A career in logistics offered me the opportunity to travel to
many beautiful locations in America, and I revisit them in her romantic
suspense novels.
I write romantic suspense and contemporary erotic romance with
alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through life’s obstacles to
emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each
other. I like to put my characters in difficult positions, make them suffer,
and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after.
My books are written to stand alone with no cliff hangers.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Jerrie: I think that’s a gift that many authors don’t have. Monica Burns made me cry in Kismet. That words she put on paper could cause such emotions in me, made me want to be a better writer and turned me into a stalker fan.
Elizabeth: I love this cover and it’s going on my TBR list immediately!
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Jerrie: Both! If the scenes are flowing and my muse had found it in her heart to show up and is pumping ideas into my head, it’s exhilarating. It gives me a high that pushes me to keep going. But if it’s one of those days where the words don’t come easy and she’s nowhere in sight, I’m exhausted. That’s when I walk away for a while.
Elizabeth: Most of the time energize but if I’m really not feeling it I move away from it for a bit. Distance gives you perspective.
Does a big ego help or hurt writers?
Jerrie: LOL. I know a few who have healthy egos, but I can’t tell if it helps or not. Truthfully, I think most of us have a little self-doubt. I admit to it. I want my readers to hate seeing a story I’ve written end. I want them to be completely satisfied that they money they spent was worth every cent.
Elizabeth: Luckily, I haven’t come across any authors with super big egos! Okay, well maybe one, but karma knocked her back down to size pretty quickly. I think most authors set their egos aside when writing so they can dwell in their character’s personas.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Jerrie: The first line and last line of the book! I don’t plot but I have a story in mind when I start. I was taught to write with a beginning and an end in mind. The theory is that if you don’t know where you’re going, your writing will wander all over the page trying to get there. I will rewrite that first line until it resonates with me and then everything flows fairly easily. (sometimes)
Elizabeth: I love this answer! Yes the first line can set the whole mood of a work if well done.
What comes first, the plot or the characters?
Jerrie: Always the characters. Especially in my romantic suspense books, I do a complete profile on the main characters. I lay out their pictures, individual histories, and I decide what their biggest obstacle to overcome will be. Then I start putting problems in front of them to solve. Sounds strange 😉 but it works for me.
Elizabeth: I agree with Jerrie, characters first since they drive the action.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
After I lost my husband, my ability to write suffered. My doctor suggested I try a genre that would require research, digging into something I knew little about. So, I decided, what the heck, I’ll write BDSM. I considered using a pseudonym for the four book erotic romance series that was the result of his advice. Hindsight being 20/20, maybe I should have used one. My family isn’t too enthusiastic about my choice of genre. But as the old saying goes, it is what it is. I wrote them and am not ashamed of my hard work. It achieved what I needed it to. I’m writing again and loving it.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It depends
on the story. A lot of the second book of the Lost and Found, Inc. series is
set in the Columbian jungle. Boy did I do some research! I wound up with eighty-one
pages. Some were answers from a friend who is a retired SEAL. He advised me how
to blow up a building, hack my way through the dense undergrowth, and kill a
countless number of villains.
I have to
admit that was a lot of research but I felt it critical to the story.
Describe yourself in three words.
Loyal
Honest
Spontaneous.
Name three of your favorite things.
Traveling
Bread pudding
My dog, Buddy
Name three of your least favorite things.
Cold weather
Illness
Isolation
Thanks for joining me this week Jerrie, I loved getting to know you better! If you’d like to learn more about Jerrie’s work check her out below:
Anne grew up in a very small town in South Carolina, where as a kid, she always loved to read books, make people laugh and write songs. After having success in her home state she decided to pursue dreams of becoming a writer and moved to Nashville, TN. When she’s not writing you can find her reading or searching for a husband. She loves spending time with her friends, nieces, nephews and her two fur babies. She enjoys making people laugh and loves hearing from her readers.
Anne: As a kid I loved to read. My mom was an avid reader and instilled that into me and my sister. The most memorable book that changed my world was “Tiger Eyes” by the amazing Judy Blume. I was a pre-teen when I read it and it brought me to tears. As a matter of fact I still have my original copy.
Elizabeth: I think mine was THE PROMISE by Danielle Steel.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I go through old family names and names I loved from tv
characters. An author friend of mine gave me the best piece of advice when I
began writing. She said make a spreadsheet of your character names. Major and
minor. That way you have less chance of duplicating them.
Do you use anything to get in the mood for writing, especially if it’s emotional?
Anne: I began my career as a songwriter. So, for me it’s music. I have a playlist for each book. When a song touches my soul for an emotional scene I am writing, I will play it over and over until it’s done.
Elizabeth: Sometimes when I’m stuck in a scene or want to increase the emotion I listen to music when writing. I’ve got to know if Anne has sold any of her songs???
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Anne: Me. I am my own worst enemy. I used to write a line, hate it, erase it and try it again. But now I make myself just sit down and write. No editing or deleting. Just get the scene in my head on paper. Then the next day I will go back over it and make corrections.
Elizabeth: I force myself to write a scene, it’s usually dialogue first and then I go back and set the scene and dress it up with prose and details.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I wrote a series called the “Burning Series”. The first book
is about a firefighter and an arsonist. My nephew is with the local fire
department, so I went straight to the source. It was my first suspense series
and I wanted it to be accurate. It was one of my favorite series to write. The
cover of “Burning Fury” featured my nephew’s actual helmet on it.
What do you have in your writer’s space to help you stay focused?
I have always been a Star Wars fan. It was the first movie I
saw as a kid and I have been obsessed ever since. My writing space is covered
with my memorabilia.
