V.K. Tritschler's Blog, page 2

Authors are no Fools

The funny thing about history, is sometimes we keep the concepts, but we lose the facts. April Fools Day is an example of this. Having existed for several centuries, there is no solid answer as to why we play practical jokes and pranks on others on the first day of April. Somehow, along the way, the story that started the whole process has been lost.

Which got me thinking this week about the importance of being an author. Providing a story and an understanding, is important not only for readers but for society. We, as authors, create the words that form societies understanding of the world around them, or a record of things that have happened. This year, without a doubt, there will be hundreds if not thousands of new stories where the characters are involved in Covid and isolation. And this story will be woven into our history through these characters, forming an understanding for future generations of what life was like now, and how people reacted. So I was keen to find out what this years authors are working on and what inspiration they had for their current and future characters.

This month's authors: Melinda CurtisMelinda writes clean romance and sweet romantic comedy, often featuring second chance romance. So I was keen to find out why writing was her first great love.

From a Fortune 500 company to Romance author - what made you take the leap?

There is a grind to corporate life that wore on me over time. One year, I travelled twenty-six weeks and logged over 100,000 air miles. I felt like my bag was always packed and that I was missing out on my kids growing up and my parents in their golden years. I transitioned to consulting while I wrote part-time, and then just took a leap of faith to become a full-time writer.

You have an extensive book range, what’s your formula for keeping creative?

I’ve always been curious. My husband jokes that I’m a renaissance woman, meaning I know a little about almost everything. That helps when creating settings and plots. I’m also incredibly interested in people and their relationships. It’s that curiosity that leads me to characters and an interesting journey they need to make to find a happy ending. I’d probably be bored writing the same plot and emotional journey over and over.

Of all your characters who do you feel most closely reflects yourself?

All my characters have a little bit of me in there somewhere, but it is often amplified and put in a different context. For example, I know how it feels to be thrust into a new role at a company so I could relate to Darcy, my heroine in Dream a Little Dream, who inherits a judgeship until the next election. When an opportunity like that falls into your lap, you don’t want to fall flat on your face and you’re very sensitive to the dynamics around you – who wanted the job, who thinks you don’t deserve it, etc.

What’s the best review you have ever had and why?

I try not to read reviews since they mess with my writing process and have me second-guessing my words, although I do see reviews as “my people” send me the good ones – lol. However, when another author I admire gives me praise, I always sit up and take notice. That’s what happened when New York Times bestseller Jayne Ann Krentz said this about Can’t Hurry Love, "Nobody does emotional, heart-warming small-town romance like Melinda Curtis. This is a wonderful tonic of a book." She went on to praise me for my humour and ability to build a community around my romances. It was a peer-to-peer review that stayed with me.

Melinda likes to stay in touch with her social media sites: https://www.instagram.com/melcurtisauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/MelindaCurtisAuthor I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Mary Elizabeth JacksonMary is an author who knows all about bringing out the best in others. As a multi-talented writer, she brings an extensive knowledge about supporting equality with others. So I was keen to know how she managed to bring her message out in her books.

As not just an author of books but an empowerer of children, what does the start of your writing process look like?

Since my goal is to write empowering books for kids that include tools, information, resources, and things they can apply in their everyday life, I write with this in mind no matter what the inspiration is. We can use every opportunity that presents itself with a child to teach them something. Writing stories is a great avenue to help them learn starting out very young and continuing with them as they grow. So as I am creating something I think about what I can include that helps them love literacy and reading as well as empower them with positive lessons, words, and other tools to know they are okay no matter how they came into this life. As well as they can use positive words to empower themselves and others. I love to add silly words because all children love silly words, it is fun to watch them laugh, and they learn easier through laughter.

How do you juggle all of your roles as mother, advocate, author and marketer? Does one influence the other?

This is a challenge everyday and I would love to say I have it working perfectly but each day is a work in progress. I have added full-time homeschooling this year due the current situation so that has presented its own challenges for what I have time for each day. I have to schedule as much as I can to get it all in. But I also use my schedule to help me delegate my time so I can get more done. Some of my roles do actually support and influence one another which works out well because then I can accomplish more that way. I have had to learn the art of efficiency, taking anytime that is available to use (like writing in the car rider line, at practices, and lessons if I need to) and organizing myself and my goals. I write down all that I have to do each day to help me stay focused and get things accomplished. If things are getting overwhelming then I have to step back and look at what the goals are and what is doable and what may have to wait till another day. I would love more time in my day.

Who would you consider your best support for your books and why?

My best support is my family. I have a co-writer Thornton Cline that is very supportive and some close friends around me that are supportive as well as my publicists Creative Edge (Mickey Mikkelson) and publisher Tuscany Bay Books (Jim Christina). Going from just being a mom to adding the roles I have was a big adjustment for my family but they are all very supportive now with my time and what I want to accomplish and I include them in everything I can. It is a family effort to make any of this happen. For example: my girls recorded the songs that go with the first book in my series. My son was part of the inspiration behind the books and the covers and some of the illustrations are of him. My girls go to events with me and sing. My middle daughter is now one of my illustrators. My middle grade reader she has illustrated will come out soon. My little guy and I are working on a YouTube channel. I have also teamed up with my local library for some projects and they are very supportive too. Next week we are starting a live video series once a month where we will be doing projects and experiments for kids of all abilities and disabilities.

If you could speak with any author living or deceased, who would it be, and why?

It is very hard to choose because I love so many of them. Their creativity and brilliance to inspire kids is so special. I would love to meet Beatrix Potter because she really engaged her inner child and her connection to nature and animals to inspire her writing. I would love to know her writing process and what it is was truly like for her as a woman back during the time she lived. As challenging as it was for women then she also had help and others that believed in what she was doing along her path. Her books have stood the test of time and are still loved today. Writing for kids today is completely different but lessons from some of the greats would be wonderful.

Mary Elizabeth loves to engage in person best, but can be reached at her website www.maryejackson.com. She is also on Facebook @maryejackson.author, Instagram @ maryjackson444, twitter @ Mary_E_Jackson, and on LinkedIn @ MaryEJackson

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone! VK Tritschler

A fun, sexy love story that swaps the narrative of most modern-day office romances.Caroline Westbrook, the second-generation CEO of her family’s Fortune 500 Company, wanted nothing more than to make Westbrook, LLC uber profitable. When her boyfriend dumps her because she works too much, she isn’t all that surprised. It wasn’t the first time, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.Enter Colton Bowman, who waltzes into her office late on a Friday night like he owns the place. The disaster of both of their days begins with a drink, and ends with him tossing up her skirts over the side of her desk in the early hours of the morning.Neither of them expected their night together would leave them wanting more, or that a chance encounter in the company break room a few weeks later would prompt Caroline to do something stupid. She’d just gotten out of a relationship, and didn’t have any desire to jump into another one, but that didn’t stop her from seeking Colton out and tumbling them into a series of sexual encounters that left them both sweaty and satisfied.​Figuring out what she really wants outside of work, while also navigating the intricacies of a potential relationship in modern day Corporate America, proves to be anything but business as usual.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDERAMAZONKOBOBNAPPLE

Coming soon! A brand new paranormal romance by VK Tritschler is coming to a store near you....

What happens when two lost were-panthers meet for the first time?

Nicci, a were-panther abandoned as a child and without a pack, finds herself on the run from the law. With nothing left to lose, she doesn’t trust anyone, especially her own heart.

Dru, a famous race car driver and inheritor of one of the most influential packs in Australia, is trying to escape notoriety, and his fate. Prepared to throw away everything, he is trusting his instincts to get him through.

Together they find themselves stuck in a small rundown deserted town called Nowhere in the wilderness of rural Australia.

Can they learn to trust each other and find a future, or is the call of the wild too strong?

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDERAMAZONKOBOBN

Romance and Royalty

The news and movies has lately been filled of late of the lives and times of the monarchy. The romance, and the mayhem - they have become the fodder of entertainment. Be it the raunchy scenes of retold historical tales, the illusion of a regency piece, or the latest news story fresh off the press, it would appear that we cannot get enough of the them past and present. But one of the key focuses for all their stories, regardless of if they are real or not, is the romance behind the names. The ideal that princesses and princes are the epitome of what romance could be (or not as the case sometimes is!). The concept has spawned tales over generations, and given us numerous stories and ideas as authors. I was wondering how it must feel to be the centre of those stories? Do they feel the need to live up to the romantic idealisation?

I thought I would speak with some authors this month and see what expectations they had placed on themselves, and if they felt like they were living up to their own ideal.

This month's authors: Mark Leslie LefebvreMark is a man of so many talents, that his self-expectations must be off the charts. So I was keen to learn from him, what helped keep him focused in his writing.

You have an amazing background as a writer, publisher and speaker. What would you consider the highest and lowest points of your career to date?

I suppose I’m lucky in that I can quickly think of a handful of high points both in my career in the book industry and also as an author.

