A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 77

Swift Six Author Interview – Lee Matthew Goldberg

Name: Lee Matthew Goldberg

What attracts you to the genre in which you write? I typically write thrillers, but I also have a Sci-Fi and a Young Adult series coming out this year so I like to think I write whatever moves me at the moment. That being said, all my books have some thriller elements to them because the stakes are always raised and for me they are the most engaging to read.

What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d known when you started your writing adventures?

Not to get too bogged down by rejection. Rejection is necessary, all writers experience it, and it only makes you a better writer. I got too caught up in it early on when it was really the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

If you could have dinner with any famous person or character who would you choose?

Probably F. Scott Fitzgerald. He’s always been my favorite writer and even though a dinner with him would be impossible now, if I could raise him from the dead for the meal, I choose him and we could just talk about The Great Gatsby the whole time and how it’s a perfect book.

Who has been the greatest influence on your own work?

Probably David Lynch. I remember watching Twin Peaks as kid and it defied what I knew stories could do. There’s an ominous foreboding to his work where anything can happen, and I try to use that for all of my books too.

Do you think the e-book revolution will do away with print?

No. They can exist side by side. There might be less print books but people will always want to own physical copies. An e-book just isn’t the same. That being said, I probably sell more e-books than print, so I’m glad it exists.

Which 3 books would you take to a desert island and why?

Great Gatsby for the reasons I said before.

The Beach because it’s a fantastic thriller kind of about a desert island.

Catcher in The Rye – It may be cliché, but it’s one of my favorite novels and I’ve reread it ever few years since I was twelve. Each time I discover new things about it.

 

Author bio and book synopsis

Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):

  Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of the novels THE ANCESTOR, THE MENTOR, THE DESIRE CARD and SLOW DOWN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the Prix du Polar. His first YA series RUNAWAY TRAIN is forthcoming in 2021 along with a sci-fi novel ORANGE CITY. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press and others. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Fringe, dedicated to publishing fiction that’s outside-of-the-box. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City. Follow him at LeeMatthewGoldberg.com

 

Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)

Upcoming:

Orange City – Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Orange City – Print

Orange City Kindle

Imagine a secret, hidden City that gives a second chance at life for those selected to come: felons, deformed outcasts, those on the fringe of the Outside World. Everyone gets a job, a place to live; but you are bound to the City forever. You can never leave.  

Its citizens are ruled by a monstrous figure called the “Man” who resembles a giant demented spider from the lifelike robotic limbs attached to his body. Everyone follows the Man blindly, working hard to make their Promised Land stronger, too scared to defy him and be discarded to the Empty Zones.   

After ten years as an advertising executive, Graham Weatherend receives an order to test a new client, Pow! Sodas. After one sip of the orange flavor, he becomes addicted, the sodas causing wild mood swings that finally wake him up to the prison he calls reality.

A dynamic mash-up of 1984 meets LOST, Orange City is a lurid, dystopian first book in a series that will continue with the explosive sequel Lemonworld. 

 

Runaway Train – Young Adult

Runaway Train

They told me I was an out-of-control train about to crash…

Everything changed when the police officer knocked on the door to tell me – a 16-year-old – that my older sister Kristen had died of a brain aneurysm. Cue the start of my parents neglecting me and my whole life spiraling out of control.

I decided now was the perfect time to skip town. It’s the early 90’s, Kurt Cobain runs the grunge music scene and I just experienced some serious trauma. What’s a girl supposed to do? I didn’t want to end up like Kristen, so I grabbed my bucket list, turned up my mixtape of the greatest 90’s hits and fled L.A.. The goal was to end up at Kurt Cobain’s house in Seattle, but I never could have guessed what would happen along the way.

At turns heartbreaking, inspiring, and laugh out loud funny, Runaway Train is a wild journey of a bygone era and a portrait of a one-of-a-kind teenage girl trying to find herself again the only way she knows how.