An avid
reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a
child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like
her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O’Hara. Her work was first seen on
the stage of her elementary school, where her 4th grade class
performed an original holiday play she penned. (Like all good
divas-in-the-making, she also starred in and tried to direct the production.)
Tracie’s dreams of authorial success were put on the backburner when she reached adulthood and discovered that she needed a “real” job in order to pay her bills. Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years. When it ended, she decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time. She is the proud winner of the Independent Press Award (Romantic Comedy) and a Bronze Medal in the Readers’ Favorite Awards (Chick Lit).
Straight from the Hart is
Tracie’s seventh novel and a full circle moment for her as the story took her
back to Hollywood, which was the setting of her very first book.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Interestingly enough, the book I can first remember making me cry wasn’t fiction. It was a memoir—By Myself by Lauren Bacall. Her retelling of her husband Humphrey Bogart’s illness and death was really heart-wrenching and had a profound emotional impact on me. I sobbed my way through reading those chapters and I’m someone who rarely cries while reading. I was fortunate to meet Ms. Bacall at a book signing years later and told her just how much her writing affected me.
What is your favorite quote? Why does it speak to you?
Tracie: I’m a big fan of the Benjamin Franklin quote, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” I am a Type A planner, so this quote pretty much sums up my whole approach to life!
Elizabeth: From one type A to another, I plan to plan! It’s a curse and a blessing. LOL.
What comes first, the plot or the characters?
Tracie: It’s the characters or the overall concept that comes first for me. My stories are very character-oriented, so I always start with jotting down bios by hand for the leads in my books. Once I’ve got a handle on the characters, their backstories, their relationships, and what their goals and motivations are, then a story organically presents itself to me.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Tracie: I could write an essay on this topic! It is SO important to find your writing tribe when you begin your journey as an author. You will need those other writers for advice along the way as well as emotional support. I would not have achieved half of what I have without my writer pals. I feel so strongly about authors connecting and helping each other that I run a large group on Facebook called “Chick Lit Chat” where hundreds of us connect on a daily basis, sharing our wisdom and experiences. I’ve made so many dear friends there (too many to even name!).
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
It would have to be a mermaid! I will be forever associated with them because my last book, In the Swim of Things, had a heroine who was a professional mermaid. I post mermaid-related things on social media all the time and readers are always tagging/messaging me when they see mermaid stories/products. I’ve amassed quite a collection of mermaid paraphernalia thanks to all the friends, family members, and readers who’ve sent me lovely and unique mermaid items.
Tracie: I had to leave some tidbits about Viv, the heroine’s Emmy-winning grandmother in Straight from the Hart, on the cutting room floor. As readers will learn, Viv has led quite a colorful life! I had a tremendous amount of fun coming up with her backstory and I was never quite sure what was going to come out of her mouth. In the end, I had to remind myself that this book was Vanessa’s story, not Viv’s. LOL Maybe one day Viv will commission me to write her biography, then I can tell the world which Beatle she had a fling with. 😉
Elizabeth: I love that you’ve carried characters between your books, that’s so fun and fans will enjoy seeing glimpses of the characters again.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Funny you should ask because I included some Easter eggs in Straight from the Hart that connect my books and will amuse folks who’ve read my backlist. A character from my very first book, Blame It on the Fame, makes a cameo appearance in one scene. (SPOILER: Time has not mellowed her. She’s just as awful now as she was in her original incarnation!) As for the other “secrets,” let’s see if my readers can ferret them out.
Elizabeth: Get your baskets warmed up and find those Easter eggs!!!
Here’s all the juicy details about Tracie’s newest release!!!
Romance isn’t dead. At least not as long as Vanessa Hart has anything to say about it.
Having founded her own
romance concierge business, Vanessa helps the couples of Los Angeles keep the
spark alive by planning unique and unforgettable experiences guaranteed to
make them fall even deeper in love. But playing Cupid doesn’t leave this boss
lady any time to lock down her own happily ever after, or so she claims.
Vanessa is secretly nursing a broken heart from her last
serious relationship, which ended badly,
like donate everything he left at her apartment to Goodwill and refuse to ever
speak his name again badly. When Vanessa’s ex, celebrity publicist Alex Farr,
reappears in her life with an intriguing business proposition, she’d like to
tell him where to stuff it, but . . .
Straight from the Hart is under attack by an unscrupulous
former employee and getting the endorsement of Alex’s A-list client would prove
Vanessa’s the best romance concierge in town. All she has to do is save the
marriage of “It Couple” Jax and Jaz, which is teetering on the edge of a fault
line thanks to his drunken indiscretion with a co-star, and get the twosome
back on the red carpet in time for Jax’s film premiere.
If only Vanessa didn’t have to work side-by-side with the man she once adored and now wants to throttle. Jax and Jaz might be soulmates who deserve a second chance, but there’s no going back for her and Alex. They are done. Over. Finished. Kaput. Vanessa just has to keep telling herself that until she believes it.
TRACIE thanks for sharing your new release and stopping by for an interview. Follow Tracie and don’t forget to sign up for her Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/by0VAv
Leslie began her writing career as a stay-at-home-mom. Her life-long love of reading and the paranormal lead to writing short stories for friends in high school and college.
Leslie is also the host of her own successful podcast, “Because I Wanna Know” in which she interviews interesting guests, asking how their occupations, hobbies or interests have affected their lives.
When she is not writing or podcasting, you will find her lunching with friends, sipping a cup of joe, binging on Netflix or working on a home DIY project.