Among those book industry professional moments would be having the honor of handing lifetime achievement awards to both Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro, having a casual dinner conversation with Michael Connelly about his career in writing, and being asked by Dean Wesley Smith to be the first guest editor of Pulphouse magazine.

As a writer, one of my proudest moments was receiving a letter via one of my publishers from a teacher who wanted to share that a student in the fifth grade who was a reluctant reader had never finished reading any short story until he encountered one of my short stories in an anthology that had been assigned to the class. Not only did he love the story, and it opened up his eyes to the love of reading, but he was so inspired he wrote a sequel story to share what he imagined happened next. The thought that something I wrote played a role in helping a child discover the wonders of reading and of books is among the pinnacles of what I’ll ever achieve as an author.

The highlight of my speaking career was when I was flown out to Los Angeles in 2014 for an all-expenses trip to stay in a hotel off Hollywood Boulevard and do a keynote on the future of publishing at The Writers & Illustrators of the Future black tie gala event. It was a red-carpet event, complete with limo service, fancy meal, and mingling with the stars. It was also my first, and only experience with getting to have a teleprompter for a live talk.

As someone who writes across multiple genres, what inspiration drives you for a particular genre or story?

As I’m sure most writers will agree, inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. It can be something seen or overheard, a tale relayed second-hand, a slight nuance or manner of speaking that you pick up in a crowded coffee shop. A stray thought or single line in every-day conversation can lead to the creation of an entire universe of events.

But the one thing in common with the majority of the stories that I write is pondering “what if?” That’s often the genesis for a science-fiction, fantasy, or horror story, but it’s also, for me, the genesis of all kinds of tales. Because it’s asking and then answering those questions that stories are born from. For example, I witness a man sitting by himself and writing in on a sheet of paper in a coffee shop. There are a hundred “what ifs” from seeing him that can spin a tale, moment, character, or situation. For example, what is he writing? A love letter, a letter of resignation, a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, a suicide note, a grocery list, a plot outline for a story, plans for a backyard shed. Even choosing a single one of these, the question then comes about who he is and what drives him. And a hundred other possibilities spin out of that.

So, sometimes, that man sitting with his coffee and scribbling quietly onto a sheet of paper can lead to a reflective somber literary tale, a scene in a nail-biting thriller, a romantic romp, a heart-breaking devastation, a bone-chilling horrific story. The possibilities are endless.

What would you tell a young person who is starting out at writing?

I would tell them to embrace and enjoy the act of writing, the act of creating, and the act of imagining. I would remind them that they will never stop learning about the craft and business of writing; and that, at the age of 51, having been writing since I was in my mid teens, I’m still learning just as much today as when I was starting out. And that every time I sit down to write I’m a slightly better writer than I was the day before.

I would tell them to pause to acknowledge and celebrate the little victories along the way, because a writer’s life is rife with rejection. Whether it’s rejection from agents and editors and markets, or rejection in the face of one-star reviews on the online platforms, or of people not actually buying or reading your work. It could be rejection of the self – because writers are often harder on themselves than they ever deserve. It’s an ongoing uphill climb, and much of the work is done in one’s own head, which can be a frightening and isolating place. So when good things happen – when a story is sold, when a reader reacts, or even when a story, paragraph, or even line flows just so from their pen or keyboard, don’t forget to pause and enjoy those moments, because they can be fleeting and missed if you don’t stop to look for them.

I would also tell them that patience, persistence, and practice are three of the landmarks of writerly success. And to not give up, because the world needs dreamers, thinkers, and storytellers.

Who is your role model or idol, and why?

I’m lucky to have so many role models and idols to look up to. But if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be Neil Peart. Neil was a drummer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band Rush, but was also a writer and brilliant philosopher.

Not only has Neil’s writing and music inspired multiple creative works in me, but his approach to life and to art and to performance, continue to inspire me every day.

Neil has constantly stated that he has never been bored in his life. Not with all of the things in this world to be interested in, to learn about, to think about. He also continued to work at and re-learn his craft regardless of how much he had already accomplished, demonstrating that there’salways something new to learn and appreciate. And he also inspires me with a question he regularly asked himself: “What is the most excellent thing I can do today?”

Mark likes to stay in touch with his readers via his website which you can find here:

http://www.markleslie.ca/ I hope you can take a moment to offer support for him by checking out his book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Jennifer CodyJennifer knows a thing or two about writing steamy romance. Whilst her royals might be fiction, her author skills are anything but. So I was keen to hear how she managed it.

As a writer of m/m gay romance who is married with kids, where did you interest form for this genre?

Hello! Great questions! And thank you for having me here. I can't remember the first mm romance I read, but I'm fairly certain I was initially intrigued by the omegaverse concept. I love romance as a whole and have explored all the subgenres that interest me. I started with PNR MF romance and loved it so much. I didn't start reading the genre until my mid-twenties and discovered just how empowering it was to women as a whole. Certainly there are exceptions, damsels in distress and such, but as a whole the genre as it is written today feels a whole lot more empowering, telling women that they are enough and worthy. As a rather independent and completely comfortable and confident woman, I didn't realize how much of an impact having a whole genre of books dedicated to hitting all my buttons and making me feel good about myself would have on the evolution of my inner self as I matured. Needless to say, feeding my soul with romance for the last fifteen years has had a significant impact on me as a person. When I discovered MM it felt like a huge breath of fresh air had suddenly filled my lungs, and I didn't really understand why until I'd switched over to reading MM almost exclusively. With MM there's no pressure to relate to the heroine, there's not worry that something will trip one of my women-issues triggers. I can sit back and enjoy the story because it's all about men relating to other men. Of course there are secondary characters and usually women around, but the main story is about men, and I happen to really love men. All kinds of men, big ones, small one, mediums, grumpy, happy, excitable, and calm--I don't have a preference when it comes to my reading. And also, I have a distinct preference for what's below the belt on men versus women.

Getting involved in the writing of MM actually helped me discover a lot more about myself than I expected. I've known since I was in middle school that I toed the line of bisexual, but didn't understand it until I really delved deep into a queer genre. All the research I've put into my books has really helped me define myself, my preferences and habits, and helped my understand my own sexuality in a way that I never would have thought to even think about while I was reading strictly straight romance. I don't think its an understatement to say that getting involved in both the reading and writing of gay romance set me free in ways I never could have predicted.

How do you juggle being a Mom and being an Author?

Oh this one is difficult. I have a 12 year old, a 9 year old, and a 4 year old; it's not easy working from home with the diversity of needs going on with them. Fortunately, the older two have been super helpful from the start of this new adventure. When I explained that sometimes I would have to work in the evenings and they would need to make dinner, those two jumped on learning how to read recipes. Admittedly, some things fall by the wayside. I don't think my floors have been mopped recently because that is absolutely 100% my job. My husband would, but he's in a wheelchair and really can't, and I don't feel like that's a burden I can put on my kids when they do their own laundry already and load the dishwasher after supper. So, it's a struggle, but I get the blessing of having a hugely supportive family.

You have a massive release list for this year, which story are you most excited about releasing?

Wow! Way to hit the hard questions! Actually, I think out of my upcoming releases, the one that excites me the most is set for release in December. I think I have it tentatively titled: Watching You, but I will inevitably change it. I will need to get some beta input on the title first. It's a contemporary mm romance with a lot of fun characters and a small mystery to it: What's that guy's name??? I think for about half the book the second MC's name is a mystery, and I love the tension. It's fun.

If you could do one thing differently about your writing life, what would it be, and why?

I think all authors have some complaints about the first draft to publishing process. In my case, formatting annoys the crap out of me. I can get the formatting correct for the mobi ARCs, but when the book hits Amazon's kindle edition, which is also mobi, the formatting is wrong. I haven't quite figured out how to fix it, but I will. other than the software issues, I think I would simply give myself faster fingers and a computer to keep up with the typing pace. Because I have given myself such a brutal schedule (and for the most part I have a six month lead on the books I intend to publish), I end up working about ten hours a day. This is not a complaint, I knew going in that I would be doing this and have no problem with it, I just want to get it all done faster. Ha!

You can find Jennifer Cody's Cocky Cuties (www.facebook.com/groups/jennifercodyscockycuties) which is her favourite contact point; or you can can email her at jennifercodymm@gmail.com I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!

VK Tritschler

What are you willing to fight for? I would fight for my children and my loved ones. I'd fight for my pets and my friends. There is a lot of things I would fight for. How about you?Do you think you are strong enough? I've not learned how to throw a punch. I feel pretty weak but I know how to scratch and bite--you know, girl fighting. Celisse would certainly kick my butt. Yet, I know she would have my back if I was in trouble. She's a stand up person who risks her life for people she cares about.

FIGHT PRINCESS is a gripping story about redeemed love and standing up for what you believe in. You won't be able to put the story down so be sure to preorder your copy today!

FIGHT PRINCESS RELEASES APRIL 6THPREORDER TODAY AMAZON KOBO BN APPLE

Coming soon! A brand new paranormal romance by VK Tritschler is coming to a store near you....

Getting techie

This week, sadly, my beloved laptop breathed its last. Insurance would call it wear-and-tear. I like to think of it as being loved by a writer. Either way, it's fatal. So I have had to change up my normal routine. And I also had to get my research brain into working order. What is the best option for me from now on? Do I get another laptop, or do I try going for an i-pad or tablet? There are so many pros and cons, but how does a writer know what will be the right fit for them?

And that's before I even looked at all the applications that I use. For example, I write with Scrivener. It's a tool for authors which helps us to compile our books as we write. I would be lost without it, but did it even have an option apart from laptops? I had no idea! And as I started my research, I found out all these new tools. Things that I could have been using all this time had I just taken the time to investigate. So I have made an alternative plan for this year. I set up my new writing tools, and I set a reminder in my calendar: Find out what new writers' tools are around and upgrade your stuff. So my goal for this year? It's time to get techie and upskill my gear and my skills. Thanks, old laptop, for giving me the last writing prompt that I needed.

Let's find out what skills these authors are bringing to the world!

This month's authors: Janet Walden-WestJanet is a lover of contemporary romance and urban fantasy - and that's just the beginning! She loves dogs, creates writing trends, and has been a finalist for a Golden Heart®. Because she's amazing, I wanted to find out how she does it all!

As a lover of dog shows, do you have any stories to share or in your books, perhaps?

Every one of my stories has an animal of some sort, usually canine. They just sort of sneak in. In SALT+STILETTOS, Brett, the heroine, is owned by a couple of Scottish Deerhounds who have definite opinions about her new love interest. I don’t have Deerhounds, but I have shown other Sighthounds for their owners and one day I will add a couple to my Australian Shepherd pack.

You're also a prolific writer including books and blogging, what drives you to write?

I joke that I write in order to get the voices in my head to be quiet. However, there’s a lot of truth to that joke. My characters tend to pop into existence fully formed, their story playing out like 3-D Surround Sound movie scenes when I close my eyes—if you see writers sprawled on their couch, eyes closed but pen or laptop at hand, I promise we really are working. Getting the scenes I visualized from my imagination to the page is an exhilarating (mostly) process.

When you started writing, who was your inspiration, and has it changed over time?

I began writing as a sort of personal creative therapy. That gradually changed, first adding contest judges, critique partners, and mentors, and now readers. I write the stories I want to read and hope that book-lovers will see themselves represented on the page and enjoy following my characters as much as I enjoyed writing their adventures and Happily Ever Afters.

What is the hardest part of being an author?

Writing is very much a hurry-up and wait career. We have to wait for the stories to develop, then push to write as quickly as possible and get them out to critique partners and agent. Then wait again for those notes to come back, so we can hurry to make revisions. Wait, a bit more for a spot on a publisher’s schedule. And finally hold our breath, hoping the story resonates with readers. The last is honestly the best part of being an author, too.

Janet is everywhere—her website, Facebook, Bookbub, Instagram, and Twitter. Twitter really is her writer-home though and she loves chatting with readers about book boyfriends, binge-able shows, coffee fixes, and dogs.

Twitter: @JanetWaldenWest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetwaldenw... I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books and websites, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Liz ButcherLiz is an award-winning horror, paranormal and fantasy writer based right here in Australia. With a string of books in her name, I was keen to hear how she stayed so focused.

Having previously written short stories, and now novels, what is different or the same in the process for you?  I find the two very different! Depending on the length of the short story, you don't go into as much detail with the characters and their backgrounds. Yet writing short stories is a wonderful way to learn concise writing. So for me, it's a very different writing process between the two.Your stories have a horror theme. What is the attraction to this genre?

I've loved all things horror for as long as I can remember. So long, that I'm not even sure what the initial attraction was. As a child, I was always reading books on the paranormal, and then when I read my first Stephen King book at the age of ten (much to my mother's horror!) there was no looking back.If you could give a new author one tip, what would it be and why? Back yourself. It's a long road that requires absolute dedication, even when you don't feel you're achieving your goals. So you have to believe in yourself - and do it for the love of it!

What does your writing space look like?I'm so excited, as we've just bought our first home, so it's the first time I can really create my ideal writing space. I bought a nice, broad desk with lots of drawers to hide my stationary fetish, and even though I use a laptop, I like space to spread out all my notes, etc. I have my box of index cards filled with ideas, my diffuser (I love a nice-smelling space!), a terrarium hubby put together for me, and a glass dragonfly my mother gifted for me as a birthday present (to represent my Poppy). I also have a bookcase with all my non-fiction books (fiction books are in the spare room, my Moon phase wall chart, some photos of my daughter and a rotating display of her artwork, and her very own children's armchair which she sits in when Mummy's working back. There's also the guitar I never have time to play, the telescopes I wish I used more, and the exercise bike I really should use more... On the side of the bookcase hangs the funeral notice for my Poppy who passed away a year ago, and beneath my degree. On another wall hangs a framed copy of my first novel, Fates' Fury, which was also a gift from my mother for my birthday. Fortunately, it's a large enough space that I don't feel cluttered in! It's a work in progress.Liz likes to engage with her readers via:Website: https://lizbutcherauthor.com.auTwitter: https://twitter.com/lunalovelizInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunaloveliz/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Liz-Butcher-1394868604152823/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13845425.Liz_ButcherPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/lizbutcherauthor/Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00X6XN5O6 I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed! I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone! VK Tritschler

For lovers of romantic suspense and set on the beauty of the South Australian Coastline!Grab your copy of The Risky Business of Romance here:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FZL8CZQKobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-risky-business-of-romanceBN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-risky-business-of-romance-vk-tritschler/1137491464Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1527882999

A novice fairy godmother falls in love with Prince Charming. What could possibly go wrong?AVIANA WILLOWBROOK has no idea that her mother is a living legend until the day the tattered old copy of "The Fairy Godmother's Rulebook" arrives in the mail on her twenty-first birthday. Estranged from her mom, and living in Beverly Hills with her father, her stepmother and two super-achieving stepsisters, Aviana is unhappy and directionless.Hotel heir and tech billionaire, NASH NOLAN doesn’t know Aviana exists until the day she transforms into a fairy godmother. The chick with the phobia about being pecked to death by a pack of winged creatures suddenly has a pair of unruly wings of her own to deal with. As if that isn’t enough, Aviana's first assignment is to spark a romance between her wicked stepsister and the tall and handsome tech billionaire who’s been her crush forever.​Will Aviana use her powers to help her wicked stepsister find happiness, or will she use her pixie dust to make sure Nash is destined to be hers?

RELEASES ON MARCH 23RDIN EBOOK AND PRINTAMAZONKOBOBNAPPLE

A Plotter or simply Plotting?

I am not very good at writing in a format. I have tried being that author that prepares the final outline, and scripts out all the possibilities. But when I am writing, my imagination gets away with me and the story develops often in directions I did not see coming. I like to think that means the reader didn't see it coming either, though! But I do envy those with the plotter skills. So this year I am trying to put more plans into the planner. With a raft of new books coming up and some of my stories now requiring to be the second or third part of a longer tale, I have been tightening up my writing skills and putting a plot into a plan more often. I hope that you, dear readers, will see the improvement as we go along!

This month I was keen to talk to two authors at two ends of the spectrum to find out what they do. One most accomplished and prolific. The other just starting out. Let's find out where they sit on the planning scales...

This month's authors:

Jean Rabe

When it comes to writing and experience, Jean is a masterclass. With multiple accolades under her belt, I was keen to find out more about what makes her tick.

As a writer of quite a range of dark mystery and fantasy, what appeals in a story idea for you?

I come up with the characters first, backgrounds, personalities, goals. I need to know who I want to write about before I start on the story idea… what would make it difficult for these fictional souls to achieve their goals? What would complicate their lives? What would put them and the people they care about in danger?

The genres of books I write have a strong adventure-thread in them, whether I’m writing mysteries or fantasies or thrillers. Lots of action. Lots of trouble. Action and high-stakes appeal to me. Probably why I drift toward movies that “blow up real good.” I strive to put some fictional pyrotechnics up against my characters.

Sometimes the trouble or the evil simmers in my story and is not obvious to the characters. I think what appeals most to me in writing is finding a way to surprise readers. Surprises aren’t always easy, and ofttimes I am halfway into a book before I settle on the real villain or the real threat, and then… once decided… I’ll go back and lace in clues or alter a secondary character here and there and turn him or her darker.

I think most of what I write has a dark element because I like to read books that flow in that direction. I’m outlining a fantasy project that is a little darker than usual, disturbing, and I’m enjoying it.You have a fabulous work history, how has that helped to develop your writing skills?

I started writing in second grade and kept at it. I had all these stories bouncing around in my brain that I wanted to tell. I also wrote non-fiction, and my first publications were in the local newspaper when I was twelve. I kept at it, getting published frequently since then, winning essay contests—I entered because there were prizes attached, and I enjoyed winning something. What helped develop my writing skills was simply writing. The more I did it, the better I got.

I have a degree in Journalism from Northern Illinois University, and I started my professional writing career reporting for papers in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. I had up to four deadlines a day, so I learned to write fast… and I learned to not miss a deadline. Honestly, I don’t miss deadlines. Something in my soul makes me turn in everything early or on time. Eventually, after many years with newspapers, I cast my gaze back to fiction, and my first novel, Red Magic, was published in 1991. It was an education. I started with a tight style and used complete sentences, my news writing still locked in my brain. It took Bill Larson, the editor of Red Magic, to get me to relax. He insisted I sit and listen to strangers in cafes and in the park. “People do not talk in complete sentences.” At least not all the time. So I followed his advice, and my dialog got better and better. I still sit and listen to people in the park and in cafes, always with a notebook in hand.

Patrick McGilligan edited all of my Dragonlance novels, and he taught me to “take time with magic.” He said magic is awesome and amazing, and when you use it, draw it out with imagery. Brian Thomsen, who edited my novels for Tor, taught me to limit magic. The fewer characters able to cast it, the less magic in your world, the more special and wondrous the magic you employ comes across.

I’ve written over forty novels and over one hundred short stories, and I’m still honing my skills. I think a writer should always try to improve something. I take online writing courses and watch online seminars. I’m taking one on book marketing now and picking up a lot. Before Covid, when I attended conventions, not only did I put on writer panels, I attended them… other writers always have something to teach me.

As a prolific writer who has been your favorite heroine and villain to date, and why?

Tough question. I have many favorites. So I’ll list a few.

… I like unexpected and nontraditional villains… I’ve used octogenarians, children, teenagers, retired schoolteachers, a supernatural entity that looked like a big pool of oil (in a book I wrote with Andre Norton), demons from Mesopotamia, aliens, and dragons. One of my favorite non-human villains was a red dragon named Malys; humans were so far beneath her … she was truly evil-with-a-purpose.

My favorite villains in a work-in-progress are a priest and a ghost … both have something good about them, and both have something creepy. I love villains with dimension.

For heroes, I always think my favorite is the one I’m writing. I’m fond of Piper Blackwell, a twenty-four-year-old sheriff in Southern Indiana who has a bunch of bad things happen to her. She deals with a lot of darkness. People can be so very bad to each other; I discovered that in my newspaper days. I have four Piper Blackwell novels out, and I hope to get a fifth out before the end of the year.

I’m also fond of Goranth the Mighty, a big, brawling barbarian who made his debut this month in Black Heart of the Dragon God. We’re planning more Goranth books.

And I loved Irem Madigan from The Bone Shroud, a thriller which picked up a big award. I need to do another Irem story. She’s a museum archivist from Chicago, who probably isn’t going back home.

What is your current listening soundtrack and who do you like to listen to when you write?

I only listen to instrumentals when I write. I don’t want a singer’s words to muddle and mix with the words I’m laying down on a page. I don’t want to be confused or distracted. So I primarily listen to classical music… Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, Tchaikovsky … especially Tchaikovsky and other Russian composers when I’m writing fight scenes, Vivaldi (I LOVE VIVALDI), Mozart. I also have some Canadian Brass, George Winston, Wynton Marsalis, and the like I put in the mix and a few soundtracks like Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars.

When I’m doing things like updating my webpage, working on a newsletter, or answering emails, I listen to Garth Brooks, the Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Black-Eyed Peas, Santana, and Bruno Mars. My tastes are pretty varied.

Jean blogs once a week and has a monthly newsletter where she talks about my upcoming projects, books she's reading and would recommend, shares a few recipes, and posts some dog pics. She has three rescue dogs that wrap around her when she writes. Oh, and she's on Facebook and Twitter!

A dark urban fantasy book, Pockets of Darkness

The most recent fantasy novel, with Craig Martelle, Black Heart of the Dragon God

Her latest Piper Blackwell mystery, The Dead of Jerusalem Ridge

Her Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Jean-Rabe/e/B00J1QR5U2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_1

Her personal webpage is at www.jeanrabe.com

Sign up for her newsletter: http://jeanrabe.us14.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=89364515308e8b5e7ffdf6892&id=9404531a4b

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Ayesha Ratnayake

Ayesha has a business background, and this is her first foray into books and writing. I was interested to know what started her on the journey.

From your background in marketing and management, what prompted you to write a book?

I’ve always had a passion for people and was drawn to marketing and management for that reason. At the same time, I value science and making fact-based decisions. So I was curious about what science knows about how people can succeed in everyday life. It was through studying the science of people – what really makes us happy, healthy, wealthy, productive, and satisfied in our relationships – that the book came about.

As a result of my business background, I’m also conscious of the fact that people are always pressed for time. So I wanted to present the facts in the most quick-to-consume and easy-to-action manner – as bulleted cheat sheets rather than lengthy prose.

What inspiration do you hope that your readers take away from your work?

I hope Cheat Sheets for Life inspires readers to live their best lives by offering them the facts about which decisions produce the best life outcomes. There’s also another dimension of meta-thinking which one of my readers (Gordon Long) pointed out. He said the book motivates readers to take a good look at how we think and where we get the information we use to make decisions. So I hope the book does inspire readers in that way too – to critically question conventional wisdom in favour of time-tested research.

Who would you consider a mentor of yours, and why?

My father is a living Atticus Finch. Rational and level-headed with an unwavering moral compass and a quiet confidence that things will turn out okay. I hope his attitude and his passion for science permeate the book.

What was your writing process, and how long did it take you?

Cheat Sheets for Life took over a year to complete. I didn’t actually plan to publish a book at first. I simply followed my curiosity and tried to answer the question ‘What does science say about living a good life?’ Thanks to the magic of audiobooks and 10 hours a week spent commuting, I was able to tap into hundreds of books about happiness, productivity, relationships, and more, in my effort to answer that question. I would take copious notes from these books, as well as journals, articles, and courses, and categorise them for easy reference. Soon, I realised I was building the book I had been seeking my whole life–a handbook for life-based on solid data and research. As it took shape, I felt I couldn’t keep it to myself–everyone needed this information, not just me!

Readers can also find her on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/80083872-ayesha-ratnayake) and can email her directly at hi@cheatsheets.life.

If you would like to buy a copy of her book, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TYQ4HH8

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!VK Tritschler

For lovers of a love triangle, set in a busy Adelaide marketing office!

Grab your copy of Trade Secrets here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9VXSGD

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/trade-secrets-22

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trade-secrets-vk-tritschler/1137951048

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1536251359

,,,,,,,,,,A hardcore Science Fiction writer and a softhearted romance novelist clash on the sunny South African coast...She writes romance. He writes science fiction. A relationship seems unlikely. Can love find a way? Grab a copy of Love, In Writing here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PCD16HZ

New Year Blues

I have found the hardest part of the year so far, has been getting back into the swing of it. I have been suffering from a bout of writer's block, and a loss of momentum this month. I'm not sure if it has been because of my need to avoid social media and news at the moment, or because of it. But either way, my drive to write is a thin trickle instead of a raging torrent. I have, however, finished some editing and planned ahead for 2021. Goals are always important. As I was on my morning walk/jog today, I was reminded of how hard it was walking in the hills when I first started. My legs ached, my chest felt tight and my breathing was shallow. Now, I am starting to challenge myself into running, and again I bring about the symptoms of my body being pushed harder, but it seems less daunting now. I think writing is a lot like getting your fitness back. At the start, it can be hard and stressful, but eventually, you get back into the rhythm and things start happening. Sometimes you hit the dreaded plateau, and you are sure you will never achieve more ever again. But this too passes if you keep stretching out, and pushing further until before you know it you're back into the swing again. So I am continuing my writing marathon this month and being gentler with myself. Baby steps are still steps just the same.

Let's see how this month's authors are tackling their New Year blues...

This month's authors:

Kia Carrington-Russell

Kia is a multi-award-winning author, once designated the best new author of 2015 by AusRomCom Today. She is both brilliant and prolific in her writing, so I was keen to see what her world looks like.

As a full-time writer, what does your day look like?

Long. Haha. I wake up at 5 am, have a quick coffee as I throw the gym gear on, and head to the gym. After the gym, I’ll come back and walk my fur baby, Sia, and I’ll listen to audiobooks, podcasts or if I’m in the process of plotting on my WIP, I’ll spend this time talking to my characters and figuring out the next stage. When I get back, I’ll make an awesome breakfast then start with the admin stuff. Replying to emails, check up on my ads, etc. My days vary depending on the projects I’m working on at the time. Currently, I’m in the process of editing my WIP, so I’ll spend the day on that. And at night time I’m focusing on editing my Author Interviews for my YouTube Channel.

