Author Spotlight - Caroline Storer

Caroline Storer has long been an active supporter of this blog, so we are super delighted to have here in our Spotlight today with her debut Roman romance, The Roman.

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Firstly, thank you Minxes for having me here. I’ve been a fan of this Blog for years now, and it’s lovely to be here amongst so many of my cyber friends.

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Hi, my name is Caroline Storer, and I live on the beautiful (if slightly windy) island of Anglesey in North Wales. (Anglesey, you may recall was recently the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – William and Kate. I did invite them over for tea, but unfortunately they were too busy!) I’m happily married to my own Alpha Hero, Colin, and have one step-son and grandson. By day I’m an Environmental Health Officer for the local Council. My work can be quite challenging to say the least, and no one day is the same. I find escaping into a good book (either reading or writing one) a great way of relaxing once I’ve finished work. I am a voracious reader of anything “romantic” and have been since I “borrowed” one of my gran's Mills and Boons when I was around 13!

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
“The Roman” is my debut book for HarperImpulse. (I’m still at the pinching myself stage BTW at the thought of being published!) When I recently got the cover for my book I nearly swooned in delight. He’s absolutely gorgeous and just what I imagined my hunky Roman would look like. I hope you agree.

What inspired this book?
My love of Roman history, which has been with me since childhood and the film’s The Gladiator and Ben Hur. I also loved the mini-series Spartacus. The late Andy Whitfied was born in Amlwch, about 10 miles
from where I live (((sigh))).

Who or what was the inspiration for your hero?
General Maximus Decimus Meridius – a.k.a Russell Crowe in The Gladiator. I’ve watched this film about 10 tens now and I’m still bowled over by his gorgeousness! He is the typical alpha male Roman hero IMHO.

Have you any burning ambitions to write a story in a different genre?
Yes! As well as writing Roman historicals, I’ve recently finished writing a “Viking romance”. I’m plotting a “Regency romance” at the moment and I’m toying with a romantic suspense. I’ve also got a futuristic romance on my hard-drive waiting to be written, along with several contemporary romances. Sometimes it’s a fight as to which one will get written next! So far the “Romans” have won.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?
Having a contract and deadlines tend to focus the mind somewhat. Also, having revisions from my editor was a steep learning curve. Thankfully, there weren’t a lot of them and my editor liked what I sent to her. But the one week turnaround in getting them back meant burning the midnight oil. Publicity is another big learning curve. Having to get yourself, and your book “out there” is something I hadn’t really thought about before I became published.

Do you have a writing routine? Do you write every day, and is there a time of day that works best for you in terms of being productive?
I’m always in awe of the productivity of some writers, and wish I could be as disciplined at they are. But I’m not. I do try to write every day except Wednesdays when I have other commitments. I find the weekends and evenings work best for me. Not having young children around means I’m not as constrained by the hustle and bustle of life as some writers are. I have learned by trial and error as to what works for me productivity wise. I did try the “get up at 5am to write” scenario before I went to work to try and increase the word-count but that was a disaster – Facebook and Candy Crush - but no writing! I’m definitely more productive the late afternoons and early evenings.

Are your family and real-life friends supportive? If so, in what ways? If not, do you have another support network for your writing?
On January the 1st 2007 my husband said he was “popping out for a bit”. Three hours later he returned with a laptop he bought for me in the January sales. As he handed me the box he said, “Now there’s no excuse for you not to write that book you’ve been going on about.” So yes, my husband has been hugely influential in supporting (and starting) my writing career. I’ve also been blessed by having huge support from my two best friends I met at university over (gasp) 30 years ago. They have been fabulous. And it goes without saying that other writers, (Minxy ladies you know who you are!), out there in blogland, and on Facebook, have been so helpful and supportive.

Where do you write?
I’ve actually got 3 writing places. One, sitting in my arm chair in the living room with the laptop on a small laptop table and with a footstool elevating my feet. The second, is a recliner chair that sits in the corner of our bedroom (with another footstool), and thirdly, the spare bedroom where I’ve got my own little office with desk and computer chair. But I seem more productive in the bedroom (that sound rude doesn’t it!) as I can type away quite happily for hours while hubby watches what he like on the TV in bed. The only thing I need to block out interruptions are my earplugs, then I can pretty much tap away to my heart’s content!

Thanks again for having me, Minxy’s! Caroline x

The Roman

Famous charioteer, Aulus Epidius Marsallas wants revenge against Justina Philipus - the only woman he’s ever loved, but who’d betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress. Forced to meet Marsallas for the first time in six years, Justina is shocked at the changes she sees in him. Gone is the carefree youth she once loved, now replaced by a hard muscular stranger. But there is no denying the attraction that still flows between them, and when his uncle dies, Marsallas offers sculptress Justina a challenge – a bronze stature of himself, and his four horse chariot, to be displayed at the Circus Maximus. Justina knows that this commission is just what she needs to make a name for herself, and give her the freedom she covets, so she accepts Marsallas’s challenge. However, Justina is unprepared when Marsallas states one further condition – she must become his mistress. But Justina has a secret, she’s still a virgin, she just hasn’t told Marsallas yet…

The Roman is available from Amazon, Amazon UK and all other eBook retailers.

You can find Caroline on her blog, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Author Spotlight - Lori Connelly

Welcome today to my fellow Harper Impulse author, Lori Connelly, author of historical westerns.

1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

I’m married, have three sons, one daughter-in-law, one grandbaby to be and two very spoiled dogs. A small town in the Willamette Valley of Oregon is where my family calls home but I dream of having a few acres to call my own. My husband already owns a goat, the famous Cowboy Marvin, but when we have our little farm, I’d like a miniature highland cow or two. Reading, writing and being out in nature camping, taking long walks or rock hounding are my favorite things to do. I usually carry a purse bulging with a book, a small notebook and index cards plus at least one backpack or bag for larger notebooks, pens and space to carry jasper because a person never knows when they might run across a good rock-hounding site wherever I go.

2. What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)

This is my debut. However, it is book 1 of a series. There will be a novella due out later this year and another full-length book next year. This may be the first you’ve heard of me but it won’t be the last.

3. Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

I wish I had an easy answer to that. I used to set up a certain amount of time that I would write per week but I found it was easy to end up squandering it. I sought advice from some wise authors and now I set a word count goal of at least 1000 words per day. I’m still not perfect but am far more productive.

