away from the computer, imagining how I see things playing out, focusing on whatever I know is coming for sure and taking as much time as I need to figure out the best way to get there.
How did you choose the genre you write in?
I enjoy reading all sub-genres of romance—historical, contemporary, paranormal, etc.—and while it is important, as authors, that we make clear to our readers what sub-genre we’re writing in and meet the expectations of said readers, I take my inspiration from wherever its most inspiring. I appreciate the pretty sound of historical romances, the danger that fuels the fire that is the romance found in romantic suspense and the idea that, if the characters in a contemporary romance novel can find love in this crazy modern world we’re living in, so can the rest of us.
After more than a decade of whole-hearted consideration and finding my way as a writer, I’ve come to define what I write as “contemporary suspenseful-romance.” I find much “romantic suspense” to be grittier and more violent than what I write, and I hesitate to lump my titles into that category because they’re not exactly the same. In my stories, danger exists primarily for the purpose of fueling romance and passion and while a villain my appear to be very much off his hinges, there’s something oddly sexy about him and you just may see him reform and come to be a hero in one of my later titles. I like to throw in the occasional paranormal twist, too!
Can you tell us about any upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
Struck by a bout of mad-crazy inspiration (I blame the pandemic, and all the extra writing time, for this) I’ve currently got my head in about 13 different stories. Yes, you heard that right! First off, I’m currently editing the final story in my Rabourn Theater Series, An Enchanting Song. Sebastian Nathanson, son of Briarcliff Manor’s most diabolical villain, is back in town and he has his sights set on the one thing he has from the start—Rabourn Theater. But when he encounters a mysterious woman at Evan’s costume ball and realizes the secrets she’s keeping are even more dangerous than his own, the perfect plan begins to come apart at the seams and Sebastian’s attraction to the alluring Madelyn Bennett threats to turn the world he covets more than life itself crashing on its head.
While I put the finishing touches on this long-anticipated story, I’m also drafting two new series, one set in summertime at a casino on the beach and another at a ski resort in Vermont during the peak snow season (See what I mean by ‘I’m all over the place?!’)
In my casino series, tentatively titled The Shores of Avalon, three young women (who’ll later be joined by another friend, and her mother) arrive in the quiet beach town of Avalon hoping to find themselves and bring their dreams to fruition. But things get to be more than the girls bargained for as Mia, Sky and Ally stumble upon the workings of a criminal operation and unexpectedly find love just when things are getting crazy.
In my ski resort series, tentatively titled Peril and Passion on Blackberry Mountain, Emma Stevens seeks closure in the aftermath of her sister’s tragic death, but there may be a lot more going on, on Blackberry Mountain than everyone believes, causing 3 unlikely couples to find passion as they fight to beat the clock, solving a mystery that threatens, not only their business but their lives. I’m having a blast with all of these stories and I promise to get them released just as soon as my head can turn them all out!
An Intoxicating Interludeby Jessica Lauryn
Will the monster who almost ruined Dani’s life make her dreams come true?
Former exotic dancer Dani Talbert is determined to leave Briarcliff Manor and raise her son in a place where he won’t be branded by her mistakes. She’s dreamed of being a star on Rabourn Theater’s stage all her life and it’s time she put the dreams that have cost her everything behind her. But when Ryder Nathanson, the conniving man who once blackmailed her, comes back to town and arranges for Dani to have the lead role in her favorite play, her plans of starting a new life are brought to a halt. Ryder may be a monster, but he intrigues her a lot more than she realized.
Ryder Nathanson wants revenge on everyone who has wronged him, and the woman responsible for sending him to prison is at the top of his list. He’s hatched the perfect plan only, being married to Dani Talbert, the woman he’s wanted since the day he first set foot in Rabourn Theater, isn’t as simple as he wanted to believe. Dani is a temptress, warm and sensual and capable of turning his world on its head. As a series of dangerous accidents befall the people of Rabourn Theater, Ryder prays the end won’t come sooner than he’s prepared for.
Available from:Amazon | B & N Learn more about Jessica Lauryn
Website –
Blog –
Jessica Lauryn would love to hear from you. Post your thoughts and comments below.The post Jessica Lauryn Writes Contemporary Romance appeared first on Zara West Romance.
March 3, 2021
Meet Awesome Romance Author Sadira Stone
Fellow Wild Rose Sadira Stone solves writer’s block with a cup of coffee, a walk, and terrific ideas for romances. Read on to learn more about her and her steamy romantic comedies in our interview today.
