Elianne Adams's Blog, page 34

Great things come to those who wait.

So, this is happening! I’m so excited to say that this set is coming, and not only that, but it’s already available to pre-order on Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. All these stories for only $0.99! I’m putting the finishing touches on my contribution right now. It’s a brand new story called Bump in the Night, that I wrote just for this set, so there’s no way you’ve seen it before!

So, where will you be when darkness falls?

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Interview with Author Naomi Bellina!

*This interview was originally posted at www.pnrlovers.com by yours truly*

Today we have the wonderfully talented Naomi Bellina with us to answer a few questions. If  you’re familiar with Naomi’s work,  you’ll know that she writes it hot… just the way I like it.  Sins of Long Ago, book two in the Nocturne series, her latest and greatest series is out now. She also wrote a trilogy, The Adventures of Star Lite, an action/adventure series that features romance, magic, mayhem, and a ménage or two. You have been warned.

If you have any questions, or would like to make a comment, please feel free to do so. We love author/reader interaction here!

And remember, to subscribe to our newsletter in the sidebar to the right to receive first hand news about special promotions and great deals in your inbox.

 

Tell us about yourself.

Hello Elianne, thanks for having me here today. I live in beautiful Florida, which is hot and steamy right now. One of the few places in the United States where we say “Oh joy, winter is coming!” I cohabit with my honey, who makes me happy every day, and a delightful calico cat who keeps me loved and entertained. I own my own massage therapy business, so that keeps me super busy but also allows for a flexible schedule to write. Mostly, I’m in heaven. On bad days, I slip into a slight version of hell, but don’t stay there long.

Can you take us through what a typical writing day looks like for you?

I start the day watering my tomatoes, feeding kitty, throwing a load of laundry in the dryer. Then I sit outside and relax for a few minutes with my tea or coffee (fewer minutes in this raging heat!) before the day gets crazy. Next, I buzz through email, then get my face ready for the world. I find if I do my makeup and hair, it puts me in a business mood. Then, I either write on my current WIP or do some marketing and since my day job hours fluctuate, I go to work early in the afternoon some days, other days later, some not at all.

What words of wisdom would you impart with your younger self if you could go back to when you were writing your first book?

Oh jeez, so many! Since I started out to write professionally, I wish I had done a lot of things differently. Don’t sign that stupid contract if your gut says no, don’t write half-baked novellas just to get published. If a publisher accepts your work, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good. Find what you like to write and is half-way popular with readers, and write a full-length series of at least three books. Don’t believe everything you read about marketing. Don’t stress out so much.

In PNR terms, how would you classify yourself, Alpha, Beta, or Omega?

When I absolutely, positively know what’s best or really must have what I want, I’m an Alpha bitch all the way. When someone else needs to be in control, or I want to sit back and enjoy the ride, Beta is fine. Omega…never.

Have you ever written in collaboration with anyone? If so, who, and how did you like the experience? If not, would you like to? Who would be your dream collaborator?

I haven’t yet but I’d like that experience. My dream collaborator…I’m going to sound cliché here and say J.D. Robb. I know it’s really Nora Roberts, but I must admit, I’ve never read any Nora Roberts books. I am, however, devouring J.D. Robb. Love those murder mysteries. Me and J. D., we’d be the most “mag” team ever!

Social media plays a big part in self-promotion, but can also be a huge time suck. What strategies (if any) do you have to maximize your time?

Just click Facebook off. Really. I can spend hours there looking at cute animals and seeing what everyone’s been up to. Hours! I’ve discovered Triberr and love it as a way to use Twitter effectively. Hootsuite saves my live for scheduling Tweets. Pinterest…I allow myself a little time there, usually only to find pictures to help me write. (Ooooo, another dark and spooky house. Oh, he’d be perfect for my new hero. Look at that penthouse bathtub. A spiral staircase that leads to…Stop! That’s me on Pinterest, doing research J)  Much as I would love to hang out and chat with peeps all day, I know it can’t be done, with a writing career and a day job.

And now for the silly… if you were the leading lady in your favorite PNR novel, who would you be?

I loved a lot of Laurel Hamilton’s stuff and wanted to be Anita Blake or Merry Gentry for a while. Now, I don’t think I could handle all the violence. I’m more leaning towards Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs. She’s smart, funny, and tough. And she’d got great neighbors.

What makes your werewolves different from the others out there?

I love seeing how authors set up their paranormal worlds. In mine, weres are hidden and are being phased out. The punishment for making one is death. And, if a human who knows about a were makes a public scene, they’re killed. The werewolves guard their secret closely. Vincent, my hero, doesn’t like that law, especially once he meets Gen. She has her own issues to deal with but damn it, they’re hot for each other! It’s a challenge for them to bring their worlds together, but they give it a try. Kind of like a lot of us have to do with our chosen mates, right?

Do you have anything specific that you’d like to say to your readers?

I’d like to thank everyone for reading and give you all a big hug. If not for all you guys, I couldn’t do what I love and let my imagination play. If you have the urge to write, I’d encourage you to give it a shot. Even if it’s a short story, even if it’s never published. Set yourself a goal and see if you can’t write a book this year.

What’s in the works for you right now? When can we expect to see it released to the world?

I’m busy at work on book three in the Nocturne series. I use Liquid Silver as my publisher and they’re pretty fast, but I have been ṻber busy at the day job. Maybe spring of 2016?

Can you share an excerpt of your upcoming book, or recently released one? 

You bet! Thanks so much for letting me visit with you, Elianne, and thanks again to everyone out there who loves to read paranormal romance. It’s the best!

 

Excerpt from Sins of Long Ago rated R 

 

“Have I managed to turn you off yet? Scared you away?” With one finger, Vincent gently moved her chin, tipping her face toward him.

In his dark eyes she saw unease, despite the sureness of his words.

“I’m also the leader of a pack of werewolves who need my attention. I work long hours with my job and the pack, and now and then my phone rings all night. Once a month, sometimes more, I turn into a wolf and hunt, kill, and eat animals.”

Gen caught her breath.

“Now are you scared?” he asked, lowering his lips toward hers.