4. What is your top promo tip for other authors?

I’m new to promo but the best thing I’ve learned is to listen to other authors. Seek out authors who appear to have learned the promo ways and politely, respectfully ask. People in general are amazingly kind and generous with information and advice.

5. How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?

I write whenever I can grab a moment. Often while doing boring chores I’m reworking a difficult scene or allowing character conversations to play out in my mind. Finding a balance between writing, life, family, and boring chores is still a work in progress.

6. Do you write every day?

Usually, yes I do write every day. Sometimes it’s only a scribble on the tiny notebook tucked in my purse. And sometimes I write a ton of words and realize the next day I must delete almost all. It’s a compulsion.

7. Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?

I keep falling in love with my secondary characters and want to give them all a story of their own. In just the book I’m in the midst of writing now, stories for how the hero’s parents fell in love, the girl who rejected him and that girl’s sister both find love nagged at me until they found a home in my ‘to be written later’ file. Those stories would all be western historical romances.

I also have some characters I created long ago that belong to a fantasy story still rough but begging to be finished.

8. Do you have any tips, tricks or sacrificial rituals you do when you hit a story roadblock?

The best thing I’ve found to do when I hit a roadblock is to walk away from the writing for a time and do something boring. If my mind continues to worry the problem, I actively try to think about another part of the story. After a rest and refresh I’ll return and usually then I can see a way to make it work.

9. What was the most fun part of writing this book?

I loved looking up the route that Ben and Evie would travel and finding photographs for inspiration. Somehow, I managed to discover a number of handsome cowboy pictures that now live in my computer.

10. Do you write to music, or with the tv on in the background, or do you need complete silence?

Too much noise is a distraction but that’s a relative thing. I’ve a husband, sons, and dogs, if there is complete silence there is something very wrong. I write a lot in the living room, laptop on my lap, with the whole crew around. When they are particularly noisy I retreat to my bedroom, plug in my headphones, listen to some music and type in peace.

BLURB

For fans of Diana Palmer and Linda Lael Miller comes the first in a brand new and emotionally gripping trilogy, The Men of Fir Mountain.

The day Evie met Benjamin Rolfe, a man with an unbridled enthusiasm for life and grandiose plans to match, she knew they’d marry and live happily ever after…

Five years later, her charming rancher is now a bitter, cynical stranger with a shaky moral compass. And after too many shattered dreams, Evie no longer believes in fairy tale endings.

When they lose the homestead and head out on the open road to start a new life in Oregon, their marriage is already strained to breaking point. Can their love survive this second chance?

The Outlaw of Cedar Ridge is available from Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

Help welcome Lori to the joys of social media on Twitter and Facebook. She also has a Pinterest board and a blog. She is the creator of the hugely fun round robin Written Fireside story (my latest instalment on this serial just went live here!)

Author Spotlight - Elaine Dodge

In today's spotlight we have debut romance author Elaine Dodge, talking about her historical novel Harcourt's Mountain.

1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Zambia and grew up in Zimbabwe. I currently live in South Africa but have no idea where I’ll end up as I did my first round-the-world cruise when I was just 4 years old. I trained as a designer and worked in that field for a while before setting off on another globe trot. That one lasted two and a half years. I then set up my own design company with my brother – The Artful Dodges. A long stint in advertising followed before I segued into the TV industry where I’ve been for a while winning an odd international award. Looming retrenchment has now opened up a world of possible futures. Very exciting.

2. What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th? (Nora only!)
Harcourt’s Mountain is my first book. And I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m currently deep in writing book 2 – The Device Hunter – and that’s proving to be a different animal altogether. Wrestling it into submission is a challenge but one I am thoroughly enjoying.

3. Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?
Popping out for a gingerbread latte is more my thing. Writing is my passion and I get very jealous of my time, so I limit my coffee expeditions to when I’ve written myself into an exhausted heap.

4. What is your top promo tip for other authors?
Use every available resource to get your name as an author and your book under everyone’s nose as possible. If you’re not out there, your book won’t sell as well as it could. As they say, you’ve got to be in it to win it.

5. How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
If I’m at my full time job then I can only write when I get home at night but as I’m about to leave that job, thanks to downsizing, I will be able to write full time. When I’m not searching for another job that is. I can’t wait to have the whole day free to write. My life makes sense when I write. I get up early, exercise, eat properly, and go to bed, happy, at a reasonable hour. When that happens I write for anywhere between 5 to 10 hours a day.

6. Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?
I have a list of books I want to write and I find myself plotting the next one in my down time from the book currently under construction. Harcourt’s Mountain is an historical romance. Book 2,– The Device Hunter, the one I’m currently writing, is a steampunk novel and the third book is a family revenge/mistaken identity plot set in England just after WWII. I’m enjoying exploring different genres all the time.

7. Any craft books you recommend?
Your Creative Writing Masterclass by Jurgen Wolff.
The Breakout Novelist by Donald Maass
The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker

8. In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?
Keeping up with all the social media aspects of promoting my book is a challenge. Especially when I’d rather be writing. I have to force myself to do it. Otherwise, being a published author still feels a little unreal. Like I’m eating at the grown-ups table!

9. What was the most fun part of writing this book?
Everything was fun. The initial plotting, the research, meeting new people who were so eager to give me information I needed and the actual writing. I loved it all. What wasn’t so fun was searching for a publisher. Thank goodness I found a lovely on - Tirgearr Publishing. The most fun part was discovering how much I enjoyed writing; that it was my passion, the feeling of this is what I’m meant to do.

10. Could you be friends with any of your heroines?
I think so. I like them when I write them.

Blurb:

Spring, 1867 – The western frontier of British Columbia hardly seems a likely place for romance. Filthy, terrified and confused, HOPE BOOKER is waiting to be sold off the ‘bride’ ship. LUKE HARCOURT happens upon the sale. It’s not love at first sight, but he feels compelled to save her from a life of slavery and prostitution. To allay her fears of being raped, Luke promises never to touch her. Being a man of his word, this is a pledge he quickly finds almost impossible to keep.

Battling their growing attraction to each other, they must learn to live together in the forests of the wild and almost unexplored mountains. They face white water, Indians, wolves, and dangerous men.

No longer able to deny their feelings, their ‘happy-ever-after’ is shattered when a corrupt land baron forces Luke’s hand. Enraged at the man’s actions, Luke rides into town—and disappears.

Alone and pregnant, Hope faces the prospect of the worst winter in ten years. The trauma of fighting off a hungry grizzly brings on labor, but the baby is stuck. Luke meanwhile wakes up on a ship bound for South America, captained by a revengeful sadist who plans to murder him. Will Luke survive and make it back to Hope in time?


Harcourt’s mountain is available from Tirgearr Publishing, Amazon, Amazon UK, Smashwords, Apple iTunes, Kobo, Nook, Sony, All Romance Books, and Omnilit.

Readers can connect with Elaine on her blog, or on Facebook.

Author Spotlight - Annie Burrows

Today we welcome Harlequin Historical author Annie Burrows into the Minxy spotlight.

What is your writing process?

Well, first of all comes the daydreaming. I "see" my stories, like a film running through my head. Except I am the director, so if I don't like the way a scene is going, I can rewind, and make the actors go through it again, a slightly different way. If one of my stories grips me so much I get to the point where I'm weeping into the washing up because the hero and heroine look like they're not going to make it, I jot the outline down in a notebook.

When the time comes round for me to try to get a new contract, I get out my notebooks and skim through. Some of the heroes and heroines then get very vocal about having their stories heard. They take up residence in my head, and won't stop nagging me until I've pleaded their case with my editor!
When I get the go-ahead to start writing, the first thing I do is get the whole plot typed into my computer, as fast as I can, with my basic outline at my side. (Usually, during this stage, my characters decide they don't like my direction all that much, and try and veer off at a tangent. Sometimes it's a struggle to keep them in line, but at others, I kind of sit back, and let them go because what they want to do is much more interesting than what I wanted them to do). Then I print it out, to see what I've got because things always look different on paper to what they do on a computer screen, and the revisions process begins. Usually the story isn't too bad, but I still need to tweak the language so that it is fit for someone else to read. And I keep on tweaking until I get to the stage where all I'm doing is taking out or putting in commas. Then I send it to my editor, and she very tactfully (usually!) points out all the things I could do to make it better.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

I remind myself of all the jobs I used to do that were so much harder - and so much more draining - and so much less fulfilling. And how I yearned to be a writer for years, and that I am finally living my dream. And anyway, there's not that much room left in my cupboard for yet another pair of shoes!

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Yes. It's absolutely essential if I don't want to spend all my royalties at the chiropractor. He gave me all sorts of stretching exercises to do to help prevent my back seizing up, the first time I went to him and he had to perform that manoeuvre that you always see on comedy shows - you know, where they grab your head and twist it to that sound effect of something ripping - though it wasn't quite so funny when he was doing it to me! He also recommended getting up and moving about frequently. So I start my day by stretching out for about 10 - 15 minutes. Then when I do get to the computer, I set a kitchen timer to go off after one hour. (It means I don't have to keep looking at the clock to see how time's going, which leaves my mind free to concentrate on the writing). And so it goes - an hour's writing, then getting up and moving about. Even if it's only making a cup of tea, and getting straight back to it. At the end of my writing day, I spend 10 - 15 mins on a stationary exercise bike, to combat that other occupational hazard...writer's bottom! And then once a week I drag my husband to a ballroom dance class. It's supposed to be a way to keep fit together, and keep some romance in our marriage. I don't know about the romance, but we certainly have a lot of laughs. Ballroom dancing is trickier than it looks!

Do you believe in writer's block?

I daren't. If I believe in it, then I might catch it.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

I've never consciously used an incident from real life in a book...because it just might get me into trouble!

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I thought that with each book my writing skills would improve, until it became easy - because that does happen with most jobs. You settle in, and the process becomes routine. But not with writing. Every book seems harder than the last. Oh, not the dreaming up ideas part, but the actual getting the words on the page to paint the picture I want readers to see in their heads. And then there's the next question...

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

Ah, yes, promotion! I have to admit, that came as a major shock to me. I hoped all I would have to do is hand in brilliant (ahem) manuscripts, and the publisher's marketing department would handle all the rest. Because, like a lot of writers, I'm not all that outgoing. I am far more used to sitting indoors, describing the adventures of my imaginary friends, than interacting with real people. But fortunately Harlequin offers seminars to gently encourage us to venture out of our comfort zone. They persuaded me onto facebook, and I haven't looked back. I'm supposed to use my page (www.facebook.com/AnnieBurrowsUK) to share news about upcoming books, foreign translation, and gorgeous covers. But I have to confess I have been totally sucked into the chatting, and sharing pictures of startled kittens part. I also signed up for Goodreads, where I've done a couple of giveaways of my books. I blog most regularly on the Harlequin Historical authors blog: http://harlequinhistoricalauthors.blogspot.co.uk/

For my last book,"An Escapade and an Engagement" released in July, I joined in a "round robin" event, where several harlequin authors collaborated to put up a story, which evolved over several weeks. You can still see "Lady Ambleforth's Afternoon Adventure" on the HH blog site.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Write a brilliant book. Simple, huh!

What did you learn while writing this book?

By "this book" I'm going to talk about my October release, "His Wicked Christmas Wager". I wanted to have my hero and heroine involved in a wager, which I hoped could be based on a card game. But then I suddenly realized I had no idea what cards would have looked like in the Regency era. And since I need to "see" what my characters are doing, so that I can describe it to my readers, I just had to find out. And now I know, whenever I read a card-playing scene in another regency set story, that they would have looked like this:

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

For once, it was reading my editor's revisions letter - where she described both her and her colleague fanning themselves with their kindle covers because my final scene was so hot! That is some kind of compliment!

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Well, since the story is set in the depths of winter, in Regency England, I think my hero is going to keep the heroine indoors in front of a crackling log fire. He's waited a long time to get his ring on her finger, so he isn't going to be in any hurry to leave the bedroom. And since he's wealthy, he can ring for refreshments when necessary, to keep up his stamina!

The blurb:

The last person Lord Crispin Sinclair expects to see in a disreputable inn is the woman he's there to forget: Lady Caroline Fallowfield. He hasn't forgiven her for marrying another man--or forgotten their mutual passion. When she implores him to come home for his brother's Christmas nuptials, he agrees--if the now-widowed Caroline is willing to share his bed and take another gamble on love...


You can find out more about Annie at her website: www.annie-burrows.co.uk

His Wicked Christmas Wager is available as anebook only from Harlequin, and from Amazon.

Keep an eye out for Annie's next novella, From Governess to Christmas Bride, which will be part of a Christmas anthology "Gift Wrapped Governesses", which also contains stories by Marguerite Kaye and Sophie James.

Author Spotlight - Toni Sands

For a second week in a row we're featuring a British erotic romance author in our Spotlight. (Anyone care to guess what's hot right now?!) To showcase how vast the erotic romance genre is, last week we featured a paranormal and this week we're going historical.

Welcome to Toni Sands and her Xcite Press book, Orchid Pink.

What is your writing process?

Either I react to an idea when it strikes or nowadays to a suggestion from either of my two lovely editors at Xcite Books. Sometimes I scribble random thoughts in a notebook then mark up names and characteristics on my whiteboard. I’m a touch typist and I work fastest when transferring the story to the screen and the characters are doing the business for me.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

Once I begin a new book it’s not difficult for me to concentrate on that wip. One big asset is that my OH works from home and he’s brilliant at leaving me to get on upstairs! We live in a small Welsh town so tempting shops aren’t within easy reach but I plan diversions every now and then. London draws me for shopping, theatres, etc and meeting up with some much-loved folk!

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Walking is a pleasure in these parts and normally I go out after lunch each day. If the weather’s too awful, I have a simple exercise routine with which I won’t bore you. Does watching tennis count?

Do you believe in writer's block?

No. If I’m really not in the mood for writing, I’ll go and do something useful like cook up a big pot of veggie stew to save time for when the Muse is nudging me.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Trivial incidents and experiences have triggered a bigger story but I try to keep out of trouble!

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I started late so am coping with the digital revolution and very thankful to have achieved what I have. It’s the publicity side I find most time-consuming but I think I’ve always been aware that a writer’s life can be a lonely and frustrating one. Thank goodness for the RNA (Romantic Novelists Association)

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

I use Facebook and Twitter but try not to bang on about my books. Since ‘that book’ exploded on the scene, I’ve become much less shy about handing out my card. So far I’ve used a PR service only once but found it helpful and would use it again. Xcite Books are very proactive but obviously they have many authors to promote.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Keep an eye on opportunities for guest-blogging and being interviewed.

What did you learn while writing this book?

Orchid Pink is set in 1900, on the brink of the Edwardian era. My heroine is a Victorian leading a complicated life. Learning more about what lay under the decorous surface in those times was fascinating. You could say I learnt more about the changing role of women.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

I had fun watching Benedict Cumberbatch portray Sherlock Holmes. There’s fabulous archive footage on the Internet so I looked at motorcars and horse-drawn vehicles and had hours of fun ‘dressing’ my heroine, especially for her wedding day. Food features hugely in my stories so I enjoyed surfing typical menus for those folk with enough cash to pay for them.

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Oh dear. This is the only book in which my heroine marries a despicable man. If I’m allowed to cheat here, may I introduce Jimmy, an East end lad who joins the household as odd jobs boy and is tipped to inherit the job of chauffeur from his uncle? Jimmy would whisk you off in his pride and joy - that gleaming Daimler which he’d borrow of course – and tour the Sussex seaside towns. Think What the Butler Saw, plus cockles, mussels, whelks and a nice drop of ale. Be prepared for him to whip off one of your stockings if he had trouble with the fan belt though! Cars weren’t so reliable in those days.

Orchid Pink blurb:

Demure Adelaide hides a passionate nature beneath her elegant gowns. After hiring a delicious new maid, Daisy, she can’t wait to initiate her into the delights of the orchid house. Though resenting paternal pressure to marry businessman Thomas, Adelaide finds excitement in his touch and his erotic whisperings. Yet, when he reveals his sinister side, she seeks solace elsewhere. Christmas brings snowflakes, also a vivid reminder of a heart-wrenching past. Intrigue and obsession rock this Victorian household as Adelaide’s poignant search for love leads her into storms. Will she ever bask in the sunshine?


Orchid Pink is available from Amazon UK and Amazon USA. You can find out more about Toni at her website: www.tonisands.co.uk or on Twitter.

Author Spotlight - Gina Rossi

Welcome to Gina Rossi, author of The Wild Heart. Gina is a fellow South African now living in glamorous Monaco.

I first read the opening chapter of this story on the New Voices contest site back in 2010. It instantly intrigued me as it is the first historical romance I'd ever read set in the Cape of Good Hope! Gina got a request out of that contest, but it was The Wild Rose Press who brought this story to the world.

I highly recommend this book, and hope it starts a wonderful new trend for South African settings in historical novels.

* * *

What is your writing process?

I like to get chores out of the way first thing in the day, or they hang around providing excuses for me not to write. I’m usually at my most productive from 1pm onward, writing straight on to the computer. I feel guilty if I don’t do it every day. But, I can spend a whole morning thinking up eg. a name for the hero’s dog or wondering what model and colour car he drives, so I frequently have to use words like ‘blah-di-blah’ and ‘yakkety-yak’ to keep myself going.

The idea for a new book goes around in my head for ages and is always a huge temptation for distraction  from any work in progress. I jot down brief notes and ideas, trying to focus on a title and some decent opening lines. By the time I sit down to write, I've got enough for some kind of outline - at least for the first chapters. After that, I wing it, making sure I get down a good daily quota of words. Each day, when I start writing, I read through and briefly edit what I wrote the day before - it makes editing that first draft just a little bit easier.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

Very few writers make a fortune, nevertheless when I start looking for excuses not to work, I think of millionaires like Jackie Collins, Lee Child, Jeffrey Archer, J K Rowling etc. They didn’t get to be successful by shoe shopping, did they? I have a brief red carpet fantasy moment and get back to work! I live in hope.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Certain chocolate-based foodstuffs are banned from my house! Apart from that, I walk absolutely everywhere, and that’s about it. I hate gym. The minute I enrol, I don’t want to go anymore and will fake death to avoid it.

Do you believe in writer's block?

In my case it’s a question of extreme laziness or procrastination, but I’m not saying it doesn’t exist for other writers. I understand it can be a very painful process to work through. Thinking about it, if I truly ever felt blocked, it would probably be a case of the story running out, or just not ‘being there’. I would start something entirely new and fresh. Many great writers suffered from block and wrote about it so there is plenty of help out there for the blocked writer.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

No, but I have used gestures, habits and sayings of friends and family. So far, I haven’t got into trouble but - fingers crossed - I guess there’s always a first time.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

There is no feeling in the world like the one when you get ‘the call’. I hadn’t realized the sense of empowerment it brings, the feeling of ‘Hang on, you can do this.’ The confidence boost is incredible. When I enrolled at a new dentist recently and wrote ‘Writer’ in the space next to ‘Occupation’ I nearly burst with joy. Silly, I know, but it felt amazing!