Welcome Sadira,
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My first work of fiction was murder. I was a young high school French teacher, and a hulking male student flipped out in class, raging and threatening me. So I killed him. On paper, of course. Writing that first mystery story was so cathartic! I went on to write several as-yet-unpublished mysteries (I’ll get to them someday) before switching to romance, where I found my true home.
After nearly 30 years in Germany, first in the U.S. Army, then as a teacher for kids of military families stationed there, I took early retirement in 2014, returned to the U.S., took up writing fiction full-time. I love it! I now have four books published by The Wild Rose Press and one indie-published romance set in Tacoma, Washington, my new hometown. Book 2 in the Bangers Tavern series is coming March 15th and available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo.
Is writing something that comes easy to you or not?
Yeah, I’d say the writing part is pretty easy, except for days when the characters aren’t speaking to me. A brisk walk and a huge mug of coffee usually solves that problem.
What do you do when you are not writing?
Lately, I’m usually writing! What else am I gonna do during a pandemic? I also read tons of romance fiction, plus nonfiction. I dabble at guitar & ukulele, play darts with Hubs—how I miss our dart league!—and visit with friends & family on Zoom. In the before times, I enjoyed exploring the U.S. Pacific Northwest and look forward to doing that again.
How did you choose the genre you write in?
I read an article about how fun and lucrative it can be to write erotica and thought, “Why not?” My first attempt wanted to become a full-length sexy romance novel, and I’ve never had so much fun with a writing project! My critique group said, “Looks like you’ve found your genre.”
How much research do you do for each book you write?
Tons. My contemporary romances are high-realism, and I love exploring artistic careers and small business settings. I want to be respectful and get the details right, so I interview people who work in those fields, read lots, and watch videos. Bless all the generous people who post YouTube videos of their workplaces and hobbies. For Opposites Ignite, I had to learn about the life of a tattoo artist—fascinating!
Opposites Igniteby Sadira Stone
A mismatch sparks the hottest flames.
Blue-haired, buxom, and bodacious, server Rosie needs her job at Bangers Tavern, where her work family adores her weirdness and supports her hunt for a tattoo apprenticeship. When too much New Year’s bubbly tumbles her into a sweet, shy coworker’s bed, she craves more. But guys like Eddie never stick with girls like her.
Strait-laced, soft-spoken, and skinny, barback Eddie has a huge crush on his curvy, tattooed coworker. Their New Year’s surprise is a dream come true—until grandma walks in on them. Eddie begs Rosie to fake-date him to appease his old-fashioned family. He’s already keeping secrets, so what’s the harm in one more? But the longer he pretends with Rosie, the deeper he falls.
Their boss lays down the law: No relationship drama at work, or you’re fired. Rosie’s everything Eddie ever wanted—but to keep her, he’ll have to drop a terrifying truth bomb on his loving but stifling family. And Rosie must trust her bruised heart with the guy who nearly crushed it.
Come back to Bangers Tavern for a steamy, laugh-out-loud, opposites-attract romance that ignites in all the worst ways—and the best!
BUYLearn more about Sadira Stone
Sadira Stone would love to hear from you!Post your thoughts and comments belowThe post Meet Awesome Romance Author Sadira Stone appeared first on Zara West Romance.
February 17, 2021
Carol Van Den Hende, Author of Goodbye, Orchid
Carol Van Den Hende writes women’s fiction. She is also a well-known speaker and blogger on marketing your writing. Today she is going to share about her inspirations, her new novel, and and her favorite blog.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello Zara, thanks for welcoming me to your blog!
To introduce myself, I’m the author of award-winning Goodbye, Orchid, a public speaker, MBA, and full-time strategist. I also volunteer on the Board for a special needs school and have trained as a Climate Reality Leader. I’m fortunate to live with a wonderful hubby who makes me laugh, twin teenagers, and our Siberian rescue cat.
What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?
Growing up, my favorite job was working in an Italian bakery, so my family wasn’t surprised when I accepted a “sweet” job offer from Mars, Incorporated. During my time at Mars, I’ve had the good fortune to lead many iconic brands, such as M&M’S®, TWIX® and DOVE® Chocolate.
These experiences informed my characters’ work lives. Phoenix Walker is a young entrepreneur who’s founded a New York ad agency. Orchid Paige works as a brand marketer in the beauty industry.