Leslie lives in Texas with her husband, teenage son and daughter, and two very silly pugs.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Leslie: First book that made me cry was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon…and I don’t cry often. But, the love story between Clair and Jamie was extraordinarily written and became the basis for how I wanted the romance in my stories to come across. If I make a reader cry, that’s a win for me! Sorry, readers…
Elizabeth: I’m with you, if I can evoke tears from a reader I feel like that’s a win for me! We love you readers but we want you emotionally involved.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Leslie: Great question! For me, there’s nothing worse than starting a book and quickly figuring out the entire plot within the first chapter. And, because of that, I write in first person/present tense. That way, the reader finds out what’s happening at the same moment as the character. I want my readers work a little, and so far, they seem to love it. Or they’re lying, but still, I’ll keep telling myself I’m rocking the suspense button.
Elizabeth: When writing romance delivering a HEA is what readers want, it doesn’t mean the journey getting there has to be predictable.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Leslie: None, actually. Once I start a story, I finish it. Also, I can’t write multiple novels at once. My head would explode.
Elizabeth: More than I can count. Some are just vague ideas on loose pieces of paper, but story ideas that I’m actively thinking about or actually working on each have a spiral bound notebook and I write scene ideas, thoughts, bits of dialogue, newspaper articles or whatever else pertains to that story. I keep those notebooks easily accessible and if something strikes me that pertains to that story I just slip it into that notebook. I usually fill up an entire notebook filled before I even start writing, this way my stories have a head start.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Leslie: Honestly, I typically only research when the storyline calls for it. Take my Greek mythology/paranormal romance, “Peripheral” for example. Without giving too much away, I did more research on that manuscript than any other book I’ve ever written. It’s an incredibly unique love story, which I love! Studying Zeus and his son Apollo’s bloodline was fascinating! https://amzn.to/3sV1YUB
Elizabeth: I love research but you can’t use it as a way to procrastinate, not that I’d ever do that…. LOL!
How do you select the names of your characters?
Leslie: This question made me laugh because lately, so many book characters have all these crazy-uncommon names like, “Kyler or Declan.”
Nothing at all wrong with those names—I just like to stay away from trends and keep mine simple.
Elizabeth: Sometimes character names just pop into my head but I have a name dictionary that I use, I’m big on checking the meaning of names and make sure that they coordinated with my concept for that character.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Leslie: Oh my God, DESCRIPTIONS!! I’m great at dialogue but man, getting me to paint the picture for a reader, I struggle hard, and usually don’t give enough. That’s when my editor pops in on the track changes and demands more, more, more! Ugh…
Elizabeth: I’m laughing because I have to go back and trim descriptions, that’s what my interior design degree gets me.
Do you Google yourself?
Leslie: I may or may not have Googled myself once or twice…or every week. Besides writing novels, I also host an interview podcast called, “Because I Wanna Know.” I chat with guests who have unique occupations or life experiences. Like a mortician, a near death experiencer, someone who lived through a true crime event, even a woman who escaped from a religious cult.
So yeah, I sneak peeks at myself to you know, make sure the internet is still doing its job.
Elizabeth: Answered this one before, so since I share a name with a porn star I tend to stay away from Googling myself… I guess we each share a nice, natural rack but that’s a story for another day.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Leslie: Depends on my deadlines, but typically, it takes me around nine months to complete a full novel. However, in the past year and a half I’ve released three books…and holy crap, I’m freaking exhausted. Which is why I’m taking a small break. Plus, I was behind a little on my alcohol consumption, so…
Elizabeth: I’d say about six months, but I sit on novels for a bit of time after they’re finished and let them rest for a couple of weeks to a month and then revisit them with fresh eyes. This is why having more than one WIP going at once works for me.
Georgia Landaische has used her gift for healing people her whole life. But after the death of her father, the one person who refuses her help, she needs a new start. New Orleans offers a clean slate—a place for her to set up a small shop and use her power to do what she couldn’t for the person she wanted to the most. But when she meets an adorable little girl with a heart condition and her handsome father, Georgia finds that some things aren’t so easy to fix.
Matthew Laroux is known to be the best baker in town. As a single father to five-year-old Clara and owner of a small grocery business, his life has finally settled. His money-hungry ex-wife nearly destroyed him in the divorce, and all he wants is to protect his daughter from anything that might hurt her and keep himself free from entanglements. No more commitments and no more women. Well, except one. He takes her out on the town, and she leaves in the morning. No one gets hurt, and no one expects anything more. They have an understanding, and really, it’s the best of both worlds…until Georgia walks into his store and makes him rethink everything he ever thought he wanted.
But both soon learn that actions have consequences, and in a city like New Orleans, sometimes a little magic is needed to find your happily ever after.
Describe yourself in three words:
Happy (unless hungry)
Curious
Goofy.
Three least favorite things:
Raw sushi for sure
Loud car engines
Humidity…because my hair
Three of my favorite things :
My lovely husband
My amazing son and daughter
My pugs—who are total hot messes.
You can learn more about Leslie and her amazing paranormal romances here:
This week I’m welcoming Jas Ward for the interview. I met Jas at a book signing and she’s one of the nicest writers and she’s been an inspiration ever since. I’m super excited to learn more about the Ward Way.
“Why the Ward Way? Because I believe in writing books that take a reader on a thrill-ride. Action, danger, drama, sure. But also, laughter, tears of joy and moments that make you want to stop just to scream. My books are twisted, complex and full of heroes and heroines full of flaws and heart, but a reader cannot deny–total badasses.
Welcome to my worlds, take a seat, get to know me and the characters and I assure you… You’ll be glad you did.” ~Jas T Ward
Born and raised in Texas, Ward is a mixed bag of creativity spinning tales of paranormal, urban fantasy and even dark romance and horror; wrapped within a love story. She’s been dared to write a few contemporary romances but even those reads have characters that are real and twisted by their creator.