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

A medium-level profile on Facebook and Twitter is about as far as I go, because the best form of promotion is to write more, and better, books. It’s probably not a good idea to keep throwing promotion for your book at your followers. I know I find it off-putting and tend to unfollow people who do that. Apart from anything, it’s boring – so mix a little promotion with thanks, retweets, ‘likes’, everyday statuses, interesting links, photos, and sprinkle on a little humour. Give more than you get.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

I am a recent Pinterest convert, okay addict. I love the visual angle and it’s a great way to get appealing info and images across to your readers, plus an excellent way to store ideas. Here, in case you want to take a look, is my Pinterest link

What did you learn while writing this book?

That there are a hell of a lot of words in a book! On and on and on it goes. It’s a huge amount of work and you have to be dedicated, committed, and totally ‘on it’. I understand why people give up, why so many books never get written.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

‘The Wild Heart’ is set in the Cape of Good Hope in about 1800 – in Cape Town and also the spectacular mountain landscapes of the ‘back-country’ around Franschoek. I loved weaving the setting into the story. It became like a character in its own right.

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Anton, the hero of ‘The Wild Heart’ is a wanderer, so he would choose the wild, unexplored, savage beauty of the northern Mozambique coast. However, given his refined wife, the danger of wild animals, hostile tribesmen and fever, and the fact that he says, at one stage of the story, that he could think of nothing more pleasant than returning home ‘to Leeuwfontein to while away the warm evening by an outside fire, listening to the rustle of the river and the squeak of bats’, he would probably settle for something closer to home.

BLURB

Georgina Blake flees a refined life in eighteenth century England to avoid a scandal. Determined to begin a new life, she voyages to the Cape of Good Hope, only to find death and destruction await, endangering those she holds dear.

Though she is intrigued by stranger, Anton Villion, trader, adventurer and maverick, his arrival threatens her precarious security. Anton, himself privy to a painful secret, shadowed by heartbreak and seeking peace, is drawn to Georgina despite his hurt and mistrust, and his reservations about her history.

In time, their growing love is thwarted by the past – and Louisa Somerville, hell bent on diverting Anton’s attentions. Fate has thrown them together but can Anton and Georgina salvage their bond before destiny tears them apart? Together, can they find the strength and courage to embark on a journey to redemption and everlasting love?

The Wild Heart is available from Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble and direct from the publisher, The Wild Rose Press. It is available in both eBook and paperback formats.

Dear Julia Launch Wave - Stop One

Welcome to the launch of Dear Julia, my latest release published under the name Rae Summers as part of the Love Letters series by The Wild Rose Press.

Following Sally Minx’s novel launch idea, Dear Julia launches with a ‘Mexican wave’ starting right here. By clicking on the links below each excerpt, you’ll be able to follow the wave across 8 blogs to read the entire first chapter - or you can click on the buy links at the bottom of this post to get your own copy!

You can also follow the wave’s progress on Twitter, using the hashtag #DearJulia. If you enjoy the story, feel free to tweet your comments and chat to other wave surfers.

I’m also running a contest on my Rae Summers blog. Answer one simple question about this story, and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Dear Julia. Entries close Sunday night, and the winner will be announced on Monday.

Have fun!

* * *

The Blurb

The discovery of a long-lost love letter in a house she’s redecorating sends Rosalie Stanton on a quest to find its rightful owner.

Since his return from the Great War, William Cavendish has lived as a recluse. His peaceful existence is shattered by the return of the letter that once held all his hopes — and by its bearer, the irrepressible Rosalie, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love.

As Rosalie sets out to lure William back into society, she realises that in him she might just have met her match.


Extract One

Dust swirled out in a thick, choking cloud as plaster and debris crashed to the floor. The cloud cleared, and Rosalie lowered her handkerchief from her face and coughed. In the yawning hole where the monstrous Victorian mantelpiece had been, a pile of broken bricks now lay in their own ashes. Something pale caught her eye amongst the rubble.
“What is that?”
One of the workmen bent to pick it up. “It’s a letter, miss.”
He handed her the envelope, and she wiped her handkerchief across its grimy face to reveal paper yellowed with age and a name printed in a neat, square script, a man’s handwriting: Julia.
Not just a letter. In one corner she felt the distinctive weight of something else. Curiosity growing, she turned the envelope over. No name or return address. She frowned. “It must have fallen behind the mantelpiece.”
The man shrugged, disinterested, and she forced her attention back to the room. “Clear the bricks, and tomorrow you can install the new mantel.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They began the clean-up, and Rosalie moved to the window, holding the letter up to the light.
Against the sharp autumn sunlight she could see a shape silhouetted within the envelope. A ring. Even through the paper she could tell it was very old, delicate and ornately filigreed. And undoubtedly valuable.
That settled it. Whoever the letter had been intended for, it had to be delivered.

Anna sat at the kitchen table, shelling peas. She shook her head as Rosalie entered. “I hope you haven’t ruined that pretty dress.”
Rosalie looked down at herself. She was covered head to toe in a film of grey dust. She shrugged. “It’s just a dress. Look what we found.”
She held out the envelope to Anna. “Do you have any idea who Julia is?”
Anna shook her head and took the letter. “No idea. But Mrs. Wallace in the post office is sure to know. She knows everything about everyone around here.”
“Excellent idea. It’s the perfect afternoon for a walk into town.”
“Not in that dress, you won’t.”
Rosalie grinned. “I guess not. And I’ll have to wash my hair, too, before I go.”
“I’ll put some water to warm by the fire. Why your father couldn’t have got the plumbers in before we moved in, I’ll never know.”
It was a familiar grumble, and Rosalie laughed. “We’ve lived in worse places. And I’ll have this place
shipshape in no time.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “I have no doubt of that, Miss Rosalie. And the rest of the village too, I’m sure. Heaven help them.”

* * *

For the next instalment, click here to go to fellow Minx Sally Clements’ blog. Don’t forget to tweet your feedback using the hashtag #DearJulia.

Here is the full list of participating blogs:

Stop 1 – you are here!
Stop 2 - Sally Clements
Stop 3 - Rachel Bailey
Stop 4 - Scarlet Wilson
Stop 5 - Olivia Miles
Stop 6 - Jennifer Shirk
Stop 7 - Suzanne Jones
Stop 8 – the last stop, at my blog.

Thank you to all these lovely ladies for hosting me today!