A little, but not only for the reasons he thought. Vincent stirred feelings in her, desires she’d buried long ago and had no intention of digging up until she’d met him.

The kiss started slow, tentative, as though he were gauging her response. Beneath the gentle movements of his lips she detected a hunger, a need, so close to the surface she could taste it. His scent, which had tantalized her as soon as she’d come near him, rose stronger, sending a burst of moisture between her legs. She moaned, the arousal that had begun the moment they’d touched scorching a path down her nerves. Her body moved almost of its own accord, leaning into him. She opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue and the feel of his arms pulling her in, suddenly desperate to be closer to him, to feel the warmth of his body, the touch of his fingers caressing her skin.

He cupped the back of her head with one hand as he increased the intensity of the kiss. The other hand slipped under her shirt and curled around her ribs. He was hot, warmer than her own body temperature. His thumb stroked her stomach, and then his hand moved up until he reached her bra.

In the distance an owl hooted. The fire snapped and crackled, but these sounds only dimly registered. In the forefront of her senses she heard Vincent’s breath and her own, both coming fast and hard. He cupped her breast over the fabric and squeezed, then with a moan, tore his mouth from hers and moved it to her neck. He kissed and licked there, biting the skin lightly with his teeth. She felt his body shudder and suspected he held back from what he really wanted to do to her.

He pulled away again and reached in his pocket.

“Look, I’m turning off my phone. I don’t very often, but I need uninterrupted time with you.”

His voice, hoarse with desire, sent molten flames licking at her spine. She took the moment apart from him to catch her breath. Did she have a blanket in her car? She longed to get out of her clothes, to feel his naked body on top of hers. Skin to skin, soft on hard.

He cupped her cheeks with hot, rough hands she had to have touching her body. Now.

“Tell me if I’m going too fast. I want you so bad.”

Too fast? Hell no. She could not wait to run her fingers along every inch of him, to touch him everywhere. Start with the rough stubble on his face, move down his neck, through the hair on his chest. Then stroke his firm stomach, over that low patch of hair, down to his cock. It’d be hard, so hard, and would fill her hand like she was meant to hold it.

“No, please, don’t stop.” Oh God, was that her, begging like a dog in heat?

His mouth covered hers hungrily, and he crushed her body to him again, this time with both strong arms. His hands roamed up her back and trembled slightly as they caressed her. He undid her bra, then slid his fingers to her breasts and brushed his thumbs against her taut peaks.

She whimpered into his mouth. Her nipples had hardened the moment he touched her; they were now painfully erect, and she longed for him to take them in his mouth. As though reading her mind he grabbed her sweater and bra and pushed the clothing up to her chin, then bent his head to her breast. He licked and sucked one while his thumb and forefinger fondled the other, the movement flooding a current of desire from her scalp to her toes.

As often happened when she became sexually stimulated while outdoors, the elements responded to her growing excitement. The wind blew, rustling the fallen leaves, and the fire flared up, matching the burning heat in her core. No one had ever stirred such passion in her, such longing for more. She’d not let herself feel this deeply with a man. Never. She undid the fastener on her jeans and pulled down the zipper, then guided Vincent’s hand there.

He continued his attention to her breasts and slipped a hand inside her pants. Cupping her pussy with his palm, he used one finger to stroke and probe through her underwear. She squirmed in his hand, desperate to have him go deeper. He finally pushed the elastic aside and eased his finger into her slick folds. She knew she must be sopping wet by now. Tilting her pelvis, she begged him with her body to rub her clit, pushing into his hand. She was wound up like a vintage alarm clock; it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge.

Finally he touched her nub, ever so gently. She groaned in frustration, and he growled, the sound sending even more currents of heat through her.

“I’m taking my time with you, woman. I want you hot.”

“If I get any hotter I’ll turn into steam. I need to…”

A sudden noise interrupted.

 

Where to find me (I play around at Pinterest, Goodreads, and other places too)

Naomi Bellina

Provocative tales of love, lust, passion and magic

http://www.naomibellina.com/

http://www.facebook.com/NaomiBellina

https://twitter.com/TheGoddessNaomi

https://www.tsu.co/NaomiBellina

 

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Interview with author Rachel Leigh Smith!

I’m thrilled to welcome a good friend, and terrific author, Rachel Leigh Smith to PNR Lovers today. You can find her books, To Save a Life, The King’s Mistress, and My Name is A’Yen on Amazon.

Rachel is off shmoozing at RWA this weekend, but I’m sure she’ll be around later to answer questions, so if you have any questions, or would like to make a comment, please feel free to do so. We love author/reader interaction here!

And remember, to subscribe to our newsletter in the sidebar to the right to receive first hand news about special promotions and great deals in your inbox. Small hint, there’s a promotional event coming in less than a week.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a geek and a romantic. I proudly wear my Doctor Who and Star Trek pj’s while inhaling romance. My Star Trek pj’s say I’m a captain, but my dad refuses to acknowledge my rank because my hoodie has no rank.

I’m also the oldest of four, have lived in Louisiana almost my whole life, I have a half-crazed calico, and The Little Mermaid is my favorite movie. I also have a thing for Magnum, P.I. and Criminal Minds. I love all things 1940’s, have a massive crush on Acheron from Dark-Hunter, and I’m beyond excited Tatiana Maslany was FINALLY nominated for an Emmy for Orphan Black. (One of the best shows on TV right now, watch it!)

I write romance for the hero lover. I’m all about the hero, all the time. He’s always my favorite character. When you pick up a Rachel Leigh Smith novel, you’re getting a book focused on the hero. Every time.

What do you like to read in your free time? What are you reading now?

95% of what I read is romance. It’s my favorite everything. I’m slowly working my way through A Song of Ice And Fire because I love Game of Thrones and want to know what all was left out.

As I’m answering these, I’m between books. Finished Ghost Phoenix by Corrina Lawson this morning, in her Phoenix Institute series. Not the best book in the series, but the hero was awesome. As ya’ll are reading this, I’m in New York City for the RWA conference and I’m reading Acheron and Styxx back-to-back. Yeah, I know, glutton for punishment. It’ll be my fourth time through Acheron and second through Styxx.

Are there any Authors that have grasped your interest recently and why?