Mother of three diverse and independent bold children, Ward prides herself for being the “Queen Niche’ Bitch” which is a handy way of saying she sucks writing to market.
But her readers don’t seem to mind.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Jas: I believe the most common trap is not knowing the business before hitting release. Not doing research to learn the hardships, the work, and the reality of being an author. Whether it be traditional or indie, you need to know that there is rarely overnight success. Getting 100 or 1000s of likes is not going to happen just because you have a kickass cover and eye-catching teasers. Both are crucial of course, but so is working to get your book out there and seen. Even then, there is no guarantees. Remember, you will often feel like no one sees you. That you’re “too new” to be important. Wrong. If you took the effort to write your story you ARE important. But make sure you keep it real. It’s going to take time.
Elizabeth: Yes, I agree you have to have a detailed plan long before you hit the publish button.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Jas: Social media! Facebook especially. I’ve been trying to minimize my time on social media. If I had my way, I’d never go there. It sucks you into a black hole of time. When you come out, guess what, the day is gone. But as an author in a business, I need to be there. But I am very grateful that I have a team that maintains it for me. Or I’d get zero writing done.
Elizabeth: Social media is real distraction, I try to plan my posts ahead of time and then just check in hoping to not to get sucked into something time consuming. But you know what they say about best laid plans.
Have you ever gotten reader’s block?
Jas: I’m in one now! I have downloaded so many different types of books from various authors. Both trad & indie. Nothing is catching my attention. I’m not sure if it’s a slump or a block. But whichever it is, it’s frustrating.
Elizabeth: I go through this from time too, it’s like searching for the illusive needle in a haystack sometimes.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
Jas: Funny you should ask! I already use a pen name for my PNR and contemporary romances. I’m considering branching out into women’s fiction/mystery and most likely will use a second pen name. But both are versions of my actual name, so not too hard to manage.
Elizabeth: I share my pseudonym with a porn star, so the fake name joke is on me! At least she has very nice tatas.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Jas: I had a moderate speech impediment as a kid. I’d stutter (there are still a handful of words I am unable to say) and that would get me picked on in school. But when I write the stutter is a non-issue. My words flow and then so do my thoughts. There’s a lot of stress going on in your head when you have a speech impediment. Even during a casual conversation, you’re straining mentally not to screw up a word. I’m more than happy for people to read a story I present, rather than speak it.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
Jas: Fractured Palace by R.J. Loom. It’s New Adult, full of angst and the character development makes me envious of Loom. Just don’t tell her that! 🙂
Elizabeth: Adding to my reading list and going to have to ask her for an interview now, too!
What does literary success look like to you?
Jas: I used to naively think it was having one person buy my book. That has changed. I’d like to get to the point where I can write and only write. Currently I have a “day job” that is my primary income. I have a plan for that to change in a year or two.
Elizabeth: In addition to having readers who really like my books, I’d like to get to the point where I make at least a part time income.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
Jas: I do! I’ve read every single review I’ve received. I believe if an author is one that wishes to grow as a literary artist, they should read all their reviews. Sure, some are just word vomit to tear down, but others may have constructive criticism. Ways the books and my writing can be improved. However,… I finish off reading my reviews by going to my favorite. It makes me feel better once the process is done. A reminder of I’m pretty good at this.
Elizabeth: I also read most of my reviews and if they get me down then I just go read my favorite author and read her/his 1 star reviews and then I feel better, pick myself up and carry on!
Do you Google yourself?
Jas: Do I have to admit this? Sigh. Yes. I usually do for the first two weeks after any release to catch any reviews that are blog only and I didn’t know existed. After that, It’s usually once a month. It’s a needed task with pirates out there spreading books without permission.
Elizabeth: Occasionally, but all I usually find is new photos of said porn star. I bet you’re going to google her, I mean me, you’re going to google me.
Can you share a snippet that is in your WIP that isn’t the blurb? Of course! It’s from the final release of my dark PNR Grid Series – Sundown:
“Hey, where did you go?”
Fingers snapped in front of my face followed by Cowboy’s coming into view. I blinked and slapped away his hand. “Nowhere. Obviously. Been a real big issue. Ask everyone.”
Jess smirked and moved to stand next to me with arms crossed on his chest. Time hadn’t been kind on most of us. The Cowboy was immortal sure, but that didn’t stop an explosion from taking out one of his eyes. Yet, somehow, the bastard remained handsome. Rocked an eye patch with gnarly scars on that side of his face. Yet, hot as hell if I was into guys. Which I. Am. Not. But the fact Jess remained movie star-ish—unbelievable. Leaning forward, I closed one of my eyes to check out the one he didn’t have. “Is that a flower? Or a butterfly on your patch?”
The kids made him eye patches. Some were as nice as you’d find if Etsy still existed. Others were like the one the man wore today. I would be tasked to figure out the scribbled art. Jess angled his head to look at me and smiled.
“It’s a pony.”
I tilt my head with a snort. “That’s the weirdest pony I’ve ever seen. But sure, a pony.” Sighing, I brought a hand up to rub my forehead. It was mid-day and that’s when it started to pound as a warning that by nighttime, I’d need to be laying horizontal or I’d be falling that way.
“How are they doing?” Jess lifted a finger towards the dozen or so teenagers and young adults doing sparing training. The gym of the Edge Academy now served as a place where fighters learned and practiced. In the thirteen years since Hell’s insurrection into the world of man, The Grid lost much of its fighting force. Even though Bounce triggered early “retirement” for all its human members, and they were now immortal, just like the Cowboy’s eye, some things couldn’t be stopped. Like being beheaded. Bleeding out. Taking a shot to the head—present company excepted. So, the kids as soon as they came to an age trained to become warriors. Fighters. Both human and those with supernatural powers. “They’re kids. Learning to fight and not die. That’s how they’re doing.”
