Minerva Spencer's Blog, page 12
April 30, 2018
Book Review: The Kiss Quotient
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Yes, this is a review for adults. No kiddies allowed.
I’ve read a lot of reviews comparing Hoang’s debut to Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game (which I LOOOOOVED) Yes, both books are hilarious and peopled with characters you really care about, but I think The Kiss Quotient pulled ahead of The Hating Game on my list of favorite contemporary romances.
Why? Because I’ve never read a romance novel where the characters are so honest. Seriously, Stella’s reaction to Michael is so refreshingly REAL I just couldn’t get enough.
And Michael? He is nuclear meltdown HOT. And not just his body, he is also funny and hard-working and responsible and self-aware–yes, he is the freakin’ UNICORN of men!!!! But you believe in this unicorn because of Hoang’s deft development of his character. Mainly it is his family that makes you believe.
He has a PILE of sisters who keep him from getting conceited (these girls need their own book. HINT. No, I’m serious. I want a book about Janie. Now.) I love his family.
But back to Michael. Not only is he hot, he is also smart, sensitive, and he knows his way around women’s clothing (see, unicorn, right?) He is a decent, funny, witty (and did I mention HOT) guy who gets better and better the more you get to know him.
My favorite part of the book (other than the sex scenes, which are not only plentiful but SCORCHING) is the fact there are no “too-stupid-to-live” misunderstandings. These guys are about as honest with each other as you can get, which doesn’t mean they don’t both have their secrets, but the things they DO keep from each other you can understand.
This book is a mo*&%$#ing blockbuster. I can SO see it being made into a movie. Just two words about that: Daniel Henny.
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April 28, 2018
Sign up for a FREE copy of DANGEROUS!
You can sign up for a copy either on NETGALLEY or GOODREADS.
What sort of lady doesn’t make her debut until the age of thirty-two? A timeless beauty with a mysterious past—and a future she intends to take into her own hands . . .
Lady Euphemia Marlington hasn’t been free in seventeen years—not since she was captured by Corsairs and sold into a harem. Now the sultan is dead and Mia is back in London facing relentless newspapermen, an insatiably curious public, and her first Season. Worst of all is her ashamed father’s ultimatum: marry a man of his choosing or live out her life in seclusion. No doubt her potential groom is a demented octogenarian. Fortunately, Mia is no longer a girl, but a clever woman with a secret—and a plan of her own . . .
Adam de Courtney’s first two wives died under mysterious circumstances. Now there isn’t a peer in England willing to let his daughter marry the dangerously handsome man the ton calls The Murderous Marquess. Nobody except Mia’s father, the desperate Duke of Carlisle. Clearly Mia must resemble an aging matron, or worse. However, in need of an heir, Adam will use the arrangement to his advantage . . .
But when the two outcasts finally meet, assumptions will be replaced by surprises, deceit by desire—and a meeting of minds between two schemers may lead to a meeting of hearts—if the secrets of their pasts don’t tear them apart . . .
“Minerva Spencer’s writing is sophisticated and wickedly witty. Dangerous is a delight from start to finish with swashbuckling action, scorching love scenes, and a coolly arrogant hero to die for. Spencer is my new auto-buy.”
—New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Hoyt
“Readers will love this lusty and unusual marriage of convenience story.”
—New York Times bestselling author Madeline Hunter
“Smart, witty, graceful, sensual, elegant and gritty all at once. It has all of the meticulous attention to detail I love in Georgette Heyer, BUT WITH SEX!”
—RITA-award winning author Jeffe Kennedy
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April 27, 2018
Fantastic historical fiction by Suanne Schafer
A Different Kind of Fire by Suanne Schafer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
WARNING: This book will make you cry. At least it made me cry. A lot.
Schafer has a crisp, concise, and grab-you-by-the-ovaries style of writing that will pull you in from the very first page.
I kept thinking that I knew what our protagonist, Ruby, was going to do next, but she is NOT predictable. I loved how Schafer made her an iconoclast without making her an anachronism: Ruby is very much a woman of her time, but she is also persistent, diligent, and pursuing her inner vision in the quiet “female” way that was available to her.
I had a soft spot for Bismark right from the beginning (good times in this book, folks….) That said, I could definitely see how her life half a continent away was not going to make for a smooth journey for the two of them.
Schafer mixes her fictional creations with real historical figures (Buffalo Bill Cody and several painters who hung out in Philly during the same period) which makes for a very rich tapestry. She also handles Ruby’s sexual development in a deft and very natural-feeling manner. Her characters, even the minor ones, were not cardboard cutouts. Lots of complexity both within themselves and also when it came to interpersonal relationships.
This was a book I stayed up late reading. Can’t wait to buy a copy of this for my mother, who loves historical fiction!
The post Fantastic historical fiction by Suanne Schafer appeared first on Regency Romance for Adventurous Readers.
April 23, 2018
Book Review: Don’t Call me Cupcake
Don’t Call Me Cupcake by Tara Sheets
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s not often that a house steals the show in a romance–or in any book–but that’s what happened in Sheets’s debut novel. I LOVED the house. I want the house.
Okay, enough about the house and back to the book….
Emma’s baked goods come with secret ingredients and the fun starts when she sells the wrong magic to Hunter, who winds up being her competitor. Enemies to lovers is one of my all-time-favorite tropes and Sheets handles it with some magic of her own!
This was a fun, romantic, page-turning book from beginning to end. I thought maybe the characters might be too “sweet” but Sheets delivers sweetness with humor and clever charm that keeps anyone from being saccharine. And let’s face it–Hunter is a hottie, so he can be as sweet as he wants…
I don’t usually read “paranormal” romances, or romances with magical elements, but I found this done so well I could actually believe in the power of Emma’s magical food.
In addition to the very amusing house there is Juliette, Emma’s sister, who gets center stage in the next book. I liked Juliette as much as Emma and can’t wait for her story.
One warning: Make sure you are well-armed with snacks before you start this book because you won’t want to put it down to go in search of baked goods!!!
The post Book Review: Don’t Call me Cupcake appeared first on Regency Romance for Adventurous Readers.
March 15, 2018
2018 Debut Romance: Check out these exciting and fresh new voices!
The post 2018 Debut Romance: Check out these exciting and fresh new voices! appeared first on Regency Romance for Adventurous Readers.
March 12, 2018
Book review of Christina Britton’s debut novel WITH LOVE IN SIGHT
With Love in Sight by Christina Britton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m a sucker for historical romance books with chicks who wear specs and With Love in Sight is no exception.
I liked Caleb, but I must admit I was partial to Imogen and enjoyed her inner workings and watching her personal growth over the course of the book.
Britton does an excellent job developing a couple of my favorite tropes: the wallflower/scrappy spinster and the-rake-with-a-heart-of-gold. I thought she deviated enough from the standard treatments to keep the story fresh and interesting.
There were a couple of points where I wanted to bash the characters’ heads together and yell WAKE UP! but that happens in any fulfilling romance at some point novel, historical or contemporary and Britton was careful not to bog down the story with any TSTL characters.
Overall I found her style engaging and the story kept me turning the pages and rooting for love. I’d read another Britton book in a heartbeat.
The post Book review of Christina Britton’s debut novel WITH LOVE IN SIGHT appeared first on Regency Romance for Adventurous Readers.
March 10, 2018
Interview with debut author of RAINBIRDS, Clarissa Goenawan
RAINBIRDS is a story of a young man who is trying to come to terms with his older sister’s death by finding out the truth behind her murder, but in doing so, he ends up confronting his own dark secret.
MS: Here is a teaser to get you going….
When the car had stopped at the traffic junction, a soft light had fallen onto her pale skin, highlighting her delicate features. My hand was on hers, but she didn’t say a word, nor did she look at me. She didn’t even flinch. Her body was there, but her mind wasn’t.
That night, the two of us were lonely, isolated under Tokyo’s dazzling lights.
MS: Where did you get the idea for your book?
One afternoon, I was just wondering, “What if someone I cared about suddenly passed away, and then, I realized too late that I never actually got to know them?” At first, I wanted to write a short story about a young man who had just lost his older brother, which later on, morphed to an older sister. And then, I realized there were so many things I wanted to explore in their relationship, and that this story has to be a novel.
MS: What’s the story behind the title?
I came up with it! There was actually a really funny story behind it, which you can read at the end of my guest post for Bath Novel Award, “Five Ways to Find The Perfect Title for Your Novel.”