I recently discovered Kristen Callihan. Whoa man, can that woman write! She does the absolute best sexual tension I’ve ever encountered. She’s gone on my list of writers I want to be like when I grow up. I adore her Darkest London historical paranormal world so very much.

How did you begin writing? Have you always wanted to be an author?

I started writing when I was probably about nine. It was a stack of notebook paper I tied together with pretty ribbon, and I wrote what happened between the kiss on the beach and the wedding in The Little Mermaid. It was lost in a move, though, and I don’t even remember what I wrote. My parents always encouraged me to write, and my mom worked creative writing stuff into our homeschool curriculum.

I’ve always considered myself a writer, but haven’t always wanted to be an author. That started in late 2006, and I joined my first writers organization in 2007. I learned how to write romance and how to write a novel. It took several years to get that first novel finished, but once I’d done it, I was hooked. I went indie in May of 2014 and put my first book out 9/12/14.

What are your thoughts on receiving book reviews—the good and the bad?

They’re important to help readers decide if the book is for them. I know as a reader myself, I do look at reviews. They matter in helping me make decisions when I’m exploring new authors. As an author, I have yet to get my first really bad review. The only 1 star I have to date is totally incoherent and makes me laugh. I have a couple of readers who always give me the reviews every author dreams about, that I can go and read whenever I need an ego boost.

Although writing is a solitary endeavour, many authors have a community behind them that supports and encourages them. Do you have people in your back pocket who help you, or have mentored you along the way?

I do have people who’ve mentored me. I ended up in a great group of experienced authors, a mix of multipublished and on the submission trail. I was one of the youngest in the group, and everyone else took me under their wings, so to speak. It was awesome! I’m still friends with most of them, and they’re in awe of how far I’ve come and what I’ve managed to do.

Then there’s the other half of my brain, romantic thriller author Winter Austin. Our writing paths and decisions have been very similar the last few years. Our brains create and plot the exact same ways, and it’s so much fun. I can’t imagine being on this road without her at my side.

I’m also a member of RWA, the FF&P chapter, and the Science Fiction Romance Brigade.

There are so many aspects of writing that a lot of readers never think of. What is your least favorite part about the writing process?

Blurbs, aka back cover copy. It’s not my favorite thing to do, though when I sit down and do it I tend to get good stuff. I enjoy editing. Gives me a chance to really dig into my characters and make sure they’re consistent. I do my own formatting and like it. I have no desire to tackle covers, though. I have zero talent on that front, and I know it.

Now for something silly, if you were starring in a paranormal romance novel, would your ideal mate be a shifter (if so, which kind), a vampire, or something else?

A cat shifter! I’m a cat lady. For some reason, the thought of a purring man is enough to turn my knees to rubber. It’s no coincidence I’m moving into shifter paranormals and focusing on cats. I can’t get enough of cat shifters!

What are you working on now? How is this different from your past projects?

I just started my very first true shifter paranormal. I also have an SFR/PNR mashup with shifters in it almost done. Then I’m 35K into book six of A’yen’s Legacy, my SFR series. I can’t seem to stay focused on the mashup one, probably because I created it for a specific purpose I’m no longer pursuing. The true PNR is promising to be a LOT of fun!

The true PNR is different in that there’s no science anything. My A’yen’s Legacy series is SFR with paranormal elements, but I explain those elements with science. I love world building, so even though I’ve written historical romance, SFR, and now PNR, I’m still using the same skills and building worlds from scratch. There’s not much difference between recreating a world that no longer exists and creating a new one.

Can you share an excerpt of your upcoming book, or recently released one?

Sure can! This is the first kiss from my most recent release, To Save A Life, A’yen’s Legacy #3. The series is best read in order, since these first three ended up as a continuancy.

Ro traced his thumb across her bottom lip. He shouldn’t love her. After all, he had nothing to offer her. No home, no name, no future. Even if, by some miracle, he was found innocent, he had to kill Camden. And there was no guarantee he’d survive that.

But he did love Jasmyn. With parts of him he hadn’t known existed. She was every piece of sweet and light in his world. The embodiment of hope. Permission to dream again, to imagine a world where he was truly free.

They’d spent so much time together in the last year. She’d taught him how to live, for the first time. Helped him spread his wings and fly.

Doing this through bars wasn’t how he’d imagined sharing their first kiss. But here they were, trying to make the best of it. Wanting to make the best of it.

He cupped her face as best he could and touched his lips to hers. Unlike every other person he’d kissed—usually against his will—she didn’t use her teeth to hold him captive or inflict pain. Sweetness and light infused him, banishing, for a moment, the memories of every bruising kiss from Camden.

In the sweetness, he tasted everything he could have been. A thousand futures he’d never have. Nights of bliss in her arms. Days spent in her sweet company. All combined to make him forget, for a moment, that he was in jail for murder.

With Jasmyn at his side, he could fly forever. Her touch, her taste, the silk of her mouth. Life in all its abundance. Everything he’d been afraid to dream.

But Jasmyn couldn’t be at his side. Not anymore. Not with this cruel twist in his life. He broke all physical contact with her and slid back out of her reach. “It’s not fair.”

She touched the fingers of her left hand to her lips, making him want another taste. “What?”

“I finally find someone who wants me, and I can’t have you.”

Her knuckles turned white from her grip on the bars separating them. “I’ve finally found someone who wants me. I won’t let anyone take you from me.” The conviction in her voice should’ve made him feel better.

Website: www.rachelleighsmith.com

FB: www.facebook.com/rachelleighsmithauthor

Twitter: twitter.com/rachelleighgeek, but you won’t ever find me there. I’ve discovered I hate Twitter. Best place to catch me is Facebook.

Thanks for your wonderful answers, Rachel. I enjoyed learning more about you and your work.

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More Winners!!

 

I hope you all had a great time at the Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt. We had a couple of glitches, but all in all, it went pretty well. I hope you’ll join us again when we have another fun promotional event. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to be notified of any future events.

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Interview with author, Ellis Leigh!

This interview was originally posted on my other site, www.pnrlovers.com by myself.

I’m thrilled to be interviewing Ellis Leigh, author of the Feral Breed series, and The Gathering series. I’ve been fortunate enough to have read several of the stories in both of these series, and I have to admit, I’m hooked.

