Rachelle Ayala's Blog, page 84

#BookChat Tan - A Story of Exile, Betrayal and Revenge by David Lawlor

SYNOPSIS:‘Peelers have a knack for hitting you where it hurts; broken nose, bruised ribs, a few loosened teeth...no more than a rapist deserved, Sergeant Coveney and District Inspector Webber had said. Proper order, too - except the lad was no rapist, and Webber knew it.’

It’s 1914 and Liam Mannion is forced into exile for a crime he didn’t commit. He flees Balbriggan, the only home he has ever known and travels to England, where he enlists and endures the torment of trench warfare in France. Five years later he’s back in England, a changed man, living in the shadow of his battlefield memories. Liam finds work in a Manchester cotton mill but prejudice and illness soon see him destitute. Starving and desperate, he enlists in a new military force heading to Ireland - the Black and Tans - and is posted to the very town he fled as a youth.

While he has been away Liam’s childhood friends have joined the republican cause, while his brother has allied himself to the Crown forces. Liam must wrestle with his own conflicted feelings about duty to the ruthless Tans and loyalty to his friends. The potent combination of ambition, patriotism and betrayal collide, forcing him to act as he comes face to face with the man who spread lies about him all those years before.WHY I WROTE TAN: I've always been interested in this era of Irish history (1919-1921). My grandfather was very 'active' in this period fighting the British. The Black and Tans wre a notorious group of British soldiers who went to Ireland fresh from their experiences in France during World War One. They brought the brutality of the trenches to Irish towns and villages.I thought it would be intriguing to write a story from the perspective of someone who became a Tan...what their motivations were and what were the conflicts.WHAT PEOPLE SAY:David Lawlor's descriptions of violent combat battles are exceptionally compelling. However, he didn't lose sight of the fact his book was a historical fiction. Lawlor brilliantly introduces the family. Other characters including friends and women are perfectly woven into the story. It's a beautifully written novel in which to entertain and learn about this period of Irish history. - Mary Crocco book bloggerAn entertaining and historical page turner, with many surprises awaiting along the way - JedwardianI especially liked the portrayal of the women throughout. They are given time and substance; very engaging, likeable and credible. The fighting scenes, also, are riveting. At one point I thought Lawlor himself must have experienced the ordeals. I would love to see this story made into a movie. Here's one who would pay to see it. - Thomas HollywoodThis is an excellent read, it is well-paced, has memorable characters and is a catchy story. The author doesn't use history as an easy win for his storytelling, the heroes and villains of this piece are carefully constructed, and he manages to link the subtleties of the individual's struggle with war, peace and heavy-handed policing with the similar struggles of the fledgling nation. - Colleen ConnollyIf you have a free day, and you fancy a roller-coaster ride from your armchair, put this one on your list. I didn't want to put it down. - EM MoranBEHIND THE SCENES: There was a point in the story in which a main character dies that I found rather difficult. I didn't want to let him go but felt that he had to be sacrificed for the flow of the story. I thought about making his death very heroic but in the end opted to make it more prosaic. There's a scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan in which one of the patrol members - the medic - is shot and dies, despite the frantic efforts of his mates to save him. There was a terrible gasping panic in the man's voice as he died and I tried to convey that terrible sense of hoplessness in my character, too. I think the manner of my character's death was a 'success' in that respect and I have Steven Spielberg to thank for it.

