Blog Tour: Cursed be the Wicked by J.R.Richardson

Today I have fellow Soul Mate Author on my blog as part of her blog tour. Jo has been a wonderful support to me over the past few months since signing Branded, and is a fabulous lady! I hope you enjoy this interview with her.

How long does it take you to write a book?  Cursed be the Wicked took me about 10 months to complete.  I had some serious blockage going on in the middle.  I took a break and wrote a short story to get my creativity spinning again, then came back to it and finished the 2nd half in about 2 months.   
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?  Crazy.  I have to fit it in where I can because I work full time so it’s a lot of skipping lunches, getting up super early and sometimes requesting a time out from family time to get a scene finished.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?  That there are people out there who rather enjoy my style of writing.  That’s got to be the best feeling ever.  Well, one of them.  J
 Who is your favorite author to read? What books strongly influenced your own writing?  AH.  Jim Butcher is my favorite favorite favorite these days.   I would say Mr. Butcher influences me all around just because of the simple fact that he’s taught me that you don’t have to fit into a certain “style” or “genre” – you just have to write with heart. 
How hard is it to establish and maintain a career in fiction writing?  I don’t have a career in it (yet) – so I don’t know how to answer this – I write what I like and I enjoy writing it, I try to always have fun with it – if that pans out – I think that would be awesome but if it doesn’t, I’m pretty happy just writing for the few people who enjoy my stories.
What’s on your desk? Can you see your desk?  My laptop, and my other laptop.
 Any must-have snack/ drink or music for writing?  Diet Dr. Pepper.  Sometimes with rum in it.
 Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?  I always say, write because you love to write, have fun doing it, and don’t write for anyone but you – and also: find yourself a circle of trust, then trust them.
Either/Or1.    Chocolate or vanilla?  Chocolate2.    Rain or shine? SHINE3.    Werewolf or Vampire?  Vampire4.    Harry Potter or LoTR?  OH MAN! Um.  HP5.    Introvert or extrovert?  Intro6.    Pepsi or Coke?  Pepsi7.    Beach or mountains?  Beach8.    Cowboys or aliens?  Cowboys! Mmm.9.    Cats or dogs?  Cats
10.  Planner or Pantser?  Pantser 4 Life

Thank you for joining me today, Jo! I hope your book does well for you.

Synopsis :
Cooper Shaw lives his life under a pen name and enjoys the anonymity it provides during his journeys across the globe as a seasoned writer for a travel magazine. When his job lands him in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts to cover the famous Festival of the Dead, he soon realizes that he can’t stay invisible forever as he faces ghosts from a past he’s been trying to forget ever since he left.
The city holds nothing but bad memories for Coop until he meets a quirky young woman with an old soul and curious insights by the name of Finnley Pierce. While she acts as his tour guide through a town he thought he knew, Finn helps him unearth the truth of his childhood and might even begin to open up his heart.

By unraveling the mystery of his father’s murder, Coop may finally accept who he is, where he came from, and perhaps even realize what he wants for his future.


Amazon  Goodreads
Cursed be the Wicked has it all- mystery, intrigue, romance, humor and a touch of paranormal. Salem is a great back drop for this story. It makes the paranormal seem possible. The book is well written and great read. I could not put it down and I actually have read it for a second time already! I recommend this book very highly. – 5 star review from Goodreads member, BG



Excerpt:
“I forgot to pay you today,” I blurt out, and Finn finally turns to me.
“Is that why you came tonight?” she asks.  There’s disappointment in her eyes.  It’s in that moment, when she’s looking up at me, that I decide to be honest with myself as well as Finn.“No.”
“Good,” she says.  “Because I don’t’ want your money.”
She stares and waits for me to say something.  Although there isn’t anything we’ve done together that I want to forget, I do want to start over on some level.  So I put a hand out and attempt to re-introduce myself.
“Cooper Shaw.”
She takes my hand and when she does, my entire body sighs a breath of contentment.  I take another swig of my alcohol and begin to explain my actions.
“I didn’t exactly leave Salem on the best of terms. I created Cole Stone so I could write and not be recognized as the son of a murderer. I just thought it would be easier to keep up the charade here.” I trail off and check her reaction. She seems to be studying me awfully hard.
“It’s called a Penn name.”
She’s still silent. I take that, mistakenly, to mean I need to explain a little further. So I do. Like an idiot.
“It’s for-”
“I know what it is Mr. Shaw.”.”
I have to laugh. I don’t know if it’s the nerves or just that she’s so damn cute when she’s ticked off.
“Of course you do.”
 She waits patiently while I regroup.
“I never expected to interact with anyone on a personal lever while I was here, Finn.  I thought I’d be in and out of here before anyone I used to know knew and then I could get back to my life and forget about Salem again.”
“So, what happened?” she asks and I tell her plainly.
“You.”


Bio:
A writer of stories and lover of life.
Jo grew up in Maryland with four siblings, three parents and an endless number of cousins within the vicinity. Today she lives in Florida with her two girls and a husband that shares her same sense of humor and basic take on life as we know it.
Life is too short to put dreams on the back burner.
She’s always loved writing, and always enjoys a good mystery, so in 2012, Jo wrote a novel that was picked up by the good people at Soul Mate Publishing.

Where you can find Jo:
Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads




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