Hi Ellis, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your background?

Hi! I’m Ellis, typical Midwesterner with a spouse, a couple of kids, and a dog who rules the roost. Most of the time. I’m a project manager by day though I’ve worked in a few different fields including things like custom framing, waitressing, and carpet sales. I stopped writing fiction sometime after college but dove back in when I discovered what fanfiction was. Five years later, I published my first book and the rest of the story is…still being told.

When you’re not writing or doing work related to writing, what do you do that’s fun and just for you?



Play with my daughters. If I’m not doing that and it’s just “me” time, I watch bad reality TV. Kardashians, Gypsy Sisters, tow-truck drivers on dangerous roads, bounty hunters, burger shop owners…if it’s about a life I have no experience with, I want to know about it.

What type of author would you categorize yourself as, a plotter (one who plots the story from beginning to end), or a pantser (one who lets the story take shape without meticulous planning)?

A plantser. Really. I should trademark that term. I can’t fully pants or the story tends to go off the rails and never get where it needs to go. I have to have some kind of structure before I begin but not too much. My characters have to have room to breathe and change as the story builds. I tend to plot out my beats (tension, pinch points, dark moment) in a simple format—one to three sentences per chapter, super vague info to keep me moving forward. “They go bowling. Funny banter about rented shoes. He needs to be looking at her arse the whole time. Kiss when they get home.” See? Simple. The characters fill in the rest as we go.

Are you planning to attend any reader conferences in the next year? If so, which ones?

In 2016, I’ll be at Romance Times in Las Vegas, Great Lakes Authorpalooza in Battle Creek, MI (September), and Indies of Romance in Fort Wayne, IN (April). I may add on one or two more, but between work and kids and writing, events are hard for me to get to. There’s an Events category on my website where you can find all that information.

Working in collaboration with other authors is always a challenge all on its own. What advice would you give to someone wanting to be a part of or organizing a boxed set with other authors?

Prepare for mistakes, put a lot of time up front in your planning, and give yourself enough flexibility at the end to keep everyone on board. Life happens, deadlines are missed, people get sick—keep your eye on the larger picture instead of a single deadline, and you’ll do fine.

What do you do when your well of inspiration runs dry to get it flowing again?

That…never happens to me. *knocks on ALL THE WOOD* At this point, my problem is finding time to write the ideas I have, not searching for new ones. Inspiration hits me at the strangest times, but I write down my idea in my planner and keep moving. If I can write up a simple plot, it becomes a potential project.

We all know that in order to be a successful author, a great deal of time has to go toward self-promotion. What is your favorite type of promotion, and why?

I love talking with my readers about their lives. That to me is the best part of this job. From daily stuff to bigger life events, I love that they include me in their world.

What are some challenges you’ve had to overcome to become a successful author? Is writing easier, or harder than you expected it would be?

Losing sleep. Finding time. Balancing work and writing work and life in general. It’s such a struggle sometimes to keep going at the pace I’ve set. That’s been the hardest lesson—realizing I can’t do everything I want to and accepting that as okay.

Claiming His Desire is coming out later this summer. Can you tell us a little bit about the hero, an heroine? What is it about them that will draw us into their story?

Well, readers of the Feral breed series have met Jameson a time or two. He’s one of my favorite heroes ever. To be honest, and I’ve been waiting to write his story since the idea came to me. There’s something so broken in him, so tortured. But when he loves, he loves big and hard. Which sounds dirty…and probably should. Aiofe is in the same boat, a little broken and lost, though she came out of nowhere. This was not the pairing I had planned, but it works perfectly. Together, they have chemistry that explodes from the first time they meet…which is really the second time. But we’ll get to that. Claiming His desire is about second chances, death and life and coming through it all. It’s also the final novel in the current series, so there’s a LOT going on.

And now before you go, how about a snippet from one of your books that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us?

Oooh, okay. I have a super-secret project for August that I can’t even tell you about, but it’s going to be amazing! My reader group helped me name it, and I’ve been writing like a madwoman to get it done. Here’s a super tiny sneak peek at Bearly Dreaming.

For the first time, he approached me. Slow and direct, a fire glowing in his eyes that made my knees turn to jelly. Animalistic almost, he crept forward, stalking me as his prey. The energy between us felt different somehow, the tension in the room not from frustration or fear. Something else…something warmer. Something heated and desirous. Something needful.

He stopped directly in front of me, the scent of him filling me, making me shiver. I wanted to touch him so badly. Wanted to feel him under my fingers, wanted to know what his body felt like against my body.

Slowly, eyes on mine, he raised his hand, bringing it to my face, running the side of one finger down my cheek. And I swear, I swear, I felt a whisper. A slight disturbance that I could actually feel. Just a hint, but enough to make me crave more. To make me yearn.

I leaned into his ghost-like touch, wishing hard to truly feel him. He inched closer, holding my gaze, eyebrows raised in question. And then he mouthed a single word. One that made my heart practically leap out of my chest.

Mate.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, Ellis. I look forward to reading Bearly Dreaming later this summer. For our readers, if you want to check out Ellis’s books (and believe me, you do), you can find her at her home on the web, http://www.ellisleigh.com/, on Twitter, @ellis_writes, and on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ellisleighwrites. Oh, and you can find her books on Amazon.

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And the winner is…

During our week long Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt, I hosted a small draw of my own for this gorgeous dragon bracelet. Of all the people who played along, Melisa P. was the lucky winner!  Thank you all for participating. I hope you found many new to you authors and will keep coming back to check out what’s new and exciting in my little world.

Congrats, Melisa!

 

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Author interview with Anna Lowe!

This interview was originally posted by myself at www.pnrlovers.com

Please welcome author Anna Lowe who has graciously agreed to be our featured author for this week’s interview. She’s a personal friend of mine, as well as an amazing author. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading her books, you’re definitely missing out.

If you have any questions, or would like to make a comment, please feel free to do so. We love author/reader interaction here!