The Heartbeat of New Orleans, Alexandrea Weis #GuestPost

     The rhythm of the resurrecting city of New Orleans is reflected everyday in the unified heartbeat of its determined residents. And no matter the devastation, New Orleanians will continually fight to hold on to their beloved little bastion eight feet below sea level. Like the memory of a first kiss, the warmth of New Orleans pervades your soul and forever becomes a part of you. To travel among the wide oaks and antebellum homes of the Garden District makes for beautiful postcard pictures, but it does not give you a true indication of what it means to be a New Orleanian. You have to immerse yourself in the old world atmosphere and varied traditions of the people of this town in order to understand them, and, hopefully, become one of them.      You need to dine in the myriad of exceptional restaurants and take part in a heated discussion about where to find the best bowl of gumbo. Spend a Monday morning drinking coffee and chicory in an old uptown kitchen while learning how to cook the perfect pot of red beans and rice. Experience the wrong way to eat a muffaletta sandwich, the right way to shuck an oyster, and the only way to eat a beignet. And you will always have to remember that if your food isn’t boiled, blackened or fried, it just ain’t cooked.              You will want to traverse the different sections of the old city divided not by points on a compass, but by proximity to the Mississippi River or Lake Pontchartrain. Because no one in the Crescent City could ever tell you where to find the south end of town, but they could recite by heart the neighborhoods along the bend in the river. From the Bywaters to the Irish Chanel, from Lakeview to the infamous Ninth Ward, so many smaller sections alive with their own unique histories make up this city. Each part of New Orleans has a rich heritage based on the struggles of its French, Spanish, Irish, African, or Italian founders.      Then head over to Canal Street, where the local term “neutral ground” was created in the early 1800’s. In those days, the wide thoroughfare was first used as a common market area between the feuding French and Spanish occupants of the city. Take a streetcar ride down legendary St. Charles Avenue to see the world renowned Audubon Zoo. Along the way, soak up the different styles of Victorian, Greek Revival, and Colonial architecture represented by some of the city’s finest homes. Let the soothing rocking motion of the streetcar ease your cares, as the sweet scent of magnolias streams in from the open window beside you. At the end of your streetcar ride, walk the broken cobblestones of the French Quarter, and take in the alluring sights of the tightly packed Creole cottages. Listen for the seductive sounds of Jazz music resonating around you, the smell of great food hovering in the air about you, and let your imagination linger on the romantic wrought iron balconies above you. Make your way to Jackson Square and take in the tall spires of St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest Catholic cathedral in the continental Untied States. Walk through the adjoining Cabildo Museum, where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803. Stroll on over to the Moonwalk, by the edge of the Mississippi River, and enjoy the calliope music coming from the Delta Queen Riverboat. After you have learned to bargain like a pro with the vendors at the French Market, then saunter down the shady sidewalks of Esplanade Avenue. The street made famous by Tennessee Williams and his tale of hidden desire. Finally, let yourself wander the narrow alleys of St. Louis Cemetery Number One, where you can visit the above ground tombs of famous former residents Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen, and Paul Morphy, the chess phenomenon.      But there is another, more important, criteria for being an ingrained member of this eclectic southern city. You have to learn to appreciate life. Not the day-to-day hurried existence that shortens the lives of stockbrokers and businessmen, but the easy lust for the fulfillment of the senses. For everything about New Orleans is tailored to the forgotten art of self-gratification. In these days of such soulless existence, it is a heartwarming relief to find a place unashamed of its abundant way of life. No one in New Orleans regrets the way they live, they only regret when they have to leave it.      So the next time you think about my hometown, don’t linger on the unforgettable disasters of our past. Instead, revel in what makes our city unique, shamelessly flamboyant, and stoically unapologetic for its transgressions. New Orleanians have moved on from Katrina. Despite the numerous media attempts to bury the residents under clouds of negative press and dim outlooks, the people remain resilient. Because they know that when Mardi Gras is over, crawfish season is right around the corner. We may have paid a heavy price for our time in paradise, but we know that somewhere up in the heavens, someone is answering our prayers. After all, the Saints did finally win the Super Bowl.       
Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her popular second novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards, and was a Finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Wards in 2012. Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2011, and is a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance in 2012. Her fifth novel, The Secret Brokers, was released in May 2012. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Readers can find out more and connect at:Amazon PageWebsiteFacebookTwitter
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Rachelle, Do you always write A**hole Males? #AuthorInterview

News Flash: Lucas Knight, from Rachelle's Work in Progress, is taking over Rachelle's blog today!!! Let's hope he doesn't change her password. Take it away, Lucas.

Lucas: So, Rachelle, you hip with me? I mean, I wanna know. Why do you always write A**hole males?

Rachelle: I wrote you, didn't I? You tellin' me you're a jerk?

Lucas: Ah... no, but my predecessors, let's see here, King David. Whoa! Cruel and insensitive. I'm just reading the reviews. Arrogant, callous and unloving.

Rachelle: That's hardly fair. The man was living in what, 1000 B. C.

Lucas: Right, and he gets multiple wives. Princesses, serving maids, you name it. I'll have to agree with the reviewers. How the heck do you make a polygamist a romantic hero? [scratches head]

Rachelle: Pretty simple. Michal loves him and that brings out the sweet side of him. Might have taken her entire lifetime, but winning over a difficult man like that? Many women couldn't rise to the challenge.

Lucas: Couldn't or wouldn't? Is that what she wanted, a challenge?

Rachelle: Perhaps, but she also knew David when he was a young serving boy, playing music to calm her father, so I suspect she saw the goodness in his heart. And of course, his love for God no doubt played a role in her admiring him.

Lucas: Didn't hurt that he was a hero who killed Goliath. But seriously, your next dude, Crazy Man?

Rachelle: Name's Dave Jewell and he's a CEO of a successful startup.


Lucas: Hmmm.... not sure I like him at all!

Rachelle: Dave's a special case. He suffered great trauma. It takes a special woman to break through and care about him.

Lucas: You mean a criminal?

Rachelle: Did you read the draft or not? Jen's not a criminal, geez. She just has a shady past to hide.

Lucas: Mmm... mmm... mmm... sure she does. Okay, not gonna give away the plot, but I heard some of your beta readers hated him.

Rachelle: Sure, a CEO has to make quick decisions and be in control.

Lucas [spits his coffee]: That man is about the most out of control character. What was he thinking?

Rachelle: Hey, you don't know him like I do. Any more questions?

Lucas: Well, let's see, there's your husband.

Rachelle: Excuse me? Why're you bringing him in?

Lucas: Just sayin'.

Rachelle: He's got a stressful job, okay? Not like you, high on endorphins all day long. So he gets a bit difficult.

Lucas: A bit? Wow, talk about denial. Tell me, why do you like difficult men, er I mean alpha males?

Rachelle: Nothing personal here, but you're too nice. And you know what that means? You'll be nice to other women too.

Lucas: Oh ho! I think we're getting somewhere. Some women like difficult men because they're insecure. They figure they're the only one who can put up with him, so no one else will try. Is that it?

Rachelle [squirms]: Being difficult isn't enough. He has to be powerful, unobtainable, strong, and decisive. You know, an alpha male.

