Terri Herman-Poncé's Blog: Terri Herman-Ponce, page 3
June 4, 2017
Why Lying Is So Intriguing
As a fiction author, I know lying first-hand. Why? Because fiction is, after all, one big lie. I’m paid to tell stories.
I’m paid to LIE.
But this is only a simplified way of looking at lying, and it’s not a very damaging one. My stories, my fictional lies, are meant to entertain. Their sole goal is to take readers out of everyday life and throw them into a make-believe world that feels realistic, right down to its sights and smells and settings. Right down to its characters and their decisions and actions and reactions. Like I said. Simple. And benign.
However, when it comes to real life, lies can be far more damaging. They can kill trust, hurt relationships and, believe it or not, become easier to do upon repetition.
Scary, but intriguing.
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© dominiccampbell | Flickr
As a writer, I’m also fascinated by the human psyche. Watching human behavior (ahem, being nosey!) and listening in on conversations (ahem, eavesdropping!) offers me insights into what makes people tick. Lying is a big part of it.
See, I have one character in particular, David Bellotti, who hates lying. He hates doing it and he hates having it done to him. Yet he still does it. Why? Because, such behavior is normal for a human being (even if in a fictional world). But David knows his limits with lying. He uses lies to manipulate and to get information, but he never intentionally sets out to hurt someone when he lies. His lies are always for a greater good. And he always knows how and where to draw the lying line. He knows when to stop because his lies are never self-serving.
But there are people in real life, much as in fiction, who don’t know when to stop. So, me being the avid researcher I am about human psychology, came upon a blog a while back about lying (This Is Your Brain on Lies). And the article cites a study showing that the more we lie, the easier it becomes to repeat the offense. Humans actually become desensitized to lying the more they engage in it.
It’s all very scientific, but it’s also easily explained because lying is akin to emotional arousal.
“‘Part of the emotional arousal we see when people lie is because of the conflict between how people see themselves and their actions.’ Lying triggers emotional arousal and activates the amygdala, but the level of arousal and conflict diminishes with every additional lie told, making it easier to lie. This comes down to a blunted emotional response to our decision to lie, and a desensitization of any bad feeling when we weigh up our ‘ideal self’ versus the act of lying.”
So, in a way, lying can feel good.
Hmm.
Want to read more about these fascinating insights? Click here.
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: David Bellotti, fiction, human behavior, lying, psychology, real life, storytelling, telling lies
May 8, 2017
Meet Mae Martin — a southerner who loves silliness, hates bullying, and has a very unusual talent for solving mysteries
We’re on a character interview roll!
Over the weekend, I chatted with Mae Martin. She’s a southerner who loves silliness, hates bullying, and has a very unusual talent for solving mysteries. She’s also the product of Amber Foxx’s imagination, author of The Mae Martin Mysteries.
Mae is an extraordinary character with a very extraordinary way of seeing the world — one that’s very different from us.
Intrigued? Read on for more about Mae Martin and some fascinating mystery reading!
The first Mae Martin psychic mystery
Obeying her mother’s warning, Mae Martin-Ridley has spent years hiding her gift of “the sight.” When concern for a missing hunter compels her to use it again, her peaceful life in a small Southern town begins to fall apart. New friends push her to explore her unusual talents, but as she does, she discovers the shadow side of her visions– access to secrets she could regret uncovering.
Gift or curse? When an extraordinary ability intrudes on an ordinary life, nothing can stay the same.
“No murder, just mystery.
Every life hides a secret, and love is the deepest mystery of all.”
What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?
I’m a really good mother to my stepdaughters, Autumn Brook and Summer Stream. I was only twenty-one when I married their daddy, and I moved in with him when the twins were only eight months old. His divorce from their mama wasn’t even final and neither was my divorce from my first husband, but I loved Hubert and the girls and we got married as soon as we could. I’ve messed up a few things in my life—I reckon you can tell by my being married and divorced already that young—but I didn’t mess up the mama job and I’m proud of that.
What’s the one trait you hate most about yourself?
Sometimes I act like I’m everybody’s mama. I tell myself I need to stop trying to take care of everybody and solve all their problems, and other people tell me that, too. But I keep doing it.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be, and why?
The way I talk. I’ve got this little-girly voice and I’m not a little-girly kind of woman. And I grew up in Boone, North Carolina, so I’ve got the Appalachian kind of Southern accent and I use words that sound hillbilly to some people, like calling my girls young’uns. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ashamed of where I’m from, but sometimes I wish I sounded more polished. Or that people didn’t think the kind of stereotypical things they do when they hear me talk.
What is the strangest thing you’ve ever had to do, or had happen to you?
It’d have to be the first time I realized I had the Sight. My mama never told me it ran in the family and there I was, looking for our cat that ran off, and I saw her. In my head. Like I went through a kind of tunnel and found her. And then I actually went to the place I saw in that vision and brought Belle home. It seemed wonderful at the time, but Mama told me it was wrong to use the Sight. Life was never quite the same after that.
What quality do you like most in a man/woman, and why?
I like people who are totally themselves, not a fake thing about ’em, even if they’re a little peculiar or too outspoken. After being raised to be a nice Southern lady, I get a kick out of the way some people break a few social rules or just aren’t normal. I’ve got friends who are kind of eccentric, and some who sure don’t beat around the bush.
Do you have a favorite quote? If so, what is it?
“Don’t let one make you one.” My daddy told me that after I beat up a bully who’d knocked my friend down on the playground. The other girls were rooting for me being stronger than this boy, and I was trying to do the right thing, but it really wasn’t.
What haunts you the most?
Being divorced twice before turning thirty. Sometimes I think my second marriage will be in my heart until I die, even though I know it’s over.
What kind of clothes do you like to wear, and why?
Comfortable! I like to be able to move around. I wear shoes can walk in if I get the urge and clothes I can stretch in or sit on the floor in. Half my clothes are workout clothes and they’re not fancy or fashionable, just practical. When I dress up, and it’s not often, it’s to go out dancing, and then I still have to be comfortable. The highest heels I own are one inch and that’s not just because I’m so tall. I don’t want my feet to hurt, or to twist my ankle, which I’ve still done in just those itty bitty heels.