 

Social media

http://www.leematthewgoldberg.com

https://twitter.com/LeeMatthewG

https://www.instagram.com/leematthewgoldberg/

https://www.facebook.com/leemgol/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8001634.Lee_Matthew_Goldberg

 

The Electric Girl – Blog Tour and Guest Post – YA/Fantasy/Magical Realism

The Electric Girlby Christine HartGenre: YA SciFi Fantasy, Magic Realism Polly Michaels is trying to forget that her mom has cancer. She keeps busy at school and plods through a normal social life. Until a freak electrical storm and a unicorn appear in the orchard next to her house. Sy’kai wakes on an orchard floor to the smell of rotting cherries and wet earth. She doesn’t know where she is-or what she is-but she knows something is hunting her. Polly recruits her friends to find the mysterious creature she saw from her window while Sy’kai, a confused shape-shifting endling from another dimension tries to piece her mind back together. Once the human girls find Sy’kai (whom they nickname Psyche) the mystery unravels and the danger facing all of them comes into focus. A gritty struggle ranges throughout the girls’ rural hometown and in the wild terrain around it. All while two questions hang over their heads. Can an alien deliver a miracle for a human mother? Can a group of teens defeat an interdimensional demon? Goodreads * Amazon Located on BC’s beautiful West Coast, I write from my suburban home outside Vancouver. I love writing about places and spaces with rich history and visually fascinating elements as a backdrop for the surreal and spectacular. In addition to my undergraduate degree in writing and literature, my background also includes corporate communications and design. I am a current member of the Federation of BC Writers and SF Canada. When not writing, I have a habit of breaking stuff and making stuff – in that order – under the guise of my Etsy alter-ego Sleepless Storyteller . I share my eclectic home and lifestyle with my metalworking husband, dancing daughter, and future rocket scientist son. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $25 Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writing YA Novels as a Pop Culture Fan

Many of us have been binging all our old favourite TV shows and movies over the past year. So, we’re not surprised to see nostalgia making its way into the novels of 2021. Today, author Christine Hart is sharing the scoop on all the pop culture influences that shaped her new book, The Electric Girl.

Christine, can you tell us a bit more about the role pop culture plays in this novel? So many people have a love/hate relationship with pop culture, but the older I get, the more I realize that I should be writing what I want and drawing inspiration from what I truly like. Rather than trying to be a literary author, I’ve embraced genre fiction – and it feels like the right choice for me. And with The Electric Girl, setting a story in the 1980s was an irresistible opportunity to infuse my worldbuilding with the pop culture of the time.

  Which movies and television shows influenced this story? The most obvious first influence is The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle – both the book and movie, drawing on the idea of a unicorn becoming a girl. When I picture Psyche opening portals to another world, I can’t help but remember the inter-dimensional doors opened by Philip Pullman’s The Subtle Knife.

  I also believe the nebula imagery and the concept of an alien that exists primarily in astral form comes from my days watching Star Trek: The Next Generation every day after school. I also watched a lot of Twin Peaks and I’ve always loved David Lynch’s ability to be delightfully bizarre just for the sake of it.

  Most recently, getting addicted to Stranger Things, and combing through old toys and games that I saved for my children surprised me by having the power to evoke both memories and positive emotions.

  Do you see The Electric Girl ever being made into a movie? I have a very clear picture of the story in my mind, mostly because I used my hometown of Vernon, BC for the real-world side of things.

  If The Electric Girl could become a movie, I’d like to see it done with as much historical authenticity as possible. I tried my absolute best to make my readers feel like they’ve been drawn into 1988. So that’s what I’d want from a movie as well.

But at the end of the day, I’m a pragmatist at heart. I used to indulge in daydreams about one of my novels getting an upgrade to film format. Now, 40-something me knows it’s not very likely, so I don’t think about it as much.

To keep the retro 80s fun going, Christine has put together a playlist including a handful of songs and bands mentioned in the story.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Oibmyx7Wmu9X1vFPOPQgd

 

 

 