Lucas: Code for jerk.

Rachelle: So, Lucas. Tell me why you think you're not an alpha.

Lucas: Cuz I'm a sweetheart and when I love a woman, I treat her like a princess. And you're wrong about me being nice to everyone. There's nice and there's NICE. But I ain't no doormat. You heard me tell Maryanne she couldn't ignore me and then act like I'm at her beck and call.

Rachelle: That's true. You have your principles.

Lucas: Exactly. And I think those unobtainable men are really insecure. They're playing the male equivalent of hard to get. Doesn't make me respect them.

Rachelle: I prefer to think of them as tortured souls.

Lucas: Hey, whatever floats your boat. Anyway, I'm strong and supportive, decisive and loving. I don't think these concepts are antithetical.

Rachelle: You're a smart man, Lucas. That's why I trust you with Maryanne Torres.

Lucas: Thank you, she's mighty special to me, too. You aren't going to show them my handsome face?

Rachelle: Here's how Maryanne describes you while watching you sleep:

Lucas’ face exhibited a day’s growth of beard. Interesting how his beard was reddish brown, but his hair curled dark brown. Eyebrows and eyelashes were thick and lush, also dark brown. His nose flared at just the right angle, and his lips combined a rakish upper curl with a luscious lower lip. The top part of his chest lay exposed, tempting her to touch.

Lucas: Why didn't she touch?

Rachelle: You'll have to ask her. Story's not finished yet, so no more sneaking peeks into her mind.

Lucas: Just be kind to her, will you?

Rachelle: Sure. I'll try. That's why I created you, Mr. Knight.


Title: Hidden Under Her Heart - coming 2013

Protags: Maryanne Torres & Lucas Knight

Logline:  Raped and pregnant, a young nurse seeks justice while holding onto a shameful secret.

Blurb: Maryanne Torres has sworn off sex. Intent on finding a marrying man, she joins a church youth group.

A party at her pastor's house turns into a drinking binge, and Maryanne is raped.

Lucas Knight's only concern was winning the Ironman Triathalon until the morning he finds Maryanne bloody and unconscious in the church parking lot. He becomes the prime suspect, even though Maryanne cannot identify her attacker.

Maryanne wants justice but the identity of her rapist is hidden in the baby she plans to abort.

A trap is set. Lucas races to clear his name and keep Maryanne's secret from drowning her and her baby.

#BookChat Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It by Whitney Boyd

Synopsis: Mikayla:  Cute Canadian college girl turned world-famous, super- sexy pop-star practically overnight. And still figuring out if she belongs in this celebrity wonderland.
Jordan:  The only genuine guy in all of L.A. Law student, and extremely attractive. Also happens to hate the Hollywood celebrity scene.
Matt:  Stupid, lying, money-loving ex-boyfriend trying to get back into Mikaylas life and ruin every hope she has with Jordan.
Kurt:  Personal trainer, confidant and only true friend Mikayla has in her new life. Questionable fashion sense included.
Cheryl:  Completely psychotic manager.
The next three months? Happily ever after with Jordan. Or social and career ruin with no hope of ever finding true love...From the Author:I wrote this book because I've always had the secret dream of being the next Britney Spears except for just one problem. Wait... make that three problems. I don't dance. I can't sing. And I'm not a sexy blonde with a killer smile. So, I did the next best thing. I became a fictional Britney Spears by writing this book! Genius, right?  My novel is based on my life, people I'm close to and lots of pop culture due to my slight addiction to People Magazine. If you like romance, follow the celebrity scene or just want  fun story full of secrets and an unconventional ending, this is your book!What Readers Are Saying:     - "It was like reading US Weekly, only not as trashy and better written."     - "It is a modern Notting Hill, told from the celebrity point of view. Instead of following the struggles of the commoner, dating the celebrity, we follow the celebrity, worried about the commoner."     - "If you ever want to slip into Jessica Simpsons life vicariously, this is the book for you!"     - "Boyd's characters were so full of personality and quirks that I couldn't stop laughing, crying, and wanting to punch multiple someones.... I. LOVE. this book!"      - "Thought it would be a predictable book, but the author kept making turns that kept me from putting the book down."Behind the Scenes: The ending of the book was different in my first draft than my last. At first I was a bitupset with my editor and absolutely HATED all her suggestions. I thought that it needed to be the way it initally was, and was disappointed that she wanted some changes. However, as I kept writing and rewriting the story, my characters became so much deeper and more developed and I discovered things about Mikayla, the super star, so that the ending my editor wanted actually made sense. I love how the story turned out, so, as much as I hated editing it, I am extremely glad it became what it did. TANNED would not be the same book without it. 

Triberr in 5 Easy Steps

What is Triberr? Simply put, Triberr is semi-automated retweeting of blog posts by a group of people working together.

