Rachel Carrington's Blog, page 44

Meet the author: Bestseller Malia Mallory

Welcome, Malia. I have a lot of aspiring authors visiting my blog. To offer them some encouragement, could you tell us what is was like getting your first book published?

Thank you so much for hosting me today! I would encourage writers to publish their work. It is a great feeling to see your book available and to find out that readers are enjoying what you wrote. I wish I had done it sooner.

My advice is to write the best story you can and then get it professionally edited. Once you have a polished product, get a professional cover. The formatting you can probably figure out yourself unless your book has something unusual. But don’t skimp on the editing and the cover.

You write extremely spicy, romantic novels. Any plans to ever genre-hop to something like horror or straight science fiction?

My newest book is more to the erotic romance side than erotica. However, I have a few ideas bouncing around that are more fantasy. I also have an idea for a thriller. I hope that at some point I can turn my attention to trying to flesh out the ideas for those plots a little more. Right now, it seems I have more ideas than time.

What is it about romance novels that compels you to write them?

Love is probably the most powerful emotion. It can be wonderful and compelling. Love brings out the most positive and negative feelings and actions from people. That makes love interesting with endless possibilities for conflict and happy endings.

How much has your life changed since you published your first novel?

Well, when I published my first story I was pregnant. Since then my daughter has been born and I’ve been busier than ever. I’m still working on building a presence. In many ways, I feel I’m still at the beginning.

Besides don’t give up, what is one piece of advice you would give to novelists who are still trying to gain a following?

It takes time. It is hard to be patient when you hear about the latest breakout but many “overnight successes” were really years in the making. Keep plugging away and persevere.

As we all know, Hawaii is a popular vacation spot, and since you’re blessed to live there, how much of your location comes into play in your novels?

I have set one of my novellas in Hawaii. His Need, Her Desire features Tabitha and Marcus, who are both on vacation and become involved in an intense holiday romance. Hawaii is filled with romantic possibilities from whale-watching cruises to the ubiquitous sex on the beach. I included details about the food and they even go stand-up paddleboarding.

And now for the fun questions:

If you could go to any place (fictional or real) for a day, where would it be and why?

Just one day? That is tough. My husband and I have been talking about visiting Italy or France but a one-day trip would barely scratch the surface. I think I would either want to go to Disneyworld or perhaps New York City. I lived in NYC for quite a long time and it would be great to make a return visit.

What is your favorite movie quote?

It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever. – This Is Spinal Tap

What is your favorite romantic song? Favorite dance tune?

Romantic Song – Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)

Dance Tune – Raise Your Glass (Pink)

If you could play a role in any fantasy movie, which one would it be and why?

There are so many great choices. I think perhaps Galadriel from Lord of the Rings. She has such amazing serenity.

If you could rewrite any movie script, which one would it be and why?

Well, this might sound odd but perhaps Braveheart. I didn’t know the whole of the real story behind Braveheart before I saw the movie. Near the end, I sat in the theatre absolutely confident that someone was going to sweep in and rescue William Wallace. Boy did I call that one wrong. Perhaps I could give it a classic American, albeit wrong, happy ending.

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His Need, Her Desire Blurb

Tabitha Quinn didn’t come to Hawaii to be spanked. But when vacationing businessman Marcus Granger saves her from drowning, they begin an affair that moves from the beach to the bedroom and straight into an experience Tabitha’s never had before: dark-haired, blue-eyed Marcus is a dominant, and spanking is just the beginning. The sex is intense, the emotion even more so, until they both must decide if this is a holiday fling or the real thing.

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His Need, Her Desire Excerpt

Tabitha’s smile grew wide. She held out her hand. “Really, I can’t thank you enough for your help.”

He held her hand in a firm grasp a shade longer than necessary, but Tabitha didn’t mind. She enjoyed looking at him. Though he had probably shaved that morning, an attractive shadow highlighted his chin and strong jawline.

“I’m glad I was in the right place.”

Tabitha released his hand. “So, where’s your sister?”

“My sister? How did you know?”

Tabitha bit her lip. “I’m sorry to say that I eavesdropped a bit. I was sitting near you at dinner last evening.”

“Eavesdropping? That seems extremely naughty.”

Tabitha was caught off guard by the tone of his voice. He was teasing, and yet, there was a thread of authority running through his words. Tabitha tried to suppress a shiver. “Well, sometimes I just can’t help myself.”