Marked for Death Blog Tour – Urban Fantasy

Marked For DeathArbiters of Shadow Book 1by Becca BlakeGenre: Urban Fantasy Demon hunter Riley Collins has discovered a dark secret… and she’ll have to give up everything to bring it to light. Riley Collins swore an oath to the Arbiters of Shadow to carry on her family’s legacy of hunting demons. After a hellhound attack in Omaha ends in disaster, the Arbiters assign her a new partner: Jacob Thorne, the arrogant son of one of the highest ranking members of the Council. Their first assignment together leads them to a demonic ritual that gives Riley and Jacob more questions than the Arbiters are willing to answer. By defying Marcus Thorne and the rest of the Council in her search for the truth, Riley uncovers a conspiracy that runs deep within the demon hunting organization. Caught between her desire to do the right thing and her duty to the Arbiters, Riley has to make an impossible choice. Will she resign herself to a dark truth within the organization she’s pledged her life to, or will she become an Oathbreaker and spend the rest of her life running from death? Fans of Supernatural, Jim Butcher, and Ilona Andrews will love the dark twists and turns of MARKED FOR DEATH, book one of the ARBITERS OF SHADOW urban fantasy series by USA Today bestselling author Becca Blake. Goodreads * Amazon Becca Blake writes dark and deadly fantasy stories. If you ask her about her hobbies, she’ll tell you she likes to spend her time seeking vengeance against her enemies, but in reality she spends most of her free time curled up on the couch watching Netflix with her cat. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their two kids. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Enter to Win here:https://fiction-atlas.com/2021/02/25/markedfordeath

Swift Six Character Interview – Graham Weatherend

Swift Six Set 2 – Character

Name Graham Weatherend

Which book/world do you live in?

Orange City

Tell us about yourself: (Name, race/species, etc.)

Graham Weatherend/White/Human

I’m an adventurer – why should I recruit you to accompany me?

Well, I may come off as meek but I started an uprising in the City I was sent to when I learned the terrible things they were doing to their citizens, so I’ve become an adventurer. I can show you the way…now.

Tell us about your companions?  How do they see you?

My companions are Marlena and Mick. Marlena is my girlfriend. We’ve been through a lot, mostly because of the soda addictions from my ad campaign, but we’ve weathered that storm. Mick is a former friend who sold me out. He used to think of me as spineless, but now he sees how powerful I can be when I put my mind to something.

What’s your most heroic exploit to date?

Rebelling against The Man and the City that kept us under its thumb. After ten years of oppression, it was time. 

What’s your greatest failure?

Probably the way I treated Marlena when my addictions got the better of me. It hurts me to know that I had the ability to behave in the way I did.

Where do you think you’ll be in a decade?

Right now, I’m off to return to the Outside World. It has been ten years so I don’t know what it will be like but I can’t imagine it will be worse than the City. Hopefully I will still be with Marlena and we’ll have children and I hope, happiness. We deserve it after so long.

Do you have a great love?

Again, Marlena. She’s the reason I started an uprising against the City. She’s the reason I do everything and have become a better man.

  Links to book etc

Orange City – Kindle

Orange City Print

 

 

