Ally Shields's Blog, page 43

Author Interview with Patricia Preston

Good Morning, booklovers!

Welcome to this week's Coffee Chat with women's fiction writer, Patricia Preston, and her romance novel, Everything His Heart Desires.

What may I offer you to drink, Patricia?

PP:  I don’t drink coffee. But I do drink sweet tea every day.

Ally: Tea it is. While I fix our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.

Author Bio:

Patricia Preston loves writing single-title women’s fiction where love matters most. She also writes short stories and historicals. She won William Faulkner Award for Short Fiction, the Lone Star Writing Competition for Historical Romance, and Harlequin’s World’s Best Romances Short Story Competition. She’s a hybrid author who has published traditionally and independently. She’s repped by the Seymour Agency. Besides writing, she’s also worked as a librarian, medical office manager, and in a cosmetic department where she played with makeup all day. Her favorite place to hang out is her writing cave where must-haves are iced tea and epic music. She also enjoys photography, movies, and research trips to New Orleans.

Something unusual not in your regular bio: "I make the Best-Ever Pecan Pie!"

For info on new releases and contests, sign up for her newsletter

Check out her Blog  Follow her on Twitter    Facebook   Amazon Author Page
INTERVIEW:

Ally:  What type of book did you bring with you today?

PP:  The genre for the Love Heals Alls series is single-title romance/women’s fiction. Heat rating is warm, kinda like cable channel movies, so I’d go with over-18.

Ally:  Every writer has their own style and writing process. How would you describe yours?

PP:  It is part pantser and plotter. I usually do a bare bones outline to start with and flesh out the characters. Once I’m writing the book, I work all day at the computer and at night, I will sketch out the next day’s scenes and dialogue in longhand. I don’t set word count goals. I think more along the lines of completing a chapter or a scene.

Ally:  Did someone or something inspire you to write? If so, what effect did it have and why?

PP:  The first person who actually encouraged me to write was my seventh grade English teacher. I never forgot that and I don’t think I would have ever been a writer had it not been for her.

Ally: Do you have a writer's cave? Describe it or tell us where you do most of your writing. Does it have to be quiet or do you write with music or white noise (tv, etc)?

PP: Yes, I do have a writing cave. It’s actually a bedroom that I converted into an office. I do all my writing at a desktop in this room. I have two computers. One for online stuff and the other for writing only. It definitely looks like a working room as I have corkboards on the walls, file cabinets and bookcases. There is a smaller room that is attached to this room and it is sorta my little den area with a recliner, more bookcases and it is where I sketch out plot lines and scenes on art paper. I always listen to music when I write. Never the TV. The only time the TV is on is when I am watching it.

Ally:  What is your favorite social media?

PP:  Twitter. I like it because tweets are short and easy, plus I love the memes. I go to Twitter for instant news, to find new books, recipes, etc. All you have to do is search by a hashtag like #NewRelease and all the tweets with that hashtag appears in your feed. Also you can create a list and add members, then all you have to do is go to your list to see their tweets. You can find me @pat_preston  Also I love my blog where I do a lot of different posts and have guests.

Ally: I love to hear where other writers live. Tell us about your home.

PP:  I live in a small town of about 15,000. I do live in an older home in the downtown area which is only a few blocks from the post office, library and downtown area and I like that. I definitely get around in my Honda. There’s no other means of transportation locally, other than a small cab service. At times I wished I lived in a larger city where there would be more things to do but then we don’t have any traffic issues. I can be at restaurant or store in less than 5 minutes. I have been in rush-hour traffic in some major cities and that would drive me nuts. 

Ally:  What is your next writing project?

PP:  The next book is Not Through Loving You , which is due to be released on June 20th by Kensington/Lyrical Press. It’s a single title romance involving a pediatrician, Dr. Aaron Kendall, who is planning to adopt an unwanted preemie when the baby’s aunt, a Nashville songwriter, shows up and complicates things for Aaron. This year I am going to write another book in this series which involves Kayla, who has been in all the other books. Plus I really hope to get to finish the second historical in my Indie series, French Quarter Brides.

Ally:  Here's a few get-to-know-you short answer questions:
a. Favorite tv program: Supernatural b. High heels or sneakers:  Sneakers c. Favorite book boyfriend:  Rhett Butler d. What are your hobbies?  Photography e. If you couldn't write anymore, what would you want to do? Die. lol

Ally: Thanks for visiting with us, Patricia. Before you go, please tell us more about your novel, Everything His Heart Desires...
EVERYTHING HIS HEART DESIRES
(Rated R)

The man most likely to drive her crazy…

Growing up in Lafayette Falls, senator’s daughter Natalie Layton hid her sorrows behind a bright smile that charmed everyone in high school—except Brett Harris. Hardworking and highly motivated, Brett dismissed Natalie as a slacker. Instead, she’s become an acclaimed photographer. And when Brett, now a successful cardiologist, needs her family’s help to secure a coveted position, Natalie’s more than happy to prescribe a little payback…

Hailing from the wrong side of the tracks, Brett believed he could never win the school’s popular princess. Now he’s intrigued by the complex and compassionate woman Natalie’s become. Gaining her grandmother’s goodwill is the key to becoming chief cardiologist—and Natalie has no intention of making it easy. But as mutual mistrust gives way to pure chemistry, there’s more at stake than either ever expected—and much more to learn about matters of the heart…

Buy Links:  Amazon   Nook   Kobo  Google Play  iTunes

Thanks for stopping. Come back soon!

Book Spotlight: Nights Arose by Andrea Roche

NIGHTS AROSE by Andrea Roche
R-rated

In a time and place where women are bred to be lambs, Arose has the soul of a tigress.