Marcus appeared disarmed by her honesty. “Are you traveling with anyone?”

Tabitha gave him a playful look. “Why do you ask?”

Marcus smiled. “Because I’m interested in knowing the answer, of course.”

“Well, if you’re thinking about ditching my body at sea, I’ve got six family members waiting for me in my hotel room upstairs. If you’re thinking about asking me to dinner, there is no reason why you shouldn’t.” Tabitha amazed herself. Where is this coming from? This man brought something out in her. She’d bet those broad shoulders and sexy smile had enticed many a woman.

He laughed. “You have nothing to worry about. I never use force, unless of course, it is desired.”

“Oh?” The truth burst into her mind. It suddenly became clear that he was fishing around a bit. There had been several hints here and there, but it seemed like he might be looking for a certain sort of woman. No, he couldn’t be. I’m imagining things.

“It’s true. I would be pleased if you joined me for dinner this evening.”

Tabitha did a mental fist pump in her mind. Woohoo! Dinner with Gorgeous Guy. “What did you have in mind?”

“Would you be averse to allowing me to surprise you?”

Tabitha hesitated then plunged ahead. “Not at all. It’s clear you have excellent taste.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, we both dined at the same restaurant last night, and I thought it was terrific.”

“Ah, well, my meal was less than pleasant unfortunately.” His tone indicated the subject was off-limits.

“Perhaps it was the company and not the food?”

Marcus laughed. “You are undoubtedly right and surprisingly honest.”

“My mother would say that my tongue is quicker than my brain.”

The corners of Marcus’s mouth lifted. “I’ve always been a fan of quick tongues.”

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BUY LINKS:

Amazon – http://amzn.to/TuxwYE

Barnes & Noble – http://bit.ly/Xlb48s

iTunes – http://bit.ly/WSbNAs

Smashwords – http://bit.ly/XlbpIz

All Romance – http://bit.ly/R3eQlO

Kobo – http://bit.ly/R3Aqqj

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Malia Mallory Biography

 

Malia Mallory lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She’s been working with words since alphabet blocks rolled into her crib, not only writing her own work but copy editing and proofreading the work of others. She has loved to read about relationships since she first sneaked off with her mother’s Harlequin.

Malia Mallory is the best-selling author of The ABCs of Erotica series, which covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. More releases in the series are on the way. She has also released the Mia’s Cop Craving series and Santa’s Backdoor Baby. Malia’s books have hit the bestselling erotica lists at both Amazon and iTunes. Her books are available in electronic format at major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, Smashwords and AllRomance Books.

For a free copy of B is for Beach from The ABCs of Erotica, head to her website and sign up for the newsletter at http://www.maliamallory.com/Join_My_Mailing_List.php.

Connect with Malia Mallory

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/@MaliaMallory

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/MaliaMallory

Blog – http://abcsoferotica.wordpress.com/

Web Page – http://www.maliamallory.com

Writing Your Book Blurb (or Description)

Inevitably, you are going to be called upon to write a book description for the manuscript you just finished. Either the publishing house will require it of you, or you will need it when you self-publish. If you’re not familiar with how to write one, it can be a torturous task. It, too, takes skill, but it can be learned.

To train yourself to write book cover copy, you need to be familiar with the market for which you are writing. Go to the nearest bookstore and spend some time reading the back covers of books. However, don’t just focus on one genre. Venture into horror, sci-fi, mystery, and romance because you’re looking for examples that really stand out. Pay attention to each word used. Jot down some notes. Ask yourself questions such as: how would I have written this differently? Do the words the writer used evoke imagery? Is my attention sufficiently captured?

Pull a couple of books off your shelf at home and practice changing the copy into something uniquely yours. The more practice you can get with this, the better. So take the back cover copy of some of your favorite books and rewrite it. Ask some of your friends to read the copy and see if it holds their attention. Better yet, ask them if they could tell you the name of the book, especially if you use some of the great works like Jane Eyre or Catcher in the Rye.

Only you know your story the best so you should be the one to make those words work for you.  Don’t just tell a reader what the book is about. Show them. Take them inside the mind of the characters or give them chills just by reading the short description. Even if you haven’t finished writing your book yet, you should practice this step. Boring book cover copy won’t sell books no matter how good the inside of the book is. You have to catch the readers with the book description and the cover (see my interview with award-winning cover artist, Elaina Lee, next) or you could easily lose a sale.