And remember, to subscribe to our newsletter in the sidebar to the right to receive first hand news about special promotions and great deals in your inbox.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I love travel, sports, the outdoors, and animals, so you see a lot of those elements featuring in my work. I’m a middle school teacher who is passsionate about protecting the environment, and hints of that appear in the background of my stories, too (Heather in Desert Blood is a teacher; Stefanie of Desert Fate works for a solar energy consultancy, Lana of Desert Moon negotiates land rights). When I was a kid, I thought I had a Doctor Doolittle ability to communicate with animals (LOL – I also thought I could fly! Lucky neither delusion killed me!) and I’m sure that’s why shapeshifting wolves are so appealing to me. You get the utter devotion of a canine soul mixed with sheer power of an alpha man – my fantasy guy! (Or one of my fantasy guy types, anyway!)

Other than actually writing the stories, what would you say is your favorite part about being an author?

For years, I created stories without sharing them. Now that I publish what I write, I love writing even more because other people enjoy it, too. I love interacting with readers who enjoy losing themselves in the Twin Moon world just as much as I do. I love having utter control over the bad guys and knowing that in the end, love and justice will always prevail – if not in real life then in my stories at least! I’m also a hyper-organized person who likes variety, so being my own publisher fits the bill, too.

We all know how many hats a self-published author has to wear. Which hats, if any, do you not enjoy wearing?

I’ve never enjoyed marketing (unlike my sister who loves getting out in public and telling customers about the wonderful products she represents) and don’t like pushing any product on any person, which is why I prefer to outsource promo and let my work speak for itself. On the other hand, I love it when readers come forward to talk about the connection they’ve felt to my work. One woman wrote to me saying how much she loved Kyle of Desert Fate because she was the victim of domestic abuse as his character is. That was a particularly touching moment for me. Other reader make me laugh with their comments (like how much they hate Audrey, the local man-eater at Twin Moon Ranch) and inspire me with their ideas for future stories. I can’t wait to bring them the next book in the series, Desert Heart, which is the story of  Tina, the quiet-and-steady sister of Cody and Ty.

Now that you have a stack of books under your belt and have learned different things along the way, what would you do differently with your first or second story?

Lucky for me, there are lot of authors who are extremely generous in sharing their experiences and advice (Ellis Leigh being one of many). I was able to learn so much through them (the easy way) and avoided making beginner’s mistakes. I’m so grateful to the community of authors for this wonderful collaborative spirit! The one thing I would change would be to go back in time and NOT pay an expensive developmental editor to go over my first book. I chose an editor carefully, but I don’t think she “got” my voice and the setting. Ultimately, very few of her suggestions proved useful. She actually suggested that Ty, the big bad cowboy shifter, say “perhaps.” What cowboy uses that word?! Fellow authors have proven to give far better advice!

How much time do you devote to writing each day? Do you find it difficult to schedule the time that you need?

I wake up early and usually get in an hour of writing time every morning when I’m most creative. I find long runs to be a very creative time when I find solutions to problems, too. It’s rare that I can produce quality writing after a long day spent with middle school students (the brain turns to jelly after that!) so afternoons are when I take care of the business aspect of things. On weekends, I can often get in 3-5 hours of writing time thanks to my wonderful husband and self-sufficient kids.

In order to be a successful author, you must have great discipline and a very understanding family. How do you find a work/life balance that works for you?

I don’t consider writing work, and it’s a great counter-balance to teaching. Writing is quiet and introspective while teaching is social and a three-ring circus (at its easiest!). The challenge is more in balancing family time with my writing and exercise schedule given limited evening and weekend time. But living at the edge of the Alps gives us plenty of opportunities to get out together in an active way. We take a lot of bike rides and hikes which help to turn off the author part of my mind in a healthy way, too.

You have lovely covers for all your books. Do you outsource their creation, or do you make your own covers? What challenges do you face when either dealing with a cover artist, or when making your covers?

Making covers is a lot lime shopping at Ikea: I get so excited about it until I get home and have the drudgery of assembly and missing parts! But lucky me, I have the talented Fiona Jayde of Fiona Jayde Media making my covers. Together, we came up with the striking desert theme covers which capture the essence of the series so well. She is great to work with in every way and has a great eye. The hardest part for me is choosing cover models because my mind knows exactly the character I want, and since they’re fictional (and perfect, of course!) it seems impossible to find a color image that captures that personality. Imagine trying to find a picture of someone to play the role of a person you love: your mother, your true love, or your child. No one matches them – no one! So I end up rejecting thousands of cover models, even if they’re downright hot! Searching for a good cover model is very time-consuming and not as much fun as it sounds.

Could you tell us one or two random fun facts about Anna Lowe that we can’t find on the internet?

Hmm… I eat a lot of dark chocolate and work out just enough to counter-balance that intake! I love to quilt and I love carpentry – in other words, “art” forms that don’t require a talented artist’s hand! I’ve travelled a lot by bike, foot, and boat, but  my wish list still includes seeing Patagonia and the Himalayas.

You have a new series coming soon. Can you tell us a little about your Serendipity Adventure Romance series?

I’m really excited about this new series! Love is always an adventure, but these books ramp up the action along the way, Indiana Jones-style. Seth and Julie of Uncharted (Book 1) sail the reefs of Belize and escape criminals on a motorcycle chase. In Entangled, (Book 2), Tobin and Cara find themselves high in the jungles of Panama, considering a very long drop down a waterfall — their only chance at escape. Windswept (Book 3) is set in the Caribbean diving paradise of Bonaire where Mia and Ryan think all they’re in for is a quiet scuba vacation — until the boat next to them explodes! There are quiet moments, too, as well as regrets, hopes, and second chances…not to mention steamy love scenes along the way.

What ties all these stories together? The sailboat, Serendipity, which a wise grandfather leaves to his grandchildren in his will, encouraging them to reconnect with the erth and with each other. Each set of siblings from four groups of cousins gets their turn sailing the tropics aboard Serendipity.  It all starts with Uncharted, Book 1 (available exclusively in the Romancing the Alpha box set, which releases on July 7, 2015).

Our readers love sexy excerpts. Can you share one that’s not too naughty?

Sure! Here’s one from Desert Wolf, the story I make FREE to newsletter subscribers. Lana has come home to the Berkshires for a visit to her home pack with her mate, Ty, and is waking up to a blissfully slow morning at his side. Enjoy!