In Goodbye, Orchid, she accepts the opportunity of a lifetime, to travel to Beijing for a temporary assignment. This draws upon my own experience, when I lead Mars chocolate gifting business in China.
How much research do you do for each book you write?
Goodbye, Orchid is inspired by combat-wounded veterans. In the story, Phoenix suffers a traumatic accident which makes him question his relationship with the woman he loves.
I wanted to pay homage to these real-life experiences by writing with authenticity, so I took the research seriously. I read books, blogs and online sources, and also interviewed medical professionals and people who’ve survived traumatic injuries.
I can’t thank my sensitivity readers enough. Like Purple Heart-decorated Sgt Bryan Anderson who gave my writing high praise when he said “Carol gets my experience.” And Boston Marathon bombing survivor Heather Abbott, who raises money for people injured by trauma, and loves Goodbye, Orchid.
I’m touched by feedback from veterans, like these heroes:
“As a combat decorated and wounded veteran, I was truly captivated by Carol’s storytelling. Phoenix Walker captures the mindset, roller-coaster and daily heroics of my experience after being injured. All around excellence.”
—Doc Jacobs, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart-decorated Navy Corpsman, CEO Doc Jacobs Foundation, author There and Back Again
“In this most worthy novel, the protagonists’ lives are shattered and they re-emerge champions, showing a true test of character. Phoenix is all of us, unconquerable until we’re conquered. A tale of sacrifice and rebirth; heroism is in the details.”
—SSGT Aaron Michael Grant, author of TAKING BAGHDAD: Victory in Iraq With the US Marines
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
It’s hard to pick one favorite chapter and readers have loved many different aspects of Goodbye, Orchid. I’ll mention one part, though, that takes part at Walter Reed Medical Center. I’ve never visited in person but researched the facility through secondary sources. So, it’s especially gratifying that military personnel find those scenes to capture the feel of the place and banter between soldiers.
How did you come up with the title?
As we neared publication, my publisher wanted to finalize the book’s title. I wrote a naming brief and brainstormed multiple options. Finally, during an inspired zoom call, my editor and I re-read the opening lines and were struck how they capture the central tension and themes in the story:
Phoenix never believed today was goodbye. Even though hellos come with goodbyes. Like black holes and Stephen Hawking. Like doughnuts and doughnut holes.
But today’s goodbye wasn’t the end of something.
I credit her in my acknowledgements and will never forget her glee as she shouted, “I’ve got it! Goodbye, Orchid!”
Do you have any websites, blogs, or books about writing that you would recommend?
I’ve held Do It Yourself MFA in high regard for years, ever since I met founder Gabriela Pereira at a Writers Digest Conference where we were both speaking. She and her team actively pursue their mission to help writers with both the craft and business side of publishing. So, I was thrilled to discuss Goodbye Orchid with Gabriela on the DIYMFA podcast:
Hot off the press news…
Starting in April, I’ll be penning a bi-monthly DIYMFA column. “The Author Marketing Toolkit” will be where writers can learn from 20 years of time-tested marketing and insights expertise, translated for authors.
Goodbye, Orchid by Carol Van Hende
What happens when an entrepreneur suffers an accident that changes him forever and he has to decide if to love his woman, he will need to leave her?
One July morning in Manhattan, handsome athlete and entrepreneur Phoenix Walker accompanies his love, half-Asian beauty Orchid Paige, to the airport. Neither believes today is goodbye.
But soon after Orchid leaves, disaster strikes.
Phoenix wakes in the hospital, broken, forever changed.
Now, he’s faced with the hardest decision of his life. Does he burden the woman whose traumatic childhood makes him feel protective of her? Or does true love mean having to say Goodbye, Orchid?
Rising from ashes is hard. Leaving the one you love is harder.
Available from-AMAZON | B&N | BOOKSAMILLION | BOOKSHOP | TARGET | INDIEBOUND | PAGE158BOOKSGOODBYE, ORCHID is one of the most anticipated 2020 fall reads: Buzzfeed l Parade l Travel Leisure and featured in Glamour, Popsugar, Bookstr, Frolic, LA Times, Chicago Tribune and more.
