Lynn Cahoon's Blog, page 31

Meet the Neighbors- Brenda Stinnett author of The King’s Vampire

Meet the Neighbors welcomes Brenda Stinnett and The King’s Vampire.  Brenda and I are both authors with Soul Mate Publishing.  I asked her a few questions to get the party started.

My favorite question, what’s it like to be a debut author?

Being a debut author is a very unique experience. It’s rather like being the dog chasing the pick-up truck and then actually catching it—what then? LOL! Writing the book and getting it published is just the beginning of the author experience. There’s so much to do after the book is published that it can be overwhelming. The social media is an incredibly important part of getting your book out there. Let’s face it, with the e-book market becoming such a major player in the book publishing industry, there’s a lot of books out there and getting your book noticed is not an easy thing to do. At Soul Mate Publishing, I find fellow authors only too happy to help and support one another. It’s a great feeling and I really appreciate the encouragement of fellow authors.

Soul Mate has an amazing support system! Tell us about your latest book, including its genre.

My latest book is, THE KING’S VAMPIRE, and it’s a paranormal historical romance. Elizabeth Curran longs to break the bonds of vampirism, but psychic vampire demons plot to use her to entrap Charles II into becoming an immortal vampire. Darius Einhard, demon slayer, will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening. I love history and I’ve always found King Charles Stuart II a very interesting character, sort of one of the last party animals. I think he would have been the Prince Harry of his day. It was rather easy to incorporate some of his lovers and his deceitfulness over his secret conversion to Catholicism into the book. I also have a powerful aversion to the senseless evil in the world today and I feel there’s always an epic battle between darkness and light, and so I incorporate that into my book as the demon slayers fight against the psychic vampire demons. In my book, the immortal vampires are more in limbo than a source of pure evil. They have no souls, but they are not condemned to the abyss of hell. A rather minor character in my book is La Voisin, a woman who claimed to be a witch in actual life. King Louis XIV’s mistress, Madame de Montespan became involved with her and there was a huge scandal concerning many of the nobility in France, and so I incorporated this interesting  historical episode into my book.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I read a lot of history and so I like to imagine what it would be like in that particular time period. My husband and I also travel a lot so that sort of puts me into the story frame of mind. My first idea for THE KING’S VAMPIRE was when some English friends of ours took us to the oak tree where Charles II, at about age sixteen, hid from Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers in the tree. The priest who helped him hide was the same one who gave him the last rites when he died. To be fair, I don’t think it was the original oak tree, but still it intrigued me and I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and from there, came my story.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?

It’s almost embarrassing to say because I’m sure every writer on the planet has heard this at one time or another: Show, don’t tell!!! The most frustrating part about that advice is no matter how much I incorporate it into my brain, I still find that it takes me a draft or two or three to make sure that’s what I do.

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

The thing most important to me in writing is telling a good story. I’ve been reading all my life, and to me, it’s as important as breathing. It seems as though I’ve spent my entire life telling myself stories, so eventually I just started writing them down. When I write I just want people to enjoy the read, and if they feel a shiver confronting the demons, or a little flush at the sex scenes, or a smile when the main characters realize they should be together for the rest of their lives, then I’m happy I could give them a story worth reading.

What do you enjoy most about life?

I love my family and I love writing and I love travel and I love the camaraderie of being a part of a group of writers. All of these things are what I dreamed of as a young girl, and the fact that they are part of my life now makes me feel truly blessed.

I do thank you, Lynn, for allowing me to share on your blog today.

You are most welcome.  

Visit Brenda at her website - http://brendastinnett.com

The King’s Vampire is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Kings-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00BW7VZ2M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368279202&sr=1-1&keywords=brenda+stinnett

Goodreads giveaway for The Bull Rider’s Manager

The Bull Rider’s Manager
by Lynn Cahoon

Giveaway ends July 16, 2013.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Cover reveal edition of Meet the Neighbors- Casse NaRome – Death Knows My Name

Today we’re excited to have Casse NaRome and a COVER REVEAL!!  I love this cover – makes you want to know what’s happening right? 

MAYNE ST LECLAIR has spent her adult life closed off emotionally from the world around her. She learned very early on that those who get close to her end up dead. She knows she is cursed, but what she doesn’t know is why.

ECTAIN “ERIC” EDECK knows the pain he has caused Mayne but the connection is undeniable. Can Mayne get passed the hurt and fall in love or has her heart been broken too many times?

Is death playing some sort of cruel joke on Mayne St LeClair or is watching her suffer breaking Death’s heart?


Casse NaRome
Bringing darkness into the light.
On Facebook
On Twitter
On Goodreads

Crimson Romance, A Year in Love

CR A Year in Love blog tour is still going strong.  Check out my page here.

D.B. Sieders and Red Shoes For Lab Blues on Meet the Neighbors

Meet the Neighbors welcomes D.B. Sieders and Red Shoes For Lab Blues. I met DB on one of my Nashville trips and we found out we were both contracted with Lyrical Press.  Her book just released this week, so I know she’s over the moon. 

Thank you so much for hosting me, Lynn, as I kick off the blog tour for my debut contemporary romance, Red Shoes for Lab Blues. It features two ambitious scientists balancing their attraction with competing research interests, academic and pharmaceutical industry politics, and a mysterious case of laboratory sabotage that could turn deadly.

 What’s the book about? 

Dr. Stacey Jamison thinks she’s close to validating PharmEx’s new anti-cancer drug. Her budding independent career, her boss’s tenure, and a ton of research dollars are at stake. She just has to prove Compound Z kills cancer cells.

So far, it doesn’t.

Then along comes Dr. Henry Chan, the department’s new rising star. Henry is smart, handsome, and confident. He’s also captivated by the enigmatic Dr. Jamison, who seems oblivious to her own charms. But will Henry risk his heart when the research project is at stake?

A rival drug company, an insider with a personal grudge, and militant animal rights protesters force everyone’s plans into disarray. Can their love overcome everything being thrown at them?

 

 

What’s it like being a debut author?

Oh, wow, it’s an odd mixture of exhilaration, gratification, and terror all rolled into one hell of a roller coaster ride. On the one hand, it’s very exciting to have something I’ve written out there in cyberspace where readers can discover (and hopefully love) it. On the other hand, there is so much pressure to make a great first impression so you can build your brand and a loyal readership.

I’m so grateful for the help and support of the Lyrical Press team. Renee Rocco designed such sleek, sexy cover, and my editor Ann-Marie Smith worked with me every step of the way to polish the story. The author network at Lyrical (present company definitely included) have taught me so much and made me feel much more confident with the process.

Tell us about your release. What makes your story unique?

I think my hero, Henry Chan, is unique. There aren’t so many Asian heroes in romantic fiction, at least not that I’ve come across, and that’s such a shame. Henry has a delicious mix of confidence and vulnerability as he pursues Stacey. Though handsome, charming, and no stranger to the game of seduction, he has to work hard to coax his lady out of her shell and win her trust. Yet he is reluctant to open up to her with details about his mysterious past. Lucky for him, Stacey is up to the challenge and just as determined to get to the heart of her enigmatic leading man.

  I also enjoyed crafting a story within the world of biomedical research. Having worked as a cancer researcher for nearly 13 years, it was fun to blend my passion for science with my love of romance. And what’s not to love about hot geeks?

 What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

In addition to a couple of adorably hideous hand-painted ceramic ‘mascots’ on my writing desk, I also keep a Magic 8 Ball handy so I can use it when I’m stuck on plot, character motivation, or in the middle of writer’s block. I have a generalized decision making disorder that sometimes spills over into my writing life, so it makes for a nice crutch J

 

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?

Put your butt in the chair and put words on the page. Don’t fall into the trap of over-editing a partial draft to death. Finish the story first. Finish. Then you can go back and revise, refine, and make it better. But you have to finish something.

 Favorite writing advice guru?

I came across Stephen King’s On Writing just before I started working on original fiction, and I’m so glad I did. I learned to prune a lot of adverbs thanks to that man. He mixes practical advice with his trademark dark humor and some pretty entertaining anecdotes. I definitely recommend it for any writer’s toolbox.

I LOVE Stephen King’s book! List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.

Just two? No, I can’t leave it at just two! Stephen King, J.R. Ward, Jeaniene Frost, Laura Kaye, Jenna Bennett (my writing mentor and all around great gal pal) and a slew of other Music City Romance Writer gal pals, Charlaine Harris, and I recently discovered Marjorie Liu and Jeri Smith-Ready. Too many great authors and books out there, but what a wonderful problem to have!

Thank you so much for the wonderful interview, Lynn. For more information, you can find me online at my website www.dbsieders.com, blog www.dbsieders.wordpress.com, and on Facebook www.facebook.com/DBSieders and Twitter https://twitter.com/DBSieders.

Red Shoes for Lab Blues is available from the following fine digital retailers -

Amazon buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Shoes-Lab-Blues-ebook/dp/B00D0G1HBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369666245&sr=8-1&keywords=red+shoes+for+lab+blues

Barnes&Noble buy link:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-shoes-for-lab-blues-db-sieders/1115425669

iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/red-shoes-for-lab-blues/id626157986?mt=11

 

Happy Birthday -The Bull Rider’s Brother turns 1 today.

So where was I a year ago?  Wildly optimistic, excited to have finally moved from reaching for the gold ring of the book business, to having one in my hand.

Except, there, up ahead on the path, I saw another ring. Another goal to reach. Another story to tell. So I kept going.

A year later, I’ve released five books (the sixth will arrive July 1st) and am contracted for three more.  It’s been a good year. And next year will be even better.

Thanks for being part of my journey.  Let’s see what else we come across down the road.

Join Team Hannah – VOTE Today.

CBAY Books Middle Grade Contest Ends 05/30/13 – Vote here - http://cbaybooks.com/info/?p=274

Thanks for the support!

Marriage Not Included Blog Tour Dates

Woo Hoo – my Idaho farmer’s market story, Marriage Not Included is releasing tomorrow May 22 with Soul Mate Publishing. So what are we doing?  A blog tour, of course.

Tomorrow 5/22 – I’m at USA Today’s Happy Ever After Blog - http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter

5/23 I’m talking about finding friends on this writer’s journey - http://tarakingston.com/blog/

and having an excerpt on Tink’s Place - http://myblog2point0.blogspot.com/

5/24 I’ll be celebrating over at Soul Mate Authors http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/

Then it’s Memorial Day weekend – and barbecue time.

5/27 I’ll be on Cristal Ryder’s blog http://www.cristalryder.com/blog/

5/28 Make Mine Mystery will be my stop - http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/

5/29 – I’ll be visiting Ivy over at Manic Readers - http://manicreaders.com/blog/

and having some fun with some lala friends at Chicklets in the Kitchen http://chickletsinthekitchen.com/

5/30 I’ll be over at Crimson author – Lillie Robert’s place  http://lilliejroberts.wordpress.com/

And 5/31 We’ll end the month and the tour with a recipe over at Romance Recipes - http://romancerecipes.wordpress.com/

Then I’ll be driving down to Memphis to meet up with The River City Romance Writers and talk about time. http://www.rivercityromancewriters.org/

Lynn

Voting is Open Hannah And The Pony Express

Now that you’ve had time to read the excerpt at  http://cbaybooks.com/info/?p=247-  it’s time to vote. http://cbaybooks.com/info/?p=274

I hope you enjoyed Hannah and I really hope you vote for my book.  Voting ends on May 30th.

Off to write.

Banking On Temperance author Becky Lower is on Meet the Neighbors

Meet the Neighbors is pleased to welcome Becky Lower, fellow Crimson Romance author. Becky lives a few states over from Missouri, where her new release is set in the town where I spend my days. Please welcome Becky.

  Tell us about your release.

Banking On Temperance is the third book in a proposed 9-book series about a large New York family during the decade prior to the Civil War. This particular story takes place exclusively in St. Louis in 1856, where two of the Fitzpatrick children have settled. It was great fun to write for a variety of reasons. First is the setting. St. Louis is one of my favorite cities to visit. On my latest visit, I found a part of town that I had previously not seen. There were cobblestone streets and roundabouts at the intersections so the trolley cars could turn around. And the bookstore at the Arch is beyond compare! I think I got a good sense of what the town looked like in the 1800s. The second reason I liked working on this project was because it was set in St. Louis, the rules of conventional society were removed. Women could, and did, live alone, get around town alone, and there was a real division between respectable women and the ladies of the night. Great fodder for a book. My third reason was because it was written from a male perspective. Basil Fitzpatrick is the family Lothario, until he meets his match in Temperance Jones.

Since I work in St. Louis, I’m looking forward to reading and finding out more about my new hometown’s history. What’s your writing must have snack?  Or drink?

This one is funny to me. When I take a road trip, my choice of snacks is totally different from what I normally eat at home. My latest project is a contemporary romance, about a woman on a road trip, so she’s got packed in her car the food that I would take. When her car breaks down, she pulls out the bag of Cheetos and begins to consume them while she reads a book. When I’m working on the story, I must have a bag of Cheetos by my side. Can’t tell you how much orange Cheeto dust has been removed from my computer keyboard.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It totally depends on the genre. I write a lot of historicals, and it’s awfully research-intensive. Those books take, on average, four to six months to write. I like to intersperse a contemporary in between the historicals, just to give myself a break from the research. Those take about two to three months to complete.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

With the release of Banking On Temperance, I’m now standing at four books published. I still have one under the bed that will stay there, probably forever. As to which is my favorite, I’ll always have a soft spot for the first one, The Reluctant Debutante. But I love Banking On Temperance. The heroine is so feisty, and Basil’s a dreamboat.

If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?

To not let the EDJ (evil day job) get in the way of your dreams. I used the day job excuse to not buckle down and get serious about my writing for more years than I can count. I always felt something was missing from my life but it wasn’t until I started writing seriously that I figured out what it was.

I so understand this. The day job can be consuming. Is your muse demanding?

Again, it depends on the story. The fourth book in the historical series is about Jasmine. She’s a twin of Heather, who was featured in Book 2. She is a vital part of the plot in book 2, which I won’t spoil here, but I had readers write to me saying they hoped Jasmine never got her own story, because she was so mean. However, Jasmine wanted me to tell the world that there really was a reason for what she did, and kept me awake nights until I told her story. I could hear her stomping around in my head until I got her story done. And the time I had to interrupt her love scene to go to work? Jeez, I thought I’d never hear the end of it.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?

For the historicals, I’d love for them to get a sense of how the big events that shaped America also affected the citizens who were here, living through it. So often, the slave trade, abolition, the westward expansion and the reason for the Civil War is lost in the history books. I hope to shed some light on that.

As for my contemporaries, I love to write about small towns, where the town is every bit as much of a character as the hero and heroine. I want my readers to relate to these fictitious towns and see themselves walking the same streets as my heroine and hero do.

 

Banking On Temperance—Book 3 in the Cotillion Ball Series

http://www.amazon.com/Banking-Temperance-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00CA9DEX4

Basil Fitzpatrick was born into a life of privilege. In 1856, at 23 years of age, he is the owner of the St. Louis branch of the family banking business. He has his pick of the ladies and life by the horns. Temperance Jones and her family are far from privileged. Her father is a circuit-riding preacher from Pennsylvania. But the rumblings of a war between the North and the South force the preacher to move his family to Oregon rather than to take up arms against his fellow man. However, hardship and sickness have slowed their pace, and they are forced to spend the winter in St. Louis, waiting for the next wagon trains to leave in the spring.

Basil is drawn to the large family the moment they roll into town, partly because they remind him of his own big family in New York. But also because of the eldest daughter, Temperance. She is a tiny, no-nonsense spitfire who is bent on fulfilling her father’s wish to get the family safely to Oregon. Basil is only interested in finding a mistress, not a wife. He knows if he allows Temperance into his heart, he is accepting the obligation of her entire family and their quest to settle in Oregon. He wants Temperance like he has wanted no other, but the burden of her family may be too much for him. And he can’t have one without the other.