Vampire Huntress Chronicles – Book Tour – Paranormal Romance

Blood HuntVampire Huntress Chronicles Book 1by Jessica WayneGenre: Paranormal Romance ★A Top 300 Bestseller★ Hunting vampires is her legacy. Detective Rainey Astor walks a dangerous line between the human and supernatural worlds. As a vampire hunter, she’s a formidable opponent, having killed hundreds of their kind. Yet, when her latest foray into the supernatural world goes terribly wrong, she finds herself rescued by the very creature she’s vowed to kill. Elijah Hawthorne is unlike any vampire Rainey has ever met. His sexy as hell exterior hides a tortured soul seeking redemption. Rainey knows she should avoid him at all costs, but fate has other plans. Together, they’re forced down a twisted path of ancient revenge and tainted love. With Elijah guarding her back, Rainey must protect her heart, because giving in could mean a death sentence for them both. But if they don’t discover the hidden identity of their enemy before the clock runs out, she’s as good as dead anyway. Fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lynsay Sands Argeneau Novels, Linsey Hall’s Shadow Guild, L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries, or the TV show The Originals, will devour this brand new trilogy. Grab your copy of Blood Hunt and start this addicting Vampire Paranormal Romance today! But be warned, this romance comes with a bite. **On Sale the week of Feb 18th!!**Goodreads * Amazon Blood CaptiveVampire Huntress Chronicles Book 2 She was the hunter. Now, she’s the prey. Detective Rainey Astor has run headfirst into danger for as long as she can remember. Her trip to Salem was no different, and although she and Elijah are back in Billings, nothing could have prepared them for the repercussions they will face upon their return home. Determined to get back to normal despite the fact that everything’s changed, Rainey dives back into work at the same time bodies of dead witches start popping up all over town. Their ritualistic style murders scream sacrifice, but there’s something darker at work, something far more sinister than Rainey or Elijah could have anticipated. As someone begins beckoning to Rainey from the shadows, drawing her closer and closer into their web, she unearths a horrible truth that will alter her irrevocably. And soon she will discover, not even Elijah can shield her from what’s to come. Picking up from Blood Hunt’s explosive cliffhanger ending, Blood Captive turns the tables for Rainey and Elijah as they go from being the hunters to the hunted. This series is perfect for fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lynsay Sands Argeneau Novels, Linsey Hall’s Shadow Guild, L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries, or the TV show The Originals. Grab your copy of Blood Captive , and pick up right where you left off with this bestselling Vampire Paranormal Romance series! Goodreads * Amazon Blood CureVampire Huntress Chronicles Book 3 She is in hell. Trapped in the shadows, Rainey is unable to do much more than watch while her entire life is destroyed. While the Original Witch’s plan continues to fall perfectly in place, it’s up to Elijah to put it all on the line and save his hunter. Or die trying. Picking up from Blood Captive’s heartbreaking cliffhanger, Blood Cure tests Rainey and Elijah in ways they never saw coming. This series is perfect for fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Lynsay Sands Argeneau Novels, Linsey Hall’s Shadow Guild, L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries, or the TV show The Originals. Grab your copy of Blood Cure and pick up right where you left off with this bestselling Vampire Paranormal Romance series! Goodreads * Amazon Curse of the WitchVampire Huntress Chronicles Book 4 Her death was just the beginning. Two years trapped between the living and the dead would make anyone jumpy. But soon Delaney realizes the shadows surrounding her are more than light casting shapes upon the wall. Someone is hunting her, and they won’t stop until she’s back in the ground. Cole left his heart in an alley two years ago when he walked out covered in the blood of a hunter he would have died to protect. Now that she’s back from the dead, he’s determined to keep his distance. After all, if he lost control once it could happen again. When Delaney’s life is threatened, Cole knows he can’t ignore the call. Even if answering it could mean death for them both. Shifter meets witch in this epic battle for the soul of Delaney Astor. Perfect for fans of Lynsay Sands, Kelly St. Clare, McKenzie Hunter, and Jennifer Ashley, Curse Of The Witch will take you on a brand new adventure with characters you know and love. Goodreads * Amazon Bestselling author Jessica Wayne writes paranormal and fantasy romance. She lives in Texas with her husband, three kids, and their two dogs. She is skittle obsessed, enjoys the occasional whiskey, and is an ambassador for the mix-matched socks movement. A believer in true love, Jessica also believes that good things are worth fighting for, and sometimes you have to risk it all to find your place in the world. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $25 Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway

Black Winter Blog Tour – Sci Fi/Fantasy

Black Winterby Beauregard M. NeVille & Cole NeVilleGenre: SciFi Fantasy In the near future the planet is covered in snow. Nobody knows why. A group of people are living inside a military facility that was designed to be self sustaining and can last forever. So long as the food doesn’t run out. Captain Alec Winter is among the people trying to survive and they will all be tested with the arrival of two strangers and something lurking in the shadows of the storm. Alec will have the fight for his life and everyone that he cares about. He just has to avoid becoming the very thing that threatens everyone’s survival. Goodreads * Amazon Beauregard M NeVille I was born in Rocksprings Wyoming, but grew up in various parts of Utah, from Provo to Brigham City. By the time I was in 4th grade was when I moved to Brigham and stayed there until after high school and I left to pursue my own life. I’ve always had a love for writing and knew it was what I wanted to do. I also love sports, played most of them throughout school and still try and play basketball when I can. I love the outdoors, going hiking and camping and would spend every day on a lake if I could. I love my family. My wife Amanda is a wonderful, hardworking mother that still manages to be in school, work as a teacher and still provides time for our children. I have three amazing boys, Kaden, Ryder and Maverick. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing them grow and getting to have fun with them. I love dogs and my Dog Mya was my inspiration for the dog in Black Winter. I owe everything I have to my parents for teaching me hard work and the value of a family. I’m forever grateful for the blessings in my life and I look forward to what the future will bring to me and my family. Facebook * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram Cole NeVille I was born in Brigham City, Utah. I have lived in several states but Utah is my home. Reading and writing has always been a big part of my life. I used reading to escape from a lot of things when I was growing up. I also have played sports my whole life. I grew up playing football and basketball, and still play basketball whenever I can. I love everything outdoors whether it is hiking, camping, golfing, or fishing. Being able to get out into the wildlife and smell the fresh air is something my wife Sarah and I love to share together. We both love dogs and love our dog Kumba. Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Signed Copy of Black Winter, $15 Amazon Gift Card – 1 winner each! a Rafflecopter giveaway