Triberr is a website that collects blog posts and Tweeps into a group called the Tribe. Tribes are groups of bloggers who post on similar topics and are happy to share the posts of other bloggers.
As you can see from the graph (found at the Triberr site), using Triberr extends your blog tweets beyond your followers, but into the streams of all their followers too. And this is a big thing! Because, guess what? Blogging in isolation is about as interesting and productive as navel gazing.
Okay, I'm going to show you how to join and work with Triberr in 5 easy steps.
1. Get a Twitter account. Go to Twitter.com and register for an account. Connect your Twitter account to your tribe. You may have more than one twitter account, but you may only connect a single Twitter account to a single tribe. Here I have chosen to connect my one twitter account to all my tribes.
2. Start Blogging and find the RSS Feed for your blog. RSS Feed is an xml document that tags blog content so that a computer program can read it and figure out the URL, tags, content, date, etc. All you need to do is find your blog's RSS Feed. For Blogger, or Blogspot users, it is: http://[blogspot-url]/feeds/posts/def... Wordpress users can download and install a plug-in that sends their posts to their Triberr account  http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/triberr-wordpress-plugin/ 
Connect your blog to a tribe. You can be a member of different tribes and connect different blogs to different tribes, but you may only connect a single blog to a single tribe. I chose not connect my Facebook account, because I did not want to flood my Facebook page with tweets.
3. Join a Tribe. You can start your own tribe or find a thriving tribe to join. The best tribes consist of members in the same interest are who are willing to retweet each other's content. So for example, if you are blogging about ancient civilizations, it might not work to be in a tribe of science fiction enthusiasts. My tribe is "Indie Authors"

4. Login and Tweet. Once you're in a tribe, log in every day that you posted to your blog (if not more often). You will see your Tribemate's posts come into your "Home" screen. Click the "thumbs up" and then the Orange button that says "Approve?". Once Approved, it will change colors and be queued into your Twitter feed You can set your posting interval to make sure you don't flood your tweet stream. 5. Stay in the Tribe. As of June 28th, Triberr is now limiting tribes to be no more than 30. I have recently had to ruthlessly remove nonparticipating members, even when they were my personal friends, to make room for better teammates. Your tribemates can easily see if you've been sharing or not. You can also remove yourself from a tribe if you find they are not a fit. There are no hard feelings either way. So what are you waiting for? Jump into Triberr and watch your blog grow. I started in April (see intro post) and watched my blog traffic go from 10-20 a day to 200-300 a day.
So that's it! I hope this blog post has been helpful! You can visit me at my blog, Rachelle's Window. 
Rachelle Ayala is the author of Michal's Window, a provocative love story involving King David. Available at Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and Google Play

-- this post was reblogged from Author Tonya Kappes Blog July 12, 2012

#CharacterInterview from Run, River Currents by #Author Ginger Marcinkowski

Author: Ginger Marcinkowski
Book Title: Run, River CurrentsRelease date: August 6, 2012Describe the main character of your book in three sentences or less (including both strengths and weaknesses): Emily Evans is 27 years old, carrying around the anger and guilt of being sexually abused as a child by her father and emotionally abandoned by her mother. In her mind, she can see herself being a rebellious woman, ruining all of her relationships, but is unable to stop her self-destructive ways, even though she hears the comforting refrain of her grandfather’s voice ensuring her that she is not alone in her battle. She is torn between anger and grace, seeking the peace she’d known as a child before her abuse began.
In what ways do you believe your readers will identify with the main character? What brings his or her story “home”?Pain is inevitable in every life, whether it is physical, emotional, or sexual. Readers will be able to empathize with Emily because they will see themselves in the way she denies her pain. She covers it with attempted abuse of a child, with alcohol, with anger, with hateful words, with her cattiness, and with her fists. We’ve all been there; had those feeling of wanting to “get back” at someone. The reader will feel the main character’s anger from the first page and will rejoice with her on the last page.In addition, spouses and friends will be able to better understand their loved ones who were abuse victims—realizing where their (often twisted) perspectives of life, God, and relationships are coming from. This is not meant to excuse wrong behavior but rather to understand how and why they “got there,” and the story of how one woman ultimately moved out of that place, by the grace of God and His persistent love despite her rage and rebellion.
Describe an important point of your main character’s story (OR) Please provide a blurb from your book that you feel provides a strong sample of your book’s overall tone.             Emily’s anger is pertinent to the story, first, because of how it affected her throughout her life and, second, in that she was finally able to let it go. Anger is an emotion that provokes her actions. When she released her anger, she was finally able to secure the peace she’d been searching for.

Standing over his casket, Emily stared down. Her father’s stories and his lies didn’t matter anymore. He’d droned on and on…his father beat his mom, killed her, went to prison. He’d said Denny would never be a man, never make anything of himself. That much was right, Emily thought. Who cared about his story. Her mother’s either. The effects of their actions coursed through her like an electric current. Emily drew back, her face muscles relaxing. She let her left hand linger at the edge of the casket, sliding her fingers back and forth on the cool surface. Her right fist began to ball. Without looking around, she lifted her arm up and away from her body. She drew in a long, hard breath, her muscles trembling, and then lunged forward, punching hard into his face.
The force sent her father’s head cracking to the left, his lower jaw separating from his skull as though they’d never been attached. His nose pushed upward, making him look like a pig. A trickle of clear fluid began to drip from it. “You’ll never be dead enough,” Emily whispered. “Never.”