It is 1693 on the isle of Jamaica, and twenty-one-year-old, Arose Du Mouchelle, is the mixed-race heir to a sprawling sugar plantation. From an old gypsy, she receives a matriarchal heirloom: the Gem of the Red Spirit. She spends years in exile, learning its secrets and mysteries, the most important of which is the ability to enter the Astral Plane. In exchange for her powers, Arose must act as the sentry between this dimension and her world, forcing back the creatures held captive there.

Morel, a voodoo Priestess, covets the Gem. Taking hostage Arose’s family and the port town, she attempts to force Arose to give up the powerful amulet. Morel’s plan is to rule over the evil creatures imprisoned in the Astral Plane, unleashing them upon the rest of humanity.

While evading Morel’s henchmen Arose collides with Captain St. James a notorious pirate, whom she has already met in a vision. Leary of him at first, he gains her trust after he aids in her escape. She is knocked unconscious and wakes to find she has been had – both he and the opal gone. However, even if she recovers the opal she’ll have a bigger decision to make: keep the opal and doom her family, or give it to Morel and let the world fall into a demonic wasteland.

EXCERPT:

She crouched on the ledge of a dune. The dying sun’s embers lit the sky just before the night arose.

     The previous hours of her day were difficult and tiresome. She wasn’t sure if her queasy stomach came from her boiling blood or the fact she hadn’t eaten since morning. The day’s close did give her some relief from the evil Voodoo and treachery, which followed her since that afternoon. Still her troubles would not simply end because the day did. In the guise of her alter ego, Evan, she could fool anyone. She had perfected a manly swagger. But, no matter how drunk she got in the pub, her troubles would remain. “He” would be on the hunt for her, ready to pounce, like a feral animal on his prey.

     Arose held a polished dagger up to the sunlight, to inspect the blade’s oily sheen. A jewel-encrusted fleur-delis adorned the pommel, glinted in the late evening sun. The same symbol of French royal heraldry decorated her family’s coat of arms.

     With a flick of her wrist, the perfectly balanced blade spun from her hand, flipped once, and pierced the sand between her feet. She retrieved the dagger and pursed her lips. Specks of sand flew from the swirling calligraphy of the monogram engraved on the shaft: NDM—Nessarose Du Mouchelle. The “N” made her shake her head. She preferred instead the name “Arose,” as her father called her, or even “Rosie” reserved for those who knew her well enough. Her youth had consisted of tussles with those who played on her name, giving her cruel nicknames like “Nessy” or “Pesty.” She’d grown to hate it.

     She traced the monogram with the tip of her finger and clucked her tongue when she saw the smudges left behind. Her breath came out as a steamy puff on the cold steel. Arose wiped off the droplets with her sleeve and checked the razor-fine edge for nicks. 

    With a gentle whoosh, she slipped the blade back into its sheath built into her thigh-high leather boot. Swollen eyes from earlier tears prickled, tempting her fingers to rub them until their yearning was happily satisfied. She would be much happier staying in her room with a cool cloth rinsed in lavender water, but the entity invading her home made it impossible.

   She had to search for the man who could help her save her family and the dragon who taught her everything. Never having met the man, seeing him only in a vision, she would know him by his aura and his scent, consisting of iron, cedar and citrus fruit and she knew his name: St. James, Captain St. James.

Youtube trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXlkkOPaGjY&t=63s

BUY: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1G9MPC About the Author:

Andrea is a dreamer and scribbler, whose work embraces her strong matriarchal heritage. She hopes her writing will instill in her readers the idea that a woman can find their independence while keeping homegrown values.
Still living in her childhood home, Andrea can hear the voices of her past. She has relied on them to tell her stories. “My mother always said I would find my way. I never knew what she meant until after she passed. Then her voice came loud and clear, and I used it to write this book,” she says.

As a child, Andrea was a fervent closet reader. She would take her readings and write her own versions of how the book should have ended, most times being happier with her alternate ending. In the fourth grade, her teacher assigned a book report to the class. Andrea gave her the report and included various alternate endings. Her teacher immediately enrolled her in a creative writing class. Thinking this was a punishment she asked her teacher why. Her teacher explained that if she did not like how the stories ended, she should make up her own. Andrea’s mind, now given permission to take flight, began a lifelong love of writing.

Wife of 25 years and mother of three children, she had dedicated her early life to helping her family business grow. She now works for the city of New York. Five years ago, she found herself in the hospital with an injury after a simple trip home from work went awry.  Not used to being idle, six months in a wheelchair gave her the time to write. It was there her mind was once again allowed to wander.

Starting with her vivid imagination she scrolled through pictures of her honeymoon in Jamaica, her mind went back into the past. Not her past, but the past of others who could have lived in a large mansion at the top of a hill covered in sugar cane. She stepped into a world with vivid colors and magic. Having already developed a polish to her writing abilities while gaining a B.A. degree with a dual major in Marketing and English Literature, she wrote what she saw and what she heard as if someone whispered in her

Andrea’s hard work and long hours has paid off. Upon completion of her manuscript, she described feeling the same whoosh she felt when she delivered her children into the world. She is thankful she can bring her work to her readers.

Contact the Author:

 www.twitter.com/Rose121562
www.andrearoachauthor.blogspot.com 
www.facebook.com/NightsArose 

Book Spotlight: Nights Arose by Andrea Roche��

NIGHTS AROSE by Andrea Roche
R-rated

In a time and place where women are bred to be lambs, Arose has the soul of a tigress.