Writing Tips from Howard Jacobson, Man Booker Prize Winner

We sometimes forget the basics when it comes to writing. Howard Jacobson gives tips that you don’t want to miss. I think my favorite is to enjoy writing.

Authors, do you know what a vanity viewpoint is?

Most writers are familiar with viewpoints and can determine which character(s) they’ve chosen to tell the story. Unfortunately, one telling mistake is consistent throughout many manuscripts—the inclusion of vanity viewpoints. Not familiar with the terminology?

A vanity viewpoint is including a description of the character telling the story. For example, if the scene is in your antagonist’s point of view, he can’t see his green eyes narrow, and likewise, the little storyteller who’s throwing a temper tantrum in time-out doesn’t think about her blond ringlets.

A simple way to pick up on vanity viewpoints is to think of yourself. When you’re telling someone a story or even thinking of a story, do you even consider your hair color, your eye color, or the shape of your nose? Just as we are mostly oblivious to our descriptions, so should your narrating characters be.

Interview with Kristin Anders from Ravishing Romances

Today I welcome Kristin Anders with Ravishing Romances (see her full bio below).  She was gracious enough to answer all of my questions and share the wealth of her knowledge with fellow authors.

What role do you believe book bloggers can play in an author’s career?

Ha. This question is as broad as a writer asking how they become a good author. Oh, let me count the ways… It ultimately depends upon the blogger, and some blogs can potentially harm their career.

If an author wants general publicity they should consider the large blogs: USA Today’s Happily Ever After, RT Book Reviews (more of a site, not a blog), Smart Bitches, Dear Author, Joyfully Reviewed and The Romance Man.

If an author wants to develop readership they should consider the blogs who host giveaways, are active in social media and attend romance conventions: Under the Covers, Bitten by Books, Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance, The Jeep Diva, The Romance Dish, Between the Bind, Kindles and Wine and many, many more. These are also the blogs who participate in blog tours hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions and Author’s Angels.

If an author is searching for a book blog tomake other romance contacts they should consider bloggers who also have romance-related jobs: Seductive Musings (graphic design artist), Two Chicks on Books (publicist), Petit Fours and Hot Tamales (authors), Ms. Romantic Reads (graphic design artist) and, ahm, well the blog I co-run, Ravishing Romances (I double as a freelance editor exclusively in the romance genre).

The blogs that can hurt book sales are littered with typos, formatting errors and ask questions that have nothing to do with the author’s novel. No one is encouraged to buy a novel when the blog post looks crappy.

Do you feel book bloggers are more for the readers or the authors?

Again, that depends on the blog. Most blogs are for the readers. Many blogs are written to gain themselves readers, and not readers for the authors. Great blogs are tailored to do both, but any appearance on a decent blog can only help an author. (Unless the author is exclusively blogging and not writing when it’s not the month after their new release…but I digress.)

Personally, Ravishing Romances is for authors and reading connoisseurs. My reviews always referenced plots/character arcs, believability, world-building and effective dark moments in hopes of showcasing my editing skills.

If you could give a new author (one who has yet to be published) one piece of advice, what would it be?

One? Impossible.But here are five. Six. Eight. I’m done at eight:

1. You will never hurt your career by helping another author. Julia Quinn had it right when she said this at Georgia Romance Writers’ 2012 Moonlight & Magnolias convention.

2. Join Facebook for readers, Twitter for industry knowledge and connections, and only use Pinterest if you don’t pin copyrighted material. Use them daily, effectively, professionally, but not obsessively.

3. Finishing your manuscript is just the first step. Do not self-publish or shop it to agents and publishing companies just yet. Read it again. Revise. Give it to betas. Revise. Hire an editor. Revise. Choose your publishing company. Revise to fit the line you are submitting to. Possibly receive rejection letter. Revise. Submit to a different company.

Beware: Once a publisher rejects a manuscript they usually do not allow re-submissions. Be confident in your story.

4. If self-publishing, pay for a professional cover. Make sure the cover is attractive in thumbnail size, because that’s how small it is when readers are viewing it from Amazon and other retailers.

5. Pay for a professional website and keep it current. Readers want to be interactive and feel they know you. A website (and effective social media) accomplishes this.