What message or feeling would you like for your readers to take away from your book?I’d like the readers to understand that they are not alone and that there is hope in every situation. I want them to feel the hope Emily feels as the story ends, that she will be able to move on with her life, and even though the past events will never change, she can change her future. Despite dark years of Emily’s life that the book covers, I’m ever the optimist. J
What part of the book was the hardest for you to write? Why?Because so many of the scenes are based on true events, writing the scene of Maureen’s impending death was the most difficult. To see a self-centered mother realizing her mistakes, admitting them to Emily, looking for her own redemption in her daughter’s eyes while her daughter is struggling with the anger she has for her mother—that was a tough, tough scene.
Purchase links— Amazon:  Barnesand Noble:  Goodreads: Website: http://www.noveltravelers.comTwitter handler:@grm5grmFacebookpage: Email:grm55@me.com


­­BiographyGinger Marcinkowski was born in northern Maine along the Canadian border which plays a prominent character in Run, River Currents. She is a daughter of divorced parents and one of eight siblings.

Her debut novel, Run, River Currents, was published in August 2012 and was a 2012 semi-finalist in the Association of Christian Fiction Writer's (ACFW) Genesis Awards.

Ginger has been a public speaker and visiting lecturer for many years. She has been a professional reader for the James Jones First Novel Award ($10,000 prize), and is currently a judge for the East-West Writer's Contest. Her works have been awarded honorable mentions and she has placed in several writing contests. She is looking forward to writing full-time in 2013.Blog: http://noveltravelers.com/

#BookChat One Dance With A Stranger by Mary M. Forbes

SynopsisGrowing up on the streets of Toronto, Emily Van Sheldon has two priorities firmly in place.  She will have security and cleanliness in the new life she has created.  Any single memory of her childhood can keep the ice she has surrounded her heart with.  Now she has a high-paying job and a fiancée who offers her a neat, orderly life.  It is not important to love him.  Love is a fleeting emotion that only causes chaos and hurt. 
When she meets Wade Hart, her fiancée’s brother, she knows he can only offer her fleeting pleasure.  He is a handsome country singing Superstar and can have any woman he chooses at his beck and call.  That is until her tires of her.  What he offers would only lead to the sordidness and decadence she has worked so hard to forget.
When discretions from her past come to light, she is thrown into close proximity with Wade.  Are his charming ways and smooth words really the truth?  Her heart begs her to believe him.  But her cold, reasonable thoughts say otherwise.  Heart over mind or mind over heart – which will win? 
From the Author: I love cowboys and everything country.  I also have always loved making up stories.  I have an optimistic  view on life.  It hasn't let me down and I have suffered many times,.  I want to show in all I write - life isn't all doom and gloom.  Some people say and believe happily ever after isn't reality.  I want to show people it is possible and it can be so.  Life to me is all about learning,lessons and laughter.  Even the worst disaster can have a positive side if you look. Ultimately I want to offer hope and happiness to my readers.  


What Others Think: One of the best is from Melisa Hamling (author of Twenty Weeks) - she said Wade is hotter than hot.  To me I doubt I can get a better compliment for a Romance Hero.  Short, simple and sweet.  Behind the Scenes: I had a difficult time with love/jealousy.  I am now thinking jealousy isn't love at all but a form of control (in my opinion).  So when I was developing Wade's character I needed him to be everything but jealous. When people wonder how I get my romantic hero's or even if I use my husband as my model - I often explain - I look at men I know and all their bad qualities I don't like and my hero doesn't have those.  (tongue in cheek). My books are available at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002UUEK4U  in both Kindle or printed format.  Also they are available in most internet book stores as well. My website address is http://marymforbes.wordpress.com   