It is 1693 on the isle of Jamaica, and twenty-one-year-old, Arose Du Mouchelle, is the mixed-race heir to a sprawling sugar plantation. From an old gypsy, she receives a matriarchal heirloom: the Gem of the Red Spirit. She spends years in exile, learning its secrets and mysteries, the most important of which is the ability to enter the Astral Plane. In exchange for her powers, Arose must act as the sentry between this dimension and her world, forcing back the creatures held captive there.

Morel, a voodoo Priestess, covets the Gem. Taking hostage Arose’s family and the port town, she attempts to force Arose to give up the powerful amulet. Morel’s plan is to rule over the evil creatures imprisoned in the Astral Plane, unleashing them upon the rest of humanity.

While evading Morel’s henchmen Arose collides with Captain St. James a notorious pirate, whom she has already met in a vision. Leary of him at first, he gains her trust after he aids in her escape. She is knocked unconscious and wakes to find she has been had – both he and the opal gone. However, even if she recovers the opal she’ll have a bigger decision to make: keep the opal and doom her family, or give it to Morel and let the world fall into a demonic wasteland.

EXCERPT:

She crouched on the ledge of a dune. The dying sun’s embers lit the sky just before the night arose.

     The previous hours of her day were difficult and tiresome. She wasn’t sure if her queasy stomach came from her boiling blood or the fact she hadn’t eaten since morning. The day’s close did give her some relief from the evil Voodoo and treachery, which followed her since that afternoon. Still her troubles would not simply end because the day did. In the guise of her alter ego, Evan, she could fool anyone. She had perfected a manly swagger. But, no matter how drunk she got in the pub, her troubles would remain. “He” would be on the hunt for her, ready to pounce, like a feral animal on his prey.

     Arose held a polished dagger up to the sunlight, to inspect the blade’s oily sheen. A jewel-encrusted fleur-delis adorned the pommel, glinted in the late evening sun. The same symbol of French royal heraldry decorated her family’s coat of arms.

     With a flick of her wrist, the perfectly balanced blade spun from her hand, flipped once, and pierced the sand between her feet. She retrieved the dagger and pursed her lips. Specks of sand flew from the swirling calligraphy of the monogram engraved on the shaft: NDM—Nessarose Du Mouchelle. The “N” made her shake her head. She preferred instead the name “Arose,” as her father called her, or even “Rosie” reserved for those who knew her well enough. Her youth had consisted of tussles with those who played on her name, giving her cruel nicknames like “Nessy” or “Pesty.” She’d grown to hate it.

     She traced the monogram with the tip of her finger and clucked her tongue when she saw the smudges left behind. Her breath came out as a steamy puff on the cold steel. Arose wiped off the droplets with her sleeve and checked the razor-fine edge for nicks. 

    With a gentle whoosh, she slipped the blade back into its sheath built into her thigh-high leather boot. Swollen eyes from earlier tears prickled, tempting her fingers to rub them until their yearning was happily satisfied. She would be much happier staying in her room with a cool cloth rinsed in lavender water, but the entity invading her home made it impossible.

   She had to search for the man who could help her save her family and the dragon who taught her everything. Never having met the man, seeing him only in a vision, she would know him by his aura and his scent, consisting of iron, cedar and citrus fruit and she knew his name: St. James, Captain St. James.

Youtube trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXlkkOPaGjY&t=63s

BUY: Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1G9MPC About the Author:

Andrea is a dreamer and scribbler, whose work embraces her strong matriarchal heritage. She hopes her writing will instill in her readers the idea that a woman can find their independence while keeping homegrown values.
Still living in her childhood home, Andrea can hear the voices of her past. She has relied on them to tell her stories. “My mother always said I would find my way. I never knew what she meant until after she passed. Then her voice came loud and clear, and I used it to write this book,” she says.

As a child, Andrea was a fervent closet reader. She would take her readings and write her own versions of how the book should have ended, most times being happier with her alternate ending. In the fourth grade, her teacher assigned a book report to the class. Andrea gave her the report and included various alternate endings. Her teacher immediately enrolled her in a creative writing class. Thinking this was a punishment she asked her teacher why. Her teacher explained that if she did not like how the stories ended, she should make up her own. Andrea’s mind, now given permission to take flight, began a lifelong love of writing.

Wife of 25 years and mother of three children, she had dedicated her early life to helping her family business grow. She now works for the city of New York. Five years ago, she found herself in the hospital with an injury after a simple trip home from work went awry.  Not used to being idle, six months in a wheelchair gave her the time to write. It was there her mind was once again allowed to wander.

Starting with her vivid imagination she scrolled through pictures of her honeymoon in Jamaica, her mind went back into the past. Not her past, but the past of others who could have lived in a large mansion at the top of a hill covered in sugar cane. She stepped into a world with vivid colors and magic. Having already developed a polish to her writing abilities while gaining a B.A. degree with a dual major in Marketing and English Literature, she wrote what she saw and what she heard as if someone whispered in her

Andrea’s hard work and long hours has paid off. Upon completion of her manuscript, she described feeling the same whoosh she felt when she delivered her children into the world. She is thankful she can bring her work to her readers.

Contact the Author:

 www.twitter.com/Rose121562
www.andrearoachauthor.blogspot.com 
www.facebook.com/NightsArose 

Coffee Chat Interview with Author Beth Barany

Hey, booklovers!
Join me in welcoming this week's author guest, Beth Barany, with her YA fantasy, Henrietta and the Battle of Horse Mesa.
 How do you take your coffee, Beth?

BETH:  I love Starbucks tall cappuccino. At home I make a half-n-half, have strong coffee and half coconut milk with a dash of half-n-half.

Ally:  Since we always have Starbucks around here, I'll serve that up right away. In the meantime, please introduce yourself.
BIO:

Award winning author, Beth Barany writes in several genres including young adult adventure fantasy and fantasy romance. Inspired by living abroad in France and Quebec, she loves creating magical tales of romance and adventure to empower women and girls to jump into life with both feet and be the heroes in their own lives.