6. Yes, you need an author photo. Until people are familiar with you that photo needs to be on all your social media accounts. It can be fun, sexy, attractive and flirty. It cannot be older than five years, someone other than you, show your two-year-old bra straps or have a toilet in the background. (You laugh, but I’ve seen it…)

…and after you’re published.

7. Reserve the month after your book release for promotion and at least an hour for it every day thereafter. Promotion is not spamming social media. Promotion is book blogs, blogging on Goodreads, commenting on blogs with heavy readership, responding to fan mail and like things. Do not mention your books and career on a different author’s blog post.

8. Writing new books sells your old ones. Any author will confirm this, especially those who are self-published. If self-published, advertise your books in the back of your other books. Publishing companies do this because it works. Only have one book? Reach out to like authors and cross-promote.

What are the most prevalent mistakes you see in books that have earned less than stellar reviews?

Unattractive romance covers, adverbs, passive voice, unresolved plot lines, plot lines purposefully left unresolved and the author forgets to write that intention into their novel, weak motivations and minimal conflict.

Can you give us a quick do and don’t list for contacting a book blogger?

Do spell their name correctly, read their site and submission guidelines, like/follow their social media and type a personalized email. Also send them links to your novel and social media in your review/interview request. If they accept your request, send them your novel, bio, author photo, novel cover, buy links and social media links. If you make it easy for them to pimp you, they more than likely will.

Do not email every blogger on the blog, ask if they review your subgenre when their site states they do not or type “I haven’t read your site, but…”

Could you tell us the best way, in your opinion, for an author to react to a negative review if at all?

Log offline, shut down your computer and call your friends, your betas, your editors and every person in your support group to vent. Readers believe authors are too busy living their fabulous lives and rolling in their book money to care about a negative review. Do not change that. You will scare them and possibly gain a restraining order or a stalker of your very own.

Do not let your friends respond to these either. It’s unprofessional and insults the romance industry. Let it go.

And finally, what is one thing that will make you not finish reading a book?

Exclamation points, all caps writing, repetitive tag lines and sentence structure, no conflict and unbelievable plots/characters/reactions.If your book has a plethora of these things, see Advice #3 in the above question. Or, you know, email me.

Thanks for having me, Rachel. I’m very flattered and hope my long-winded tidbits are useful to your authors.

Kristin Anders has six years’ paralegal experience in the entertainment industry and litigation. Her work focused on copyright, communicative/persuasive writing, legal editing, grammar corrections, writing within word counts and topic specifications. She has an Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies and occasionally takes university courses to earn her Bachelors. Kristin interned for Entangled Publishing, beta reads for published romance authors, and freelance edits. Her resume can be viewed here, and references are given upon request.

Website: www.RavishingRomances.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristinAnders1

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KristinAnders11

If you’re a new author, Pinterest can be your best friend!

 

New authors can find a treasure trove of information at Pinterest than can be more beneficial than searching the internet. Most of the folks on Pinterest are avid pinners, and they do all the hard work for you. Here are some examples:

Amy Harrop provides beginning authors with fifty-one pins about, what else? Blogging, writing, and publishing. If you want to follow her, you can click on her name. She has a lot of really good information about Kindle, especially for authors just getting started with publishing their own e-books.

Amy also has a separate board for Social Medial Learning where she’s pinned a lot of videos on the how-to’s of social media.

Amy L. Sullivan has a board entitled “Writing Related Posts” which includes advice to first time authors and finding a writing conference that’s right for you.

And then there’s Jen Brown who has the board “Writers Write” which tells you how to pitch your book to book bloggers, shows you a publishing road map, and provides you with some good advice from around the web.

And at my spot on Pinterest, I include a board called “Helping Authors Promote which gives you a lot of places to promote your newly released book. If you want to follow me, just click on the Pinterest image at the top of this post.

You can find just about anything on Pinterest to help you write, polish, promote, and sell your book, and the authors have done a great job of putting all this fantastic information together in one place. So just type in whatever you’re looking for in the search bar, and start following some of your favorites today.

 

Looking for gift ideas for your favorite author?

 

 

 

I have a lot of friends who are also authors, and I’m constantly on the lookout for innovative ideas for Christmas and other holidays. Recently in my search, I stumbled across some great ideas from other blogs, and I’m sharing the links to help out those of you have authors on your Christmas list, too!

Writing Spark has a gift buying guide of 25 Gift Ideas for Writers.