CHECK OUT HER NEWEST RELEASE!!!
Two twin souls share one dark power. The end of the world is around the corner. And there’s only one heart to love and to save them.
Valya and Vadim have been owned by the Circus of Nightmares since their parents died as twins. They were days from breaking that contract when tragedy struck and both fell to their death. That should have been the end. A freedom they hadn’t counted on.
Join me in welcoming this week’s guest for the author interview is DAWNA RAVER!
Dawna is a smart ass by nature, writer by accident.
Dawna Raver didn’t always want to be a writer, but now the voices in her head won’t shut the f**k up and the stories keep coming.
The Indulging Series was her first new adult romance series, but she has a new football romance story, Touchback, coming March of 2021.
When she’s not spending time in her fantasy world, Dawna loves NFL football, reading all kinds of romance stories, and pretending she’s a top chef in the kitchen—even though experiments often lead to ordering out.
Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Dawna: Love Story by Erich Segal.
Elizabeth: The classic rich jock falls for the beautiful working class girl but their “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
Dawna: Authors attacking other authors and or plagiarism.
Elizabeth: Yes, the plagiarism is an alarming trend, especially when it’s an author committing it against another author!
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Dawna: Finishing their books then not understanding, or being unwilling, to hire a good cover artist and editor. These two services are the most important things to spend money on. No, Aunt Edith can’t be your editor unless, of course, she is an editor. Even then, I’d stay away from family members. Also, beta readers are not editors, and you shouldn’t expect them to be.
Elizabeth: Agree, I see so many books that have great blurbs but the covers are horrible, as if someone knows just enough about photoshop to be dangerous. Yes, hire professionals for editing and cover art, it’s a MUST!
What comes first, the plot or the characters?
Dawna: Plot always comes first.
Elizabeth: I always get plot first too, but the characters spring to life pretty quickly for me.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
The first contemporary romance book I wrote, Indulging in Irelyn was a duet which included Being Zolt. Indulging in Irelyn was an Amazon bestseller. I followed up the duet with Saving Kenna that was a standalone but took place in the Indulging world and followed the timeline of Indulging in Irelyn. Touchback is also a standalone, but I do have the main characters from Indulging in Irelyn making a cameo. Going forward, I intend to have the main characters of my other books make cameos as a way to cross promote my backlist.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Dawna: I have a word doc that has 57 ideas for stories and I have 3 stories I’ve started: one is a porn star/evangelist’s daughter romance. Another is a Rockstar romance. And the third is a martial arts romance.
Elizabeth: I use spiral bound, heavy notebooks for story ideas, because I can pick up the notebook and easily add info instead of writing it down on a piece of paper that will only get misplaced. Book ideas come to me in scenes and many times I’ll write out scenes longhand. They’ll be little glimpses into what’s happening that usually get expanded in the book and I usually go back to those initial impressions throughout the book.
And I’m dying to read the porn star/evangelist’s daughter’s romance.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Dawna: I actually prefer writing the male character, which is why I always write dual pov stories.
Elizabeth: I also write dual POV. Great minds.
What did you edit out of this book?
I edited out interactions with a character that is in my last full-length book that I published then unpublished. Touchback topped out at 120k word count when I finished and I cut out 10k. There were a few other interactions with other characters that I felt weren’t necessary. I also cut out a plotline that would have made Touchback an even bigger book. As it is, it’s about 110k word count.
Football was his first love.
She’ll be his last.
Touchback is a full-length, new
adult, STANDALONE novel complete with an HEA.
Jett Taylor
ruled the college gridiron for four years, winning the Best in College football
trophy. Two years later, after one drunken mistake, he’s banished to the bench
of the worst team in the American Football Alliance.
When Jett is
presented with the opportunity to back up Thatcher Scott, the Tennessee
Warriors’ future hall of fame, veteran QB, he leaves Cleveland without looking
back. This time he won’t f**k up.
Johannah Thorne
Scott worships her dad, and she’s committed to making sure he ends his football
career on top. But life hasn’t always been kind to Johannah. Her ex blackmailed
her with a sex tape, and now the hidden illness that killed her mother has come
for her too.
When Johannah
meets Jett, sparks fly. They try to stay faithful to promises made, but their
attraction takes over and they start a secret affair. As Johannah’s illness
begins to overwhelm her, she clings to her goals, jeopardizing everything,
including her life.
But sometimes, goals seem closer than they are. And sometimes, you fumble before you ever get close.
Do you Google yourself?
Dawna: I do but only to scout out pirated copies of my backlist. Currently, I’ve had more books pirated than I ever sold.
Elizabeth: I try to avoid is as I share my pen name with a porn star!!!
What is your favorite childhood book?
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
Honestly just writing. Then usually as soon as I think I’m done for the day, then minutes later I think of something else. Never fails.
Describe yourself in three words.
CRAZY
INSANE
BONKERS
Name three of your favorite things.
My husband. My dogs. Cooking.
Name three of your least favorite things.
Liars.
Hypocrisy.
Cleaning.
These are all the places you can connect with Dawna.
Thanks for stopping by Dawna, I loved having you. Please leave us a comment because we’ll be selecting one winner to receive an eBook copy of TOUCHBACK!
Shannon Bruno is a coffee, book, and DIY addict who
got her first library card at age 7 because she already read books too fast to
keep buying them. She lives in Arkansas with her husband, daughter, and three
stinky dogs.