In her off hours, Beth enjoys walking her neighborhood, gardening on her patio, and watching movies and traveling with her husband, author Ezra Barany. They live in Oakland, California with their cat named Leo, a piano, and over 1,000 books.

Something unusual that isn't in your regular bio: "I’ve run 4 sprint triathlons (swim, bike, run) and finished each one."

Author Contacts:

Site: http://author.bethbarany.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/beth_barany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethbarany
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bethbarany
INTERVIEW:

Ally:   Let's jump right into the writing process. How do you choose and name your characters?

BETH:  My character names come to me all kinds of ways. When Henrietta The Dragon Slayer came to me, I thought it was hilarious to pair an old-fashioned name with a kickass heroine. Jaxter, the jester, came to me because he was inspired by the comical character. Joxer, in Xena, The Warrior Princess TV show. Franc came to me because I wanted a name that sounded masculine and was a short name, to act as a counterpoint to Henrietta’s three-syllable name. I choose Paulette, because like Henrietta’s name, I wanted a female name that could be shortened to a boy’s name. With my heroines’ names, I wanted to play with images and stereotypes of masculine and feminine.

Ally:  If you could have a supernatural power, what would it be and why?

BETH:  I’ve always wanted to fly and to have telekinesis. The flying part would be a given, like a skill lots of superheroes have. But my wow factor would be the ability to move objects with my mind. Ever since I read a story as a child where the main character learns how to do this, I wanted it. I just thought it was the ultimate in having a powerful mind. (Sorry, I can’t find the title of that book. If I do, I’ll add it to the comments.)

Ally:  Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? Who would play the parts, if you could choose?

BETH:  OMG, of course. From the start, I’ve seen Henrietta The Dragon Slayer as a movie, or even a series of movies. When people see the book cover, they often say they see the story as a movie!

Who wouldn’t want to see another kick ass heroine on screen? As for who would play what… I already have an actress who wants to play Henrietta. That’s under wraps for now.

Here’s my wish list for the other three main characters: Maybe Jaxter could be played by Andrew Garfield or Grant Gustin. He needs to be wiry and funny.

A rough and tough knight, Franc could be played by Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, Armie Hammer, Liam Hemsworth, Lee Byung-hun, John Abraham, or Luke Pasqualino.

The young witch Paulette could be played by Cara Delevingne, Hailee Steinfeld, Dakota Johnson, Shailene Woodley, Alicia Vikander, or Maika Monroe.

Ally:   Do you have a writer's cave? Describe it or tell us where you do most of your writing. Does it have to be quiet or do you write with music or white noise (tv, etc)?

BETH:  I love writing to pop music, though I edit usually to Baroque or to Celtic music, especially Julie Fowlis. As for my writer’s cave or environment, I write all my first drafts at a café, usually Starbucks, a local bakery called La Farine, or the local diner (Piedmont Café & Diner), at the counter, or at a local co-working space, Oakland’s ImpactHub downtown. I love sitting at the counter or a tall table, perched, like in a treehouse, separate from the world, yet connected. I love the activity of these public environments, the buzz of conversation in the background, music overhead, and the humming of the espresso machine or people chatting.

Ally:  Answer these five short answer questions:
a. an item on your bucket list: Live and travel in Ireland. b. favorite movie: The Fifth Element c. favorite accessory (jewelry, scarves, shoes, etc.): Pink scarf d. What are your hobbies? Watching TV and movies; running; gardening; travelling to new places. e.  typical breakfast: Two fried eggs and kale with coffee
Ally: Thanks so much for spending time with us today. Before you go, tell us about your latest book.

BETH:  I’m excited to announce the third book in my YA fantasy series, Henrietta and the Battle of the Horse Mesa.

HENRIETTA AND THE BATTLE OF THE HORSE MESA (Book 3)

Finally, the sweeping conclusion to the Henrietta The Dragon Slayer trilogy! Parted by destiny, the four friends struggle to rejoin forces and face for a final time, the ruthless sorcerer intent on destroying them all.

In the biggest challenge of her life, Henrietta the legendary Dragon Slayer of Bleuve must lead her people into a battle that may end life as they know it. For they face no ordinary army, but the dark forces of a powerful sorcerer bent on overtaking all five kingdoms. And unless she can rescue her dauntless knight Franc, she must do it without his support.

Franc will follow Henrietta anywhere. But on a mission to find allies among the Horse People, he is kidnapped and taken by minions of the evil sorcerer Eyvindir. Will he find the strength and courage to survive, and fight again at Henrietta’s side?

Paulette, the young fire witch, must stand trial for a murder committed out of desperation. In despair at her imprisonment by forces acting against her dearest friend, Jaxter, she escapes and flees to the frigid, forbidden land of Varangia to find a witch powerful enough to help her finally master fire. But what must she give up to gain the power to aid her friends?

Jaxter, now a king, must come to terms with the heavy responsibilities of ruling the Oro Islands, newly emerged from over 75 years of evil rule. This means doing right, even when it means going against ancient customs and protocols. Worse, the marauding Varangians press at his borders. He must find a way to defend his home, or none of them will survive.