Link: https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/2017/07/...
MS: No spoiler, but tell us something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket.
RAINBIRDS is part of a series of interrelated novels. So do keep a lookout at the side characters, because they might be the main characters for the next book.
MS: Tell us about your favourite character.
Rio Nakajima, also known as ‘Seven Stars.’ She’s a seventeen-year-old girl who is bright and bold, unafraid to voice her opinion and relentlessly goes after what she wants. She doesn’t care about conforming to public’s expectation, and I really admire her for that.
MS: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?
There is this young girl who celebrated my main character’s seventeenth birthday in the most bizarre way. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but let’s just say I wish to be part of the party (though that can possibly make me the third wheel… hmmm…)
MS: Are your characters based on real people, or do they come from your imagination?
Most of them came from my imagination, but a few were very loosely based on people I knew in real life. For example, Honda, Ren’s colleague, was inspired by my ex-colleague and lunch buddy who used to drive—yes, you guessed it—a black Honda sedan. All the characters’ personal stories are, of course, fictional.
MS: How long did you take to write this book?
Almost five years, which at a point of time, does feel ‘forever’ to me. But, in term of traditional publishing, it’s still relatively fast.
The breakdown:
First draft – 1,5 months
Editing – 1,5 years
Submission to agents – about half a year
Submission to publishers – about half a year
From signing of contract to publication date – about two years
MS: What kind of research did you do for this book?
I grew up reading copious amounts of manga (Japanese comic books), and I learnt Japanese language since high school, so that gave me a good starting point. I also consulted a huge number of books, essays, and articles, and asked some friends who’re familiar with Japan to be my beta readers.
MS: What did you remove from this book during the editing process?
A lot of things that don’t really matter, including a scene of Honda teaching Ren the best way to enjoy xiaolongbao, a type of Chinese steamed bun.
MS: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I tried to plot, but that didn’t work. I normally have a sense of beginning, somewhat of an ending (though, most of the time, it changes), but nothing in between.
MS: What is your favorite part of your writing process, and why?
The first draft! I’m always pleasantly surprised by the unexpected places my characters lead me to.
MS: What is the most challenging part of your writing process, and why?
The last few edits are the hardest for me. By then, I have grown too familiar with my work. It’s hard to discern the trees from the forest.
MS: What are you working on right now?
I’m currently editing my second and third novels, both of them literary mysteries. And just like RAINBIRDS, they’re set in Japan.
MS: What’s your favourite writing advice?
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. – Stephen King.
MS: Give one or two of your favourite blurbs.
“Luminous, sinister, and page-turning all at once. I loved it.”
—Kate Hamer, internationally bestselling author of The Girl in the Red Coat and The Doll Funeral
“A beautiful mystery setup with a complex, magical love story.”
—Eka Kurniawan, award-winning author of Beauty Is a Wound and Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash
Thanks for joining us, Clarissa! If you want to snag a copy of Clarissa’s book you can use the links below:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616958553
Barnes & Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rainbirds-clarissa-goenawan/1126551443?ean=9781616958558
BookDepository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Rainbirds-Clariss-Goenawan/9781616958558
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781616958558
[image error]Clarissa Goenawan is an Indonesian-born Singaporean writer. Her debut novel, RAINBIRDS, is the winner of the 2015 Bath Novel Award. Her short stories have won several awards and been published in various literary magazines and anthologies. She loves rainy days, pretty books, and hot green tea.
Website: http://www.clarissagoenawan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarissagoen...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaireClaire05
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissagoe...
Pinterest: N.A.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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February 28, 2018
The Devilish Duke by Maddison Michaels
The Devilish Duke by Maddison Michaels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Who doesn’t love a devilish duke? Especially one who has a butt like the guy on the cover of this book!? And there is nothing I like more than a businesslike marriage of convenience that quickly skates over the edge into pleasure.
Anyhow, I hugely enjoyed this Victorian romance and found the mystery that is skillfully woven throughout the story an added bonus. Excellent chemistry between Devlin and Sophie and just enough bickering and tension to keep me turning pages, but not make me want to throttle either of them.
Michaels writes a fast-paced and well-conceived story and I was glad when Devlin and Sophie got their happily ever after, but sorry the story had to end!