What makes you laugh?
Pure silliness, like my young’uns making faces and being goofy. And if someone has a weird laugh, it cracks me up. I have to laugh, too, even if the joke isn’t funny. Sometimes things just tickle me, too, images that pop into my head, and I can’t explain it to the person I’m talking to. I try to keep the laugh inside when then happens.
What makes you angry?
Meanness. Unfairness. Some part of me still wants to stop that bully.
What do you have in your pockets/purse right now?
In my purse I’ve got: Keys, money, bank cards, phone. Business cards. Little tube of sunscreen. Gotta have it, living in New Mexico. (I’m the whitest white woman on the planet. Typical redhead pigment: none.) Sunglasses. A notepad and a pen. And two little velvet pouches. The dark green one holds my crystals that are ready for me to use for psychic or healing work. The brown one is for the ones I need to bathe in sunlight or salt water to rebalance them after I use them.
What book are you reading?
Gulp, by Mary Roach. I love science and stuff about the human body. I enjoyed my anatomy textbook. And I’m always reading my guides to insects and reptiles, looking up critters I see when I’m out running. I like a lot of things other people find icky, which is why I love Mary Roach’s books.
What’s your job and why do you do it?
I’m a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. My daddy is a coach and my mama is a nurse, so I grew up interested in health and exercise and I love to help people. It’s flexible work, too, so I can make my hours work around school and other obligations. I also work a few hours a week as a psychic and energy healer. That’s not something I ever planned on but I had to honor the gift and use it. Sometimes I’ve put it aside, but someone always finds out and asks me to do it, so I decided for now, I need to find a way to make it fit in my life.
Of what are you most fearful?
Something bad happening to anyone I love.
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, tell us three things you would do in the time you had left.
Number one: I would take my daddy and boyfriend with me, and I would fly to North Carolina to see my stepdaughters. Number two: I’d spend time outdoors, even if it was the worst weather that ever happened, just so I could see and feel the world one more time. And I know my mama wouldn’t be there, but the third thing I’d do is write her a letter telling her she did okay, really, even if we didn’t get along. I’d tell her I appreciated a lot about how she raised me. I wouldn’t want her to find out I was gone and feel horrible for not speaking to me and think I didn’t forgive her for all the stuff we fought about. Okay, I guess that’s a fourth thing. I’d have to forgive her. Reckon I should work on that now.
AUTHOR BIO
Amber Foxx, author of the award-winning Mae Martin Psychic Mystery Series, has worked professionally in theater, dance, fitness, and academia. She has lived in the Southeast and the Southwest and calls New Mexico home.
You can find Amber here:
Website: http://amberfoxxmysteries.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-Foxx/354071328062619
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmberFoxx4 (@AmberFoxx4)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7554709.Amber_Foxx
Blog: http://amberf.booklikes.com/
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: Amber Foxx, book recommendations, character interviews, Mae Martin, mystery, mystery authors, paranormal, paranormal books, The Calling, The Mae Martin Mysteries
April 30, 2017
Meet Lyssa Pennington — Spunky professor who loves geeks, dangerous thrills, and solving mysteries
I met a really exciting character this week and just have to share what I learned with you.
Lyssa Pennington is a spunky economics professor who, when she’s not tackling huge egos and nasty gossipers on campus, solves mysteries. In fact, for Lyssa, the more thrilling the better!
She’s a handful and a half, and a blast to be around.
Want to know more about Lyssa and her stories? Read on…
I’m so excited you’ve asked me to interview, Terri! I love solving murders with my husband, Kyle, in The Penningtons Investigate, but I’m excited about having the spotlight just on me, Lyssa Pennington, today.
What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?
I couldn’t survive without my sense of humor. My habit of looking for something laughable in even the most serious situations has helped me get through some terribly difficult times. As my husband, Kyle, says I’m “sunny and funny”. I’m very good at getting him to laugh, even on the toughest of days.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
I really wish you hadn’t asked me this! My absolute worst, most embarrassing moment occurred during my final negotiations with the president of Tompkins College, for my dream job. I had a total meltdown. Never mind that he was mostly responsible for it. Still, sobbing and screeching at the college president? It wasn’t pretty, and God knows it wasn’t professional! Fortunately, his beautiful wife came to my rescue and coached me on an apology or I wouldn’t be employed today.
What quality do you like most in a man, and why?
There are so many traits I value in a man—integrity, sensitivity, intelligence, talent, a sense of purpose. I have to pick one, though, right? Okay, I’m going straight to my husband, Kyle, as an example. He is the ultimate geek—enormously intelligent and also focused on using that intelligence to benefit others.
If you could do something over again, what would it be and why?
Remember I told you about that meltdown I had when I was negotiating for my current job at Tompkins College? There’s a backstory that I wish I’d done different. Kyle and I had dated a whole year in London when I was there on a post-doc. In all that time he hadn’t made any moves on me, so… I assumed he was a confirmed bachelor and just interested in me as a terrific date. That’s why, when I was asked to interview for the job at Tompkins College, I jumped at the chance and took the job. But I sobbed the whole way across the Atlantic Ocean. The truth is, Kyle loved me as much as I loved him, but he didn’t want to stand in the way of my career. My moving to Tompkins Falls really complicated our lives, and I wish we’d—wish I’d been able to have a mature conversation with him about my feelings instead of getting on a plane and turning my back on him.
Do you have a favorite quote? If so, what is it?
I’m going with, “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” Eleanor Roosevelt gave us that gem, and I pull it out all the time in my work at Tompkins College, where I’m surrounded by huge egos and nasty gossipers.
What’s your job and why do you do it?
I love my job! I’m an economics professor, and my main responsibility is to arm my students with money sense and financial literacy before they graduate. I’m really fortunate my father instilled both knowledge and a sense of responsibility in me, as far as money, growing up. Because of his coaching, I was able to get my PhD without student debt. My students aren’t so lucky, and I want to do all I can to teach them how to deal out there in a complex economy.