Will Henrietta and her friends be able to stop the ruthless sorcerer from obliterating her, claiming the Dragon Stone, and ruling over the Five Kingdoms?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Henrietta-DragonSlayer-Kindle
B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Henrietta-The-Dragon-Slayer/Beth-Barany/e/2940012228222/
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/henrietta-the-dragon-slayer
iBooks: http://bethb.net/HEN1pg
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/46068
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780983296041?aff=bethbarany
Bookdepository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Henrietta-Dragon-Slayer-Beth-Barany/9780983296041?b=-3&t=-20

**NOTE**  Like many fantasy series, you do need to read the books in order. So start with Henrietta The Dragon Slayer (Book 1) here: http://author.bethbarany.com/books/the-five-kingdom-series/. Link includes a sign-up for a free prequel!
Happy Reading. Please stop by again!

Q & A with Author Jordaina Sydney Robinson

Welcome to the Wednesday Coffee Chat!

This week's guest is paranormal mystery writer, Jordaina Syndney Robinson. It's nice to meet you, Jordaina. What may I get you to drink?

JSR:  I drink tea. I make what my mum calls ‘builder’s tea’ which just means it’s really strong. I have two sugars in it but I’m trying to cut down to one.

Ally: Tea it is! We like to indulge our guests, but I don't want to undermine your dietary efforts, so I just won't reveal how many sugars I added. :) While I fix our drinks, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio

Jordaina Sydney Robinson grew up and, despite many adventures further afield, still lives in the North West of England. For fun she buys notebooks, gets walked by her husky puppy and sings really loudly and really badly whilst driving her trusty old Seat, Roger.

Something usual that's not in your regular bio: "I have to walk my husky puppy, Mr Wolf, before he lets me write or he sits next to me and howls. I think that means he’s spoiled!"

Author contact links

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter  

INTERVIEW:

Ally: Let's start by talking about what type of books you write.

JSR:  Beyond Dead is a paranormal cosy mystery. As for it’s romantic heat rating, I would say it was cold, maybe tepid at a push! There’s not even any hand holding!

Ally:   So you have your genre and probably a story idea, how do you choose and name your characters?

JSR:  I don’t really know how or if I choose my characters – they just sort of come fully formed and named. That said, Bridget (the heroine in Beyond Dead) is actually named after a (sort-of) ex-boyfriend’s best friend’s ex-girlfriend. She looks like her too though I didn’t actually realise until I was halfway through the second book.

Ally:  We're big on the paranormal and magic around here.  If you could have a supernatural power, what would it be and why?

JSR:  To fly. Which is weird, really, because I get motion sickness on escalators! I always have to take the stairs. But something about flying makes me think of freedom. You could go anywhere you wanted any time you wanted to. You wouldn’t have to spend hours at the airport – totally the best superpower!

Ally:  What is your favorite social media? Why do you like it? How often can readers find you there?

JSR:  Honestly, I’m a bit patchy with social media. I joined Twitter and Instagram not so long ago so I’m still getting to grips with how they work. Facebook is always a trusty favourite, though, so I’m probably more active on there and that’s because more people use that to talk to me. My favourite way to talk to readers, though, is through my email list. I send out an email a month and so many people reply I just find it a much more gratifying way to keep in touch with them.

Ally:  I'm always interested in where authors come from. Can you tell us about your home?

JSR:  I live in a Roman town in the North West of England. It’s classed as a walled city because we still have the walls circling the city that were built by the Romans. There’s a walkway on top of them so you can walk all the way around them. Obviously the city has expanded since Roman times so half the city is inside and half is outside but it’s still pretty cool.

We also have an amphitheatre and there are Roman tours around the city which are lead by guys dressed as Roman soldiers – always an interesting sight!   (Ally Note: Wow, am I envious! You have a home most of us just dream about.)

Ally:  What is your next writing project? Title, short description, anticipated release

JSR:  The third book in the Bridget Sway series, A Little More Dead, will be released for pre-order mid-January. I’m also working on a new series about a reporter called Aurora North who investigates spooky happenings which I’m super excited about. The first book in that series will be available in summer 2017.

Ally: I'd like to wind up the interview with a few short answer questions.
a. Favorite tv program:  Genuinely any type of murder mystery. b. High heels or sneakers:  Dr Martens! I’ll slip over on anything and they have the best grip of any boot around! I’m all about comfort (and personal safety!) over fashion. c. Do you believe in love at first sight?  I do! d. Favorite song:  Eye of the Tiger (although I’ve never seen the Rocky films). e. Favorite quote: “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.”  ― G.K. Chesterton
Ally: Thank you for visiting, Jordaina. I've enjoyed our chat. Before you go, please tell us more about Beyond Dead...


Blurb

Dead less than twenty-four hours, with a job that doesn’t pay, a fashion disaster for a uniform and more afterlife rules than she can shake a stick at, Bridget Sway thinks it’s as bad as it can get. And then she finds a dead ghost stuffed in her locker.

Since the police are desperate to arrest her for murder, Bridget’s new best friend convinces her the only way to save herself from an eternity in prison is to solve the murder themselves.

With a handsome parole officer watching her every move, an outlaw ghost befriending her and two persistent mediums demanding her attention, solving the murder is not quite as easy as it sounds. And when “murder” turns into “murders” Bridget needs to solve the case … before she becomes the next dead body stuffed in her locker.

Buy link to all formats:

https://www.books2read.com/JordainaSydneyRobinson-BeyondDead

Thanks for visiting my blog. Please come back soon!

New Release Book Spotlight: Adrift by Micki Browning

ADRIFT
by Micki Browning

Blurb:
In this breathtaking mystery debut, marine biologist–turned-divemaster Meredith Cavallo stands accused of a chilling crime after a dive gone wrong. But do the murky circumstances point to an accident, a murder, or a supernatural encounter?

Mer thought adjusting to a laid-back life in the Florida Keys would be a breeze. But when she rescues a floundering diver who claims to have seen a ghost, she’s caught in a storm of intrigue. News of the encounter explodes on social media, attracting a team of ghost hunters who want to capture proof that a greenish ghoul haunts Key Largo’s famed USS Spiegel Grove shipwreck.