#AuthorInterview Alexandrea Weis #romance from New Orleans

Hi Alexandra, it's so nice to meet you and speak to you. You're an author from New Orleans and that is reflected in the atmosphere and spiciness of your writing. I wonder, growing up, how did you make the decision to become a writer?I don’t think I had a choice really. It was something I started to do at the age of eight. Putting words on paper that imparted the emotion I was feeling at the time just seemed like something natural to me. I began with poetry, moved on to short stories, but because of my career demands in nursing did not write my first novel until I was in my thirties.I didn't start until my fifties, so you're ahead of me! Who is your favorite author? Favorite book?My favorite author is Ian Fleming. I know it’s weird, but I really loved his character development of James Bond. The books are a whole lot better than the movies and as a writer I learned a great deal about what makes a character memorable.  I tend to read a book after seeing the movie and oftentimes agree. Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?I wish I knew. Ideas pop into my head and I cannot rest until they are on paper. I think a writer is nothing more than a super-computer in a way. We put together all of our experiences, people we have met, and surroundings, and turn them into a story. I see many people I know or have known come through in my characters. Sometimes you surprise yourself as a writer.I'm always surprising myself. We're also emotional sponges. Yesterday I was ecstatic because my characters are falling in love. Today, I'm sad because they're breaking up. How about you? Do your characters come first or the does the plot come first?’Characters come as I write them and many times so does the plot. I have an idea for or story or see the end, but never the whole book. Honestly, as I write the story develops.Oh, speaking of characters... Have you ever fallen in lust… I mean love with one of your characters?Of course! Most of them, if not, all of them. I write people I would love to know, good or bad. I think that is the gift a writer has; we can create people. I always hope that heaven is a place where I finally get to meet all of the characters I have written. Imagine the fun I will have! I tend to love the male characters and live in the emotions of the female ones, so I can definitely relate. Ahem... When it comes to your sultry sex scenes – where do your ideas come from?I get asked this question a great deal by friends. They look at my husband of twenty years in a whole new way after they finish one of my books. But knowing how a character moves, talks or has sex is part of who they are. I attribute the sultry sex in my books to my active imagination.I must say, having a great imagination spices things up. Have you ever been turned on by something you’ve written? If your story doesn’t turn you on, then you are doing something wrong. If you can’t get turned on, then your reader won’t be interested. I write from my gut, if I don’t feel it, I start over. You have got to feel what you write; otherwise it just doesn’t work.   Okay, we're getting real personal now. If you had the opportunity for a one-night stand with one of your characters who would it be and why? Wow! I think it would have to be Dallas August from Recovery, Sacrifice and The Secret Brokers. He has got it all. He is smart, sexy, has a great heart with vulnerabilities that make him appealing, and yet he can be strong and resilient when needed. Plus, he is a great cook, and when doesn’t a man in the kitchen turn a woman on.  Of all my characters, he is the one I would most likely want to be with.Why stop at one-night? Oh wait, you might have to fight off your female character. Don't tell me if she packs a piece. As for me, honestly? I don't want to hurt my female characters nor do I want to stand down Queen Michal, so I limit my imagination to minor characters. Ha, ha, like Prince Ittai. On that note, tell us about your current novel.Diary of a One-Night Stand is about Kara Barton’s life after she has a one-night stand in a hotel room with a business associate, the sexy Scott Ellsworth. Raised by a single mother who taught her to use men to take care of her, Kara has fought her past all of her life. She went to law school, married a great guy, and had a child. But in her forties, she is beginning to feel like her youth is slipping away and because of her stale marriage she longs for one more night of lust. However after the tryst, her life becomes very complicated when Scott wants more, and so does Kara. After a violent argument with her husband, she takes her daughter and moves in with Scott, but the security she felt when she was married is missing, and despite their fairly-tale existence, she has doubts about Scott’s fidelity. It is really a story about wanting for something better, but finding out in the end that what you wanted was there all along.  Problem is getting it back, right? Is it a stand-alone story or part of a series? If it’s a series what can we expect in the next chapter?This is a stand-alone novel. I have done a series in the past with the character of Nicci Beauvoir in To My Senses, Recovery and Sacrifice. The other current series I have involves the Dallas August character and begins with the novel The Secret Brokers. I like to break out and intermingle a stand-alone book with my series work. It gives me a brain break and I feel helps my writing by starting something fresh with new characters.I agree. What can we expect from you in the future? Any new books in the works?My next novel hits later this year. Called, Acadian Waltz it is a romance filled with Cajuns from the bayous of Louisiana. The main character, Nora Kehoe is feeling pressured by her overbearing mother to settle down. Then a passionate encounter with a childhood friend changes everything. The charismatic Jean Marc Gaspard manages the family business, Gaspard Fisheries. But rumors abound that Jean Marc is running more than seafood through the waters around Manchac Louisiana. Soon Nora is thrown headlong into the dangerous world of smugglers and swindlers.   In 2013 I have my first paranormal romance coming out. The Satyr’s Curse incorporates a great deal of New Orleans voodoo into a story about a man turned into a mythological creature, and doomed to roam the earth until he finds the woman who can free him of his curse. Filled with sex, murder, magic, and a whole lot of good New Orleans food.Speaking of New Orleans food, Alexandra is guest posting about the Big Easy and how it lends its ambiance to writing. Watch for this article. Thank you, Alexandra, for the fun interview. It's been a pleasure.Author Bio:Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her popular second novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards, and was a Finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Wards in 2012. Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2011, and is a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance in 2012. Her fifth novel, The Secret Brokers, was released in May 2012. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Readers can find out more and connect at:Amazon PageWebsiteFacebookTwitter