Winner: 2020 American Fiction Award | Pinnacle Achievement Award | IAN Best First Novel 50-80K words | Two Royal Dragonfly Awards | Two Best Book Finalist Awards | New York Book Festival Honorable Mention | Audiobook Reviewer New Author of the Year | Long-listed for Chanticleer International Chatelaine Book Award |One of The Write Review’s Top 2020 Books
“Page-turner” “Breath of awe” “Tugs on your soul”
Learn more about Carol Van Den Hende
Carol would love to hear from you. Please post your thoughts and comments below.
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February 10, 2021
Sue Ward Drake Writes Romance on the Edge
Romantic suspense author Sue Ward Drake writes action-packed thrilling stories. Today she shares how she weaves her own experiences into what she writes.
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
When I was eight years old, I wrote and submitted a story to a woman’s magazine that came out in the grocery stores. In high school I wrote a fictional advice column for the school newspaper.
During my international travels, I started to keep journals, sometimes just documenting what I saw from the train window. I then moved into mysteries (my first detective story 35 years ago came out at 50 pages! LOL) and then into romantic suspense, a natural progression as I read lots of international spy thrillers as a teen. The best of my Dad’s pile was Helen MacInnis’s Decision at Delphi. Naturally, after reading that, I had to go see Delphi for myself, one of the most fascinating places on earth.
Once I focused on writing romantic suspense, I wrote and submitted three stories before I actually sold a book 39 years after submitting that first story. I’ll never forget accepting the offer from my first editor using the relay for the deaf and hard-of-hearing as there was no Internet or e-mail at the time.
Is there anything in your book based on real life experiences?
Tons! I used a lot of my experiences to flesh out those of Mitch and Cath in Walking the Edge, even the time I was held up at gunpoint on a lonely French Quarter street during the time I was teaching at a junior college in the evenings. Don’t worry. It ended fine. He ran off with my purse, but not the Spanish tests I had to administer the next day!
I like to be able to “see” in my mind where my characters are and used a lot of familiar New Orleans locations, even giving one of my French Quarter apartments to the heroine. Walking the Edge is the first in the Danger in the Big Easy series, stories about brothers fighting to keep the streets of their beloved New Orleans crime-free, and the hero lives with his brothers in an area of historical houses in another neighborhood where I once lived.
Mitch and his three brothers take care of their elderly aunt and her big house and yard. These are big guys and they need to eat, so I’ve written in some typical New Orleans food dishes I know from personal experience.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Write every day. Don’t worry if you can only take baby steps now. Everyone has to learn by writing. Remember you’ve lived a life no one else has and you have uniqueness to share. Believe in yourself and set goals. If you don’t know where you’re going, how do you know if you’ve arrivedCan you tell us about your writing plans?
Thank you for asking. I’m currently deep in the revisions for Book #2 of Danger in the Big Easy. I’m not sure of the title as yet, but this is Hal’s story, a major player in Walking the Edge.
Is there anything special you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Reading is one of the most wonderful skills a child can learn—at least it was for me. When you need a distraction from the ordinary world—and who doesn’t these days?—you can always escape into a book. I hope my readers enjoy my stories as much as I loved writing them.
Walking the Edge by Sue Ward Drake
Ex-army ranger Mitch Guidry never should have let his brothers talk him into joining them in the Big Easy. Particularly when they have him going head-to-head with the very last thing he needs: a feisty redhead who has more opinions than even his hard-headed brothers. Loyal and overprotective to a fault, Catherine Hurley will do everything she can to stop Mitch from finding her fugitive brother…and yet, he can’t get enough of her.
Cath should be furious with the overbearing ex-ranger who shows up on her doorstep looking for her brother. Sure, Mitch Guidry is hotter than a Louisiana summer and pushes every one of her buttons, but he’s also an immediate threat to her family, and family is everything to Cath. Unfortunately, the only way to save her brother is to stick to Mitch like glue. But sharing close quarters with him while they search for her missing brother together proves to be more than a little challenging…particularly when it comes to protecting her heart.
Available from:AMAZON | KINDLE| B&N| INDIE BOOKS BOOKSAMILLION| GOOGLE | APPLELearn More About Sue Ward Drake
Visit Sue at: Her website: https://www.SueWardDrake.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/@SueWardDrake
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SueWardDrakeBooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/suedrakeauthor/
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February 3, 2021
Maria Imbalzano Writes about Music and Love
Romance author Maria Imbalzano is a multi-published writer and Fellow Rose. She is here to share an amazing romance.