Meredith knows the wreck inside and out, and agrees to act as their safety diver. When Ishmael, the charismatic leader of the group, vanishes during a midnight dive, everyone except Mer is convinced the ghost has claimed another victim. Topside, the tenacious detective in charge of the investigation finds Mer’s involvement in both incidents suspicious, and her enigmatic neighbor resurrects ghosts from her past.

Determined to find a rational explanation, Mer approaches Ishmael’s disappearance as any scientist would—by asking questions, gathering data, and deducing the truth. But the victim’s life is as shrouded in mystery as his disappearance. Still, something happened under the water and before long, she’s in over her head. When someone tries to kill her, she knows the truth is about to surface. Maybe dead men do tell tales.

BUY LINKS:

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546962/adrift-by-micki-browning/9780425286418/

https://www.amazon.com/Adrift-Cavallo-Mystery-Micki-Browning-ebook/dp/B01CBLUS7A/

EXCERPT:

Mer fought to keep the unconscious diver on the surface, and they bobbed in the water just beyond the back of the LunaSea. She’d get only one chance to get him on the boat without injury.

She imagined carrying him like a sleepy child, his arms draped over her shoulders. Only she had to grab the ladder, find her footing and wedge her leg between his, or the force of the rocking boat would slam them back into the ocean.

“Here it comes, Cavallo,” Leroy, the captain, said. “Get ready.”

Mer inhaled and felt the power of the water swell beneath her. As the wave ebbed, she swam toward the boat, planted her foot, and drew her arms in to pin the diver against the ladder. Another wave hit, raising the LunaSea’s stern into the air. Gravity pulled at Mer, doing its best to drag her back into the sea. She gripped the ladder. Her biceps strained until Leroy seized the diver under the armpits and hauled him onto the deck like a gaffed fish.

Before Mer could readjust, the swim step plummeted and hit the water with a teeth-jarring thud. She held tight as the boat righted itself, and then clambered up the ladder.

Emergency equipment littered the deck like flotsam. Mer dropped her gear on the bench.

Leroy leaned over the now conscious diver. His tense face made Mer’s pulse race.

The diver clawed at the oxygen mask on his face. “Tell her!”

Mer brushed the man’s hand aside and resettled the mask. “Tell me what?” she asked her captain.

“He says he was diving the Spiegel Grove shipwreck.”

“Impossible,” she said. “We’re five miles away, and the current’s going in the wrong direction.”

“That he was diving the Spiegel and there was a—” Leroy struggled to find the right word. “Presence.”

“A presence? You mean like a ghost? Please.” She pursed her lips.

He shook his head. “I know. Except just after you went in the Sea Dragon radioed they’re missing a diver off the Spiegel.” He nodded toward the diver. “This one.”

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Micki Browning worked in municipal law enforcement for more than two decades and is an FBI National Academy graduate. She retired as a division commander – wonderful fodder for her current career as a full-time writer.

Her mystery, Adrift, set in the Florida Keys, won the 2015 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence and the Royal Palm Literary Award for best unpublished mystery and unpublished book of the year.

Micki resides in Southern Florida with her partner in crime and a vast array of scuba equipment. She’s currently working on Beached, the second Mer Cavallo Mystery. Learn more at www.MickiBrowning.com

Contact Micki:
www.mickibrowning.com
www.facebook.com/MickiBrowningAuthor
https://twitter.com/MickiBrowning

Interview with Author Miguelina Perez

Good Morning, Booklovers!

Our Coffee Chat author guest this week is Miguelina Perez with her debut novel, The Vicar's Deadly Sin.

Welcome, Lina, What may I get you to drink?

LINA:  I love coffee with lots of milk. Caffe Latte.

Ally: The magic pot is yours to command. While I pour, please introduce yourself.
BIO:

Ms. Miguelina Perez is a writer, and jewelry artist. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of the District of Columbia. As a jewelry artist one of her lariats was showcased in the San Antonio Express-News. She has won several awards including a critical Writing award for an essay on the gender roles of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

She finished her first book, The Vicar’s Deadly Sin – a Regency romance mystery, the first of a seven-part serial based on the Seven Deadly Sins. Currently, she is working the sequel to the Vicar’s Deadly Sin, “Angel’s Lust” and will start on “A Hero of Her Own” a contemporary romance thriller, about a serial killer terrorizing New York.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Ms. Perez resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Something about you that's not in your bio: "I believe in love at first sight...I also believe love conquers all.

Contact the author:

Website:
Website: miguelinaperezauthor.com
Twitter: @regencyinkwell
Email: mperezauthor@gmail.com
INTERVIEW:

Ally: What type of book is The Vicar's Deadly Sin?

LINA:  It is a regency romance mystery. PG-13 and up. No sex. Sort of Jane Austen meets Nancy Drew..

Ally:  How do you choose and name your characters?

LINA:  Sometimes I take a name from someone I know and give them the last name of someone else.

Ally:  Do you have a book trailer or will you? Are they worth the time and money?

LINA:  Yes, I have one, and  I think they are worth it. But if you do not have the money, you can learn to make your own.  I have made my own. And hope to continue to make them. I have even made them for friends.
(Ally note: I've made all but one of mine. It's rather fun if you have the time. I use Movie Maker.)

Ally:  How do you spend your non-writing/editing time?

LINA:  I spend my time reading, watching television and knitting. But that is after I know the place is cleaned and all of my chores are done. Lol…

Ally:  Does your real life show up in your writing? In what ways?

LINA:  In the contemporary romance I hope to write,  I will be adding some real life in it. Lots of it will be the main heroine and her relationship with her family.