I racconti di Erana: Solo un Errore

https://books2read.com/Solo-un-Errore-Italian

Coel, il bardo, pensa che la sua vita abbia volto al peggio, ma non ha ancora incontrato il Capo dei Ladri. L’idea sbagliata di guadagnare più soldi per pagare il suo debito e sfuggire ad un passato oscuro lascia il menestrello in una situazione da cui non può scappare e con un accordo mortale. Sopravviverà al suo errore? Chi è questo misterioso sostenitore?

The Adventures of Marisol Holmes – Blog Tour – YA Paranormal

A Study in ShiftersThe Adventures of Marisol Holmes Book 1by Majanka VerstraeteGenre: YA Paranormal “The game is afoot.” Seventeen-year-old Marisol Holmes wants to live up to the family legacy; after all, she is the great-great-great granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes. What’s more Holmesian than a grisly murder? The Conclave, an underground organization of detectives solving supernatural cases, is giving her just one chance to catch a killer and join them. After all, as a half-blood jaguar shifter, Marisol is uniquely qualified to solve this murder—since every scrap of evidence points toward the culprit being a fellow jaguar shifter. “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” There’s more to this than just evidence. Is one of her own people really involved, or is this all a ploy to kick Marisol’s mother off the shifter throne? When Marisol discovers her handsome best friend, Roan, is missing, she realizes Roan may be the killer’s next target. The stakes just got higher than political intrigue. “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Just when things couldn’t get worse, Marisol’s ex-boyfriend-turned-nemesis, Mannix, starts leaving sinister clues for her. In her last case, Mannix broke her heart and ruined her case, and Marisol isn’t sure which is worse. Marisol fears this case too might be far more personal than she could’ve imagined. “Elementary.” It’s time for Marisol to prove her worth, or her people could fall into chaos while her best friend loses his life. This book is perfect for fans of: shapeshifters, steampunk, paranormal, high school drama, teen romance, Sherlock Holmes and deadly intrigue. Add to GoodreadsAmazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo The Sign of the SerpentThe Adventures of Marisol Holmes Book 2 “ I really could not put down The Sign of the Serpent, and I cannot help myself loving Marisol more and more each page.” – Am Kinda Busy Reading Meet Marisol Holmes: High School Student, jaguar shifter, and great granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes. She’s solved countless supernatural cases, but her next one’s the hardest yet. Why?Marisol is about to lose her heart. Two days ago, terrible events shattered the very foundation of the Conclave. Now, Marisol Holmes swears she’ll stop at nothing to destroy the man she once loved: her arch nemesis, Mannix. But when a cryptic clue left by Mannix leads Marisol to a secret room that once belonged to her father, she realizes that hunting down Mannix won’t be that easy. If she wants to catch him, she’ll have to retrace the steps of her own past and discovers secrets that might have been best left buried. When the hunt for Mannix brings Marisol to London, she teams up again with Roan and Wyatt on a quest for the truth that leads her through the dark alleys of London, to shady shifter pubs, to libraries cloaked in magic, and eventually to an abandoned castle in Scotland that once belonged to her family. But Mannix is as sadistic as he’s smart. At every turn, Marisol and her friends face harsh truths and deadly puzzles and risk their lives to uncover a past that should stay buried. With the stakes getting higher and Marisol’s attraction to Roan growing, can Marisol deny what she truly wants, even if it puts her new love on a collision course with her villainous ex?