What do you consider your greatest writing achievement?

The people I’ve met. I’m proud of the books I’ve written and the success I’ve had with them. But I think what makes it extra special is the community and network I’ve created. It’s been the blueprint to so many of my awesome opportunities and making new lifelong friends. Specifically, in regards to writing, I would say publishing fifteen books so far, with eighteen written and still going. That’s an amazing feat!

If you could meet any author alive or dead, who would it be and what would you say?

Oh my, this is a hard one! Just one, really?! Hmmm, I think I’d love to meet Leigh Bardugo. I love her books and work. I’ve met Sarah J Maas, who would’ve been my first choice if I hadn’t already had the amazing chance to meet her. And what would I say to Leigh? Congratulations! You’re my new best friend! Haha But seriously, I’d let her know how much I appreciate her style and storytelling.

As a well-traveled person, what are your favorite places in the world, and do they influence your writing?

Absolutely. Travelling has been just as important for my personal growth as it has been for my writing. There are so many experiences and different relationships I’ve acquired over the years because of traveling. On top of that, cultural and diverse backgrounds have expanded my ability to involve different themes and subject matters in my book. My favorite places are definitely Edinburgh, Scotland, where I lived for a year. And I love Manhattan, New York. Central Park is my favorite place in the world! Can’t go wrong with food in Italy either- Yum! Mamma Mia! x

Readers can find Kia almost everywhere. She's a bit of a social butterfly, though most of her attention goes into Facebook and Instagram. She's always posting quirky things on there.

Insta: @kia_crystal

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

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

JD Blackrose

JD has written a range of books, including several book series. I was keen to learn her secrets.

What is the best and worst part of being a writer?

The best part of being a writer is that it feels so completely right. I told my family I wanted to be a writer when I was ten years old. Everyone said, “That’s nice, but what will you do for money?” Which, by the way, is a valid question. I told them I wanted to be a physicist which for anyone who knows me, is absurd.

The worst part is there is a lot of waiting in writing and publication. Waiting when you submit. Waiting to hear back from an agent or an editor. Waiting for your work to be published, which often takes quite a bit of time. The key is to keep working on other things in the meantime, but if you aren’t a patient person, and I am not one, the waiting is a challenge.

How often do you write and where is your favorite spot?

I write at my desk, which is my favorite spot. I can write anywhere though. I look at it like the advice we give new mothers. “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” Well, the writer’s version is, “Write whenever you have an opening.”

I don’t write every day, but I do something to push my career forward every day, like working on my next newsletter, or outlining the next book, or just listening to a podcast on writing/publishing. A tiny step forward every day is still a step forward.

Can you describe your favorite character and why they are?

Impossible. I have so many. I love Bubba the Monster Hunter by John Hartness. I write a Monster Hunter Mom series (The Devil’s Been Busy) set in that universe because I loved Bubba so much I wanted to be a part of that whole adventure. Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter is amazing as is Nell Ingram, another one of her characters. You can’t go wrong with either of these.

One of my own favorite characters is Waylon Jenkins, my Zombie Cosmetologist, who gets wrapped up in a murder mystery when bodies show up with limbs missing and the local police captain thinks the zombie is the perpetrator because after all, who else needs the spare parts? Waylon is a makeup artist to the stars and is a lover, not a fighter. He’d rather be helping his clients look their best. His first adventure is in Pluck & Cover.

Fae or Wizard?

For myself? Wizard. I’ve got too many favorite wizard characters not to choose that. Both Harry’s, Dresden and Potter, Gandalf…

JD likes to engage with her readers via:

https://www.slipperywords.com and is also on Facebook and Twitter as JDBlackrose.

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out or purchasing her latest book Love & Other Disasters (out Dec 2nd), and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!VK Tritschler

OUT NOW!

What happens when your dream job turns out to be a hot mess?

Emily earned a spot in a top Adelaide advertising agency and was excited to be starting her professional career. But on her very first day she gets coffee spilled on her by Meg, her new and complicated co-worker; runs into Jimmy, her wildly inappropriate boss; and gets stuck in an elevator with Harry, who is the hottest guy in the industry and her company’s biggest competitor.

When Jimmy enlists Emily to spy on Harry and his company, things become more complicated.

But Emily finds that her life isn’t as perfect as she’d dreamed. Now, she has to choose between handsome Harry, who may not be all he seems, and bawdy Jimmy, who is exactly what she fears. Secrets and hidden agendas rip apart Emily’s dreams. Will she pick the devil she knows or the one she doesn't?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9VXSGD

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/trade-secrets-22

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trade-secrets-vk-tritschler/1137951048

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1536251359

HAVE YOU READ?

After the tragic drowning of her brother eighteen years ago, Aleida Fuller has lived her life communicating with the supernatural. She can see and speak to the dead as if they were still walking the earth. Despite being welcomed in the spirit world, Aleida lives a closeted existence. Her reclusive mother refuses to accept her abilities and the local townsfolk think she’s a fraud.

When mysterious traveler Rafe Jenner arrives in town, Aleida’s dull life is irrevocably changed. He’s handsome, strange, and oddly alluring, with piercing eyes that turn red in the dark…

As Aleida and Rafe are teamed up to solve a crime for the Sheriff’s Office, a great evil lurks in the shadows. Bloodthirsty for Aleida’s soul, Hell-bound demon Albinus roams the earth, shedding blood and taking lives in search of her. He will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. Aleida must draw on her physic abilities and her newfound alliance with Rafe to battle Hell’s agents before her soul is lost forever.

Grab your copy here! https://books2read.com/u/m2M19o

New Year - New Goals

Every year I make plans for a better year ahead than the one I left behind. I think I can say with great enthusiasm that I am hopeful for 2021! I got some wonderful results last year, which I thought I would take a moment to reflect on. After all, I managed despite Covid and personal dramas to get three books released (well two plus my involvement in the Magic & Mischief Anthology), did countless interviews around the world, and got myself a raft of lovely reviews including a handful of 5* gems that made me smile. My dear readership has grown, my goals are now getting achieved, and as I make plans for 2021 I have now extended my hopes and dreams to include goals I would have considered too far to reach in 2019. That is exciting! And I am grateful that I have made it this far, and that I am able to keep the dream alive in a year when so many weren't. So THANK-YOU to my readers, my followers, my believers, and my supporters. You are the motivation that keeps me going. Let's find out about this month's authors and their motivation!

This month's authors:

Kat Turner

Kat is a multi-tasking extraordinaire, with a brand new book up her sleeve. I was interested to know how she managed.

How do you balance Mom life and Author life?

Staying organized is key. I don't make lists, but every day I mentally review my major goals, prioritizing what needs to get done and what I hope to accomplish. Out of necessity, I've become better at time management since I started pursuing my author career, and allocating my time strategically has saved me on more occasions than I can count.

What is the favorite part of writing a story or book for you?

Editing. I love going back to fix a draft and watch the story improve before my eyes. Plus, I get to immerse myself in the world all over again.

Who do you love to read and why?

I read everything from romance to thrillers to nonfiction and more. I'm a total book nerd and love to discover new authors while studying a variety of storytelling techniques and approaches.

Why did you start writing, and do you find that your university experience helped the process?

I'd been searching for a creative outlet for a while and eventually just took the plunge and began spinning journal entries into fiction. I'd like to think that my university experience helped some, as I was familiar with writing and revising until a piece was complete and ready to submit. But I had to unlearn a lot, too, in pursuit of the craft of fiction. My early attempts were way too heavy on the academic voice.

Kat is a social media guru so you can find her almost anywhere. Here are the links so grab your favorite and say hi:

Newsletter: https://katturnerauthor.com/newsletter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kat_A_Turner

Goodreads: https://smarturl.it/Coven1GR

Amazon: https://smarturl.it/Coven1Amz

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kat-turner-8e084db2-0533-46c5-8961-9747f771b5d9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kat.turner.50364/

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

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Michelle Schad

Michelle loves the dark and macabre and is a prolific writer so I was keen to find out what motivates her.

You have a lot of dark themes in your stories, where do you like to get your inspiration from?

I am a fan of horror and dark mystery. I read those things voraciously and find that I have a very dark imagination. When most things could go the path of happily ever after, I opt for the tortured path instead.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Stephen King. He has a style I’m comfortable with but he isn’t perfect. There are books I love and books I abhor but I will still buy everything that comes out because I love how he writes and the way he explores the dark things people are afraid to touch.

As a prolific writer, what process do you like to follow to get the books completed?

Butt in seat, fingers on keys. Though now it is headset on head as I transition to more spoken typing due to arthritis issues. I also build a loose outline of where things should go and do all the world-building before I start writing so I know where they are when things start.

What appeals about writing for you?