Ally:  What is your next writing project?

LINA:  I am almost done with the first draft of the sequel for The Vicar’s Deadly Sin called Angel’s Lust and it is about the lust for youth and beauty and how young maidens are being sacrificed to a fictitious god by an Italian Count. Here is the blurb:

      Lady Jane Bartholomew and Miss Margaret Renard are back and this time they are out to catch a murderer targeting young maidens for sacrifices.
      Believing that having come close to getting themselves killed in their last investigation, Sir Hugh, now engaged to Lady Jane Bartholomew and Mr Latham, solicitor to Miss Margaret Renard, are distressed to learn that the young ladies are once again up to their old tricks.
      Believing they can solve the murders, the young ladies may well fall prey and become sacrificial lambs, unless Sir Hugh and Mr Latham protect them while trying not to fall victims themselves to the unseen evil walking among them leaving a pile of corpses in its wake?

Ally: Let's finish our chat with a few short answer questions.
a. favorite book – Pride and Prejudiceb. book you're currently reading – The Houseguest: A Pride and Prejudice Vagaryc. favorite tv program – Grimm, sadly it has been canceled.d. favorite quote – In Love I am but a mere reflection – M. Pereze. A guilty pleasure – Vanilla ShakeAlly:  It was a pleasure visiting with you today, Lina. Good luck with your books. Before you go, please show readers more about The Vicar's Deadly Sin...

The Vicar's Deadly Sin

A Touch of Romance…A Touch of Regency…A Touch of Murder… Lady Jane Bartholomew and Miss Margaret Renard have been friends since the age of twelve. Together they share their dreams, hopes and a love for reading. However, it is their wild imagination and a penchant for solving mysteries that will test their abilities when the Vicar of Dover is found murdered. The young ladies are joined by two gentlemen, also eager to find the murderer in order to prove to the ladies that detecting is a man's job, though the gentlemen find their beauty, wit, and pride more troublesome than solving a murder. The Vicar's Deadly Sin is a delightful and witty Regency romance mystery about two friends and their love for solving crimes, while keeping society and its rules at bay.

Buy On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iRrA0f

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab4U2lgacqg

Thanks for stopping by. Please come back soon!

Goodreads' Giveaway of Ghost Walking

GIVEAWAY! Freebies!

I'm excited to report that Goodreads is hosting a giveaway of three print copies of Ghost Walking (Maggie York Paranormal Mystery #1) for residents of the US. I hope you'll enter below or on Goodreads. I'd love to send you a copy!

Ghost Walking blurb:

Not believing won't make the ghosts go away.

New Orleans' homicide cop Maggie York is at the top of her game until a sniper's bullet changes everything. She flatlines, comes back. But not quite the same. She sees and hears things...ghostly things. And she blurts out enough to her doctors to end up on medical leave with a diagnosis of PTSD. If only.

Six months later, the voices have faded and the ghostly sightings are less frequent. The department still won't let Maggie return to the job. Oh, she's quit talking about ghosts, except to a few friends and the loony relatives who believe she's a witch, but Maggie doubts herself. Since inactivity is making it worse, she sets out to track down her shooter, only things get complicated...a ghostly witness wants his own murder solved, and sexy homicide cop, Josh Brandt—who just happens to be her replacement—wants her to butt out of his case.

After Josh catches her at the murder scene of a key witness, he wonders how the attractive redhead is staying one step ahead of him and how deeply her involvement goes. She doesn't appear as unstable as he's been told, but she's hiding something. He recognizes the signs...because he has secrets of his own. Unraveling her case soon draws them down twisted but intersecting paths.

And failure may cost Maggie her life. .goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; } Goodreads Book Giveaway Ghost Walking by Ally Shields

Giveaway ends January 23, 2017.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway Good luck! Thanks for entering!

Interview with Author Christina Hoag

Welcome to the first Coffee Chat in 2017!

I hope your holiday was wonderful and that you have lots of new books to read! In case you still have a gift card to use, check out my interview with author Christina Hoag and her romantic YA thriller, Girl on the Brink.

Good morning, Christina! What can I get you to drink?

CH:  I drink café con leche every morning, half espresso, half milk. After travelling and living in countries with real coffee cultures, I can’t drink American-style coffee anymore!

Ally:  No problem. My magic pot can fix anything. Meanwhile, please introduce yourself to readers.
Bio:
Christina Hoag is the author of Skin of Tattoos, a literary thriller set in L.A.’s gang underworld (Martin Brown Publishers, August 2016) and Girl on the Brink, a romantic thriller for young adults (Fire and Ice YA/Melange Books, August 2016). She is a former reporter for the Associated Press and Miami Herald and worked as a correspondent in Latin America writing for major media outlets including Time, Business Week, Financial Times, the Houston Chronicle and The New York Times. She is the co-author of Peace in the Hood: Working with Gang Members to End the Violence, a groundbreaking book on gang intervention (Turner Publishing, 2014). She lives in Los Angeles.

Something unique not in your usual bio: "I was almost born in Zambia, which is where my parents met. They left a couple months before my mother was due to give birth and I was born in New Zealand instead."

For more information, see www.christinahoag.com.

https://facebook.com/ChristinaHoagAuthor
https://twitter.com/ChristinaHoag
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7341116.Christina_Hoag 
INTERVIEW:

Ally:  Your write both mature fiction and young adult. Is it hard to switch between the two? Do you set out to write one or the other, or does the heroine tell you what kind of story she prefers?