A pair of soft lips brushed over hers, and Lana mumbled in reply. As always, her body came alive at Ty’s touch. She extended her limbs in an irrepressible stretch then folded herself around him. Two years hadn’t dimmed the passion that reared up like a force of nature every time they touched.

            “Mmmm. Mate,” was all she got out before Ty surged in with another kiss. A deep, possessive kiss that promised her the day was about to start in the very best way. His hands slid upward along her rib cage, making her body sing like a bird on the first day of spring.

            “Hmmm. Mate,” he mumbled back, catching her lower lip between his.

            The minute they walked out of this cabin, those lips of his would be set in a hard, thin line. But for now, they were soft and full and eager to explore. She worked her hands over the sculpted planes of his chest and wound a leg over his hip as desire pooled deep inside her. Ty could get her high with just the rumble of his voice.

            “Good morning, my love,” she hummed right into his lips.

            “Yes, it is,” he agreed, nosing his way down her neck.

            Anticipation rippled through her. This had the makings of a very good morning, indeed. Then she remembered his injuries and ran a cautious hand over his ribs. “How’s the bruising?”

            “Theirs is worse than mine,” Ty growled.

READ MORE BY GETTING YOUR FREE COPY HERE: http://www.annalowebooks.com/newsletter-free-book

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me, Anna.

Find out more about Anna Lowe and her great books at these places on the web.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anna-Lowe-Books/677291092359521?fref=ts

TWITTER: @AuthorAnnaLowe

WEBSITE: http://www.annalowebooks.com/

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PNR Lovers Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt!

Who’s ready to have some fun??  I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. Don’t forget to enter my personal draw for the gorgeous dragon bracelet I’ll be giving away to one lucky winner at the end of the hunt. Check it out in the post next to this one.  Good luck in the Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt, and in all the bonus draws being held along the way.

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Win Me!!!

I hope you’re ready for a fun week of searching through some amazing author websites and finding plenty of freebies and bonus draws to enter. For those of you who don’t know me yet, I have a huge thing for dragons. I love them, which is why my Return to Avalore series features sexy shape shifters that take the forms of dragons, phoenixes and gryphons.

I came upon this gorgeous little bracelet a while back and ordered one to give away in a draw, and absolutely loved it, so I’ve found it again, and I’m offering this dragon bracelet to one lucky person who subscribes to my newsletter from June 29th to July 5th at midnight EST (that’s the duration of the Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt). The lucky winner will be picked at random using www.random.org to make it fair for everyone who enters. The only way I have to contact you is via e-mail, so be sure to check your e-mail address twice when you subscribe. If I can’t get a hold of you after seven days, I will have to draw another name, so keep your eyes peeled for an e-mail. A list of winners will also be posted at www.pnrlovers.com, so you can always check there to see if you’ve won an awesome prize.

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Author interview with Calle J. Brookes!

*This interview was originally posted at www.pnrlovers.com by yours truly, Elianne Adams.*

We had the pleasure of interviewing an author with more than thirty books spanning two series. Please give a warm welcome to author Calle J. Brookes. Check out all those her amazing paranormal romances in her Dardanos series, and her romantic suspense stories in her PAVAD series.

If you have any questions, or would like to make a comment, please feel free to do so. We love author/reader interaction here!

And remember, you can subscribe to our newsletter in the sidebar to the right to receive any updates to our site.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

First of all, I want to thank you for having me here for this interview. I’ve been writing since the age of 9. I started publishing my work in the spring of 2011. I live in beautiful southern Indiana with my author-assistant/business partner/husband and our 4 year old daughter. And our two Border collies and four garden snails.

What do you consider to be your best accomplishment in writing?

My best accomplishment would be having both of my series continuing for as long as they have been. I am currently releasing the 10th book in the PAVAD series and the 13th book in the Dardanos,Co. series will be releasing in August of this year.

Have you always wanted to write? How old were you when you wrote your first romance?

I have wanted to write since the age of 9 when I realized that people really did write. I was around 11 years old when I wrote my first romance story.

Who, or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

Sandra Canfield’s Voices on the Wind was the first romance novel that I read.  Her writing style influenced me  greatly and I didn’t even realize it until recently, when I found the book on ebay. It was so interesting to reread that book and see where my own romantic suspense are similar.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?

For the romantic suspense series the books tend to follow a certain structure with the crime and solving it, mixed with the romance and solving that.  For the paranormal series I let the characters tell me where to take them. The characters range from human to goddess, from demon to werewolf, and vampire to …   No, I don’t use any specific formula for my work.

Is there a certain type of scene that is harder for you to write than others? Love? Action? Racy?

Anything that involves logic. Lol   No, seriously…I am constantly asking myself is this a logical action for this character/world. I don’t know that I feel unsure in this area, or I just want to make sure that the book—ghosts and demons or whatever—still remains realistic. My husband says I struggle with logic in my daily life too. Lol (But I don’t think I do at all…Yes, the television remote does go nicely next to the cheese on the top shelf of the refrigerator!)

Is there a subject you would never write about? Why?

There aren’t really any subjects that I would not write about. I tend not to go into detail on more violent subjects, as I don’t think it’s really that necessary for a good story. I’m a bit squeamish with blood and guts! As for subject matter within the books, life is messy and I try to handle bad things in the books as realistically, yet as sensitively, as I can.

What happens to your deleted scenes? Do you squirrel them away for future use, or are they gone forever?

Honestly, in the 30 titles that I have I only scrapped have two or three deleted scenes. I do have them squirreled away, though. (My husband says I am a hoarder!) One of the scenes recently showed up in a spin off romantic suspense series.

What new and exciting thing is coming from Calle J Brookes in the next little while?

 By the end of the year I hope to have released my first title in my paranormal romantic suspense series.  Think Criminal Minds meets Grimm meets a little bit of Charmed. The series will be centered around demons and humans for the first few releases, after that I have no clue who—or what—will find its way onto the pages.  The 14th release in the Dardanos,Co. series, Balance of the Worlds, will be available in August. It is tied in closely with two other books in the series, The Wolf God & His Mate, and my most recent release The Witch…

Can you share a short excerpt of your newest release?