What is your idea of a perfect day/night?
Oo-la-la! Let’s not talk about the perfect night, which would be very private between Kyle and me. The perfect day, though, is easy to picture. Our favorite place is Kyle’s estate in Cornwall, and we only get there every few months. The perfect day is windy and sunny, and we have plenty of time to enjoy the South Coast Path, walk hand-in-hand, take photographs, talk over everything that’s happened since our last visit to Pennington House, and brainstorm about the coming months.
Do you argue with the author that writes you?
All the time! I’m so different from C. T. Collier, but especially in the early drafts of a book, she keeps slipping into her voice instead of mine. I can’t tell you how frustrating that is! Plus, when things get dicey in the story, she forgets I’ve got spunk and I’m dying to solve the murder… no matter how dangerous. The more thrilling the better.
What kind of clothes do you like to wear, and why?
You just hit on a major difference between my husband and me! Kyle loves luxury, and I can’t even count the number of custom tailored suits in his closet. I cringe when I think of how much money that represents. For me it’s simple. I have six academically appropriate skirts, which I’ve either sewn myself or bought at consignment shops. Plus assorted sweaters and tops, some well-worn blue jeans, and two hoodies—one from my alma mater, University of Texas Austin and one from Tompkins College. No, I don’t wear the hoodies to work! Or the blue jeans.
What book are you reading?
I’m deep into The Little Book of Hygge, by a Danish author. I picked it up right after Kyle and I got back from his business trip Iceland, and it describes so perfectly a lot of the really neat things I heard in Iceland about how the people handle the long dark winters. Terrific book, I recommend it.
AUTHOR BIO:
C. T. Collier was born to solve logic puzzles, wear tweed, and drink Earl Grey tea. Her professional experience in cutthroat high tech and backstabbing higher education gave her endless opportunity to study intrigue. Add to that her longtime love of mysteries, and it’s no wonder she writes academic mysteries that draw inspiration from traditional whodunits. Her setting is entirely fictional: Tompkins College is no college and every college, and Tompkins Falls is a blend of several Finger Lakes towns, including her hometown, Seneca Falls, NY (AKA Bedford Falls from It’s a Wonderful Life).
You can find C. T. here:
Website: https://drkatecollier.wordpress.com
Facebook: kate.collier.315
Twitter: @TompkinsFalls
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: C.T. Collier, character interviews, great characters, Lyssa Pennington, mystery, mystery authors, The Penningtons Investigate, Tompkins College, Tompkins Falls
April 16, 2017
Meet Author Judy Penz Sheluk: What goes on behind closed doors doesn’t always stay there
You ever meet or discover an author and think, “Hoo boy! I gotta get to know this one better”?
Well, Judy Penz Sheluk is one of those authors.
This week, I got to talk to Judy about her books (she writes mystery with a splash of suspense), where she gets her ideas from (be careful: everything that happens in a writer’s life may end up in one of their stories), and the most famous person she ever met (which led her to blurt out something unexpected).
Looking for another author to follow and new books to read? I’ve got a wonderful one to share with you…
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
I have so many friends and acquaintances that are authors, so I can’t name them all because I’m afraid I’ll leave someone out! But I will say that for those who are looking to connect with other authors, a great resource is Sisters in Crime (I belong to International, Toronto, and Guppy branches). Attend any major conference (Bouchercon, Malice Domestic, for example) and there will be a Sisters in Crime breakfast. Your local chapter will have monthly meetings, and Guppies, which started as the Great Unpublished, now includes published and unpublished authors. When I joined Guppies, I was unpublished, and the mentorship from published authors was incredible. After I was published, I kept my membership as a way of giving back, but I still continue to gain knowledge. Recently, I wondered if the expression, “Great minds think alike” was a Toronto thing, and so I asked on the Yahoo Digest. I had dozens of authors from all over the U.S. and Canada respond (it isn’t).
I also belong to Crime Writers of Canada. Once again, I joined as an unpublished (Associate) member, and now I’m a Professional member. CWC does so much for the Canadian mystery scene. For example, in February, I went to the Ontario Library Superconference on their invite, and was part of an author group who could do a short presentation on my latest novel, Skeletons in the Attic, to the many libraries represented. Afterwards, the group met at a local pub for a drink. You cannot put a price on that sort of networking. Recently, I was asked if I’d like to be part of the CWC Board of Directors, and so I’ve thrown my name in the hat. The voting is in late May. Whatever the outcome, that’s an honor.
I also belong to the International Thriller Writers, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society. I was able to meet many of the members of SMFS at Bouchercon in Raleigh in 2015. At the time, I had just been published, and I find short crime fiction incredibly difficult to write, so having lunch with some really well known names in short fiction was inspiring, to say the least.
My advice to any writer, published or not, is to join an association that works for your genre. Go to one conference a year. Invest in yourself!
What’s the most surprising review you ever received?
My first 1-star review. I’d come off a run of 5-star reviews for Skeletons in the Attic, and so when I saw the 1-star review, it took my breath away. I know, as a reader and writer, that reading tastes are subjective, but I think the first 1-star review is going to sting, no matter who your are. The reviewer said something along the lines of “I didn’t actually mind this book, and read it all the way through, but I don’t think it’s worth 5 stars. The only way to lower the rating is to give it 1-star.
I went to my Sisters in Crime Guppies Yahoo Digest to lament my first 1-star review. Surprisingly, I received all sorts of “Congratulations, welcome to the club!” One author even told me it was a good thing. “No one trusts all 5-star reviews,” she said. “You just became legitimate.”
Did you grow up with books? If so, what were your favorites and why
Definitely. My mom read to me every night until I was able to read myself. My favorite story was Heidi. She must have read that to me 100 times, and if she tried to skip ahead, I’d say, “Hey, you missed a part.” When I was a kid, she worked part-time at Zeller’s Department Store in the Toy Dept. She would buy me a new Nancy Drew book every week. I had the whole collection at one time. When I was a teenager, my mom gave the set to a woman at her work, for her daughter (by then she was working at a bank). It broke my heart. I LOVED those books! Years later, my mom admitted she should have asked my permission first, and that she’d made a mistake. I just hope the other girl loved those books as much as I did.