CH:  Both my novels started out as YA. On “Skin of Tattoos,” I eventually upped the protag’s age by just a few years to make it an adult novel and it made all the difference as far as the scope of what the character could do since teens are limited in their range of actions by their age. However, the book still has some YA elements in that the protag has a lot of issues with his parents and family that he comes to term with by the novel’s end.

I conceived “Girl on the Brink,” however, as a YA, and it stayed as YA, but it was tricky, I confess. It took me a while to firm up the YA voice and perspective. It didn’t come naturally to me. I had to immerse myself in YA books to get the hang of it. I’m more comfortable with the adult voice though I have another YA in mind for down the road. YA readers are very enthusiastic so it’s a rewarding audience.

Ally:  What was your road to publication? How long did it take you? What did you do to find a publisher?

CH:  It was a long and rocky road to publication that took years, even after I finished writing the books, which took years in of itself. I eventually got an agent after sending out about 90 queries, but frankly, she was a lousy agent who gave up quickly. I did not. I rewrote and rewrote and got another agent, who was a real pro. She did not, however, succeed in selling my book (this was Skin of Tattoos). I kept at it. I knew it was good, and I knew Girl on the Brink was good, too. I kept rewriting, but I switched from seeking agents to seeking publishers who took unagented subs. I kept searching the Internet for publishers and submitting. My persistence paid off in the end, but it was a years-long process. I always tell aspiring authors, don’t give up and believe in yourself. Just keep going no matter what anyone tells you.

Ally:  What has been the biggest surprise about the writing/publishing/marketing business? How did you adapt?

CH:  Genre is everything. If you can’t fit your book within the confines of a specified genre, publishers (and agents) can’t market it. A good story just isn’t enough. This was the case with my novel “Skin of Tattoos.” My agent finally labelled it a “literary thriller,” and that seemed to work. “Girl on the Brink” was an easier one to categorize, as it deals with teen dating violence and there is an established contemporary social issue genre in the YA canon.

Ally:  Your next project and potential release date?

CH:  I’m working on two novels, both nearing completion. One is a traditional detective mystery set in Los Angeles and the other is what I’m calling a literary political thriller, set in Caracas, Venezuela, during the 2002 coup attempt. I was living there at the time and I covered the coup as a journalist. It was a very intense time. My goal is to finish both of these next year.

Ally: Try these short answer questions.
a. Do you make New Year's resolutions?  I used to but found they didn’t work. Now I just hold myself accountable by writing things on a list. If it’s on the list, I have to do it! b. How many books do you read in a year?  I average about one a week. c. Favorite perfume or lotion:  Lanolin lotion from New Zealand. This is made from natural lanolin from sheep’s wool, which in its raw state is quite oily. It’s a beautiful thick, rich cream. d. A guilty pleasure:  A cream tea. The cream in cream teas ideally comes from Devon, England. It is boiled twice, resulting in a thick, clotted cream. With jam on a scone, and of course a pot of tea, it’s to die for. e. A place (real or fictional) you dream about visiting:  I really want to go to Mongolia. I’d love to roam the steppes with yaks and sleep in a yurt. Kind of weird, I know, but I love remote, isolated places.
Ally:  Thanks for visiting the blog, Christina. Before you go, tell us more about Girl on the Brink... Girl on the Brink Blurb:

Sometimes the one you love isn’t the one you’re meant to be with.

The summer before senior year, Chloe starts an internship as a reporter at a local newspaper. While on assignment, she meets Kieran, a quirky aspiring actor. Chloe becomes smitten with Kieran’s charisma and his ability to soothe her soul, torn over her parents’ impending divorce. But as their bond deepens, Kieran becomes smothering and flies into terrifying rages. He confides in Chloe that he suffered a traumatic childhood, and Chloe is moved to help him. If only he could be healed, she thinks, their relationship would be perfect. But her efforts backfire, and Kieran turns violent. Chloe breaks up with him, but Kieran pursues her relentlessly to make up. Chloe must make the heartrending choice between saving herself or saving Kieran, until Kieran’s mission of remorse turns into a quest for revenge.

Girl on the Brink Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aRFsVZ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/657690
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bFrCGQ 
Have a wonderful New Year! Come back soon...

My Characters' New Year's Resolutions

                                               Resolutions for 2017

When you get beyond the required goals of "lose weight," "more exercise," and "eat healthy," what are your hopes for the coming year? I asked my series characters, and this is what they said.

Guardian Witch series:

Ari: I hope to have my new apprentice trained before 2017 is over. Other than that, another peaceful year would be really great, but in my world you don't count on anything. Oh, the casino! A successful launch for Andreas's latest project.

Andreas: Ah, cara mia, thank you. I second all your hopes, and yet, I sense our idyllic days may be ending. Changes are coming in 2017…and some may not be to our liking.


Maggie York Paranormal Mystery series:

Maggie:  Since I can't wish my "gift" away, I'm determined to gain better control of it. And frankly, I'm ready for the next big case to begin.

Josh:  I'd like to see a drop in NOLA's crime rate, which would give me more time with Maggie. The captain has me working undercover. While it's interesting, I'd rather be partnering with Maggie. At least I'd know she was safe.


Cross Keys/Elvenrude Trilogy:


Kam: A healthy baby in 2017. I'm taking a break from the spy/investigative work, and Seth will make a fabulous and proud father.

Seth:  A boy would be nice, but so would a little girl, especially if she has her mother's blue eyes.


And my own resolutions?

As long as readers keep reading and reviewing my books, I'll continue to write. I hope to publish at least two in 2017, a sequel to the Guardian Witch series (Embers of Fire), and book number three in the Maggie York series (Ghost Haunting);
World peace…or at least civility would be nice.
Wishing you a wonderful 2017! Stay in touch with me on Twitter: @ShieldsAlly
View all books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/13LH078