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on? It’s a book/movie hybrid, BUT, when I was in St. Louis a few years ago I drove through Dogtown. For fans of the excellent book ‘White Palace’ by the late, great Glenn Savan this was where the female antagonist/love interest, Nora, lived. The movie is one of my favorites, so I wanted to drive by Nora’s house when I had the chance; it’s been torn down, but I was still high on that experience because the block still looks the same. The next pilgrimage is going to be to Tulsa to see the house from ‘The Outsiders’; Danny Boy O’Connor from House of Pain turned it into an Outsiders museum, and I am desperate to go.
I go to Tulsa all the time as my youngest goes to school in Oklahoma, I think I might have to follow Shannon on her literary pilgrimage to see The Outsiders house. I love that book!
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Keep at it; you’re better than you think. And worse, so, the same thing applies- just keep writing, all the time.
What is the first book that made you cry?
‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ by Wilson Rawls; right in the middle of 3rd grade English class, while I was taking my turn to read out loud. It still makes me cry.
What was your hardest scene to write? A difficult birth experience in my forthcoming novel ‘More Than You Know’; it was my experience with my daughter, and I was shaking when I finished writing it. I still get angry when I think about it. I almost rounded off its edges but decided to leave it as is.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads? I create details about their personalities; likes and dislikes, weird secret single behaviors, past beefs with other characters from other works in the same universe. Then I take all of that and I keep it to myself. It helps them speak to me.
I use a chart like this to get started with character development, it’s about five pages of questions that I answer and some of it’s pretty deep including what were the characters doing the week before the book begins.
Do you believe in writer’s block? No. I think sometimes writing is easy and sometimes it feels like a term paper about the invention of liquid soap and every word is a battle. I think those moments probably account for the passages in books where it drags a little and I also think it’s ok. Not every scene is the windows being blown out of a building, nor should they be. That book would be ridiculous and only guys would like it. JK.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? Distraction. When I sit down to write I suddenly want to clean, fold laundry, make coffee, browse Amazon prime for towel warmers. Who has two thumbs and is their own worst enemy? This guy.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Not making them into caricatures of men; as funny as it would be to have them say “huh?” every other sentence, scratch themselves, and chaw, it isn’t believable, nor is it romantic. Men have feelings, emotional IQs- they cry, they feel shame. Accurately writing them without making them sound effeminate is hard and I am always asking my husband to help. He is good about telling me what shame can look like (anger) and what crushed feelings can look like (gruffness, desperation to flee and be alone) when they’re coming from men. If he shrugs at a question, I ask my brother, who is absolutely awesome with those kinds of questions as well.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? A.M. Kusi definitely makes me write bolder sex scenes; reading their books empowers me and then Ash is right there in my comments and messages, telling me I can do anything and encouraging me and telling me I deserve the whole world. Renita McKinney tells me like it is and trusts that she won’t hurt my feelings and makes me grin when she reads something I wrote, and makes it clear that she loved it. Willow Aster tells me that sometimes she doesn’t love her own stories, either, by the time she’s done, and I feel seen. I have had a lot of sounding boards that weren’t writers, as well, and some of the most passionate lovers of my writing have been people in my life just listening to me.
Can you share a snippet that is in your WIP that isn’t the blurb?
I step into the
Rowdy Beaver Den and the onslaught of warmth, the vibration from the music in
the trunk of my body, and all the bar smells are overwhelming for a minute.
I feel a little
disoriented and there is so much ambient sound that it makes the temporary
disorientation even worse.
I almost want to
disconnect my cochlear implants and be plunged into total silence so I can get
my bearings, but I decide to power through.
I probably won’t
stay long anyway.
I look around
and see my sister dancing with her friend, Ailani, the two of them gazing at
each other intensely and scan quickly for Fawn or Bran or Maggie.
Maggie,
Brierley, and Fawn are dancing, and Bran is sitting at the table uncomfortably
trying to not watch them drape all over each other like we’re in a club in
Vegas, not a bar in Northwest Arkansas.
It’s ludicrous
for them to be acting this way.
Then I notice
how amazing Fawn looks in this tiny white lace dress with her long legs going on
for miles and am taken over by a feeling of jealousy and hurt that it would be
difficult to forget if I lived 5 more lifetimes after this.
She wore that
white dress for Bran, not me.
Before I can
stop myself, I cross the room to her where she is dancing with Maggie and grab
her.
She looks
surprised and so happy to see me that I pull her against me and kiss her long
and deep with my hand fisted in her hair, like I own her, or like she is
wearing that white dress for me and this isn’t a totally unacceptable moment.
Like I didn’t
just burn her life to the ground.
Describe yourself in three words.
Busy
Amused
Disinterested
Name three of your favorite things.
Café bustelo, perfume oils, true crime podcasts
Name three of your least favorite things.
Being too warm
When people stand too close to me
The word moist. It is so unnecessary.
You can connect with Shannon in the following places!
“Text me on Tuesday is a winner! Charming, romantic, and oh, so funny! I devoured it in one sitting!” ~ New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst
“What happens when two of your favorite rom-com authors team up? PURE MAGIC!” ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Becky Monson
All is fair in love and texting…
When Aimee Tompkins loaded up her old catering van and pulled into Manhattan, she had her sights set on becoming one of the best (and most lucrative) caterers to ever serve crudités and creampuffs in the Big Apple. But after a year of leaving fliers all over town, she’s not only running out of money, she’s running low on hope. So when she lands a gig at a big architecture firm, Aimee’s certain her luck is about to change.