The Witch

She’d always known her path would be one that touched on darkness.

Each and every time she had been reborn with the knowledge that in one of her lives she would be called on to bring forth evil. For if evil was not reborn, then it could not be defeated.

Right now, and for the last five thousand years, the evil had been merely waiting. Holding itself together until lives were born that would unleash it.

Defeat it.

But that defeat was not written in stone, either. And that was what Loren Nellano was counting on.

Somehow, people had been born who could fight that evil.

But first she needed to find them.

The town was destroyed, no one looking at it would think any differently. The main hall, what had once been the resort and home of the ruling family, had been burned until little remained of it but ruins. She’d visited it—once—when her closest friend had married into the ruling family.

Now she did not know where Jade had ended up, and worry for her friend was utmost in her mind. But there was nothing she could do—if she did not follow the path that had been outlined for her so many millennia ago then a lot more lives would be lost than just one.

And when she’d awakened that morning, in the bedroom she’d grown up in, she’d known exactly what it was she was supposed to do.

Her mother had wept. But she had understood—her mother had known from Loren’s birth that something waited for her daughter. And she’d taught Loren to understand what sacrifice would be. What it would look like someday.

Her mother walked beside her in this city of ruins. Loren didn’t know why she was so surprise that her mother had chosen to leave the safety of the life she had known in Denver, but her mother had. She had to be terrified—her mother was not Druid. And had been born human. She knew so little of what Loren was. But her mother had the gift of foresight, something that rare humans did. Her mother had known and acted accordingly.

But how was Loren to keep the person she loved more than anything safe in a world unlike any they had ever known? If Loren was even able to open the walls that separated the Gaian—or human—world from that of the demons.

That was her ultimate destination. The people she was searching for waited for her there.

The dark sorcerer waited as well.

Did anyone else realize that? Weren’t their prognosticators among the demons?

Loren would be the first to admit the demon world was one she knew very little about. She had been only to one other world Levia, and that three week stay was not one she wanted to repeat.

He had been a high Druid, one of the priests of the goddess. Loren had known so very little about him and his work, about the goddess he followed. He had died when Loren was seven, and no one knew what had happened to him completely. Loren had always wondered…

Her mother was so alone.

Loren worried for her.

But now she had to push that worry aside. There was far too much for her to do now.

 

***

 

Jushua’s sword clashed against his brother’s. Dekimos smirked at him. “You have learned little, Jushie. I can still defeat you.”

Jushua thrust again. Once, when they were young the taunting name would have maddened him. But Dekimos had been lost to him for more than five thousand years, along with most of their other siblings. Only Jushua’s twin had survived the dark sorcerer’s attack.

Dekimos had been felled, but because of his great healing gifts his soul had managed to forge itself together again within months of the attack.

It was only in the last four months that Dekimos had been returned to him. Jushua took his brother’s return as the gift it was.

Still…

That did not mean he—as the youngest male of the original Dardaptos line—wanted his older brother to defeat him in sword play.

It was a matter of honor.

He forced himself to concentrate—to show Deki—the brother more at home healing than killing—how much sword technique he had developed in four thousand years. And it somehow seemed wrong to him that the greatest healer his Kind had ever known should pick up a sword. That it was their brother Estacles’ sword only served as a reminder of what they had lost.

Dekimos had long practiced passivism. But that had changed the day Deki was murdered by the sorcerer.

Jushua would die to protect the man he fought now. Never again would his brother face that dark threat.

Never again would Jushua be forced to leave the fallen body of one of his siblings behind. Not like he had before. He had been at his brother Kilan’s side when his brother had charged the dark sorcerer. When Kilan had fallen protecting his Rajna, his brother’s mate. Jushua had tried to protect Kilan, but his brother had known he was dying. Kilan had looked at him over the body of the already gone Rajna and made Jushua vow to protect the rest of the family.

And their mother.

He had found her clutching his youngest sister against her chest. Nelciana’s sister was dead next to his mother. She had been but sixteen, with the promise of great beauty ahead of her. But his sister had been but three years, and no piece of her soul remained. The Dark Sorcerer had devoured her.

His mother was burned and scarred and desolate. And the dark sorcerer’s fire was coming toward them. He had lifted his mother in his arms, still clutching the dead child, and he had carried her into another world.

He had buried his sister beneath a butterfly tree, knowing the little girl would have loved the bright pinks and purples of the flowers that resembled Gaian butterflies.

He had taken his mother to a place where she could be safe, where the burns upon her body could heal. He had stayed with her for three days, until he’d found help for her. Then he had returned to the world of his birth.

To Evalanedea, land of his father’s fathers. His family and the Nellanas, of which Rajna had been a daughter, had settled the world of Evalanedea.

But the dark sorcerer had wanted it.  And had taken it.

Jushua had found a band of survivors numbering less than four hundred.

His siblings and the entire Nellana family were not among them.

And his mother had lived with fear in her soul ever since.

Jushua swung his blade. Deki parried.

“Come on, little brother, you can do far better than that.”

The taunt came from behind Jushua. But he did not turn around. The voice belonged to the male that had been reborn with Kilan’s soul. Nalik Black even possessed a scar that echoed the blow the dark sorcerer had given Kilan that felled the eldest Dardaptoan brother.

Nalik was a mere seven hundred years, but thanks to his ascension to Laquazzeana in recent years, he was far older in strength and power.

Jushua wasn’t entirely certain he—even with Dekimos at his side—could defeat the Gaian Dardaptoan.

There were too many damned Laquazzeana in this world for his own comfort.

His mother was one. Nalik and his Nalik’s mate Cassandra. The prince of this world had a Laquazzeana mate who scared the shit out of Jushua, and there was the healer girl Bronwen whose male had found Dekimos.

And he suspected his brother Deki was one as well. But he had not asked, nor would he.

Laquazzeana were more powerful than any deity of any world Jushua had ever visited. They were strong, powerful, and some said bordering on insane.

Some said the power that filled them was enough to eat at their souls. That was one reason many spent time in total isolation. Deki had been alone for thousands of years before he had been found.