What genre do you write in, and why? What fascinates you most about that genre?
Mystery with a splash of suspense. It’s my go-to genre for reading (although I do read other genres). I try to write books and stories that I would like to read. I also read a lot because I truly believe reading is the best teacher. Want to learn how to pace a novel? Read John Sandford. Want to see how much a writer can evolve over time? Read Sue Grafton from A to X. Want to learn the art of setting? Read Louise Penny or Tana French. Want to learn to write a humorous mystery? Melodie Campbell and Joanne Guidoccio are great examples. Mel is also a great study in the novella. And I love anthologies. What better way to read the best in short crime fiction?
If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
A Golden Retriever. I’ve owned 4 Golden Retrievers (my current Golden, Gibbs, is about 1½ years old), and a Golden mix as a kid. They live a very pampered life with me. They get to run, go for walks, swim, sleep, eat, play fetch, get petted and groomed.
Name one book you’ve read that you wished you’d written.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. It made me laugh, cry, get angry, rejoice. The BEST ending ever. I read it just after I lost my last Golden, Copper, at 12 ½ years old. It comforted me in a very dark time.
Tell us about your most recent book. What prompted you to write it?
I started writing Skeletons in the Attic while trying to find a publisher for my debut mystery novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose, the first book in the Glass Dolphin Mystery series. I didn’t want to stop writing, but I couldn’t bring myself to write the sequel to a novel that hadn’t yet found “a home.”
The idea for Skeletons in the Attic came to me while I waited with my husband, Mike, in our lawyer’s office. We were there to update our wills, and his goldendoodle kept us company while our lawyer was detained at court. The opening scenes of this book are culled directly from that experience. Let that be your takeaway from this: everything that happens in a writer’s life may end up in one of their stories.
Who was the most famous person you ever met?
Many years ago, when I was just a teenager, I was in Los Angeles visiting friends of my mother’s, and we ran into Robert Wagner in front of a restaurant. I’ve never been a huge celebrity follower, but I loved Natalie Wood (I used to watch that movie Gypsy whenever it would come on TV) and I even tried to wear my eye make-up and hair like hers. Anyway, I looked at Robert Wagner, and he knew we had recognized him, and he said, “Hello” with a big smile. And I blurted out, “I really love your wife!” He laughed and said, “So do I.”
What was your most exciting moment as a writer?
Without question, signing my first contract (for The Hanged Man’s Noose, with Barking Rain Press) in July 2014. It had been such a long journey – I’d started writing it in December 2011, and had faced so much rejection. But I never gave up on my story, or myself.
I’m hoping there are lots more exciting moments to come!
Do you have any strange writing habits?
I write listening to Talk Radio. I have two go-two stations, Newstalk 1010 Toronto and Talk 640 Toronto, and I switch between them depending on the host/topic. On the weekend, there’s lots of advertising type of shows. There’s a car guy, and a veterinarian, and a lawyer who does employment law. I listen to them all. Sunday mornings there’s a trivia show I quite like. I don’t know how I can write and listen to talk radio (not to mention answer trivia in my head) but it works for me.
As an author, what’s the best thing you love about, or from, readers?
When someone says that they couldn’t put my book down, it makes my day. I also love getting feedback on my blog/website. I feature a lot of other authors (interviews, New Release Mondays etc.) but every other Friday I write a post on my writing life. I’m honest about my experiences, and I’m always grateful for feedback from readers. To this day, my most popular post remains “The First Cut Is the Deepest” about my search for an agent. It spawned several other posts in my One Writer’s Journey, and set the stage for how I wanted to shape my blog.
[image error]SKELETONS IN THE ATTIC
What goes on behind closed doors doesn’t always stay there…
Calamity (Callie) Barnstable isn’t surprised to learn she’s the sole beneficiary of her late father’s estate, though she is shocked to discover she has inherited a house in the town of Marketville—a house she didn’t know existed. However, there are conditions attached to Callie’s inheritance: she must move to Marketville, live in the house, and solve her mother’s murder.
Callie’s not keen on dredging up a thirty-year-old mystery, but if she doesn’t do it, there’s a scheming psychic named Misty Rivers who is more than happy to expose the Barnstable family secrets. Determined to thwart Misty and fulfill her father’s wishes, Callie accepts the challenge. But is she ready to face the skeletons hidden in the attic?
You can buy Skeletons in the Attic here.
JUDY’S BIO
[image error]Judy Penz Sheluk’s debut mystery novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose (Barking Rain Press), was published in July 2015. Skeletons in the Attic (Imajin Books), the first book in her Marketville Mystery Series, was published in August 2016. Her short crime fiction is included in several collections.
Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Canada, International Thriller Writers and the Short Mystery Fiction Society.
[image error]Find Judy on her website/blog, where she interviews other authors and blogs about the writing life. You can also find Judy on Facebook (facebook.com/JudyPenzSheluk) and Twitter (@JudyPenzSheluk) and on her Amazon author page.
WANT TO MEET JUDY? Judy Penz Sheluk will be at Malice Domestic in Bethesda, MD, April 28-30, and at Bouchercon Toronto, October 12-15. If you’re there, be sure to seek her out to say hello!
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: author interview, Judy Penz Sheluk, mystery, mystery authors, Skeletons in the Attic, The First Cut Is the Deepest, The Hanged Man's Noose
April 2, 2017
Meet Author Lola Karns: Dr. Seuss lover, whistling aficionado, and that time she went out with a gorgeous rock star
The neat thing about interviewing authors is that you learn some very (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) interesting things about them.
Take author Lola Karns, for example. A writer who’s no stranger to contemporary romance (or dust bunnies at home), she’s had her own share of adventures. Like that time she went out with a gorgeous rock star and had no idea who he was until…
What? You thought I’d spill all right here, up front? Nope. Not gonna happen. 