Welcome, Maria Imbalzano,
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
In A Song For Another Day, the hero, a country singer/songwriter, and the heroine, a Broadway singer and dancer, wrote a song together. I had never written a song before, and pondered how to do that. While writing this book, one of my favorite songs was “One Man Band” by Old Dominion. So I used that melody to write words that meant something to Jason and Gigi.
How did you come up with the title?
Another song by Old Dominion (I do love their songs) is called “Song for Another Time.” I borrowed the theme, you might say.
What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?
I was a divorce lawyer for thirty-five years. Over those years, I dealt with so many people who had stories to tell – some sad, some angry, some painful. I use what I know when writing my stories. Several of my books have lawyers as characters and lawsuits as plot lines. (Unchained Memories, Dancing in the Sand, Sworn to Remember) I have been able to draw on my experiences to write these characters/plot lines. I also wrote hundreds of legal memos and briefs during my career as a lawyer, and edited them to death before sending them off to court. As a result, I am a fairly good editor on my books. Paying attention to words and details is a trait I learned while practicing law.
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
I am one of those people who loves to be busy. I am currently working on four projects at the same time. The third book of my Sworn Sisters Series tentatively called Sworn to Fly is under contract and with my editor. (See below for a description of this series) I just finished writing a Christmas novella with a cookie theme to submit to my publisher for a series to be released next Christmas. My proposal for a novella in The Wylder West series has been approved, and I will be writing that next. I am also narrating one of my published books for audio and intend to eventually narrate all my books. I am still in the learning stages, and I have re-recorded Chapter One about six times already. This project is definitely a challenge.
Will you have a new book coming out soon? Do you know the release date?
Sworn to Fly, which is book three of the Sworn Sisters Series is in edits. I don’t have a release date yet, but it should be out by the beginning of the summer. The Sworn Sisters are four high school girlfriends, who are now in their early thirties. They are strong, independent women, but each has vulnerabilities. They support each other and help each other navigate the land mines of their lives while searching for their happily-ever-after.
Each girlfriend has their own story. Nicki, in Sworn to Forget is single, living in Philadelphia, and works as a music executive. She dates whom she wants, when she wants, and intends to remain happily single. Until Dex enters her life. Sam, in Sworn to Remember, is a successful divorce attorney in NYC who learns that her husband has been unfaithful. She takes a leave of absence and spends it in the shore town of Crescent Beach where she pulls herself together and files for divorce. While there, she runs into her high school crush and sparks fly.
Alyssa, in Sworn to Fly is an ER nurse, who makes bad decisions as it relates to men. She heads to a resort in the mountains for a week to work on herself as well as her life plan. She meets Gabe, a high fashion photographer, who opens her eyes to the larger world around her.
Denise, in a not yet titled book, is a former bank VP who is now a stay-at-home mom to three children. Her husband takes a job in Boston just as she is about to re-enter the workforce in NJ. Living two separate lives does not bode well for their once solid relationship. Only after they learn to communicate and compromise can they get back to the love they once had.
A Song for Another Day by Maria Imbalzano
Gigi Jenson, an up-and-coming Broadway star, finds herself in Willow Springs, Vermont, for the summer as director of their first annual community revue. This sleepy town is worlds away from her vibrant and beloved New York City, but the experience she’ll gain will be invaluable to her career.
Jason Simmons has lived in Willow Springs his entire life. Working several jobs while writing music, he yearns for a contract to record his songs. The one chance he had to make it in Nashville he blew due to stage fright.
When Jason volunteers to help Gigi with the revue, sparks ignite but their dreams are taking them in different directions. Could their love for each other guide them to the same path?
Buy Link
My love of reading dates back to my childhood when I would borrow at least four books from the library every week. During the summer, I would sit in the house and read, until my mother, totally frustrated, would send me outside to play and lock me out. I always found my way back in. However, I must confess, I hated to write. In every English and writing class throughout college, I dreaded trying to be creative. As a friend from law school so aptly put it, “The reason why we’re here is because we don’t have a creative bone in our bodies.”
Despite my dislike of creative writing back then, I embraced legal writing, and was first published in Volume 5 of the Fordham International Law Journal. My article was entitled “In re Mackin: Is the Application of the Political Offense Exception an Extradition Issue for the Judicial or Executive Branch?” I would advise you against reading it, for you will surely fall asleep.
While practicing law as a divorce attorney, I decided to try for some balance in my life and began writing romance. Thankfully, I found my creative bone. Instead of only drafting motions, legal memoranda, and briefs, although fascinating, I started to spend my free time creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys through my contemporary romance novels.
Learn more about Maria ImbalzanoGoodreads Author Page
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January 13, 2021
Susan Payne has a Western Romance for Us
Susan Payne is back with a newly released romance set in the Old West and more about her writing life. Her Regency Christmas Anthology was a Zara West Reader’s Club giveaway.
Welcome, Susan. Glad to have you back.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I used to do a lot of things although I often kept stories going in my head while doing them. I raised five children and enjoyed all the things that went along with that. Scouts, clubs, dance, soccer – you know. Dinner was always on the table at six o’clock every night except Holidays. Those we spent as an enlarged family with friends and relations. I cooked and hosted because it is what my mother taught me.
I still cook as if forty were showing up for a meal – probably why I write about cooking large meals in my books. Over a camp fire or wood burning stove. My grandmother followed by her daughter used one since my childhood. It comes natural for me to put them in my books. The way they sound, smell and feel reminds me of her and her strengths.
Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?
I remember staying with my grandmother for days at a time. She lived on a farm she and my grandfather, with help of other family members, built on the 90 acres her parents gave them to lure her home after she was married. She married her brother’s friend who had come home with him from the Navy. He was from Pennsylvania and an engineer making eye glasses – frames and all. When the war was over, he came back and asked her to marry him but took her home with him for about a year.
She missed her family and Michigan so he brought her back. He wasn’t a farmer and always had jobs in factories, but she ran the farm and animals. She raised five children – four boys and one daughter. Was on the schoolboard and housed the teacher every year making sure her children got extra homework. Our Christmas presents always included at least one book. She usually had read them before buying ours. She was a wonder, and I find my characters doing or saying something I know she had done dozens of times. A real pioneer woman.
How did you choose the genre you write in?
I don’t think I chose it as it chooses me. Anything from the past would suit me. I often think back to cavemen and try to figure out how they managed. Not much of a plot since it was pretty much subsistence living, but someone had to figure out how to catch fish and dry them for winter use. Someone had to decide to make drawings on the wall to show next generations how to drive the herd over the cliffs and then collect the carcasses. It wouldn’t be an extended story unless they used more words than I believe they had back then. Hmmm, maybe I’ll give it a try. I think love is as old as man so I have a shot….
How much research do you do for each book?
I always have been inspired by the characters that show up in my head. I have so much trivia I used to be teased about it like Sheldon in the television show, Big Bang. You know, segue “Do you know why we clink glasses together when we make a toast?” I have a million useless information bits to share with the world. I do research some things to make sure certain words were used at the time I’m writing about. Learn about the clothing or foods available to them. Sometimes I surprise myself at how much I can pull from memory and then verify before I put it into a story. Sometimes I get carried away and read more than I need to, but end up using the info in other stories. I love historical times and often find myself reading similar genres.
What project will you be working on now or what book will be next?
I have several works-in-progress as usual. I put them into the computer and number them, but don’t write them in order. Depends on who shows up in my mind demanding to be written about next. I’ll find a conversation going in my mind and need to figure out who is speaking – to me or to one another. Most often to one another. As if I were interrupting a private conversation, but I feel if they wanted it kept private then they shouldn’t be in my head in the first place. Right? I put it down, sometimes adding to others already written down between the two. It will get to be several thousand words before I feel a strong enough pull to write it up and send it on its way.
Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?
I will finish out this year with one more novel. Blind Faith, a Regency. I would like to put together another anthology, I liked finding the right stories to work with one another. I also am going into a slightly different arena by publishing short stories readers can download to their phones, etc. A Woman of His Dreams and How to Return a Mail Order Bride will be out early 2021 as eBooks. Something to read while waiting in the dentist office or travelling. I like shorter works myself so that I can get them finished and move on to my own work. I always leave my readers (and characters) with a happy-ever-after and the feeling they have new friends.
Three Sisters by Susan Payne
What does a Federal Marshall, his deputy and a Pinkerton have in common? How about three lovely young women running from something?
Available from AMAZON Learn more about Susan Payne
WEBSITE: http://www.authorsusanpayne.com
TWITTER: @SUSANREID460
URL: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Payne
EMAIL: authorspayne@gmail.com
Are you a fan of Western romances? Susan Payne would love to hear from you. Post a comment below.
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