Noel Fitzwilliam is pitching the most important project of his life–the type architects dream of. Everything has to go right, so when he finds the new caterer naked in his office bathroom right before the meeting, he’s torn between thrilled and extremely irritated. He doesn’t have time for romance, no matter how incredible she looks without her clothes on.
A mix-up means Aimee is accidentally given his cell number instead of his assistant’s. So when she starts texting Noel about how much she hates him, he decides to have a little fun with her. The last thing he expects is for her to turn his world upside-down. But that’s exactly what happens as the pair start sharing their deepest secrets and their greatest fears, and Noel discovers he can share so much more over the phone than he can in person. But what will happen when she finds out who he really is?
It’s a case of opposites attract, even when they repel…
This week’s interview is with two awesome authors who just co-authored a fun rom-com TEXT ME ON TUESDAY.
USA Today Bestselling author Whitney Dineen is a rock star in her own head. While delusional about her singing abilities, there’s been a plethora of validation that she’s a fairly decent author (AMAZING!!!). After winning many writing awards and selling nearly a kabillion books (math may not be her forte, either), she’s decided to let the voices in her head say whatever they want (sorry, Mom). She also won a fourth-place ribbon in a fifth-grade swim meet in backstroke. So, there’s that.
Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, their three kiddos, one adorable but neurotic no-eyed dog, Lucy, and a small furry dictator named Nelson. When she’s not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken ‘from above’. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something–more like just staying until they turn the lights off.
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
Whitney: My life has been one big literary pilgrimage. Every place I’ve lived or travelled eventually turns up in one of my books. Now, if you’re talking pilgrimages while I’m writing—most of those are to the kitchen for snack. My books are fueled on copious amounts of snacking.
Melanie: A literary pilgrimage is something I long to do, but will have to wait until my kids grow up and the pets die. At that point, I want to go EVERYWHERE. Except not space. Sorry, but no. I get horrible seasickness, I can’t imagine myself at rocket speed. (Is that a thing? Rocket speed?)
What is your favorite quote? Why does it speak to you?
Whitney: “Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” –Voltaire. All of my successes in life have come from a deep-rooted faith that I will land on my feet. Looking back, I sometimes wonder how things worked out so well—but they have. I’ve decided that if you keep going, no matter the setback, things will always work out in the end.
Melanie: “Work hard. Dream big.” – John Close, my dad who did both really well his entire life. It reminds me to keep that balance between busting my butt to get what I want and wanting a big, juicy life filled with incredible memories instead of regrets.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Whitney: Obviously, Melanie is a friend of mine. We plot together, discuss the ins and outs of business, and we listen to each other complain when we can’t figure something out. In addition to Mel, there’s Becky Monson (my therapist and cover designer), Jennifer Peel (master romance plotter), Aven Ellis (royal consultant), Diana Orgain (plotter and co-dreamer), Celia Kennedy (my editor with the patience of a saint) and Kathryn Biel (the big meanie who tells me when something in my books totally sucks—and I’m SO grateful for that). There are so many others, but this group is the one who has to put up with my annoying day-to-day stuff.
Melanie: Whitney, definitely. We’re both slightly crazy when it comes to setting deadlines and really going for it. She’s one of the most positive people I’ve met and every time we talk or message each other, I’m better for it. I’m also extremely close with Kelly Collins, a small-town romance genius, who helps me plot and calm down when I’m using my imagination to get myself all wound-up (instead of for writing). She’s a whizz at the business-side of writing and pushes me to be more organized and mindful in my marketing. Another super close friend is Jenn Falls (who writes as Bella Falls). She’s my series plotting and branding guru. She just knows this stuff and can sniff out a problem with a story a mile away. I have other chick-lit writer friends who graciously share ideas and offer feedback on my covers, blurbs, etc. I’d be lost without my author friends.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Whitney: Mrs. Roper from that old 70’s-80’s sitcom Three’s Company is my spirit animal. It’s her whole crazy, free-spirit caftan-wearing self that I vibe with.
Melanie: If a sloth and a rabbit had a baby, that would be my spirit animal because I love doing nothing, but I’m also always on the lookout for danger.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Whitney: I can’t write sex scenes to save my life. I’ve tried, I really have, but they always come off sounding like something that might happen at a circus. And believe me the romance/circus trope is not a thing.
Melanie: The romantic circus thing should totally be a trope! Great idea, Whitney. Next series?? I wrote a women’s fiction book a while ago and there’s a scene where the hero has to tell the heroine he’s got cancer. I wrote and rewrote it a bazillion times over the span of four years, but it always came out insanely melodramatic. Finally, I realized less was more, and cut it off right when she realizes what he’s about to say. SO much better.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Whitney: I can do a first draft in six weeks. Having said that, with Mel, we can apparently write, edit, proof, and publish in under a month. So… she might be stuck with me as a writing partner for life.
Melanie: Yes! I’m happy with that idea because it takes me a good three months to write a novel. Usually more. But with Whitney cracking the whip, I almost work as hard as a normal person.
Can you share a snippet that is in your WIP that isn’t the blurb?
A tall brunette in a
pencil skirt so tight it looks painted on, pulls me out of trance by asking,
“Who smells?”
I’m about to
covertly sniff my armpit again, when she clarifies, “Who dared to wear perfume
today?”
Byron looks at her,
and shrugs. “That’s my bad, Cindy. I
forgot to tell Aimée
here that WL Senior is severely allergic to scents.” Turning to me, he says,
“Do you have anything else you can wear? After we get you washed up that is.”
“I … I don’t,” I
stutter, horrified to have made such a bad first impression. I always used to
keep extra clothes in my van upstate, but I haven’t exactly had a run on
business since I’ve been here.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Cindy sneers. “I have an extra pair of slacks in my
office if you can find her a shirt.”