March 19, 2017
Character Interview: Kat Smith–Russian National who loves lipstick, babies, and cyber-security
Just when I thought I couldn’t be surprised by anyone anymore I met Kat Smith, a Russian National with big secrets in her life and in her handbag.
Kat Smith is the heroine of Masquerading with the Billionaire and is the brainchild of contemporary romance author Alexia Adams. Kat wishes she didn’t always have to look over her shoulder or worry about consequences but knows it’s a necessity for survival. Because “When the masks come off, the game gets real.”
Want to know more about Kat Smith’s intriguing story? Read on…
MEET KAT SMITH
Heroine of Masquerading with the Billionaire
What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?
I like that I’m adaptable. I can become whatever I need to be to get the job done and to stay safe. The only price is that I’m losing sight of who I really am in the process. I’ve had to give up many of the things I love. But it will all be worth it in the end, won’t it?
What’s the one trait you hate most about yourself?
I hate that I’ve lost the ability to trust. I’m always looking over my shoulder or trying to figure out what a person really wants from me, and if they’ve figured out my secret. I would love to be my true self with someone and not worry about the consequences.
Do you have a favorite quote? If so, what is it?
“Everything will be okay in the end. And if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” – John Lennon. Believing that it will all work out eventually and I’ll be happy is sometimes the only thing that keeps me going.
What is your idea of a perfect day/night?
My perfect day would start in the arms of a man who loves me. We’d share breakfast then go for a walk in the park, especially if it’s a crisp autumn day. We’d stop for lunch at a small café then head home where we’d snuggle together under a cozy blanket and watch a film. A little afternoon loving, followed by cooking dinner together and an evening spent reading side by side. That would be my perfect day.
What haunts you the most?
Losing contact with my younger sister. Is she okay? What happened to her? Wondering, worrying, keeps me awake at night and I’ll risk anything, even my personal safety, to find her.
What kind of clothes do you like to wear, and why?
I love very feminine clothes, usually vintage styles from the 40s. For many years I had to be careful about leaving fingerprints so I feel naked without my gloves. I also lived on the street as a teenager and had to disguise the fact that I was a girl, so now I revel in showing my femininity. I’ve also got a thing for lingerie and high-heeled shoes.
What makes you laugh?
Babies. I love babies. From tiny infants who gaze at their mothers with adoration to near-toddlers who have their own idea of what should go in their mouths. I just want to cuddle them all and keep them safe.
What makes you angry?
Mistreated children. Everyone deserves to be loved and cherished.
Do you have a secret? If so, what is it?
I have a huge secret – my real name and nationality. And some stuff I did in the past that I’d rather not remember. I introduce myself as Kat Smith, American cyber-security expert. But in truth I’m Katya Grigorievna Smirnova, a Russian national. I escaped my homeland five years ago and created my new identity. My new life. I can’t let anyone jeopardize that. And if someone discovers who I really am and what I’ve done, I’ll have to disappear again.
What do you have in your pockets/purse right now?
The usual girly stuff—a compact, lipstick, concealer, comb. A specially encrypted cell phone and a listening device detector. And probably some sugar-free gum.
What was your childhood like?
Rough. My mother wanted me to be a ballerina so forced me to practice every day. But I never lived up to her ideal, so she turned her attention to my younger sister who was a natural. Mom took my sister and left. And then my dad got lost in the bottom of a bottle, so I ended up on the streets at fourteen. I had to grow up fast and took a lot of wrong turns until Liam Manning rescued me and gave me a new life in America.
AUTHOR BIO:
A former world wanderer, Alexia Adams writes contemporary romance stories that reflect her love of exotic destinations and diverse characters and cultures. She currently lives near Vancouver, Canada with her husband and four children and dreams of a world without housework. As a flight-risk mom, romance is her escape and she can often be found with her nose in a book, pretending she’s somewhere else. Check out her website at http://alexia-adams.com and sign up for her monthly newsletter to find your next escape.
You can find Alexia Adams here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexiaAdamsAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexiaAdamsAuth
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/alexiaadamsauth/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068526.Alexia_Adams
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Alexia-Adams/e/B00CNIDYN2/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alexia-adams
Alexia’s Books:
Masquerading with the Billionaire (a Guide to Love novel)
Miss Guided (a Guide to Love novella)
Played by the Billionaire (a Guide to Love novel)
His Billion Dollar Dilemma (a Guide to Love novel)
The Greek’s Stowaway Bride
The Vintner and The Vixen (Vintage Love Book 1)
The Playboy and The Single Mum (Vintage Love Book 2)
The Tycoon and The Teacher (Vintage Love Book 3)
Her Faux Fiancé
An Inconvenient Love
An Inconvenient Desire
Singapore Fling
Bundles:
Trials of Love: 10 Lawyers to Lust For
London Calling: 5 British Romances
Romance in Color
She’s the Boss
He’s the Boss
Wedding Season
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: Alexia Adams, book recommendations, character interviews, contemporary romance, Kat Smith, Masquerading with the Billionaire, romance writer [image error]
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March 15, 2017
The Past Life Series Bundle Is 99 Cents! — “Delicious conflict and forbidden desires”
One man is her soul mate.
Another owns a piece of her heart.
Together they share a distant past that will change everything.
Forever.
THE PAST LIFE SERIES.
Where millennia-old secrets test passion, reality, and love.
I’m thrilled to announce that my PAST LIFE SERIES bundle is 99cents!
BUT ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME
Readers have so much to say about these stories:
“The writing is evocative and thoroughly addictive.”
“Barbara Erskine meets Dan Brown.”
“Fast-paced…a roller coaster ride.”
“Will keep you on the edge of your proverbial seat.”
The PAST LIFE SERIES
Where millennia-old secrets test passion, reality, and love.
IN THIS LIFE
When psychologist Lottie Morgan meets Galen, their encounter is as intense as it is eye-opening. Something about him is familiar. His looks. His words. His touch.
Lottie can’t resist the urge to know more about him, or the smoldering memories that surface every time he’s near. Only Galen’s keeping a dangerous secret, one linked to a life shared thousands of years ago. One that could destroy the relationship Lottie has with her current lover David.