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February 23, 2018
Interview with Maddison Michaels, debut author of THE DEVILISH DUKE
Historical Romantic Suspense
26th February 2018, Entangled Publishing
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Minerva Spencer: Today I’m chatting with Maddison Michaels about her new Victorian novel, THE DEVILISH DUKE. Welcome, Maddison! Would you please give my readers a brief description of what the book is about?
Devlin Markham, the notorious “Devil Duke” of Huntington, needs a woman. And not just any woman. If he can’t woo one of the most eccentric bluestockings of the Ton within the month, he can kiss his hard-earned fortune goodbye. But he’s always thought love a wasted emotion and marriage an inconvenience at best. And oddly enough, Lady Sophie Wolcott seems unmoved by his charm…
When Sophie learns her beloved orphanage is in imminent danger, she will do anything to save it. Even marry a ruthless rake who takes what he wants in business and pleasure. A man who’s everything she’s always feared most—but whom she reluctantly begins yearning for.
Then Sophie becomes the target of a killer lurking from the dark shadows of Devlin’s past. And they find not only their lives in jeopardy but their very hearts.
This sounds like fun, Maddison! How about a teaser from your book.
“Hadn’t you heard? I am the Devil Duke, my very existence is blasphemous. Now run along or I will show you just how much of a devil I can be.”
Minerva Spencer: Where did you get the idea for your book?
Maddison Michaels: I think the characters first came to me – and I was watching Julian McMahon in Charmed and I liked the idea of a rake being reformed.
MS: What’s the story behind the title?
Originally the working title was The Rake’s Rules – but then I changed it to The Devil Duke, and then my Publisher changed it to The Devilish Duke.
MS: No spoiler, but tell us something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket.
Sophie literally falls at the feet of the Devil Duke from the branch of a tree…
MS: Tell us about your favourite character.
I love both Devlin and Sophie… they’re very special to me and I imagine that as the first hero and heroine of my first novel, they always will be.
MS: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?
LOL! Ok well it would be with the hero Devlin, and I would be researching if the descriptions in my book regarding the action scenes, worked…
MS: Are your characters based on real people, or do they come from your imaginations?
Like I mentioned, the inspiration for Devlin was Julian McMahon from Charmed, but apart from that, they sprang from my own imagination.
MS: How long did you take to write this book? (You can share about the timeline from drafting to publication)
It was done in spurts – and because the partial earned me a spot in the RWA Australia 5 day mentor program, I had to finish it quick smart. So I actually wrote about 30,000 words in a weekend to finish it off (of course it needed lots and lots of editing, lol).
MS: What kind of research did you do for this book?
I have a heap of research books (really what writer doesn’t), which I made good use of.
MS: What did you remove from this book during the editing process?
A few scenes from the villains pov were removed, and a couple were shortened.
MS: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Definitely a plotter – if I don’t have a detailed outline I flounder, but when I know where I’m headed (much like a map) the writing flows easily.
MS: What is your favorite part of your writing process, and why?
I love the plotting – coming up with the twists and turns, is just so much fun. Plus I get to know my characters really well.
MS: What is the most challenging part of your writing process, and why?
Editing… because it’s editing…
MS: Can you share your writing routine?
When I’m writing a novel, I spend about an hour per night writing, and then on the weekend I try to have a nice block of 6-8 hours writing.
MS: Have you ever gotten writer’s block? If yes, how do you overcome it?
Yes, when I don’t have an outline, lol. So when I’m blocked, it’s usually because I haven’t fleshed out the scene beforehand. To overcome this, I just go back and plot the scene out in more detail.
MS: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Just keep going.
MS: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have a fair few unfinished ones – in my earlier days when I didn’t plot out the novel, I would write all steam ahead, until I hit around 15,000 to 20,000 words, then I wouldn’t know where to go, and I’d just stop. Thankfully, I’ve worked out what works now for me.
MS: Do you have any writing quirks?
I make up a playlist/soundtrack for my novel, before I even start plotting it out. Then when plotting I listen to the music, and then when I write, it gets me straight back into that headspace. Oh and I also burn some lovely aromatherapy oils while I write too.
MS: Tell us about yourself.