Add to Goodreads
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

The Wolf of the BaskervillesThe Adventures of Marisol Holmes Book 3

Marisol Holmes, great-great-granddaugther of Sherlock Holmes and jaguar shifter, is being held captive in a castle belonging to her mortal enemy Mannix, surrounded by people who want her dead. Meanwhile, Mannix’s sidekick Indra is roaming around, pretending to be Marisol.

The more Marisol learns about Mannix’s plans, the more she realizes she has to stop him at all costs. Underneath the castle is an underground labyrinth filled with riddles that were once solved by her famous ancestor, Sherlock Holmes. The labyrinth holds the powers of ancient mythological creatures, similar to the power held by the Sigils.

Mannix having access to the might of the legendary wolf Fenrir is bad enough, but to allow him access to other, similarly magnificent powers, is a recipe for disaster.

Marisol will have to do whatever it takes to stop Mannix, even if it means risking her own life.

Add to Goodreads
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

Author Majanka Verstraete has written more than twenty unique works of fiction. A native of Belgium, Majanka’s novels explore the true nature of monsters: the good, the bad, and just about every species in between. Her young adult books include the acclaimed Mirrorland (YA Dark Fantasy) and Angel of Death (YA Paranormal) series of novels. At MHB, Majanka is currently developing a new YA shifter series with a fresh take on fierce female detectives called THE ADVENTURES OF MARISOL HOLMES.When she’s not writing, Majanka is probably playing World of Warcraft or catching up with the dozens of TV series she’s addicted to. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway

O Sentinela (Watcher Portuguese Edition)

O ano é 1888, e o lugar é Whitechapel, no coração de Londres. O coração, porém, está sangrando. Um misterioso assassino está perseguindo mulheres nas ruas – seu verdadeiro nome é desconhecido, mas sua lenda ficará para a história. Este é um breve conto de Jack, o Estripador.

https://books2read.com/Sentinela-WatcherPortuguese

#história de terror

#Fantasia

#Fantasia histórica

#História curta

Author Interview and Blog Tour – V. J. Allison – Romance

Welcome to V J Allison

How did you come up with name of this book?

Stricken came from the song by Disturbed. Its second chorus was exactly what had happened to Ewan. He was being haunted by Marti’s face and what she did to him, even if it was unconsciously.

Away to Me was suggested by an old school chum. It’s a herding term, and it means to go around and come back. Kelsey went away and came back to Neil, so it fit perfectly.

 Under Your Scars was influenced by Godsmack’s song of the same name. Seth and Alexis had a lot of emotional scars from previous relationships and they fell in love despite everything.

 Sweet Child of Mine was influenced by a song I listened to growing up.

COVID’s Arrow is a play on Cupid’s arrow… Love happening when least expected. Since it was written during the pandemic, and features two essential workers during a pandemic, I thought it was fitting.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

I like to start with a general idea of where the story will go – the main characters, and how they get their happy ever after at the end of the story. After that, I tend to just let the characters run with it, and if something doesn’t work, it’s axed and something else put in. I find if I just write without planning too much, things fall in to place much easier.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

One of the biggest ones is thinking they have a “best-selling idea” or story, when in reality, it’s probably not even a blip on the radar.

  Another one is thinking that if they have their own distinct style that goes against the grain of grammar and writing period, they’ll get noticed by a big name publisher and again, have a best-selling book.

  Some think that once the writing is done, the work is too. It’s the exact opposite. Once that story is drafted, the work is only beginning. Whether you go the traditional route or the self-publishing one, you still have to edit the story several times to get it as perfect as possible, get it proofed, have a cover made, and after it’s out there, promote it to death.

  Some also think that others should do their work while they do nothing. Not true. If you want to be successful, you have to work your butt off to get anywhere in this business.

  What is your writing Kryptonite?

Noise. Distractions of any kind. They’ll throw me off so badly that I lose track of things, get frustrated and have to stop for the day. Ugh!

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

I’d tell myself to ignore the naysayers, and keep writing… I’ll have a few problems and some road blocks at a few points, but I made it, despite everything. Keep going. Never give up… And check out an independent publisher out in British Columbia. *wink*

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

It depends on many things – if I have a lot of alone time and my chronic pain issues are not acting up. If Hubby works day times while my son is in school, and I am deep into a story, I can sometimes clear 6K a week. I’ve written books in less than 3 months while writing only a day or two a week.