One that is about to cost Lottie her life. Again.
Take a trip to mysterious ancient Egypt, where powerful passions ignite and deadly deceptions begin. The Past Life Series starts here.
COVET
Everyone wants something. Even if it belongs to someone else.
And some will destroy the very thing they want, just so no one else can have it.
Professional soldier David Bellotti’s latest mission seems simple: steal the key card to a drug lord’s compound so the empire can be infiltrated and destroyed. But when David discovers evidence of his lover Lottie’s possible infidelity, his mission turns personal. He searches for answers others would kill to keep buried and discovers a link to the past he’s been trying hard to ignore.
Ancient lives, twelve thousand year old secrets, murder, and primal instincts lead David on a journey through past lives and present danger all to save the woman he loves.
Find your way back through alternate history, when hunter-gatherers roamed and David and Lottie’s supernatural incarnations began.
YESTERDAY PEOPLE
David Bellotti’s only focus is to find his abducted twelve-year old daughter. When he sees her on a news segment with her captor, a renowned archaeologist who’s made a major discovery, David sets out to bring her back home. But the search leads him to a secret message that could alter man’s history forever.
A message David and his daughter inscribed twelve-thousand years ago.
A message that will prove dangerous in the wrong hands.
Protecting this powerful information seems simple until David realizes some people will use his daughter against him to get it, at whatever the cost. Now David must make a choice. Protect mankind from a secret past that must remain hidden, or save his little girl.
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: 99cent sale, alternate history, Amazon, ancient Egypt, ancient history, Ancient Mysteries, Kindle, mystery, paleolithic, paranormal books, paranormal romance, paranormal suspense, Past Life series, Terri Herman-Ponce
March 5, 2017
Character Interview: Anastasia Pollack–Amateur sleuth who fights mob loan sharks and wishes she didn’t inherit that parrot
I had a terrific time interviewing Anastasia Pollack this week. She’s an amateur sleuth of author Lois Winston’s critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries (who’s been dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum” by Kirkus Reviews), and if you haven’t heard of her you’re missing out. She’s a survivor. She’s feisty. And she truly wishes she never inherited that parrot even though he makes her laugh because, you know, she’d much rather have had the Royal Doulton china.
Want to know more about Anastasia and her stories? Read on…
What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?
First of all, let me introduce myself. I’m Anastasia Pollack, the amateur sleuth of author Lois Winston’s critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. I never realized it until about a year ago, but I’m a survivor. And boy, have I ever had a lot to survive these last months, after my husband, Karl Marx Pollack, dropped dead at a roulette wheel in Las Vegas. I, the clueless wife, believed he was at a sales meeting in Harrisburg, PA.
As if that weren’t bad enough, I quickly discovered Karl had hidden a serious gambling addiction from me for years. Not only were we up the wazoo in debt, but his loan shark was demanding I pay off the fifty grand Karl owed him. Oh, and did I mention I’m now permanently stuck with my communist mother-in-law living under my roof? At least I currently still have a roof. Somehow I’ve managed to keep my family from having to take up residence in a cardboard box.
Finally, let’s not forget (as if I could!) the dead bodies popping up at regular intervals. Somehow I’ve survived it all—so far.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be, and why?
That’s easy. I’d like to be rich. Not necessarily bazillionaire rich but rich enough that I didn’t have that cardboard box looming on the horizon. People always say money can’t buy happiness, but they’re usually the ones who have no trouble paying their bills each month. And I guarantee they’ve never been threatened by a Mafia loan shark.
What is the strangest thing you’ve ever had to do, or had happen to you?
Ever since Karl’s death, my life has been a series of strange things, but I suppose the strangest would have to be walking into my office to find the dead body of our fashion editor glued to my desk chair and keyboard. I doubt many people could top that!
What quality do you like most in a man/woman, and why?
Honesty. Why? Refer back to Question #1. If Karl had been honest about his gambling problem, I wouldn’t be in the pickle I’m in. Best case, I could have gotten him some help for his addiction. At worst, I would have been able to protect some of our assets. My dead louse of a spouse even gambled away our kids’ college funds!
What is your idea of a perfect day/night?
One where I don’t have to worry about bill collectors and mob loan sharks.
Do you argue with the author that writes you? If so, what do you argue about?
Duh! Who do you think got me into this mess? Do you know that Lois Winston used to write romance? Why couldn’t she have written me into one of those books? But, no, she not only screwed up my life, she keeps throwing dead bodies at my feet. What did I ever do to her?
What makes you angry?
My dead husband tops the list, but my mother-in-law comes in a close second. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with her ‘til death do us part. Most unfortunately, I fear she’s going to outlive us all.
What book are you reading?
Reading? Who has time to read? Have you not been listening to me? Between taking on all sorts of moonlighting jobs to pay off a multitude of maxed out credit cards, as well as umpteen loans and a second mortgage I knew nothing about, I haven’t read a book in nearly a year. The book I was reading when Karl died is still sitting on my nightstand.
What was your childhood like?
A heck of a lot better than my current adulthood.
What’s your job and why do you do it?
I’m the crafts editor at a women’s magazine. I love my job but hate the commute. I work for the same reason most people work: I need the money. I’m currently working on a way to craft a clone of myself so I can work 48 hours a day instead of just 24. (Sleep is so overrated!) I figure if I can accomplish that, I’ll be able to dig us out of debt in about ten years.
Of what are you most fearful?
That looming cardboard box. Hopefully, if it comes to that, I’ll be able to secure a spot above a subway grate for warmth.
What makes you laugh?
Ralph makes me laugh. He’s an African Grey parrot I inherited from Great-Aunt Penelope. At first I was a bit bummed. I would have preferred her collection of Royal Doulton china, but Mama got the dishes, and I got the parrot. Great-aunt Penelope was a Shakespearean scholar who brought Ralph to all her classroom lecture. African Greys are the smartest of their species, and as it turns out Ralph is a parrot genius. He has an uncanny knack for coming up with situation appropriate quotes from the Bard, no matter the circumstances. Ralph has helped me get through some of the worst experiences of my life by tickling my funny bone with a spot-on squawk.