#AuthorInterview Alexandra Weis #romance from New Orleans

Hi Alexandra, it's so nice to meet you and speak to you. You're an author from New Orleans and that is reflected in the atmosphere and spiciness of your writing. I wonder, growing up, how did you make the decision to become a writer?I don’t think I had a choice really. It was something I started to do at the age of eight. Putting words on paper that imparted the emotion I was feeling at the time just seemed like something natural to me. I began with poetry, moved on to short stories, but because of my career demands in nursing did not write my first novel until I was in my thirties.I didn't start until my fifties, so you're ahead of me! Who is your favorite author? Favorite book?My favorite author is Ian Fleming. I know it’s weird, but I really loved his character development of James Bond. The books are a whole lot better than the movies and as a writer I learned a great deal about what makes a character memorable.  I tend to read a book after seeing the movie and oftentimes agree. Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?I wish I knew. Ideas pop into my head and I cannot rest until they are on paper. I think a writer is nothing more than a super-computer in a way. We put together all of our experiences, people we have met, and surroundings, and turn them into a story. I see many people I know or have known come through in my characters. Sometimes you surprise yourself as a writer.I'm always surprising myself. We're also emotional sponges. Yesterday I was ecstatic because my characters are falling in love. Today, I'm sad because they're breaking up. How about you? Do your characters come first or the does the plot come first?’Characters come as I write them and many times so does the plot. I have an idea for or story or see the end, but never the whole book. Honestly, as I write the story develops.Oh, speaking of characters... Have you ever fallen in lust… I mean love with one of your characters?Of course! Most of them, if not, all of them. I write people I would love to know, good or bad. I think that is the gift a writer has; we can create people. I always hope that heaven is a place where I finally get to meet all of the characters I have written. Imagine the fun I will have! I tend to love the male characters and live in the emotions of the female ones, so I can definitely relate. Ahem... When it comes to your sultry sex scenes – where do your ideas come from?I get asked this question a great deal by friends. They look at my husband of twenty years in a whole new way after they finish one of my books. But knowing how a character moves, talks or has sex is part of who they are. I attribute the sultry sex in my books to my active imagination.I must say, having a great imagination spices things up. Have you ever been turned on by something you’ve written? If your story doesn’t turn you on, then you are doing something wrong. If you can’t get turned on, then your reader won’t be interested. I write from my gut, if I don’t feel it, I start over. You have got to feel what you write; otherwise it just doesn’t work.   Okay, we're getting real personal now. If you had the opportunity for a one-night stand with one of your characters who would it be and why? Wow! I think it would have to be Dallas August from Recovery, Sacrifice and The Secret Brokers. He has got it all. He is smart, sexy, has a great heart with vulnerabilities that make him appealing, and yet he can be strong and resilient when needed. Plus, he is a great cook, and when doesn’t a man in the kitchen turn a woman on.  Of all my characters, he is the one I would most likely want to be with.Why stop at one-night? Oh wait, you might have to fight off your female character. Don't tell me if she packs a piece. As for me, honestly? I don't want to hurt my female characters nor do I want to stand down Queen Michal, so I limit my imagination to minor characters. Ha, ha, like Prince Ittai. On that note, tell us about your current novel.Diary of a One-Night Stand is about Kara Barton’s life after she has a one-night stand in a hotel room with a business associate, the sexy Scott Ellsworth. Raised by a single mother who taught her to use men to take care of her, Kara has fought her past all of her life. She went to law school, married a great guy, and had a child. But in her forties, she is beginning to feel like her youth is slipping away and because of her stale marriage she longs for one more night of lust. However after the tryst, her life becomes very complicated when Scott wants more, and so does Kara. After a violent argument with her husband, she takes her daughter and moves in with Scott, but the security she felt when she was married is missing, and despite their fairly-tale existence, she has doubts about Scott’s fidelity. It is really a story about wanting for something better, but finding out in the end that what you wanted was there all along.  Problem is getting it back, right? Is it a stand-alone story or part of a series? If it’s a series what can we expect in the next chapter?This is a stand-alone novel. I have done a series in the past with the character of Nicci Beauvoir in To My Senses, Recovery and Sacrifice. The other current series I have involves the Dallas August character and begins with the novel The Secret Brokers. I like to break out and intermingle a stand-alone book with my series work. It gives me a brain break and I feel helps my writing by starting something fresh with new characters.I agree. What can we expect from you in the future? Any new books in the works?My next novel hits later this year. Called, Acadian Waltz it is a romance filled with Cajuns from the bayous of Louisiana. The main character, Nora Kehoe is feeling pressured by her overbearing mother to settle down. Then a passionate encounter with a childhood friend changes everything. The charismatic Jean Marc Gaspard manages the family business, Gaspard Fisheries. But rumors abound that Jean Marc is running more than seafood through the waters around Manchac Louisiana. Soon Nora is thrown headlong into the dangerous world of smugglers and swindlers.   In 2013 I have my first paranormal romance coming out. The Satyr’s Curse incorporates a great deal of New Orleans voodoo into a story about a man turned into a mythological creature, and doomed to roam the earth until he finds the woman who can free him of his curse. Filled with sex, murder, magic, and a whole lot of good New Orleans food.Speaking of New Orleans food, Alexandra is guest posting about the Big Easy and how it lends its ambiance to writing. Watch for this article. Thank you, Alexandra, for the fun interview. It's been a pleasure.Author Bio:Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her popular second novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards, and was a Finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Wards in 2012. Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2011, and is a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance in 2012. Her fifth novel, The Secret Brokers, was released in May 2012. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Readers can find out more and connect at:Amazon PageWebsiteFacebookTwitter