“The upstart waits. Think you we can take him?” Deki asked.

“You cannot even take me on alone, dear brother.  Let alone ol’batboy.” Nalik had the unique ability to shift into multiple animals, and frequently chose the Gaian bat—a small, winged rodent—as his preferred animal. Nalik had smirked and said Jushua wouldn’t get it when Jushua had first asked about the small creature.

He could have at least chosen a hawk or other raptor. Something a bit more masculine than a cuddly mouse with wings.

“Jushua, there are things I know about that your small warrior brain will never be able to understand. I can bring you to your knees without thought.”

Deki dropped the sword then moved quicker than a spirit-blur. Jushua found his weapon yanked from his hands and imbedded in the hard stone of the castle yard—inches from Nalik’s feet.

Jushua himself ended up face down on the ground, his older brother sitting upon him. “Yield, little Jushie?”

“If the two of you are finished playing, we have business to take care of.”

Jushua looked up at Nalik and was disconcerted for just a moment at how much the reborned one looked like the original soul possessor. Did he have Kilan’s thoughts and memories? Did he remember Kilan giving Jushua his first sword? Training him in the wheat fields that had surrounded the castle that they had called home? Or was it just the physical visage the male possessed, and just a fraction of Kilan’s soul?

He did not know how it had been managed. How had his twin Kennera, goddess of the Gaian Dardaptoans, managed to rebirth their siblings’ souls?

They had found two more reborn siblings among the Gaian Dardaptoans who had been relocated to the demon world months ago—Havalana the Healer, and the Laquazzeana healer girl Bronwen.

Jushua did not know how it was he was supposed to feel about the females.

They were not the sisters he had once known and loved—but they were.

Dardaptoans believed in the notion of recycled souls. It was something Jushua and his own father had discussed eons ago. But that someone of their Kind had managed to somehow force particular souls to be reborn because of the love that someone held for the rebirthed spirit—that had never been done before the dark sorcerer’s attack. And as far as he knew, save for Kennera and Nelciana Nellana, the Gaian Druid Goddess that Jushua had once been betrothed to, it had not been done since.

His mother had embraced the reborn souls with all the fervor that only a mother with a lost child could. Havalana? Possessed the very spirit of the sister Jushua had buried beneath the butterfly tree. How was he supposed to think of that?

“What business have we?” Deki was more aware than Jushua apparently. Why was his head so clouded? He looked at Deki and saw the smirk. “What, Jushie? Think you I would not use all the weapons I possess in battle? Forgot you what father and Kilan had taught us?”

His brother held out a hand and Jushua took it, the gesture a sign of respect and trust. The fog on his mind immediately cleared.

Dekimos had learned a lot in his five plus thousand years hidden in another world. Jushua did not know exactly where his brother had been all those years, and had yet to ask.

Dekimos had made it very clear that he was not ready to divulge all of his secrets.

And Jushua had to respect that.

“What business?” He looked at Nalik again. Two other males walked at his side, which Jushua vaguely recognized. Barlaam, the Dardaptoan Healer, and a Lupoiux alpha named Taniss.  They spent most of their time at the castle of the High King.

It was taking Jushua a bit of time getting used to the idea that demons—beings he had once battled ferociously in his previous land—ruled the land he now occupied. Where he’d brought the tribe of four hundred that had grown to number over two hundred thousand. 

Demons were now allies. Friends.

It would take him time to get used to that.

“A return trip to the Gaian world. There are rumored to be some of our Kinds left behind. A few tribes. We return to Dardanos to retrieve some things for Kennera, as well,” Nalik said. “Some souls that she wishes to make reborn.”

The other males’ unease with such a task was clear on their faces. Jushua leaned against the handle of his sword, and studied them. For the first time in a while he felt a small stirring of intrigue.

He had never been to the Gaian world. The land of humans had a reputation amongst the worlds he had traveled.

And it wasn’t a good one.

Filth, rot, misuse—he’d heard all sort of such allegations. And some of the younger Dardaptoans who had been born in the last century in that human world had not impressed him overly much. “When do we go?”

Nalik looked at him, his eyes hooded. “I knew you would want to go. But it is Dekimos Kennera states can bring back the souls.”

Jushua smirked. “Then I shall go along and protect my brother. It is my solemn duty.”

“Flying rat’s ass, it is.” Nalik had his measure, and Jushua knew it. “You just don’t want to stay here.”

Jushua would not deny it. Not with the reborned brother and the…well…the reformed one. They could both read him far too well, even in the short time since they had bene reunited. “There is too much cooing. Babes and females and the like.”

“And that settles upon you, like it does me as well,” Dekimos said.  “We all know how fleeting it can be. Know what we have lost.”

“Yes, we do.” Nalik said no more. Jushua knew some of his history. It was common gossip amongst the people that Nalik led.

Nalik ruled the city of Thrun with a fair way. Jushua had taken a week from his own new home of Galaosis to speak with Nalik and some others of things.

Things they all knew were to come.

And…to handle mundane things like adequate water systems and food stores for two sister cities that totaled nearly six hundred thousand Dardaptoans now.

Six hundred thousand who looked to Jushua and Nalik to lead them in the dark days that were coming.

Dekimos spent most of his days in a different world, preparing the Healing city led by young Bronwen to receive the wounded they all knew were to come.

But Jushua knew that his reborned sister Bronwen was destined to fail. There would be so little wounded sent to her.

Most would simply be dead. Burned to ash beneath that dark bastard’s fire from the Three Hells.

Jushua would never wish that fate on anyone—except the Dark Sorcerer himself.

In five thousand years, he had never learned the bastard’s name. He had searched for some clue of the monster’s origins but had found nothing. And he could not return to his birthland Evalanedea mercenaries hired by some unseen enemy would seek him out.

Because those mercenaries had been cursed by the Dark Sorcerer five thousand years ago to seek out any and all Dardaptos blood and annihilate it completely.  Some had followed them to Easchu, but Jushua and his troops had dispatched them quickly.

Jushua would never get the answers he sought.

“To the human world, then.”

 

It’s been a pleasure speaking with you, Calle. Thank you so much for spending some time with us today. You can find Calle J. Brookes online at her website, and on Facebook.

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