If you could do something over again, what would it be and why?
I’d marry someone else. If you haven’t figured out why yet, you haven’t been paying attention.
AUTHOR BIO:
USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.
Visit Lois/Emma at www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com.
Follow everyone on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/anasleuth and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Anasleuth.
Sign up for Lois’s newsletter at https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5.
THE ANASTASIA POLLACK CRAFTING MYSTERIES:
Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun
Crafty Crimes (3 Anastasia Pollack Mini-Mysteries)
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: A Stitch to Die For, Anastasia Pollack, book recommendations, character interviews, Crafting Mysteries, Lois Winston, mystery, mystery authors
February 26, 2017
Three Simple Words Can Transform Your Life
How often are you in a situation in which someone says something you take the wrong way? It could be at work, or at home, or in the supermarket — we’ve all experienced times in which the person we’re with makes a comment that, all of a sudden, feels like a personal hit.
Though we may feel slighted in those moments, it’s important to remember that our perception of those moments isn’t usually accurate. That’s because the way we see the world is different from how others see the world.
Which is a universal truth we frequently forget.
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copyright Gonthorn Nilodom | Flickr
However, there’s a simple phrase that can help you stay calm and collected in those moments when you feel someone’s slighted you. It can also help put things into much better perspective…
…And I found that phrase on Harv Eker’s blog.
“So what do you do when someone freaks out on you? How can you go along in your day with grace, joy and happiness instead of having this incident completely ruin it?”
Want to know the trick? Click here to read “The Most Simple Statement That Will Transform Your Life”.
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: human behavior, life lessons, Self Awareness, Self Esteem, self help, self improvement
February 19, 2017
Meet Author Susanne Matthews: Self-Discovery, Fears, and What She’d Like to Be in a Crayon Box
This is the first in a series of new blog posts for me:
introductions to authors you should know about — and read!
I had the luxury of meeting up with author Susanne Matthews earlier this week, and w hen I talked to her about her books and life in general, I got a few surprises. I learned about the wild adventures in her head that drive her to write and the muse that inspires her stories, and what compels her to pen fiction across several genres. Oh, and I discovered a little secret about what color she’d like to be if she was inside a crayon box.
Looking for a new author to explore? Meet Susanne Matthews…
You’ve been writing for a while now. So tell me, what was your best writing experience ever?
First, thank you for having me here! And to answer your question, I’d have to say that would have to be when a story seems to write itself. I’ve had a few that have done that, and those moments are the ones I treasure. In some ways, parts of Desert Deception did just that for me, despite the fact that it’s the longest book I’ve ever written. I think specifically of the scene in the desert with the meteor shower, the one in the mountains during the earthquake, and the scenes with her nephew. My plots are multi-layered, and while I still use only 2 points of view, it’s important that the story flows naturally. Since I’m a pantser, that is I don’t plan my work out ahead of time, I feel truly satisfied when they happen, especially as I move to the ending and everything comes together for me.
What was your worst writing experience ever?
When I did my first official NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I planned to do it as part of a group sponsored by a publisher. It sounded like a good idea. Not only would I finish the book in a month, but I might sell the novel to the publisher, too. The problem was, I had to provide a goals, motivation, and conflict chart as well as character sketches and a plot outline. I struggled with those for days, starting over, printing charts to fill in, to the point where I was so frustrated I didn’t go near the computer for three days. Finally, I gave up and dropped out of the group. I did do NaNo that year, but on my own terms. To me, I have to do it my way or it just doesn’t work.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Without a doubt that would be the money I spend on the covers for the books I release independently. I use Do Elle Designs. She’s done covers for six of my novels including Desert Deception. I believe a good cover markets the book more effectively than anything else I’ve tried. With so many books available online, your book needs to stand out in the crowd. Danielle has great skills and fantastic ideas. She’s wonderful to work with and well worth the costs.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
I have a number of authors as Facebook friends and colleagues. I certainly don’t have space to name them all, but among the most influential are Vikki Vaught-Mccombie, Flossie Benton Rogers, Iris Blobel , Jean Joachim, Kristen Bethany-Kris Fournier, Angelica Dawson, Heather M. Gardner, Deborah O’Neill Cordes, Trisha Faye, and Elle Marlow. I blog with some of these on a weekly basis. Others lift me up with their wonderful comments and reviews. I value their opinions and strive to ensure the time they take reading and commenting on my work is time well spent. They make me strive to be the best I can be. Christy Newton is my critique partner who makes sure I stay with US English among other things. Melinda De Ross has become a close friend. Misery loves company and we shared a particularly miserable experience with an unscrupulous publisher. She lifts me up when I have one of my black moments. Writing is a solitary business, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.
Do you have a muse? If so, what is his/her name and how does he/she help your creativity?
People have told me they would love to spend some time inside my head and wonder how I come up with the plots and twists and turns like I do. I give the credit to my muse. Who or what is my muse? She’s my imagination, one that was indulged in my early years by my father who used to sit and tell wild adventure stories to get me to eat my meals. As I got older, I fed her books of all kinds to stimulate her. She and I traveled the world, past and present, soared into outer space and make-believe lands. Today, she pays attention to the world around us and provides me with the story ideas I use to create my novels. She’s a difficult taskmaster, insisting I sit at the computer each day, but for me it’s a dream come true. All I do is type the information she gives me as it comes to her. Her greatest reward and mine comes from knowing people who read my books enjoy them.
Did you grow up with books? If so, what were your favorites and why?
Yes. I was and still am a voracious reader. As a child growing up in the Fifties with asthma, I was sick a lot and spent time either in a hospital bed or at home. I loved the Nancy Drew books as well as those about the mouseketeer Anette or Donna Parker. I read Hardy Boy mysteries as well. When I was able to, I would go to the public library and spend hours there. I got interested in history books and read most of Sir Walter Scott’s books as well as anything by Thomas Costain. I believe I took out every book the library had on Ancient Greece, Roma, and Egypt. When I was fifteen, I started reading Harlequin Romances and other similar novels.