I’m a police prosecutor by day and writer by night! I am married to my wonderful husband and have a beautiful (yet rather headstrong) 6 year old daughter.
MS: How did you get into writing?
I caught the writing bug when I was eleven and entered a writing competition. It’s just something that is a part of me.
MS: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Hang out with my family. Read. Go for walks or bike rides.
MS: Apart from novel writing, do you do any other kind(s) of writing?
Nope, not yet anyway.
MS: Share something about you most people probably don’t know.
I hate sharks – probably because I watched JAWS when I was 4 years old…
MS: Which book influenced you the most?
All of Amanda Quick’s novels and Julie Garwood’s – my two fav historical romance writers.
MS: What are you working on right now?
A new three book Victorian series – with some really strong and unusual heroines.
Thank you for joining us, Maddison! You can order your copy of Maddison’s new book from the links below. Happy reading!
Book Purchase Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079LF6NTV
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079LF6NTV
Amazon Aus: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B079LF6NTV
Amazon Can: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079LF6NTV
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-devilish-duke/id1344891465?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-devilish-duke-4
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Maddison_Michaels_The_Devilish_Duke?id=k35KDwAAQBAJ
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devilish-duke-maddison-michaels/1127921821?ean=9781640633438
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Indoctrinated into a world of dashing rogues and feisty heroines when she was only 14-years-old, Maddison Michaels is a prolific reader and writer of romantic suspense and historical fiction. She gets her daily dose of suspense from working as a Police officer, prosecuting real life villains in the Local Courts of Sydney, Australia.
A member of the Romance Writers of America and Australia, Maddison is as passionate about her writing as she is about her other two loves; her family and her cups of tea. Maddison’s debut novel ‘the Devil Duke’ is due for publication with Entangled Publishing in February 2018, and her second novel ‘The Fiancé Fiasco’ is due for publication with Entangled Publishing in October 2018.
You can find Maddison online at www.maddisonmichaels.com.au
Website: http://maddisonmichaels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaddisonMichaelsAuthor/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mmichaelsauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddisonmichaelsauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17367583.Maddison_Michaels
Amazon Author Page : https://www.amazon.com/Maddison-Michaels/e/B079LXRLQ7
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February 19, 2018
Interview with author Elena Mikalsen: Wrapped in the Stars
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Struggling with guilt over her sister’s death and the stress of her medical residency, Maya Radelis runs away to Scotland. A robin seems to lead her to an antique shop, where she finds a century-old engagement ring. Curious about the ring, she follows the slim paper trail, wondering if it is only coincidence that her dreams reveal the story of a Swiss woman physician who wore the ring during World War I. In Paris she meets fellow New Yorker David Fischer, a lawyer with family in Switzerland as well as America. He helps Maya follow the memories stored in the ring as they lead her around Europe. The attraction between David and Maya grows, and when they discover a connection between the ring and David’s family, they learn, bit by bit, more about the ring’s earlier owner. Will Maya’s own life have the same tragedy of lost love?
Below is a little teaser from the book:
He took her hand gently and led her away from the window and onto the crowded ballroom floor. Her heart was beating wildly. It had been years since she attempted to dance at a ball. She had always been terrible at dancing and swore she’d never do it again. She hadn’t had to, either, since going to the university. Why did she agree to dance now? What was she thinking?
The music started. She felt his hand slide gently around her waist. Suddenly, she was flying on the dance floor, despite her clumsy feet and her terrible, heavy dress.
“You deceived me. You’re a great dancer,” Edward whispered in her ear, his mustache tickling her and his breath warming her neck.
Minerva Spencer: Let’s talk about where you got the idea for Wrapped in the Stars?
Elena Mikalsen: I got the idea when I was in Edinburgh with my family. I stood in front of the antique shop (the picture of the exact shop is below). It was dark, cold, and misty. My feet very terribly achy from a day of walking on cobblestones. My husband said, “Do you want to go warm up in this store? The jewelry here looks like something you’d like to buy.” It was a tempting idea, as cold as we all were.
And then I shuddered as a thought occurred to me. What if I buy an antique jewelry item and it has memories of its owner attached to it? What if those memories then attach to me and change my life? I looked at my perfect family and shook my head. I didn’t want someone else’s memories. I was happy with mine, no matter how achy my feet were.