  On average, I’d say it is about six months to a year. If I can put out a full novel once a year, I’m happy.

 

EXCERPT from Stricken

Release Date: March 17, 2017

Series: Feathered Tartan 1

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Second Chance Romance

Pages: 206

Word Count: 58867

Flame Rating: 3 Flames

COVER ART: Syneca Featherstone

EXCERPT from Chapter Three:

The tan door was ajar, and he could see the blue and cream tile turned into a soft blue carpet at the threshold of the office. With a hope Kara was wrong, Ewan glanced around quickly, but a movement to his right drew his attention.

Marti’s back was to him as she rooted around in a file cabinet drawer and shook her head periodically. Her outfit was professional, from the roll of hair in a French twist at the back of her head, to the black skirt suit with brown pin-stripes, and the suede two-inch heeled shoes on her feet.

As he tapped his fingers on the doorjamb, a vision of her wearing nothing but one of his t-shirts and a solitaire engagement ring flashed through his mind.

“Yes?” Her voice was distant, cool and polite.

“Dr. Brown said you were in.”

Her back stiffened as he spoke to her without an audience for the first time in years. “I have no clue why you would want to see me,” she replied and dug a folder out of the drawer.

A soft sigh of exasperation came out of his throat as he entered the office and stopped halfway between the doorway and her desk. “I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“Saturday night. Shannon treated you like dirt, and—”

“I’ve dealt with people like her before and it hasn’t killed me yet.”

“That doesn’t excuse it—hell.” Ewan rubbed a hand down his face as he tried to find the right way to express himself.

“Maybe that will teach you not to take someone like her around your friends and coworkers.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s your life and your choice. If you want to go dumpster diving, that’s your business, but if I were you, I’d be careful on what I brought home.” She flipped a page in the file. “I have a meeting in less than an hour, and I’d like to be fully prepared for it, so if you don’t mind…”

“Look, I know this isn’t the ideal situation, but can’t we at least try to make an effort, for everyone’s best interest?”

So he wouldn’t look at her, he glanced around the room, and his gaze finally landed on a picture frame in her book-case. An unwelcome, searing bolt of jealousy zoomed up his spine when he saw it was a photo of her and a man with their arms around each other.

His eyes moved to the large windows facing Citadel Hill, and locked with hers via the reflection, a memory’s shadow of their first date at the Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg.

Like that day, almost nine years ago, Marti was the one to break eye contact.

“How are we going to do that?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but unless we try, Kara and Dennis are go-ing to chalk it up to something big, and from what I’ve heard, you’re not open about your past.”

“That’s my life and my choice, isn’t it?”

Ewan sighed and raked a hand through his hair as he took a step toward her. When she stiffened, he stopped and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.

“Dr. Lewis—Marti…” He let out a long breath. “I am sorry about invading your life. If I had known you were living here, I wouldn’t have taken the promotion, and told Miran-da I was moving on.”

“Some things are beyond our control or knowledge. Hali-fax is a big place. I’m sure you and I can avoid being in the same area at the same time as much as possible.” With a shrug, Marti turned to face him.

As her cool and detached gaze met his, Ewan nodded, and his stomach dropped as the full impact of her calm and professional air hit him.

What was I thinking when I thought that maybe…

Hell.

The girl he knew was gone, replaced by this cool, sophisticated, and distant woman.

“Okay,” he murmured, and wondered why he felt as if his heart had been ripped out again.

Marti’s expression softened as she held up the file. “I’m not chasing you out because—I really do have a meeting, and I’d better get moving if I want to be ready for it.”

Ewan nodded and moved his gaze to a spot on the carpet. “Yeah.” With a final nod, he turned and walked out of her office, not understanding the heavy feeling around him.