This is an older list from Squidoo, but it can be changed around a bit and still work.

Michael Hyatt has written 12 Gift Ideas for Aspiring Writers.

And here’s an article from Yahoo Voices that offers Top Ten Gift Ideas.

And finally, The Adventurous Writer has 10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Writers and Bloggers.

Happy shopping, and may you find the perfect gift for your favorite writer this year!

 

Not Sure Where or How to Start Promoting? Tools to get you started

When you’re just starting out as an author (whether it’s self-published or through a publisher), even the idea of marketing can be overwhelming. You can find a lot of ideas just by using your favorite search engine, but all that information can be overwhelming.You want to get your name out, but you don’t want to come across as pushy or desperate. There is a middle ground. And here are some tools that you can use to get yourself organized and ready to go.

One way to help you get off on the right foot is by reading Social Boom. This book will get you started with how to do social media correctly and how to use it to the best of your advantage without annoying your followers. I can’t recommend this book highly enough, especially if you”re looking to target your market through Twitter.

Next, download your copy of Author Blueprint 2.0 here. Joanna Penn has done a fantastic job getting any author up and running. I’ve downloaded it and am using it. You might want to consider taking some time to read the articles, listen to some of the podcasts, and watch some of the videos at Joanna’s site. The information is priceless.

Subscribe to (and read) The Savvy Book Marketer. Take some time each day to reach through the articles as well. This site has a wealth of information.

Bookmark this site: Bookmarket.com. It is owned by John Kremer. Follow him at Twitter @JohnKremer and pay attention to his tweets. He has a lot of free information on his site, and he also puts out a marketing newsletter with more information than you can get by spending an hour researching the internet yourself.

Set up a simple marketing plan that doesn’t overwhelm you. The Peak pages has a great one here.

Just remember that you can’t follow every single piece of advice, and there is no guarantee that what Jane Doe did to sell 10,000 copies will work for you. What’s most important is to find what does work for you and what you can do without getting overwhelmed. Educating yourself is always the first step.

Meet the Author, Golden Heart Award Winner, Debra Holland

Today I welcome Award-winning author and USA Today Bestseller, Debra Holland. Debra has not only won a Golden Heart, but she was a finalist in the contest two other times as well as a finalist several times in the Orange Rose Contest.

Debra, please tell my readers about your latest release. If it’s available already, please include a buy link.

My latest release is Montana Sky Christmas: A Sweetwater Springs Short Story Collection. It contains seven stories—not all are romances, but all are about love—set in my fictional historical town, using familiar characters from the Montana Sky Series (sweet historical Western romances) and introducing new ones.

When you discovered you’d made the USA Today Bestsellers’ list, how did you react? Was there a big celebration?

First of all, making the list (in April 2012) with Wild Montana Sky was a complete surprise and utter shock. It had never even occurred to me that I could make the list, especially with a self-published book. Luckily my friend, Tessa Dare, was watching the list and emailed me the news. I was shaky and teary and immediately had to call and email my family and writer friends. There was much rejoicing. My boyfriend (at the time) took me out to dinner.

I emailed my Montlake editor, Lindsay Guzzardo, (Amazon Montlake had acquired the Montana Sky Series, although their versions of the books didn’t go live until August 28.) Lindsay was excited and said that she thought making the USA Today list was better than the New York Times list because the sales are pulled from all vendors.

Did you always want to be a writer as well as a psychologist?

Yes. I knew I wanted to be a counselor from the time I was a young teen. I also knew around that time I wanted to write. But I was interested in writing my grandmother’s stories about her adventurous childhood. I didn’t actually start to write her stories until I’d finished my Ph.D (and spent several years recovering!) I wrote a few grandmother short stories, then began to dabble with what later became Wild Montana Sky.

What fulfills you the most in life?

My purpose in life is to be a healer. When I’m helping others, I know I’m doing what I’m here on the planet for.

Tell us a little bit about the online classes you teach and what made you decide to start them.

I teach two online classes. One is Understanding Men, which I’ve taught for about ten years, and the other is about self-publishing, which I started teaching this year.

I was asked to develop both of them for my local RWA chapter—Orange County, California.

I know a lot about the male brain and biochemistry and how that makes men think and act. My class helps writers with their heroes, but also helps them understand and accept the men in their lives better.