It is very cathartic. I can be anything or anyone, say anything, and build vasts worlds that cram themselves into my overactive imagination. Writing allows me to give those characters and places a life of their own.

Terri likes to engage with her readers via:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamingchaos2...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chelleschad?lang=en

or via her publisher website: http://www.corrugatedsky.com/michelle...

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out or purchasing her latest book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!
VK Tritschler

OUT NOW!

What happens when your dream job turns out to be a hot mess?

Emily earned a spot in a top Adelaide advertising agency and was excited to be starting her professional career. But on her very first day she gets coffee spilled on her by Meg, her new and complicated co-worker; runs into Jimmy, her wildly inappropriate boss; and gets stuck in an elevator with Harry, who is the hottest guy in the industry and her company’s biggest competitor.

When Jimmy enlists Emily to spy on Harry and his company, things become more complicated.

But Emily finds that her life isn’t as perfect as she’d dreamed. Now, she has to choose between handsome Harry, who may not be all he seems, and bawdy Jimmy, who is exactly what she fears. Secrets and hidden agendas rip apart Emily’s dreams. Will she pick the devil she knows or the one she doesn't?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9VXSGD

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/trade-secrets-22

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trade-secrets-vk-tritschler/1137951048

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1536251359

,

To read or not to read, that is the question

In the last couple of months, I have been getting up early and going for a walk with a friend of mine. The fresh morning air helps clear the spirit and prepare the body, and having a walking buddy motivates me out of my bed each day. But I have to admit, that if given the chance to walk alone, I have been getting in a sneaky audiobook along the way. I never used to be a big fan of audiobooks, until my world got busier, and reading from the page became a treat rather than a daily occurrence. I've already found some new favorite authors in my listening world (as well as some favorite voice-over speakers!) and it got me thinking. What happens if our world reverts back to the oral telling of stories like our forefathers? Will stories get lost along the way? Will the re-telling of the stories become altered, or adapted to better fit a future society? So I began contemplating the book in its current format and decided to get a paperback copy of all my favorites going forward. After all, a good book is always worth a second read.

This month's authors:

Courtney Maguire

Courtney is a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and CRW Stiletto Contest Finalist in Contemporary Romance. As a lover of Japanese culture and the macabre, she brings an interesting mix to her writing. I was keen to find out how she did it.

How does your love of Japanese culture and music influence your writing?

Japanese culture has always been fascinating to me. Most assume I must have been into anime as a kid (I had a phase, don't get me wrong), but my real introduction was through music. Music led to language which naturally leads to culture. You can learn so much about people by how they talk to each other and Japanese social structure is incredibly complex and sometimes baffling, especially to a westerner, but once you dig into the history, it all starts to come together. Customs that began in feudal courts are now used in business, remnants of Shinto and Buddhism can be seen in everything from table manners to housekeeping. After spending time there myself, I only fell more in love with it and just had to set a story there. Maybe it's my way of returning without the expense of a plane ticket.

Who is the favorite character you have created and why?

This is such a hard question. I have a big soft spot for Asagi, the MC of BLOODLACED. They've been through so much and suffered losses that would bring any other person to their knees, but they always find a way to keep going. I really admire that strength. I also really love Sean Delaney, one of the secondary characters in my contemporary romance, Drive. He's probably the most patient, understanding, and loving person you will ever meet but also sharp-witted and funny in a dark, self-deprecating way. He makes me smile every time he enters a scene.

What lessons have you learned along the way from writing that stays with you daily?

Patience and bravery. Writing and publishing is a long game and it can be discouraging when you spend months or years working on something to see it go seemingly nowhere. All you can do is keep going, keep writing, keep working on the next thing instead of focusing on what's not working and you have to be brave enough to face the possibility--even the certainty--that someone will hate it. You can't please everyone, nor should you try, and these are principles that can be applied to pretty much any endeavor, not just writing.

When do you like to write and what does your writing space look like?

I write whenever I can squeeze it in. I take advantage of breaks and slow stretches at work. The pandemic lockdown has whittled my social life down to nothing so finding writing time has been relatively easy lately, even if inspiration is lacking. My writing space is usually wherever I can set up my laptop and usually includes coffee, food, and an attention-starved cat.

Readers can find Courtney in the usual places, though she is most active on Twitter. Readers can also email her at CourtneyMaguireWrites@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PretentiousAho

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

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

Website: www.CourtneyMaguireWrites.com

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Steven Paul Leiva

Steven comes from a background of writing under the bright lights of Tinseltown. As a convert from one style to another, I was keen to chat to him about how he transferred that knowledge into his new writing.

Harking from the world of film, do you think this has helped or hindered your novel writing?

It hindered my novel writing because I never really wanted to work in Hollywood. All I wanted to do was write prose fiction and maybe some plays. By a route it would take too long to detail here, I wound up working in film, first as a journalist, then a film festival programmer, and onto being a publicist, executive, producer, and screenwriter. Nonetheless, during my off hours, I still wrote novels and one stage play. I used to tell colleagues in the film industry that, “Hollywood is my day job!”

But being involved in film, indeed, in loving film, did benefit my novel writing. Off and on, I worked with Chuck Jones, one of the great Warner Bros LooneyTunes directors of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck animated shorts. Not to mention the Coyote and the Roadrunner, which Chuck created. From hanging around him—and watching more cartoons than was possibly healthy—I believed I developed a good sense of comedy timing. A sense of comedy timing is essential to prose fiction if you are writing satiric and comedic works as I attempt to do. My experiences working in Hollywood certainly provided material for my two satiric Hollywood thrillers, Blood is Pretty, and Hollywood is an All-Volunteer Army. That was undoubtedly a benefit.

And twenty-some years in Hollywood—the ultimate collaborative art form—taught me that I don’t really enjoy collaborating. I prefer the lonely existence of writing prose fiction where I can tell a story, perform the characters, design the locales and landscapes, and even light them for mood and atmosphere, all through the artful manipulation of words. It’s pure joy for me.

What inspires you in a story?

Well, if you mean what inspires me to tell a particular story, it’s usually some idea, even often an intellectual one. My task then is to present it in a compelling narrative with living characters and emotions to be felt. Not to mention finding the humor in it all when appropriate.

If you mean what inspires me in stories that I read, then I would say it would be ideas presented, characters who become real, prose that strives to say what it needs to say in surprising, metaphorical, and even poetic ways. I hate mundane prose, what I call “just getting from point A to point B prose.”

Who do you think your writing is most similar to and why?

With luck, nobody. Why would you want your writing to be similar to anyone? Now, if you ask what writers first inspired me to write, I would answer, The great American writer Ray Bradbury, who later became a colleague and friend; Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, and the wonderful W. Somerset Maugham. All of these writers were able to transport the reader. Bradbury through poetic prose, Fleming through descriptive prose, and Maughan through prose that engaged your attention like a good storyteller can, putting you both in the landscape of the story, and the heads of the characters. None of these writers wrote particularly humorous works but taught me the power of written language. And I learned much from them. Many other writers, both novelists, and playwrights have inspired me since, but these three set me on the path. But the most important ingredient a writer brings to his work -- if that writer is honest -- is his or herself. That’s what will, hopefully, give their work an individual identity.

What genre is your favorite and why?

I have no favorites among the genres I read, including literary fiction, 18th & 19th-century fiction, mysteries & thrillers, science fiction, and mainstream and comedic fiction. I am an eclectic reader and, I hope, an eclectic writer.

Steven likes to connect to his readers mainly on Facebook at ,https://www.facebook.com/steven.p.leiva. He also has aTwitter account @StevenPaulLeiva

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for him by checking it out or purchasing her latest book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!
VK Tritschler

OUT NOW!

What happens when your dream job turns out to be a hot mess?

Emily earned a spot in a top Adelaide advertising agency and was excited to be starting her professional career. But on her very first day, she gets coffee spilled on her by Meg, her new and complicated co-worker; runs into Jimmy, her wildly inappropriate boss; and gets stuck in an elevator with Harry, who is the hottest guy in the industry and her company’s biggest competitor.

When Jimmy enlists Emily to spy on Harry and his company, things become more complicated.

But Emily finds that her life isn’t as perfect as she’d dreamed. Now, she has to choose between handsome Harry, who may not be all he seems, and bawdy Jimmy, who is exactly what she fears. Secrets and hidden agendas rip apart Emily’s dreams. Will she pick the devil she knows or the one she doesn't?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9VXSGD

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/trade-secrets-22

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trade-secrets-vk-tritschler/1137951048

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1536251359

Love in a time of chaos

It's been hectic around here lately. Between Covid and Christmas, the c letter words are taking control and making things interesting for all of us. It has, however, made me more determined than ever to rein in and look at the good bits of life. This is why I love being a romance writer. What is more powerful than giving stories of love to the world? Sharing the success stories, and the ones that remind us why life is important. In the words of the movie I watched last night, Serendipity, "the Greeks didn't have obituaries, they only asked one question when a man died. Did he have passion?" So I am taking a deep breath this month, and investing my energy into my passion. I can't wait to share the next passionate adventure with you all. And speaking of passionate stories, I can't wait to introduce you all to this month's inspirational authors.

This month's authors:

Kristina Rienzi

Kristina Rienzi is a Jersey Shore thriller author, writing coach, and the president of Sisters in Crime-Central Jersey. An INFJ who dreams beyond big, Kristina encourages others (and herself) to embrace the unknown through her stories. With her amazing background, I couldn't wait to hear about her writing inspiration.

As an inspirational coach, what brought you towards writing paranormal, sci-fi, and thriller stories and books?

I've always been interested in the unknown. I often use the tag line, Embrace the Unknown because both in life and in fiction, I believe it inspires people to overcome obstacles and push forward with courage. I enjoy writing about things that scare me and I also enjoy helping my characters triumph over their fears. Moving past what's holding us back in life isn't easy, but we grow as a result. I follow that mantra as both a coach and an author when it comes to my stories.

If you could give inspiration to a new author, what would it be?

Believe in yourself above all. You can't achieve your goals if you don't think you can. And, never give up. Persistence and drive is the path to success. Nothing worth it is easy, so roll up your sleeves, and do the work. Remember to celebrate your successes, no matter how small, along the way!

I can't choose just one favorite, but one of the books that inspires me most is Dale Carnegie's, How to Win Friends and Influence People. The title is deceiving; it's a reminder of how important relationships are and how to truly cherish them, no matter how difficult it may be at times. I must listen to it (I love audio!) at least once a month.

What challenges have you faced becoming an author and what would you do differently if given another chance at it?

So many, where to start? I put a lot of pressure on myself to do things a certain way, hit certain success milestones that really had nothing to do with how hard I worked. And when I didn't, I blamed myself, and then I wanted to give up writing altogether. If I had to do things differently, I would have been kinder to myself. I would have focused on my stories and not given so much weight to negative reviews, or sales numbers. Just enjoyed the ride!

Kristina loves to engage with her readers via her website. You can also learn more about her books and find all of her social media links at https://kristinarienzi.com and has a new book Unleash the Wicked out soon!

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her books, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Terri Jones

Terri is a contemporary romance author, with a range of books and skills. She brings the human psyche to her characters to enthrall the readers. I was keen to know how she does it.

How do you feel your degree in psychology has influenced your writing?

I think my study of psychology has influenced my writing in that I’m fascinated by the motivations of others, and that includes characters. Why do these characters behave the way they do? In my upcoming novel, Love & Other Disasters, the main character Violet, is reactionary. She’s coming to terms with issues in her family dynamic and in some ways over-corrects with her love interest. And discovers that too doesn’t work out. And her ultimate path to happiness depends on learning how to navigate her relationships and cooperate in a healthy way. I’m all about taking female characters and bringing them on a journey from brokenness to finding themselves and their strength in addition to also getting the hot guy. And by the end of the story, he too is worthy of the heroine’s love.

As a romance writer, what element of that genre appeals to you and why?

The optimism and the happy ever after. Life can suck at times, and I love reading and writing romances for escape. I love knowing that at the end of the story the main characters will overcome their obstacles and live on happily.

What has been the biggest learning curve for you as an author?

Marketing and advertising. I’m an introvert and selling myself doesn’t come naturally. I’ve even worked in advertising before and can sell other people’s stuff easier than mine. I’m still working on it. It’s difficult for some writers to see our work as a product. It’s usually a labor of love and artistic vision, but then to turn around see the finished work as a product for sale and needing marketing is a different skill set.

Who would you love to sit in a room and have a chat with if you could?

The first romance novel I read years ago was by Jill Shalvis. I’d love to pick her brain about the longevity of her writing career.

Terri likes to engage with her readers via:

Facebook:www.facebook.com/terrijonesauthor

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out or purchasing her latest book Love & Other Disasters (out Dec 2nd), and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!
VK Tritschler

OUT NOW!

Release date: December 10th

What happens when your dream job turns out to be a hot mess?

Emily earned a spot in a top Adelaide advertising agency and was excited to be starting her professional career. But on her very first day she gets coffee spilled on her by Meg, her new and complicated co-worker; runs into Jimmy, her wildly inappropriate boss; and gets stuck in an elevator with Harry, who is the hottest guy in the industry and her company’s biggest competitor.

When Jimmy enlists Emily to spy on Harry and his company, things become more complicated.

But Emily finds that her life isn’t as perfect as she’d dreamed. Now, she has to choose between handsome Harry, who may not be all he seems, and bawdy Jimmy, who is exactly what she fears. Secrets and hidden agendas rip apart Emily’s dreams. Will she pick the devil she knows or the one she doesn't?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L9VXSGD

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/trade-secrets-22

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trade-secrets-vk-tritschler/1137951048

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1536251359

,,,,,,,

SNEAK PEEK AT BURNING DESIRE- NEW RELEASE

“This is exactly what I didn’t want,” she said softly, another tear rolling down her cheek. “I moved to Bay Shore to start a life, to revive my grandmother’s old bakery. I didn’t want any distractions.”

“And that’s what I am to you,” he said, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice. “A distraction.”

“I don’t know what you are to me.” She held his gaze, revealing her vulnerability. In that moment he could see how much he hurt her just by being around. As if she would be so much happier if she’d moved to Bay Shore and not met someone like him—someone that distracted her, made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. That inadequate feeling grew inside his chest.

He was so bad at expressing himself. He could never find the right words. Drew was so good at connecting with people, and Kay so good at reading them—he was good at neither. It used to fill him with so much frustration as a child, so he would use actions to speak for how he felt. And apparently, nothing had changed. He was still using actions when Louise obviously needed words. But he just didn’t know what to say. If he fumbled out what was in his heart and she didn’t feel the same, it would hurt so damn bad.

She’s worth the risk.

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/burning-desire-38

Sneaking closer

Do you smell the hint of Christmas in the air? That warm scent of heated cinnamon? Hear those jingling bells? Yes, folks, we are getting closer and closer to the time of the jolly fat man. And I for one, am grateful that he's almost here. Bringing with him the chance for me to forget my diet, put down my pen, and indulge a little more heartily in helpings than I would for most of the year. But, the months not over yet and I still have words to write, stories to complete, and a dose of reality to bring to all my characters. In between reading other books of course! So I thought I would touch base with some other busy authors and see how their November was going.

This month's authors:

Tricia Silverman

Tricia is a registered dietician, certified wellness coach, and fitness instructor. If that was not enough to keep her busy, she also writes books, attends podcasts, and is a gifted public speaker. I was keen to hear about how she managed all those different roles.

Your writing comes back to a health perspective, what do you think is one thing people can do to improve their everyday health?

The one thing that can truly make a huge difference is to eat a rainbow array of vegetables and fruits. Focusing on consuming different colors will also help you increase the quantity of vegetables and fruits. So many people are not getting enough of these. Vegetables and fruits are associated with longevity, weight management, and disease prevention. They also contribute to healthier vibrant skin and a more robust immune system. For example, when you eat red, orange, and yellow vegetables, you eat carotenoids which are nutrition powerhouses. They help you to see better, may protect you from some sun damage, are cancer fighters, work as antioxidants, and help support a healthy immune system.

What made you want to write a book?

I feel that I have helpful information to share, and want to help people make simple changes that will reap huge benefits. I have met and worked with so many interesting people since becoming a dietitian over 24 years ago. I learned so much about behavior change and healthy habits, that I felt the time was right to share this to impact people on a larger scale. In the book. I share stories of people like you and me who have made simple changes in their health that have led to huge healthy dividends. One woman’s pain went away when she lost almost 100 pounds. Her copays, medication bills, and frequent doctor visits also went away when she implemented the healthy habits that helped her to lose weight. I feature her tips and insights in the book, along with so many others.

Who do you think would benefit most from your writing?

I have noticed that people from different races, genders, gender identities, and ages have all enjoyed my book. I think that a large portion of my readers are women, and have noticed that many of these women are in their 50s and older. My book is helpful for people who want a general guide and resource that provides sound nutrition information, plus tips and motivation for implementing healthy habits, along with inspiring stories. Anyone interested in living a long healthy life would truly benefit from my book.

When you were a child, did you always want to be who you are now or what things have changed for you over the years?

As a child, I never knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. I kept journals from a young age thinking that I might write a memoir someday. I am still looking forward to doing that, but have quite a few more nutrition and wellness books that I want to write before that. My fascination with nutrition and fitness started with being curious about the health books and magazines that my mom had around the house. My interest in fitness grew even more in my teen years when I noticed how walking home from work and biking helped me to lose and maintain my weight when I started working at my dad’s deli. Most people gained weight when they started to work there. It was a huge eye-opener for me. And I realized that it was a major mood-lifter as well. I have been fortunate as an entrepreneur that I have been able to incorporate my passions for fitness, health, nutrition, and learning into my business.

Tricia loves to engage with her readers via social media. You can also learn more about her books and even download a free bonus chapter at www.triciasilverman.com/book.

Here’s how to reach her on social media:

Connect with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tricia.silverman

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triciasilverman/

Connect with me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriciaSilverman?lang=en

Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-silverman-rd-ldn-mba-b8757811

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Jennifer Anne Gordon

Jennifer is an artist, with a range of skill sets from writing to visual arts. With her unique style, she has grown into an award-winning author with a range of dark tales. I was keen to find out how she got to where she is now.

How did you get into writing, given your vast range of other skills, and what appeals about it the most?

I really have always been a writer in my heart, since seventh grade and I was bullied in school and my English teacher let me eat lunch in her classroom when I was too scared and sad to go to the cafeteria. I would sit in that room with her and write short stories. In the years since then, I have written a lot of poetry and I wrote an independent comic book for a while. I just convinced myself for some reason that I could not write a novel, it seemed too daunting. But then last year I decided I just had to do it, I had to try. That book was my Debut Novel “Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent”. It just won the Kindle Award for Best Horror/Suspense 2020. It’s been an incredible journey with that book.

What do you love about creating darkened characters and what makes it hard?

I think I feel the same way about creating dark characters that I did by playing dark characters in a play. I just happen to find them more interesting; I love creating beautiful, broken people. I especially love creating characters that may not really be overly likable, but you cannot help but love them, even if you don’t like them. The hard part of writing anything dark and emotional is that it does take a toll on me mentally at times. Sometimes I need to step away for a few days, and just let my imagination heal.

Your books have a largely historical background, do you spend much time researching for this purpose?

Yes, I just wrote two books (My Hotel Series which includes From Daylight to Madness and When the Sleeping Dead Still Talk). These novels are gothic horror and take place in 1873. I did have to do a lot of research for these books, just to have them feel authentic. I was lucky to have a friend who is a genealogist, and she helped a lot with research about some specific things I was needing about life in Portland Maine in the 1870s.

Who is your favourite author to read, and why?

My favorite Author is Shirley Jackson, and I have always adored her work. The way she is able to play with the reader's mind is almost intoxicating. The Haunting of Hill House is a huge influence on me, I love the way she creates a world that is teetering on horror and madness. I feel like my books come from a similar place inspiration wise

Liz likes to engage with her readers via:

Website: http://www.JenniferAnneGordon.com

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!
VK Tritschler

For lovers of romantic suspense and set on the beauty of the South Australian Coastline!

Grab your copy of The Risky Business of Romance here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FZL8CZQ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-risky-business-of-romance

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-risky-business-of-romance-vk-tritschler/1137491464

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1527882999

,,,,,,,,,, From the award-winning author of Jake's Redemption... A man bound by chains.
A woman burdened by regret.
Will love set this tortured pair free?

Grab a copy of Masters' Mistress here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083QVR491

In times of uncertainty

I have been watching the polls roll in from America in the last few days on our local news, in between my scribbling for NaNoWriMo, and it's been comforting to have some control over my character's lives in such a time of uncertainty for the world. I enjoy watching my new characters interact and evolve, their understanding of each other growing with each page. Sometimes I wonder if that is what makes us want to write? The drive to manipulate the outcome in a world where the outcomes seem increasingly unreliable? Either way, it's keeping me on track for my writing, if not my waistline. I was keen to see how other authors were tackling their writing challenges.

This month's authors:

Robecca Austin

Robecca is a prize-winning author of short stories and romance books with a twist of paranormal. I was keen to find out what it took Robecca to achieve her success to date.

What is the appeal of paranormal for you?

I’d say the unknown.

My interest in paranormal started young. I had a closet of things that I was scared of – I was also scared of the closet. All creepy crawlies, the thing under my bed, the bats in my attic. Hell, I was afraid of butterflies, but not the cute ones. Growing up we had those huge gray ones with prints on their wings that resembled eyes.

As I outgrew these fears, the images and the feelings of those experiences remained.

Paranormal doesn’t always send you screaming. Sometimes, something twisted, mysterious, with a dash scare is enough.

The folklore that scared the crap out of me as a child feeds my paranormal stories.

Your work has a historical element, do you have to do a lot of research?

Research depends on the story. I really try to not get overwhelmed by historical information. My new Regency romance series for example needed less research than the pioneer western romance I’m writing.

Why? I believe it’s because I’ve started leaning into my culture. The country I was born in was once controlled by the British. Before them, the Dutch. For many years (still today in regions) a lot of their infrastructure remains. In addition, language, terms etc. So, without going back in time to 1860 London, England, I saw overhead water tanks and how they worked (wood, metal and later, plastic). I know what an outhouse and water closet are and what they smell like.

Although I grew up enjoying westerns, I wasn’t versed in its history beyond what I saw and read.

I combat research by incorporating elements close to me. I also free myself to write what I love at any particular moment.

How important is it to get the historical elements correct?

It’s very important, I’ll not downplay anyone’s dedication to factual accuracy. It’s doubly important though, to have elements that are relevant, advances the story and characters.

Historical elements are just part of the journey for the reader and writer. Some like to be beaten over the head with detail, while others prefer small doses. I try to find a healthy balance.

I rarely come away from a novel criticizing the historical elements. But I do remember the characters and how the tale made me feel.

Who is your favorite dead author and why?

Oh gosh. I struggled with this question. Not because I have so many, but because I struggle to recall names. Faces and images, yes! But remembering names suck.

Oh! Here is one,

Louis L’amour’s western novels.

I’m a big Bonanza fan you see. That’s what we got on our rabbit ears tele at four on a Saturday afternoon.

An avid reader, my stepfather introduced me to Louis L’amour. One of his worlds were set around the pioneer life of the Sackett brothers. I loved that strong bond of the family wherein times of crisis they always banded together. His descriptions and setting gave a sense of history and were a replay of Bonanza—at least to me.

Robecca likes to stay in touch with her readers via her website and blog which you can find here:

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Robecca-Austin/e/B00CQLTOGC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Colorful Pen blog: https://colorfulpen.com

Robecca Austin: https://robeccaaustin.com

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking out her book, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

Liz Butcher

Liz is an award-winning horror, paranormal and fantasy writer based right here in Australia. With a string of books in her name, I was keen to hear how she managed to stay so focused.

Having previously written short stories, and now novels, what is different or the same in the process for you?  

I find the two very different! Depending on the length of the short story, you don't go into as much detail with the characters and their backgrounds. Yet writing short stories is a wonderful way to learn concise writing. So for me, it's a very different writing process between the two.

Your stories have a horror theme, what is the attraction to this genre?

I've loved all things horror for as long as I can remember. So long, that I'm not even sure what the initial attraction was. As a child, I was always reading books on the paranormal, and then when I read my first Stephen King book at the age of ten (much to my mother's horror!) there was no looking back.

If you could give a new author one tip, what would it be and why? 

Back yourself. It's a long road that requires absolute dedication, even when you don't feel you're achieving your goals. So you have to believe in yourself - and do it for the love of it!

What does your writing space look like?

I'm so excited, as we've just bought our first home, so it's the first time I can really create my ideal writing space. I bought a nice, broad desk with lots of drawers to hide my stationary fetish, and even though I use a laptop, I like space to spread out all my notes, etc. I have my box of index cards filled with ideas, my diffuser (I love a nice-smelling space!), a terrarium hubby put together for me, and a glass dragonfly my mother gifted for me as a birthday present (to represent my Poppy). I also have a bookcase with all my non-fiction books (fiction books are in the spare room, my Moon phase wall chart, some photos of my daughter and a rotating display of her artwork, and her very own children's armchair which she sits in when Mummy's working back. There's also the guitar I never have time to play, the telescopes I wish I used more, and the exercise bike I really should use more... On the side of the bookcase hangs the funeral notice for my Poppy who passed away a year ago, and beneath, my degree. On another wall hangs a framed copy of my first novel, Fates' Fury, which was also a gift from my mother for my birthday. Fortunately, it's a large enough space that I don't feel cluttered in! It's a work in progress.

Liz likes to engage with her readers via:

Website: https://lizbutcherauthor.com.au

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lunaloveliz

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Liz-Butcher-1394868604152823/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13845425.Liz_Butcher

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/lizbutcherauthor/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00X6XN5O6

I hope you can take a moment to offer support for her by checking it out, and I extend my thanks for being interviewed!

I wish to thank you for taking the time to read and engage with me! Happy reading everyone!
VK Tritschler

For lovers of romantic suspense and set on the beauty of the South Australian Coastline!

Grab your copy of The Risky Business of Romance here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FZL8CZQ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-risky-business-of-romance

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-risky-business-of-romance-vk-tritschler/1137491464

Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1527882999