StrickenFeathered Tartan Book 1by V.J. AllisonGenre: Contemporary Romance A heartbeat later, he was alone—shattered, confused and suicidal. Why had Marti walked away from him? Years later, in another place and a new chapter of Ewan’s life, fate brings them face to face again. They start building a friendship, but Ewan wants more. He wants Marti as his wife, while she seems to prefer their current status as friends. Can he convince her that taking another chance at their failed future will be the start of the best part of their lives? Add to Goodreads Amazon * eXtasy Books Sweet Child of MineFeathered Tartan Book 2by V.J. AllisonGenre: Contemporary Holiday Romance In the city on the harbour, miracles happen. It’s Christmas Eve. Ewan and Marti Campbell are hoping to have a quiet holiday season, their first as a married couple, and the last one before their new baby arrives. A crisis at the real estate agency tosses a huge wrench into their plans, as does the sudden onset of Marti’s labour. As Ewan fights to get home before his child appears, more crises are flung at him. If he is to make it on time to help his wife bring their baby into the world, he’ll need a miracle… A big one. Add to Goodreads Amazon * eXtasy Books Away To MeTri-Town Book 1by V.J. AllisonGenre: Contemporary Romance What would you do if you found out your late spouse wasn’t the biological parent of your stepchild as they had led you to believe? Would you let it go, in hopes the child wouldn’t go looking for their birth family, or would you help them in their search? This is the dilemma Neil Falcon faces when he first discovers his late wife, Rita, wasn’t the biological mother of his teenage stepdaughter, Rikki. His decision to look for her roots puts them on a path that leads them to a part of Neil’s past, one he thought was locked away forever. Kelsey Wagner is shocked to see the man she once adored appear on her doorstep with claims that Rikki may be her biological child. After finding out her daughter wants her to be a part of her life, she agrees. Amidst the confusion of raising a teenage daughter, the old feelings resurface. They know their daughter wants them to become a family, but can they make it work? Add to Goodreads Amazon * eXtasy Books Under Your ScarsTri-Town Book 2by V.J. AllisonGenre: Contemporary Romance Alexis has that special something about her that Seth can’t fathom. His friend Mirabelle’s new employee is even prettier than the merchandise she sells. Too bad she’s distantly polite when he tries talking to her. Alexis is attracted to Seth, but she’s in hiding from her past and her mistakes. Getting involved with the one person she’s attracted to could blow her cover. When they’re forced to work together, their libidos ignite. Alexis is terrified to open up and give in to her feelings for Seth. If he remembers that night five years ago, he’ll never speak to her again. It becomes a question of whether Seth will expose her and force her to keep running, or if he’ll help her face her past. Add to Goodreads Amazon * eXtasy Books COVID’s Arrowby V.J. AllisonGenre: Contemporary Romance When two people are in love, social distancing cannot prevent them from being together. Vicki has been half in love with her friend and co-worker, Mason, since she started working at a grocery store eight months ago. When a pandemic reaches the province, social distancing protocols are installed, and their friendship is put on hold. A break at work brings them back together, but will they have the time Vicki hopes to pursue her hidden desires? **Only .99 cents!** Add to Goodreads Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Angus & Robertson V.J. Allison was born and raised in southern Nova Scotia, Canada, and her work reflects her strong Maritime roots. She is a stay-at-home mother to a son on the autism spectrum, married to the love of her life, and “mama” to a rescued Maine Coon cat named Marnie. She has been writing various stories of novel length and short stories since her school days, and sees writing as a vital component to her life. She is a small town erotic romance author published by eXtasy Books, and her novels have been received with great acclaim. Her second novel, Away to Me, is a recipient of the eXtasy Books and Devine Destinies’ Editor’s Choice Seal of Excellence and Enjoyable Reading . On January 4, 2021, she released her first independently published story, COVID’s Arrow, which had been previously released in the Together We Stand charity collection of stories about essential workers. When she isn’t writing, she loves to read romance and science fiction novels (notably Star Wars); listen to music (heavy metal, rock, alternative); and do graphics design. She runs her own graphics design company, Veridian Rose Designs, specializing in book promotional posters and Facebook cover photos. This self-proclaimed geeky rocker chick is a warrior and advocate for various chronic illnesses including Occipital Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Diabetes, Migraines, and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia. She is also an advocate for the prevention of animal cruelty and is a voice for Autism Awareness. Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $15 USD eXtasy Books gift card a Rafflecopter giveaway