Once I self-published and, fairly quickly, became successful, I started wanting other authors to know about this new and exciting option for them. I use what I’ve learned, and I also bring in a lot of guest lecturers.

I’m teaching both classes in the spring.

Now for the fun questions:

If you could go to any place (fictional or real) for a day, where would it be and why?

Great Brittan, although I’m not sure I could pick which part I’d want to spend a day in. There’s so many places…

If you could have a conversation with a writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you want to talk about?

Can I have two? Jane Austin and Georgette Heyer. These two women are responsible for the popularity of Regency romance. I’d love to talk about their books (which I’ve read multiple times) and their lives. I’d ask Jane all the questions that her fans want to know, such as, Did she really fall in love? What happened? I’d tell her to ignore the demands of her mother and write more.

As for Georgette Heyer… I’d love to know which slang words she made up that are now considered real speech from the Regency period. I’d tell her that she’s still my favorite Regency author.

What is your favorite movie quote?

One of my favorite movies is Chariots of Fire. The hero is an Olympic athlete and minister with strong religious convictions. He gives up his race because it falls on a Sunday. He’s preaching and quotes a Bible verse, Isaiah 40:31, while that magnificent music score plays in the background. I find the verse very inspiring.

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

What is your favorite romantic song? Favorite dance tune?

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri

I think the dance tune would depend on what kind of dancing—I can do anything from ballroom to bopping around—and who I’m dancing with. It makes all the difference when you’re with a great dancer.

If you could be any fantasy creature for one day, what would you be and why?

Pegasus. I’d love to fly.

Meet the Author, Addison Moore

Today I welcome paranormal young adult author, Addison Moore.

Addison, please tell my readers about your latest release or upcoming release. My latest release is EPHEMERAL (The Countenance) It’s a part of a new series that is a sister series to Celestra and I plan on doing plenty of character crossovers. I plan on it being a shorter series than Celestra but I do look forward to really digging into Laken’s world.

And what about you? Can you give us a little information about yourself? Me? I’m the most boring person on the planet! Other than family time my other favorite activity is snuggling up with my laptop. I have four children and a wonderful husband. I once worked on a locked psychiatric unit for a short eternity as a therapist. I worked there until the unit closed and it was the most interesting line of work. I really grew from the experience.

How much farther do you intend to take the Celestra series after book eight? I’ve always said from the beginning I was going to let Celestra end on a natural note. I’m a little apprehensive having to split TOXIC into two parts so when I write the last book I’m going to evaluate how long it is and if it needs to be split. If so it might magically morph into 8 and 9 but like TOXIC to be released back to back. Once Celestra is over I’m moving Skyla to another (more mature) series.

I know you have some exciting news on your blog about Celestra and a potential pilot television episode. Can you tell my readers a little about how that came to pass and the current status? It was totally out of the blue! The producers are so very nice and I was lucky enough to meet with one of them on the Fox studio lot! Right now the project is with the head writer and she’s working on the pilot!

How much has your life changed since you published your first novel? Lol! My life has always been crazy busy but I guess you can say it’s been amped up to supersonic speeds! I love it though and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Are young adult novels your niche, or do you think you’ll branch out into adult novels at some point in your future? I think I’m most comfortable writing mature young adult. I do like some spice and I haven’t found a balance yet. But, I have a contemporary romance coming out this fall that isn’t young adult. Something that I wrote a few years ago that never quite let me go. I feel like I need to get that story out.

And now for the fun questions:

If you could go to any place (fictional or real) for a day, where would it be and why? Paragon of course! I’m hoping the Oliver’s will let me stay in their guest room and if that doesn’t work out I know a Sector who would be more than happy to oblige. I would love to stay a good long while and really soak in the island life. I might even get a job at the bowling alley.

If you could have a conversation with a writer, living or dead, who would it be and what would you want to talk about? Stephen King! How fun would that be? And perhaps a little scary.

What is your favorite movie quote? “As you wish.” The Princess Bride.

What is your favorite romantic song? Favorite dance tune? Oh my gosh I love all kinds of romantic songs but Peabo Bryson’s “If ever you’re in my arms again” guts me every time! Dance tune? Hmm, I’d have to say “Firework” Katy Perry. That’s a personal anthem if ever there was one.

If you could play a role in any fantasy movie, which one would it be and why? Lol! I would so be Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”. Of course I might be tempted to make a few script changes. I think Dorothy needs a good love triangle.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog!