Lynn Cahoon's Blog, page 29
September 4, 2013
Meet the Neighbors talks to Gerri Brousseau
Meet the Neighbors is excited to have a Soul Mate sister on the blog today. Gerri had a lot to talk about including her new release, To Kill A Monarch – I’ll let her tell you. Welcome Gerri!
Gerri: Thank you so much for inviting me. I’m excited to share with your readers.
Tell me your call story.
Gerri: It was a call email, actually. I got an email from Debby at Soul Mate Publishing. It was 10:30 p.m. and I remember jumping up and down in my living room when I read it. Of course, the first thing I wanted to do was call everyone and tell them the news, but at that hour I couldn’t. I had to wait until the next day. Needless to say, I hardly slept that night.
Tell us about your release.
Gerri: To Kill a Monarch is my third release. Here is what it’s about:
Whispers in dark allies say Napoleon’s best assassin, The Falcon, has been sent to London to kill the Monarch. The problem – The Falcon’s identity is known only to the French Emperor. Sir Walter Tinsdale’s new partner, Philip Hamilton, arrives to discover their mission is to find the elusive bird of prey before he strikes. But their nemesis is like a phantom and always one step ahead of them. Enter the lovely Miss Charlotte Winston, the object of Sir Tinsdale’s affections, as well as those of Philip Hamilton. Unlikely alliances, deception, murder, and suicide will keep you turning the pages until the identity of The Falcon is finally revealed. With all the seduction and action of a James Bond movie, To Kill a Monarch is like 007 in 1811.
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
Gerri: The best piece of writing advice is to keep writing and never give up.
Amen sister! What’s your writing schedule? Are you a full time writer?
Gerri: I wish I could be full time. I work at the DDJ (Dreaded Day Job) and then come home and write in the evenings and on weekends. My schedule depends on where in the process I am. If I’m working on a new work in progress, I write for about 3-4 hours after dinner every night. If I’m in the editing process, the work in progress goes on the back burner and the editing takes full attention. That’s on a deadline. Right now, I’m writing blog articles and working on three new works in process.
I’m amazed. I’m doing good if I can squeeze out an hour or two on work days. Desert Island time – 3 must have books.
Gerri: Pride and Prejudice, Gone With the Wind, and The Harry Potter Series
I love Harry. What’s your writing must have snack? Or drink?
Gerri: Right now I’m sitting here with a cup of coffee, but it is morning as I type this. What I drink depends on largely on the time of day and time of year. During the summer I like iced tea or lemonade, in winter I enjoy hot tea. I generally have a bottle of water on hand as well. I have been known to sit down to write at 6:00 pm thinking I’ll grab something to eat later only to look up at the clock and find it is after midnight and I still haven’t eaten.
Coffee’s my early morning drug too. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Gerri: I have been writing as far back as I can remember, but I never gave serious thought to trying to write a novel until 2009.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Gerri: A good writer friend of mine, Peter Andrews, teaches a workshop about writing fast fiction. I was fortunate enough to take one of his workshops. Using his method, I sit to write, turn my “inner editor” off and just write. I write as fast as possible and do not look back until I have finished the book. Only then do I go back to edit. I have used this method with 2 of the 3 books I have published. I get the book written in 4 weeks, but then have to go back to edit. It’s a great system and works wonderfully for me.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Gerri: I don’t know if it’s a quirk, but I sit in the recliner with my lap top and the pugs. My pugs think they are my muses, and I just don’t have the heart to tell them otherwise.
My boys (Poms) think the same thing. Silly dogs. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Gerri: My ideas come from many places, music, commercials, watching people, but mostly dreams. Once I have an idea, I research the time period before I ever begin. I use the internet and my local library to find a lot of information.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Gerri: When not writing, I read – A LOT. I also watch movies on TV. I rarely go to the theatre to see a film. I like to cook and have some original recipes, but what I live for is to spend time with my 1-year old Grand-Daughter.
What does your family think of your writing?
Gerri: My immediate family has always been supportive. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and they have always been encouraging. My extended family, however, was quite another story. When I first mentioned at a family gathering that I had written a book, they all looked at me with that sympathetic look on their faces as if to say I was crazy. Now that I am a multi-published author, their tune has changed.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Gerri: I have written four books, three of which are published. I’m working on polishing up the fourth. My favorite is To Kill a Monarch. I think it is my best work to date.
Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
Gerri: To Kill a Monarch is historical, but it is also an intrigue romance.
What is the most important thing you do for your career?
Gerri: Write daily. In addition to that i talk to everyone I meet. When someone asks me what I do, I answer without hesitation, “I’m an author.”
What do you enjoy most about life?
Gerri: Spending time with my family.
Would you consider self-publishing?
Gerri: It’s funny you ask this because I’m considering doing this with the next book.
I’m considering the SP path for a romance, I just finished. I think the publishing world is changing. If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?
Gerri: I would tell my younger self to start my writing career at a much younger age.
How do you balance a life outside of writing with deadlines and writing muses?
Gerri: Balance, What’s that? When I have a deadline, nothing but a life emergency matters. The DDJ (Dreaded Day Job) does get in the way, because let’s face it . . . work is a 4-letter word.
What is the craziest thing you did as a kid, and would it ever end up in a book?
Gerri: The craziest thing I ever did, and it was not as a kid, was skydiving. I am a retired skydiver with 56 jumps to my credit, and I do have an idea for a book where I will use that experience.
To Kill A Monarch excerpt:
The unmarked coach ambled down the alternate route to Brighton. Tinsdale’s gaze scanned the road ahead of them. If a leaf moved in a tree, he saw it; if a rabbit hopped across their path, it was not missed.
The Regent sat inside the coach wringing his pudgy hands. The silence grew deafening.
Hamilton, too, surveyed the area. The air was still. Nothing moved. Not a bird chirped, not a breeze rustled a single leaf.
He strained to hear any sound over the steady clopping of the horses’ hooves against the hard-packed road and the creaking of the coach. The hair on the back of his neck rose when he sensed the presence of the assassin. His senses now on high alert, he drew his pistol. Then he heard the sound of a twig snap, followed by the whiz of a bow as it released the silver-tipped arrow. The hum of the arrow rang in his ears as it sped through the air and slammed into the side of the unmarked coach.
~~~
A bit of information about Gerri Brousseau
Gerri was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. She attended Central Connecticut State One night after a strange dream about a dream catcher, she was inspired to write According To Legend. Most of the novel was written while she commuted on the train. Since that time, Gerri has also written A Pirate’s Ransom and To Kill a Monarch. She has signed with Soul Mate Publishing.
A Pirates Ransom -released in e-book by Soul Mate Publishing in August 22, 2012. Released in paperback 6/19/13.
According To Legend released March 6, 2013 – will be available in print in early 2014.
To Kill a Monarch e-book release date- August 21, 2013 by Soul Mate Publishing. It will be available on Amazon for your Kindle and Barnes and Noble. To Kill a Monarch will be available in print in spring of 2014.
In 2012 Gerri served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of Romance Writers of America and is also a member of Romance Writers of America as well as Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association.
Here’s how you can contact Gerri
All my contact information is on my website www.gerribrousseau.com
or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gerri.brousseau.5
Thanks again, Gerri, for joining me here today.
Thank you for inviting me. It was so much fun sharing with your readers.
Buy links
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-kill-a-monarch-gerri-brousseau/1116560093?ean=2940148743316
August 29, 2013
Change of scenery – change of seasons
Like my new look?
The header and background is the Bristol TN/VA train station. I’ve updated my face book pages too with road trip pics. The Cowboy and I took some time before the NASCAR race last weekend to wander through historic Bristol. 
The train station is right near the metal arch announcing the state line. I was in two states in two minutes. 
Bristol claims to be the birthplace of country music – and the monument tells the story of the first recording of the Carter family happened right on that spot. 
Historic Bristol is a great walking spot. Lot’s of cafes, bars, dance studios, antique stores, and we even found the farmer’s market under this wall painting. 
Where did you spend your summer vacation?
August 28, 2013
Meet the Neighbors welcomes Gina Danna
Welcome debut author and MoRWA chapter mate Gina Danna. Gina’s indie debut – Her Eternal Rogue – released earlier this summer. Let’s find out a little more about her.
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
To keep writing. LOL Which can be difficult sometimes, due to work or just life in general.
What’s your writing schedule? Are you a full time writer?
No, not a full time writer – yet! My writing schedule? Almost anytime I’ve got free time &/or home, I write. Right now, its revising for another book (but I just wanna write! )
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? To really delve in and write?
Three years ago. Long story but I heard (finally) about RWA and was like wow! You mean, everyday people can write novels & get published? I’d written in my head but never a worked out story line. At any rate, went to MORWA, the local chapter, and during the talk, realized it was real! I better get writing!
Kudo’s to MoRWA – great chapter! How long does it take you to write a book?
If I write the synopsis first, about 3 months for 100k word novel.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? Most of the time, I have a period of time that calls me and makes me wonder what if? Then, a character pops into my head & there we go!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Go play with my horse – sooo relaxing (mainly cuz I leave my cell phone in the car!).
What does your family think of your writing?
Good question. They “tolerate” my new hobby. Nice & all but they don’t see any more. Sad…
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?
That my characters can change the scene and the book & that I can’t stop them.
So True! How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
5 finished, 2 in the works. My favorite? Hard to tell – split between Civil War and Ancient Rome.
Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
Her Eternal Rogue is Historical, well Regency with paranormal twist.
How do you come up with ideas?
I wanted to write Regency and I wanted pirates. Someone said you should have a hook. I like vampires so…
Her Eternal Rogue BLURB -Alexander Barrington flees his tyrannical uncle for the open seas where he becomes a ruthless pirate who turns vampire.
Captured and sentenced to hang, a fate he must avoid to keep his vampire self hidden, a reprieve comes if he rescues Lady Lavinia Sinclair from the French pirates and returns her to her fiancé in England.
In this Vampire Diaries meets Pirates of the Caribbean, Alexander falls for the woman who makes him feel human and alive, but can he really have her without exposing what he is – a thief, the undead? The damned? Refusing to taint her innocence any further, he erases her memory of him and vanishes into the night but can he really exist without her?
Buy links -
Amazon: http://bit.ly/HerEternalRogue
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/17NluHb
iBook: http://bit.ly/14HnLyL
August 26, 2013
What did I do this weekend?
Visited Bristol Tennesse/Virginia.
August 22, 2013
Let's Consider Reincarnation
Another world is dying, if you believe the buzz. It's the World of Blog. It birthed, boomed, has reached its saturation point, and is now "statistically" imploding. It is old media, irrelevant, and wordy. Blog World should be shuffled off to its retirement so it no longer embarrasses all who bought property in the neighborhood.
Oh, wait, that news has been clarified.
Loved this blog from fellow Soul Mate Author, Terri Patrick. Great suggestions for the author as blogger.
August 21, 2013
Meet the Neighbors Welcomes CD Hersh
I think this is our first husband/wife writing team that I’ve hosted here at Meet the Neighbors. I’m so excited to hear about their call story as fellow Soul Mate authors. So I’ll turn the page over to Catherine and Donald.
Welcome – tell us about your call story.
Catherine was sitting in the eye doctors’ office with dilated eyes checking her email when she thought she saw an email from Soul Mate Publishing. As soon as she could make out the words she whooped and hollered, startling the other patients in the waiting room. About that time she was called to go in for her eye exam, where she promptly announced to the eye doctor that she and her husband had gotten a contract for their book. Poor Donald didn’t know about the contract until she was headed home. He was probably the fifth or sixth person to know that we were going to be published authors.
Too funny. I know I called a few people before The Cowboy, but we don’t write together. So tell us about your release.
The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles) is the first book of a shape shifting, paranormal romance series. The shape shifters in our world are not your typical shape shifters. They have extra abilities that will surprise readers. The Turning Stone Society of shape shifters is a society caught in a battle between rogue and good who are vying for control over the world.
Sounds like my kind of book. Do you have any interesting writing quirks?
Since we are coauthors we spend a lot of time sitting on the opposite sides of the desk looking at a double screen computer with the same information.
What do you think makes a good story?
Good stories come from good, multi-plot lines and usually more than one. The single plot line of many books makes them very predictable. We’ve tried to incorporate interwoven multiple plot lines in our Turning Stone Chronicle series, which we keep you guessing what’s going to happen next.
Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or…?
We usually start with a title, then a blurb, and then we create a plot chart for each scene for each character. We also have a world book that contains copious notes about the characters, abilities, and the rules of the world so we can stay consistent through the five-book series.
I’m developing a series bible for my cozy mysteries. It’s funny how much you need to have at your fingertips. What did you learn from writing your first book?
No matter how much you proof, spell check, and read there are still mistakes that the author doesn’t see in their work. Everyone needs really good proof readers who are not afraid to call into question something you have written, and to find those silly mistakes where you have “the” instead of “then” because you have a lazy finger.
That’s for sure! Is your muse demanding?
We definitely talk a lot about our books before anything gets on paper. The stories and characters are constantly with us. We are not driven to sit at the computer until we have a clear vision of where the story is going.
Thanks for stopping by CD! Good luck with The Promised One.
The Promised One.
Blurb:
In the wrong hands, the Turning Stone ring is a powerful weapon for evil. So, when homicide detective Alexi Jordan discovers her secret society mentor has been murdered and his magic ring stolen, she is forced to use her shape-shifting powers to catch the killer. By doing so, she risks the two most important things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.
Rhys Temple always knew his fiery cop partner and would-be-girlfriend, Alexi Jordan, had a few secrets. He considers that part of her charm. But when she changes into a man, he doesn’t find that as charming. He’ll keep her secret to keep her safe, but he’s not certain he can keep up a relationship—professional or personal.
Danny Shaw needs cash for the elaborate wedding his fiancée has planned, so he goes on a mugging spree. But when he kills a member of the secret society of Turning Stones, and steals a magic ring that gives him the power to shape shift, Shaw gets more than he bargained for.
Buy our book at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00DUMODKI/
Learn more about us at:
Website: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/
Soul Mate Publishing: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/
Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CD-Hersh/1374333942788724
Twitter: @AuthorCDHersh
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CDHersh
August 18, 2013
Squeezing the last drops of summer
It’s gorgeous here next to the Mississippi River. Temps in the 80′s, perfect walking weather. But my time has been packed with other responsibilities. And my head is filled with things I HAVE TO do. Have to do’s for the day job. Have to do’s for my writing. And even my home life is crazy with the kitchen remodel still in process and an upcoming trip to see a NASCAR race.
I’m so, so looking forward to Labor Day weekend. Four full days of at home nothing. Which probably means lots of writing and more kitchen work. And, I need to do a deep clean on the rest of the house.
My mind is wandering to camping in the mountains north of Boise, the sounds of the wind through the trees, the gurgle of the river passing by, and the chipmunks scurrying around the campsite, teasing the dogs. It’s been years since we’ve spent our summers out in the woods, but I still can feel the chill as we sat around the campfire, telling stories and drinking adult beverages (read beer.)
What are your Labor Day plans? Staying in town? Or heading out to squeeze the last drops of summer out of the weekend?
August 14, 2013
Lauren, meet Cathy…
Today, I’m turning Meet the Neighbors over to Lauren Simpson’s new friend and pen pal, Cathy . Cathy is the heroine of Joan Leacott’s debut romance, Above Scandel. Joan’s an amazing writer, terrific friend, and focused goal achiever.
Joan and I have introduced the heroines of out latest novels to each other, Lauren Simpson from Lynn’s newest release MARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED and Cathy Rossetti from my debut release ABOVE SCANDAL.
Here’s Cathy’s reply to Lauren’s first letter. And why don’t you stop over to Joan’s blog to read Lauren’s letter and enter the contest to win a print copy of ABOVE SCANDAL.
To read Lauren’s letter that starts it all, go to [link]
Hi Lauren,
Pleased to meet you. Thank you, Lynn and Joan, for the introduction. Boise sounds like a great place to live and to raise Emma. Your grandfather is a good man to teach your daughter how to ride. Bet she loves it. You asked me about my country.
Canada shares lots of things with America; the longest undefended border in the world and a smaller one with Alaska, and coastlines on the Atlantic and Pacific. I’ll bet we’ve both met tourists who thought they could drive from Toronto to Vancouver, or Buffalo to Seattle, in a single day to pop in for a visit. We also share the five Great Lakes. Both of my homes in Toronto and Clarence Bay are on those huge lakes; Lake Ontario and Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.
One of the hardest things I’ve ever done was to come back home to Clarence Bay to help my aunt take care of my mother after her chemo treatments. I wasn’t expected. I just showed up. Bringing my eleven-year-old daughter Hayley with me was a huge surprise. They’d expected me to get rid of her. Adopt or abort, my mother didn’t care. Instead, I got rid of me. I left Clarence Bay and haven’t come back.
But I had another reason for coming back, Hayley’s curiosity. She’s been asking questions about her father. Ryan doesn’t know she exists. I’m terrified to tell him, but the guilt’s been eating at me. So, I’m going to check him out, see what kind of man he’s become. If he’s turned into his father, or worse, he’ll never know. If he’s the man his younger self promised, then I’ve got a problem.
Anyway, I’m glad to back in Clarence Bay. I’d forgotten how beautiful it is up north. If I look west, out over the water, past the islands, I see only the horizon. Behind me, as close as my mother’s back yard, is a forest of pine, oak, and maple. I’d forgotten how I missed the scent of sun-warmed pines and clear cool water.
Hayley’s already tried to tame a chipmunk or two. She loves what we’ve done to my old playhouse to make it her own; fresh paint, new curtains and cushions. Little does she know that she was conceived in that playhouse on the night before I left for university.
Gotta go, Lauren. Zia Yola is calling for help. Turns out she’s not as bad as I remember. Mamma on the other hand… Wish me luck with Ryan. I’m going to need it.
Hugs,
Cathy
PS. Why shouldn’t you start dating again? I’m sure Emma wants a daddy as much as Hayley.
GIVEAWAY
ABOVE SCANDAL is now available in print! To celebrate the release, I’m giving away one FREE print copy shipped to the winner’s real live mailbox. Click on my Rafflecopter giveaway and sign up for my newsletter for your chance to WIN a print copy of ABOVE SCANDAL. Click on the other options for additional points to increase your chances.
BOOK DETAILS
Title: ABOVE SCANDAL
Genre: Small-town contemporary romance
ISBN: ebook: 978-0-9920028-0-1 print book: 978-0-9920028-0-0
Length: 355 pages
Publisher: Woven Red Productions
Buy links: Buy Above Scandal on Amazon.com
Release date: June 25, 2013
ABOVE SCANDAL is the first novel in the Clarence Bay Chronicles set on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, Canada. The second novel, SIGHT FOR SORE EYES will be released on November 23, 2013.
BOOK BLURB
Three generations of Rossetti women are hoarding secrets.
Cathy Rossetti’s secret is Hayley, her outspoken ten-year-old daughter who’s about to meet her family for the first time. Sadly, it’s taken a terminal illness to bring Cathy back to her hometown.
The elder generation of Rossetti women guards a thirty-year old secret with the power to rock Cathy’s world. Will her mother take their secret to her grave, or will her aunt break her punishing vow of silence?
Hayley hates secrets, so she’s sleuthing around Clarence Bay looking for her daddy. Is it her new BFF’s father or mayoral candidate Ryan Chisholm or Ryan’s handsome campaign manager?
Ryan has a secret, too. He’s still in love with Cathy, his high-school sweetheart. For a man running his election campaign on a platform of honesty, this could cause problems. Will dumping his popular fiancée cost him the election? And if Cathy still loves him after eleven years absence, she’s not telling.
EXCERPT
Chapter 1. Homecoming
Home. Memories of screaming matches, slamming doors, and bitter tears rose on a sour wave of bile.
Stopped in the driveway of the big red brick house, Cathy unglued her fingers one at a time from the steering wheel and put the idling Lexus in reverse.
“Mom, is this Nonna’s house?” ten-year-old Hayley asked.
Cathy nodded.
“Mo-om, are you okay?”
Maybe. If they let us in.
“Just nervous, Hayley sweetie. It’s been a while.” Eleven years since life had driven Cathy away. Now death drew her back.
Through the rear-view mirror, she glimpsed Ryan’s house across the street. Did he still live there?
Low pewter clouds bustled overhead. If only her memory could be cleansed as easily as the rain washed the dusty roads and sidewalks of Clarence Bay.
Sighing hard and deep, Cathy put her car in park and turned off the engine. She climbed out, smoothed her sleeveless pink blouse over her black jeans, and pushed her eyeglasses up her nose. A chilly raindrop splat on her shoulder and ran down her pristine front. She shivered and groaned at the mess.
Hayley giggled. “Better’n bird poop.”
Cathy’s tension eased just enough to permit a wry huff before snapping back like a hard rubber band. Holding hands, they walked up the front path to the deep porch.
“Well, here goes nothing.” Cathy pressed the doorbell with a trembling finger.
“Don’t worry, Mom. It’ll work itself out.”
Cathy’s jumpy gaze skittered over the old house and its property—the neatly mown lawn, the freshly dug garden without a weed in sight, the sparkling windows. Somebody had a great way with yard tools.
The screen door rattled as the inside door opened. Zia Yola, grown softer and rounder in Cathy’s absence, stood gaping at them.
“Ciao, Zia Yola,” Cathy said in Italian and held her breath for her aunt’s reaction.
Zia Yola’s hands fluttered to her pale cheeks, her dark eyes huge above her stubby nails. Her gaze bounced between Cathy and Hayley as if she didn’t quite believe her own sight.
“Are you my grandmother?” Hayley asked.
BIO
Joan Leacott lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and son. She attends piano classes, melts in the hot yoga studio, and writes authentic multi-generational stories of people living and loving in today’s world.
CONTACT INFO:
Author Web or Blog Site: http://joanleacott.ca
Facebook: JoanLeacottAuthorPage
Twitter: @JoanLeacott
August 4, 2013
Lynn’s world
Good morning – Or afternoon – Or evening. Heck – just hi.
So it’s a random thoughts kind of day.
It’s Sunday morning here at Casa Cahoon and I’m looking at the long list of to do’s on my list. Good news is I’ve hit the most important goal this weekend. I’ve finished reading How to Bake a Perfect Life – Barbara O’Neal. Loved it.
I’m on week 3 of P90X and I pulled a muscle yesterday. Ugh. We’ll see if I can work through the pain today.
The kitchen project is still underway. This is the before picture. And that’s me, taking off the hardware on the doors. Lot’s of grilling dinner in my future. Which is okay since the weather has been great. The night it rained, not so much. Looking forward to having my brand new oven and baking some bread.
On the writing front, today I’m devoting to Jesse’s story. Monday, I’m back in sunny central coastal California and working on the 3rd book in The Tourist Trap series.
And if you’re wandering on the web, I’m guesting and doing a giveaway at Happily Ever After Thoughts. Stop by… http://www.happilyeverafterthoughts.com/2013/08/guest-author-interview-with-lynn-cahoon_4.html
So what’s on your project list this weekend? Or are you stealing some time to read?
July 31, 2013
Meet the Neighbors Welcomes Jodi Vaughn, author of Veiled Secrets
So happy to have Jodi Vaughn, author of Veiled Secrets, and fellow lala on the blog today. Veiled Secrets is Jodi’s debut novel and sounds amazing. Of course, Meet the Neighbors readers know I have a thing for the fae….
So What’s your writing schedule? Are you a full time writer?
I usually get up around 5:30 or 6:00 and get coffee. I use this time to go over what I need to do for the day (pages to write/ revisions/queries/errands or appointments). After I feed my ravenous fourteen year old son and get him to school, I usually exercise for about forty-five minutes. After I’m dressed, I sit down at my desk and write. I know if I get on Face book or Twitter then I might not meet my page goal. After I write so many pages I allow myself to check social media. I take a break around two thirty and get my son from school. After homework, dinner and family time, I’ll check email and revise if I’ve got something that needs to be turned in. Now, if I am in revision hell, then that takes up all my time and I usually don’t write for those few weeks since I’m on deadline. Yes, I am a full time writer.
It’s the big secret of published authors – revision time. How many hours a day do you spend writing?
I go by page numbers verses how many hours a day. Some days the words come quickly, others not so much. I guess I write anywhere from six to eight hours a day.
I tried pages, but love my word count. :) Are your stories driven by plot or character?
Character. I love my characters. I do write out a very rough plot but the characters ignore it and do their own thing, which is very cool!
Character driven stories rock. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love to travel with my family. And read, of course!
Speaking of your family, what do they think of your writing?
My husband is very supportive and he usually goes with me to writing conventions. He’s very handsome and the romance writers love him! My son thinks it’s cool and has asked me to buy him an armour car, you know, in case of the Zombie Apocalypse.
I bet you’re a cute couple. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written a total of six full length novels. I’ve written two books for the VEILED SECRETS paranormal trilogy. I’ve also written four books in my Arkansas Werewolves series.
Thanks for stopping by Jodi – Readers, be sure to check out Veiled Secrets coming to a fine digital store near you!
Jodi Vaughn
Southern Paranormal Author
Twitter:@JodiVaughn1
Find me on Face Book @ Jodi Vaughn, Author
Veiled Secrets
Celeste Hart has never fit in because of her dark visions and has vowed to let nothing stop her from discovering what she is, good, bad or evil. But she is distracted from her quest when sexy Eric Nordstrom charms his way into her heart and into her bed. He leaves her even more confused by her intense feelings for him and she soon discovers their one night of passion has resulted in something that will change them forever, a child.
CEO Eric Nordstrom has no interest romance and even less in a relationship. His company has always been his focus, but he can’t stop thinking about the elusive Celeste, who has made him feel more in one night than he has in his entire lifetime. When he learns of the pregnancy, he convinces Celeste to marry him on the pretense of keeping the company from another scandal while trying to seduce her back into his arms.
While Celeste tries to fit into Eric’s elite world, she discovers her visions are a result of having Fae blood. When the vengeful Queen of the Fairies sends a demon army to take her unborn child, Celeste must embrace her fairy heritage and enlist Eric’s help in her fight. Horrified by a world he doesn’t understand yet determined to protect the woman he loves, Eric joins forces with Celeste to protect their unborn child from the evil that has invaded their home.
Fate brought them together, will destiny rip them apart?
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