Dear Julia is on sale through Amazon, Amazon UK, AllRomance eBooks and The Wild Rose Press. You can find out more about this novella here.

Author Spotlight - Veronica Scott

This week's Author in the Spotlight is Veronica Scott whose debut novel Priestess of the Nile went on sale through Carina Press last week.

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What is your writing process?

I’m very much a seat of the pants writer. I may do a short outline, jot some notes on characters but then I just plunge in and let the characters tell me what happens next. Often when I start a book, I have the beginning, the ending and a few big scenes in mind and the rest of the plot has to unfold as I go. I’m almost superstitious about my creative process, and would be afraid to rein it in too much with tools! I don’t always write the book in order either. Sometimes there’ll be a scene I’m really eager to write and I’ll go out of sequence and tackle it. Works for the movie industry so I’m ok with it.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

(Hard to resist shoe shopping! Now if you’d said grocery shopping....) Writing is like breathing for me – I have to do both to live. (Sorry for the melodrama). I have a fulltime day job and a long commute, so when I get home I’m happy to be able to sit and write. It’s a treat! On weekends or holidays I try to write for a few hours in the morning, since I’m most creative then. I don’t set myself goals, like number of words or pages. I just write until the inner muse says we’re done for that session.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Oh, I WISH. Not the most dedicated exerciser, plus I have bad knees. I do ride my exercycle every morning. I take long walks at lunchtime on the day job, which is located in a hilly area. We have stairs at the house so I definitely count my umpteen jillion trips up and down as exercise. I’m really bad about staying on the computer for long stretches of time. My daughters bought me an ergonomic office chair for Christmas!

Do you believe in writer's block?

Knock wood, I’ve had very little trouble with writer’s block but I’ve known writers who do struggle with it. If the words aren’t flowing for me, I’ll step away from the laptop and go listen to music. I also like to drive and listen to music and think about plot issues. The freeways are my friend then!

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

I’ve never done that yet. I do like to drop little fun things into my books as inside jokes to my daughters. I made the family cat a minor character in one WIP. I had another character specifically diss green beans because my daughters won’t touch them with a ten foot fork. There was a very famous battle in Ancient Egypt that I used liberally in a WIP. Thank you, Pharaoh Ramses, for leaving very detailed accounts of your victories!

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

Well, I’m still revelling in having that first book published! On the good side, I never dreamed I would find such a tremendously supportive group of people as my fellow authors. I’ve learned more from them in the last six months than I ever knew before. Readers, reviewers, editors – more wonderful people! On the down side a little, it’s amazing how much time a writer really has to spend on the promo. You have to be careful to keep yourself writing the creative stuff, not get too distracted.

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

Turns out I am a twitteraholic. Who knew?! I’m always on twitter, you can find me at @vscotttheauthor. I have a Facebook page and a blog. I post regularly to my blog, I also participate in Six Sentence Sunday (where writers post just six sentences from a WIP or other writing and you can hop around reading all the fun excerpts) and I do giveaways. I visit other blogs when they’re kind enough to invite me (being with the Minxes today is so much fun!) As yet I haven’t gone to any conventions or done a book signing (where I’ll have to sign a bookmark for you actually, since the book is e published) but I’m looking forward to the experiences.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

First that you have to do promo. Following that, my actual specific tip would be to find at least a couple forms of social media that you are comfortable with and then participate regularly. Twitter and blogging turned out to be my favorites so far.

What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned a great deal during the editing process. My Carina Press editor Alison was so helpful in making suggestions about pacing – let the characters and the Readers stop for breath a few times along the way! She also helped me develop more layers for the emotional journey Sobek and Merys are on, by foreshadowing certain events earlier in the novella, enlarging on some of the secondary characters because their reactions to things showed more about the main characters. I learned the word “that” is apparently imprinted on my dna because it is the single word I overuse most and have to prune away!

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

I love research and you can literally lose yourself for hours in researching anything to do with Ancient Egypt. But mostly I enjoyed telling the story.

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?
Since he’s the Crocodile God, he always wants to be somewhere warm and sunny. I think he’d take Merys for a long cruise down the Nile.

About Priestess of the Nile:
Egypt, 1500 BC

Drawn to his abandoned temple on the banks of the Nile by an enchanting song, Sobek the Crocodile God is even more captivated by the sight of the singer herself. Appearing to her as a man, he learns she is Merys, a descendant of his last priestess. Though filled with lust, Sobek believes Merys deserves to be more than just his mistress. But the rules that govern the Egyptian pantheon forbid anything beyond a physical joining of a Great One and a human.

Merys is attracted to the handsome stranger, who arouses passions in her that no man ever has. But with no dowry and no hope of ever leaving her village, she dares not dream of the future—or love.

Sobek takes every opportunity to visit Merys, taxing his resolve to leave her pure. When he saves her life, their mutual desire must be sated. But can a love between a human and an immortal survive the ultimate test of the gods?

* * *

Priestess of the Nile is available at Carina Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks. You can find out more about Veronica at her blog, or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Author Spotlight - Tracy Sumner

In today's spotlight we have historical romance author Tracy Sumner. Formerly published by Kensington, she has a slew of awards to her name, and is now branching out into indie publishing. She chats to us today about her two latest releases, Tides of Passion and Tides of Love.

• What is your writing process?

I think I’m in the middle between complete novel fleshed out and flying by the seat of my pants. For some reason, I’m always intrigued by the occupations of the hero and heroine and usually start my research there. For example, in TIDES OF LOVE, Noah is a marine biologist. I researched the time period surrounding (1898) and the location. I chose that based on a place I had prior knowledge of – Beaufort, NC. And a marine research laboratory built in the time period.

Once I start to visualize the characters, I start to see them interacting. That’s where the snaps of dialogue come in. I place these in chronological order in a scenes summary. So, when I’m writing that scene, I refer to these. Could also be setting snaps or something I think belongs in that scene. I do not plot completely. I have these scene summaries to guide me. And as I get through the book, the scenes get their own notes. Even if its only half a page.

• Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

Well, I’m not so great at this. But I think the best advice is to keep your butt in the chair. I just read a blog post about not feeling like the muse is with you for every word. To write when it stinks, when you don’t feel like, when it’s not flowing well.

• Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

I like yoga and Pilates. I also have a four-year-old and a FT graphic design gig that keep me very busy!

• Do you believe in writer's block?

Yes. Though I think it’s self-imposed. Or a psychological thing writers do to themselves, if that makes sense.

• Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

No, I think I may use little pieces of dialogue – I see this when I read the book even if I didn’t see it when I was writing. But no actual instances. Though I write historicals, so this could hamper that a little.

• In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I’ve been published for quite a few years. And I think I learned a lot after the initial “wonder” wore off. About how hard the business was. About how the first published book is not going to make a career. I think people are surprised by how much of a business it is. Promotion alone requires a great deal of marketing knowledge – and I work in marketing FT, so I see how hard it is.

• Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

Promotion is great! If you’re doing it for the right reason. I’m very interested in gaining new readers because I love the characters in my books as if I’d birthed them.  And I want people to love them – and enjoy the stories. I have a FT career that pays my bills.

What have I done to reach more readers? Ads, blog tours such as this one!, giveaways, contests on my website. Free copies of the books. I do that a lot.

• What is your top promo tip for other authors?

To know your audience. And, perhaps, that writing a great book is the best promotion ever.

• What did you learn while writing this book?

Which one?  I think I learned with TIDES OF PASSION to let my creativity flow and not worry so much. I wrote TOP faster than I’ve ever written a book and under a bit of duress, and it’s the one mentioned most often by readers, and it won the most awards (the biggest The National Reader’s Choice for Best Long Historical).

• What was the most fun part of writing this book?

Creating characters! With all their quirks and insecurities. And I love picking names!

• And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Hmmm…for Noah, TIDES OF LOVE. His would be somewhere where he could complete a bit of research on the side.  He’s a sexy nerd. But a very, very sexy nerd! Elle is fairly intellectual, too, and would not mind the side trip for research. She’s very patient that way.

For more information on Tracy and her books, you can find her at her website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

TIDES OF PASSION
National Reader’s Choice Winner: Best Long Historical
“Terrific dialogue…and hot loves scenes. If you haven’t read Tracy Sumner before, Tides of Passion is a good place to start.”
—All About Romance

“This novel realizes with a great and witty gusto that independence isn’t so much about being on your own as it is about choosing to be together.”
—Romantic Times

She is his greatest temptation.
He is her forbidden desire.
A battle of wills leads to love.



TIDES OF LOVE
“I picked up Tides of Love…just to give the book a quick peak. That quick peak turned into four hours of reading that didn’t stop until I finished the book!”—The Romance Reader

“A powerful relationship novel that explores the heartache and triumph of love.”
—Romantic Times

He left all he loved behind...
Will he be able to return and win her heart?

Author Spotlight - Bronwen Evans

We are delighted to have New Zealand author Bronwen Evans in the Minxy Spotlight today. Bronwen writes hot Regencies, and her first book, Invitation to Ruin, is available through Kensington Brava, with the sequel, Invitation to Scandal, due out in 2012.

* * *

Hello from New Zealand. Thanks for having me on the Minxy Blog. I’m really excited to meet you all and to tell you a little more about my debut Regency, INVITATION TO RUIN.

What is your writing process? 

I always have characters and stories racing around my brain so I do need to be methodical in order to let one story develop at a time. I’m a huge believer in plotting. I usually develop a high concept 50 word pitch detailing the premise of the story and the two main characters. Then I develop a full character history so that I know everything I can about my characters. From there I develop a bullet point summary of the story and plot details which turns into a six act outline using Michael Hauge’s Six Stage Story Concept detailing all turning points and the characters’ inner and out journey.
Once that’s complete I write the synopsis – usually 1 page for each 10,000 words, so a 95k book is usually around 8-10 pages. This goes to my editor or agent so that she can sign off on the story and make any editorial changes upfront. Saves on the revisions. Once she’s signed off, I have a thorough road map to keep me on track. I actually find my creativity is greater once I’ve plotted out a book because I can concentrate on the writing, knowing I have a solid story.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping? 

I’m bad – I go shoe shopping! Just kidding. The fact that I have a plot outline and the fact I usually wake up with the next scene playing in my head, I’m not often without inspiration. But if the creative juices decide not to flow, I re-read the character arcs and I re-read the synopsis and then I go for a long walk. I find once I’m outside and walking, the story will come to me, and then I can head home and start writing.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer? 

I used to play representative netball and I have back, neck and shoulder injuries, so I have to ensure I stretch every two hours when working on the computer. I also walk every second day at around 3pm in the afternoon and I have a cross trainer for those wet, cold days. I’m just starting to build a new home in a warmer area of New Zealand, so I’m putting in a swimming pool as I’ve found that swimming is the best for my back.

 Do you believe in writer's block?

I’m sure it happens. As a plotter I very rarely suffer from writers block for very long. Besides, with deadlines you can’t afford to have writers block. I do think that families, other commitments etc can get in the way of writing time. That’s harder to manage but then life can’t be ignored. You can’t be writing all the time.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble? 

Not really, although I wrote a short story about a moment I had with a roommate at University who was very sick. It placed second in a short story contest. Because I write historicals, I have used modern day ideas such as endometriosis and thought about how that would have affected a woman’s life in the 1800’s.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be? 

Hmmmm.... I’m not sure I really knew what to expect, it all happened so fast. I love the way readers get so engaged with my story and often email me with questions. Writing is very hard work. Finishing a book is only the beginning. You have to remember that the next book has to be just as good, and the next etc. It’s like the beginning of any career, you have to put the hard yards in. Mostly, I’m surprised at how much I love it. The reality surpasses anything I could have imagined.

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers? 

I’m a marketing graduate so promotion is not new to me. It’s a necessity for selling any product. Social network marketing is very important in building your brand and for reaching readers. I use twitter, facebook, blogs, websites etc I must admit I only blog or tweet etc when I have something interesting to say. I actually think my life’s rather boring; therefore it won’t be that interesting to readers either.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Use loads of giveaways – get your book into as many readers’ hands as possible. Word of mouth with social networking is huge. A good book will sell itself, that’s what you should focus on – producing the best product possible.

What did you learn while writing this book? 

I learned loads about slavery in Regency England. My hero’s father was a slave trader. Anthony had a terrible childhood and I love how he has the strength to overcome his brutal upbringing and open his heart to love. It took a very special heroine, Melissa. I found I have fabulous critique partners who went above and beyond to help me make the book better and who celebrated with me on my debut sale of INVITATION TO RUIN.

What was the most fun part of writing this book? 

Finishing it! This was the first book I actually finished. I had been writing for about three – four years and never finished a book. One of my lovely critique partners told me ‘you can’t sell what you haven’t finished’. She was absolutely right. What changed with this book? I’d plotted the whole story so I knew exactly how the character’s journey would unfold. I haven’t looked back I have completed two further books – Invitation to Scandal due out in 2012 and Invitation to Love (working title).