#AuthorInterview Shewanda Pugh and #CharacterInterview from Crimson Footprints

Crimson Footprints was your debut novel. How did you get inspired to write it? What did you start with? The character Deena or the plot?Interesting enough, Crimson Footprints began with Tak. I wanted to flesh out a contradictory character, one whose appearance proved different from the assumptions some might harbor about him. The idea came from an assignment I had in a graduate level fiction writing class, where I had to people watch in a local Barnes & Noble. While doing so, I saw the quintessential urban guy—dark skin, baggy jeans, tattoos, and he made me sit up a little straighter. When he headed over to the lit section and spent a little time with Poe, I was taken aback, and then annoyed with myself for being taken aback. Nonetheless, Tak was born in that moment. It was only when I considered the sort of girl he'd want, one as far from assumptions as possible, was I able to come up with Deena Hammond. 
At what point did you decide to make her boyfriend Japanese?
I confess to already having an interest in Japanese culture, born first from J-Horror, then other foreign movies from Japanese producers and the like. Making him Japanese seemed natural, given my interests at the time. 
Your portrayal of Deena's family was realistic and unapologetic. Do you worry that some may be offended? And others view the family as typical?
Early on, when Crimson Footprints went through intense scrutiny and saw the monitors of various beta readers, some did criticize certain aspects of Deena's family. However, I think it's fair to say that I treated both families with a similar stroke, showing that dysfunction is just as likely to strike the well off as the poor, and virtually any race. I find it interesting that the one or two who have expressed concerns did so in one case and not the other. Any who, in creating Deena's family, I sought only realism in painting the larger picture, showing family members infected with an impoverished mindset and others who were solidly middle class. But no, I don't worry about offending with my art. In life as in art, if you seek to piss no one off, you'll likely piss everyone off. 
When did you decide to make Deena an architect? Were you interested in architecture as a field of study?
Deena's career came from a careful analysis of her personality. I sought a career that reflected her rigidness and orderly personality. From there, I fanned out and created an orderly world around her. But no, I haven't the faintest inclination to be an architect.
How long did it take you to write Crimson Footprints? How much of it was research?
Two years from first word to last and a ton of research to boot. The story began as a Master's Thesis at Nova Southeastern University, a short story of about 50 pages, and filled out to a full length novel. I knew nothing of architecture, so I spent a lot of time researching that. I also spent a lot of time researching Japanese American culture, which was a great deal harder, as there is actually very little in print to rely on. I also researched the cities featured in the book, not trusting memory to help me despite already having a familiarity in some cases. 
How did you come up with Tak's character? Did you know someone like him? Date someone like him?
I've never known anyone like Tak. My Barnes & Noble guy was but the first step. Once I decided that Tak would be different from virtually any stereotype, assumption, or widely held belief within his culture, I had to figure out how he got that way. So I fleshed out a pretty thorough back story.
What are you working on next?
My publisher and I are in the final stages of delivering Crimson Footprints II: New Beginnings to the world. That's set for release February 2013. My current work in progress involves a well-to-do African American teenage ballerina and her next door neighbor, an Asian Indian football player with one hell of a temper. Their families are extremely close, functioning almost as a single unit, until the boy and girl fall in love. Then, of course, the world as they know it detonates.  
Thanks Shewanda for the insights. I enjoyed reading Crimson Footprints and have some questions for Deena and Granma Emma. Deena's up first? Okay, here goes.
What is the one characteristic about Tak that attracted you the most and got you to let your guard down?
His ability to make me laugh. Even during the toughest time in my life, he had the uncanny ability, not just to make me smile, but to place a downright grin on my face. And have you seen his arms? Goodness, yes. 
Okay, I know this is a painful subject and you won't even talk to Tak about it, but do you ever miss your mother? Have you any fond memories of her when you were a child?
My mother. Of course you'd bring her up. It's like those moments when there's a wreck on the highway and everyone slows to gasp and gawk. Talk about Deena's mother, everyone says. That'll her get riled up. Well, it won't. You know why? Because she's nothing to me. Nothing worth remembering. So I don't remember. 
What about your father? It was his dream to be an architect. Did you get more attention from him than Anthony and Lizzie?Of course, I did. When I was kid, we'd hang out in my room for hours, building these towering things. Lizzie or Anthony would fuss, but daddy wouldn't move a muscle. He'd say, 'let your mom handle it. We're doing important work, here.' It was our time and no one could interrupt.

Why do you think Tak allowed you to treat him like a doormat? Did you ever disrespect him for not standing up for himself?
I resent that question. Tak was never a doormat to me and no, I would never disrespect him. He understood that life had been difficult for me and what he wanted more than anything was to ease that burden. I would never hurt him and he would never hurt me. 


Thank you Deena, but in my opinion, you didn't treat him too well. You didn't even grovel in the hospital room and instead, he proposes??? None of my heroes would have put up with it, not even my new beta guy, Lucas Knight. Just be glad you ain't in my book.

Here's Granma Emma.
Okay, how in the world did you let Deena get away with having a man in her life and you never finding out anything about him? If I know Black folk, it's that their family knows EVERYTHING! Emma, your creds are seriously jeopardized. Girl gone sneaking around with a guy with a fancy ass car and you got no clue? Can't even tell she's strutting around with that special glow? Where's your radar detector?
Look, I knew the girl had a man. Who can't tell when a girl got a man? Point is, I ain't know he was that kind of man. Man like that, drive that kinda car, don't come trekking up this way to meet no girls, no how. So it aint nothing I coulda predicted. 
I'm with you about Jesus Christ died for everyone, and I sure hope Deena can get Tak and his family saved. So... how can you be more tactful about it?
Tact aint for me. Tact Tanala, or whatever the hell is name is, well, he's for Deena Hammond. Ain't you been listening? 
I'm really touched by that scene when you asked Deena's forgiveness. What did you learn from Deena's experience, her secrecy and her finding love with a man of another race?
I ain't so sure I learned new things. More, the way I figure it, I was be reminded of some old ones. But what it's like to love someone, and how we really all just children of God, learning till he calls us all home. Love makes us do crazy thangs, whether it's through loving a man or loving your grandmama.

Thank you Granma Emma! You're so right about love. And on that note, I think we'll call it. Thank you Shewanda for being on my blog. I wish you lots of luck with your new book and hope to see you back chatting about it.