What genre do you write in, and why? What fascinates you most about that genre?
All the novels I write are romances in that they all end with a happily ever after. That being said, in some of my books, the suspense, mystery, historical, paranormal, or sci-fi aspect is as important as the love affair. In my YA novel, Prove It! there is a budding romance, but the focus of the story is on the ‘who done it’, just like a Nancy Drew book. In Echoes of the Past and Hello Again, there are ghosts and spirits that influence the story. I do have some contemporary romance novels, like Just for the Weekend and Come Home for Christmas but again, they have another side to them besides just getting together. Similarly, the heroines in my historical novels, The Price of Honor and The Captains’ Promise have to overcome issues before they reach their goals. All of my books are descriptive. I love it when a reviewer says, “it’s like being there” almost as much as I love hearing “I couldn’t put it down.”
As to the second part of your question, why do I write romance? I do it because for many people the world has become and continued to be an ugly place. I want to help the reader escape from the every day. Some of my suspense novels, like the Harvester saga: The White Carnation, The White Lily, and The White Iris are graphic and violent, but in the end, the good guy wins and that doesn’t always happen in real life. I don’t write erotica, and if there is sex in the book, it grows out of the story and the scene. What fascinates me about the genre is that I can go anywhere and do anything with it. If I can make a heart race, tears come, or laughter bubble up, I’ve succeeded. I write to entertain and being able to do that is what I like best.
If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
If I were an animal, I would definitely be a cat. I’ve had cats before and of all the animals I’ve had, they are the ones that appeal to me the most. I suppose it’s fitting since according to my birthday, I’m a Leo. Felines are strong, resilient, and independent. While they welcome affection, they know when enough is enough. They were worshipped in Ancient Egypt and continue to be associated with magic and mystery. They are among the most beautiful animals, like a snow leopard, a Bengal tiger, or a jaguar. They’re fast and sleek, and no one messes with them. In Desert Deception, I have a scene with a puma when Casey gets lost in the wilderness.
Tell us about your most recent book. What prompted you to write it?
Desert Deception is a rewrite of a novel published a few years ago by Misty Matthews, a writing partnership that dissolved when the publisher closed. Misty gave me the rights to the story, and I decided to put it out again. Originally, Coming Home, as it was called, was intended to be part of a four book series called Taking a Chance on Love.
I love suspense and mystery. When I began to rewrite the story, I wanted to add some of the information that would’ve gone into subsequent books, and do it in such a way that there would be no impact on anything Misty might want to write with the rights I gave her. So, I changed the names, the location, the time of year, added a few more characters while deleting others, etc. The story is set now in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, in the imaginary town of Fortune. The book begins much as it did, and I did retain some scenes I’d written that I really liked, but I would say 125,000 of the 157,000 words are new. The plot now resolves around a number of unsolved murders and arsons and the reason Casey’s refuses to return to her hometown is clearly spelled out. Cole’s desire to remain anonymous as an author is also explained in a little more depth. When Casey and Cole are forced to work together, the romance grows, but they have a number of obstacles to overcome before they get to their happily ever after. I’m fortunate to have a reviewer who enjoys my work, and she has read the new version of the book. In her words: “I thought your scenes were more visually descriptive. I liked it the first time, this was improved…so great job!”
What was your most exciting moment as a writer?
That has to be selling my first book, Fire Angel. I sometimes wonder if I would’ve written another if that one hadn’t sold. I have to admit that each time I publish a book, the sense of accomplishment is what pushes me to write the next one.
You’re a new addition to a crayon box. What color would you be?
I would be a milky turquoise color. Last spring, we visited Iceland and went to the Blue Lagoon. The water was this incredible opaque, milky turquoise. I’ve seen similar colors in Alaska near the glaciers but this was indescribable.
As an author, what’s the best thing you love about, or from, readers?
I love hearing their feedback. I enjoy knowing they liked my books and would read them again. I don’t mind it when they criticize because you need to know where you went wrong if you’re going to improve.
[image error]Seeing is believing, or is it?
When high-powered Santa Fe attorney Casey Stevens reluctantly returns to Fortune for Gold Rush Days, she is drawn to Cole Walker Junior, but he is no longer the shy, quiet boy she recalls. Then again, Cole isn’t the only one who has changed. The town may be celebrating its past, but someone is trying to destroy its future. A hit and run accident leaves Fortune’s only lawyer in a coma, forcing Casey to choose between helping innocent people and running away once more. Can she face the demons of her past or will they destroy her this time?
Cole Warner has a secret identity, one he’s determined to protect at all costs. The police officer, volunteer firefighter, and part-time store owner, is also popular western novelist, CJ Coleson, who uses Fortune and its people as the inspiration for his books. Having Casey walk into his life turns it upside down. When someone starts using the murders in Cole’s books to stage a killing spree of their own, keeping his secret may be too costly, but admitting the truth could ruin any chance they have for a happily ever after.
As the bodies pile up and the buildings burn down, Casey and Cole have to work together to stop a madman with gold fever before more people die. The answer lies on Superstition Mountain or is it all a desert deception?
Available as an eBook and a paperback. You can buy Desert Deception here.
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Susanne Matthews lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada with her husband. She has three grown children and five grandchildren. Of French-Canadian descent, Susanne is an avid reader of all types of books, but with a penchant for happily ever after romances regardless of what it takes to get there. A retired educator, she spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers, whether in a contemporary, historical, sci-fi, paranormal, or suspense setting. She loves the ins and outs of complex romances, and the journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love. Susanne is a PAN member of the Romance Writers of America.
You can follow Susanne here:
Website: http://www.mhsusannematthews.ca/
Blog: https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SLMauthor
Twitter: @jandsmatt
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Matthews/e/B00DJCKRP4/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7009276.Susanne_Matthews
Copyright © 2012-2017 · All Rights Reserved · TerriPonce.com
Filed under: Stories Behind The Stories Tagged: Desert Deception, fiction author, historical romance, romance writer, romantic suspense, Susanne Matthews