But this idea of memories transferring from people to objects wouldn’t leave me alone. And this book was born just a month after
MS: What’s the story behind the title?
EM: I came up with the idea based on the song I listened to often as I wrote Maya’s character. The song is by Ed Sheeran and it’s “All of the Stars.” Stars represent destiny and fate and this novel is about destiny and fate. The stories of men and women in this story are neatly wrapped around together with fate.
MS: No spoiler, but tell us something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket.
EM: The story features Lenin, the famous Russian Revolutionary, who happened to plan the Russian Revolution as he resided in Bern at the time that my characters lived and fell in love there.
MS: Tell us about your favourite character.
EM: I love both of my women, even though they are very different from each other. Maya is a modern physician, who grew up after losing most of her family. Even though she is a modern woman, she struggles to be strong and stand up to others and know what she wants. However, she finds her voice and strength in the end, she just needed some time. Rebecca is a woman from Edwardian times, surrounded by protective family members, yet she knows exactly what she wants and how to get it and is the finest physicians and advocate for women in Bern.
MS: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?
EM: I would spend a day with Rebecca in her clinic for women, helping her treat underprivileged women and children.
MS: Are your characters based on real people, or do they come from your imaginations?
EM: Mark is a character based on my great-grandfather who came from Ukraine to study medicine in Switzerland. Maya’s grandmother is based on my grandmother.
MS: Let’s talk about how long it took to write this book?
EM: It took me 3 years.
MS: What kind of research did you do?
EM: I studied many biographies written by women and men who studied medicine in Swiss Universities at the time Rebecca studied medicine. I also read biographies by first women physicians to learn of the struggles they had in medicine and what kind of work they chose to do. I read about WWI and Swiss history. I read Lenin’s biography as written by his wife. I read books about Ukraine during WWI, even though I grew up in the country and knew quite a bit.
MS: What did you remove from this book during the editing process?
EM: Several chapters about Maya’s life in Ukraine.
MS: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
EM: I am very organized in my writing, with many charts. But I start by just writing all my ideas down. So, I am a mix.
MS: What is your favorite part of your writing process, and why?
EM: When I fall in love with my characters and they start telling me their stories all the time and I can’t stop writing. I can write almost all day long at that point.
MS: What is the most challenging part of your writing process, and why?
EM: I work full-time and I often don’t have enough time to write.
MS: Can you share your writing routine?
EM: I write early in the morning, usually at 6 am to 8 am. I also write late at night. 8 pm and until I can’t stay awake again. I write most of my weekends.
MS: Have you ever gotten writer’s block? If yes, how do you overcome it?
EM: I struggle to write in December, because I usually wear myself out during NaNoWriMo (The National Novel Writing Month, during which you write every single day).
MS: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
EM: Don’t let your insecurity stop you from writing. I was afraid to write for many years because I thought my grammar was poor. I didn’t know there was editing software and there were editors around.
MS: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
EM: I have 2 half-written books right now that I am working on.
MS: Do you have any writing quirks?
EM: I have to have music on when I write. It’s soundtracks that I put together for each novel I write.
Thanks for joining me, Elena and congratulations on your debut!
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Elena’s Bio:
I am a debut Women’s Fiction author. My first novel, WRAPPED IN THE STARS, will be released in February of 2018. It was short-listed for the Del Sol First Novel Prize in 2017. I am somewhat obsessive about travel, but, when I am at home, in San Antonio, I can be found browsing through bookstores or antique shops with my husband and two children.
When not writing stories, I am a Pediatric Psychologist helping children with chronic medical illness. I write books about women who have a chance to change their lives. My stories take place in the United States, in Europe, in cities, in small towns, anywhere my characters take me. I blog on issues of mental health for teens and adults. I enjoy working with the media due to my expertise in managing anxiety, stress, and parenting issues. I provide consultation to authors on writing about mental health. My nonfiction writing can be found at https://www.drelenamikalsen.com
If you’d like to learn more about Elena or her book or get your hands on a copy, you can check out one of the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elena.mikalsen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WF_writerEM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writer.mika...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elenamikalsen/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
The post Interview with author Elena Mikalsen: Wrapped in the Stars appeared first on Regency Romance for Adventurous Readers.