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Anthony’s a consummate rake and he’s now madly in love and lust with his wife. He’s very possessive and protective of her, so he’d prefer his Yorkshire Manor in the middle of winter where they would be snowed in. He’d build up the bedchamber fire, have the servants ensure beautiful meals were brought to the room, and then never let his wife out of bed. He has several months of wasted opportunity to make up for – plus he wants to try out all the positions in his wife’s naughty book. Melissa used a book written by Madam du Barry, the last mistress of the King of France, to seduce Anthony. He’s going to ensure they read it thoroughly – cover to cover.
 

One Good Lady is About to Go Bad...

The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible-and unobtainable-man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.

Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone-and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own... Read an excerpt 

INVITATION TO RUIN is available through most book stores and online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository and Indie.

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You can catch up with Bronwen at her website, on her blog, and on Twitter.

Author Spotlight - Saskia Walker

Today we're thrilled to welcome multi-published, talented author, Saskia Walker, to the Minx spotlight. We know she'll be right at home here. Take it away, Saskia!

1. Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago?

Five years ago I had a bunch of short stories published, several ebooks, and I just had my first contract from a New York house for a trade paper erotic romance. It's interesting to look back, so thank you for asking that question! Often I get so bound up with writing and the next story that I lose sight of the path behind me.

2. Where did you get the idea from for this particular book?
THE HARLOT and associated stories were inspired by a visit to the East Neuk of Fife in Scotland. This is an area of the Lowlands that has a dark and extensive history of witchcraft and persecution. The paranormal folklore there is intriguing, and the landscape and its legacy stimulated all sorts of ideas.

3. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?
Writing great cross genre stories that make readers happy! Happy readers is my goal. :)

4. Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written?

That would be any of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series! She's an awesome writer with immense vision. I love where she takes us with her characters.

5. Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?
Yes, a British fantasy writer called Storm Constantine had a huge influence on me. Storm has a vivid imagination and writes characters that I can really relate to, no matter how fantastic the setting. That's key to me, if I engage with a character I can believe in I follow them wherever they take me in their world. I'd already had the dream of writing, but Storm is an author who encourages others. With her vibrant writing as inspiration and her personal mentorship, I took my first tentative steps on this journey.

6. Promotion is no longer a dirty word. How do you strive to reach as many readers as possible?
I find promotion tough. Honestly, it's really hard to push myself out there and talk up my books. I'm getting a tad braver, thank goodness! I try a little of everything, advertising, blogging, social networks. I can safely say that Good Reads is where I feel most at home. It's a really valuable social network for authors because we are engaging with avid readers actively looking for books.

7. What's the most romantic moment of your life so far?

Standing in an airport and realizing that I didn't want to get on the plane for a two-week vacation, because I'd fallen for the man I was leaving behind. I'd looked forward to that damn trip so much, and all of a sudden it was meaningless, because I'd had my first date with the love my life the night before. Inside a heartbeat I learned how much I would give up, just to be in his company. It was a profound moment, shocking and thrilling and incredibly romantic. That was over eleven years ago, and I'm still every bit as much in love with him, if not more -- and I'd still give up everything I own for another hour with him!

8. What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed?

Ha, that a lot of patience is needed! I knew it would take hard work and that I had a lot to learn. I'm a practical sort and I also realized that as a self employed person I would have to drum up motivation for myself, each and every day. What I didn't know is that everything takes a loooooong time and there's a lot of waiting involved. It's very easy to wish your life away when you're a writer -- waiting for the next publication, waiting to hear back on a sub, waiting to see what readers think of a book. I try to distract myself from all of that by throwing myself into new projects all the time.

9. What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
The best promo is to write the next book.

10. Tell us about your latest release.

THE HARLOT is a historical erotic romance with paranormal elements. It's set in Scotland in the early 1700s, shortly after the time of the union with England. It's also toward the end of the period in Scottish history when the persecution and execution of those charged with witchcraft took place.

The story is a very lusty, bawdy tale! The central characters, Jessie Taskill and Gregor Ramsay, are both wily loners, wary and self reliant because of what life has thrown at them. Jessie is a whore under a charge of witchcraft, and Gregor has returned to Scotland looking to regain what was taken from his family over a decade before. Initially their relationship is built on a business arrangement, but desire soon gets in the way.

Gregor rescues Jessie from the gallows and hires her to get close to his enemy, but right from the outset these two are far too distracted by each other. Jessie is alluring to Gregor, and she would much rather seduce her attractive sponsor than learn about his enemy. Each thinks they have the upper hand on the other, especially when it comes to sex. Inevitably they become close, learn of the tragedies that went before, making way for companionship and love. But with enemies and witch hunters close by, their journey is a bumpy one.

Here's the official blurb:

It is a Dark Era, one when a lusty lass will do what she must to survive. Even if it means bartering flesh for a palmful of coins...

Forced to watch her mother burned at the stake and separated from her siblings in the aftermath, Jessie Taskill is similarly gifted, ripe with a powerful magic that must stay hidden. Until one night when she's accused by a rival, and Jessie finds herself behind prison walls with a roguish priest unlike any man of the cloth she has known.

In reality, Gregor Ramsay is as far from holy as the devil himself, but his promise of freedom in return for her services may be her salvation. Locked into a dubious agreement, Jessie resents his plan to have her seduce and ruin his lifelong enemy. But toying with Gregor's lust for her is enjoyable, and she agrees to be his pawn while secretly intending to use him just as he is using her.
11. What’s next for you?

I'm about to begin work on THE LIBERTINE, and THE JEZEBEL, the follow-up books to THE HARLOT. These two books are the stories of Jessie Taskill's long-lost siblings, Maisie and Lennox. The siblings were torn apart as children when their mother was burned at the stake for witchcraft. They've had completely different lives, but the heritage of pagan witchcraft is in their blood and the need to find each other again is strong. They are passionate, gifted people, living in a time when one hint of witchcraft brings the death penalty. Each story is both an adventure and an erotic romance. As the three siblings live and love they also find their way back to each other. The reunion of the Taskill witches will be at the end of the third book. All three novels are scheduled for back-to-back mass-market publication on the HQN line, early in 2013. I'm very excited about the writing of books two and three!

Link: http://www.saskiawalker.co.uk/theharlot.html