I’m pretty sure
Cindy is at least six inches taller than me and at least two sizes smaller. I’m
guessing I couldn’t even decompose to her size until I’d been dead for a year.
There is no way I can wear her pants.
“Go get them,” Byron
tells her. “Meet me in the boss’s office. She can shower in there.”
I’m suddenly whisked
away to some inner sanctum while leaving Teisha in charge of the food. I could
die of mortification.
“Mr. Fitzwilliam
will be out for the next hour, so you can use his private bathroom to see to
things.” He waves his hand in front of me like he’s either casting a spell or
trying to read my aura. Then he hurries out of the room.
The office is as
elegant as an Edwardian gentleman’s club in England. I know that from the
descriptions in the hundreds of bodice-ripping historical romances I read as a
teenager. There’s a wide bookshelf (full of books and awards), an enormous
mahogany desk, a sitting area including armchairs and a couch, as well as a
round table with four dining chairs tucked carefully under it. Everything looks
antique and awfully expensive. I’m half-tempted to lie down and roll on the
oriental rug to see if it’s as soft as it looks.
I cannot imagine
being this important. I only hope the short bald man—because the boss is
always short and bald for some reason—who calls this office his own appreciates
how good he has it.
When I open the door
to the bathroom, I let out an audible gasp. The shower is as big as my entire
bathroom and it looks out onto the East River. Getting naked in here is going
to make me feel like I’m on display for the world to see.
I hurriedly pick up
my phone and text Teisha.
Me: Are you okay?
Teisha: I’ve got
everything under control. Don’t worry about a thing.
Me: Are you wearing any perfume?
Teisha: Nope.
Me: Okay, I’ll be out as soon as I can. You
would not believe the office I’m in!
Teisha: Pretty flashy, huh?
Me: You could say that.
I slowly start to
take my clothes off while hoping that Byron finds a fat woman’s pants for me to
put on. Once I’m in the shower, I scrub myself as quickly as I can. The soap is
an old-fashioned bar of Ivory and I run it all over my body before giving
myself a good rinse.
I’m about to step
out of the shower when I hear, “For the love of God, Byron, leave me alone. I’m
in a hurry.”
The voice is right
outside the bathroom door! Holy crap, did I lock the door? I step out of the
shower in hopes of making sure no one can get in. As soon as my wet foot hits
the shiny marble floor I slip and slide across the room like I’m starring in Frozen
on Ice. Let it Go!!!
As luck would have
it, that’s the exact moment the door opens, and I fall into the arms of the
most devastatingly handsome man it has ever been my pleasure to lay eyes on—thick,
dark hair that looks like not even one strand would dare to stray from where he
wants it, moss-green eyes with flecks of gold and coffee-colored rims, and—oh,
wow—a chiseled manly-man jawline peppered with two-day stubble. I gawk up at him with sheer disbelief. I’m so
blinded by his gorgeousness; I’m temporarily rendered mute.
With his arms around
me, he calls over his shoulder, “Byron, you left one of your desperate strays
in my en suite.”
Two things. One, his
British accent is so dreamy, it almost makes me want to swoon even though he
just tossed out one of the worst insults anyone has thrown my way. And two, he
smells so damn good, I want to rub myself all over his neck. Then, of course,
there’s the other thing. I’m buck naked.
Make sure you pick up your copy of this awesome book and big thanks to Whitney and Melanie for joining me for the interview. Please leave a comment, I’ll be a picking one person from the comments to win a FREE ebook copy of TEXT ME ON TUESDAY!
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This week I’m welcoming A.M. Kusi for the interview. This dynamic wife-and-husband author team write under the pen name A. M. Kusi. They enjoy writing romance novels that are inspired by their experiences as an interracial/multicultural couple.
A.M. Kusi novels are about strong women and the sexy heroes they fall in love with, are emotionally satisfying and always have a happy ending.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
We are always trying to come up with new or interesting ways to twist the tried and true tropes that readers love. We like to infuse socially relevant issues as well as other topics that are close to our hearts. Diversity in race, sexual orientation, bodies, and ability is also important to us to give proper representation in the books we write.
What comes first, the plot or the characters?
Both! Usually I (Ash) ask myself, “What if two people were stuck/had this happen?” Usually I get my ideas starting at the break up, but occasionally it stems from a creative meet cute idea.
Do you use anything to get in the mood for writing, especially if it’s emotional?
Music! We have playlists for different vibes/moods. Music is a huge form of inspiration for stories as well as setting the mood while we’re writing a specific emotional scene.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Coaching from our structural and line editor. Our editor is a fantastic woman with an amazing team behind her. She also offers one on one coaching where she goes over a chapter or so with us, pointing out what needs work and what we can do better. Our writing has improved drastically from our earlier books to this Shattered Cove series.
Describe your perfect book hero or heroine?
Strong, fierce heroines who don’t take crap and stand up for themselves. And broody, reserved, emotionally wounded heroes who are protective and take charge in the bedroom, but are sweet and caring to their lady.
What was your hardest scene to write?
There have been a couple scenes that top the most difficult for me (Ash) to write. One time when I had to kill off a beloved side character to drive the point home on the plot. That was especially hard because that character felt like my own family member. And in the manuscript I just finished the first draft on, book 6 in the series that releases later this year. There was a particularly vulnerable and heart wrenching scene that I could relate all too well with. This heroine in particular, was inspired by my own mental health struggles. So, I definitely cried. LOL.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
Usually when I’m
listening to certain songs, or trying to fall asleep, I create the setting in
my head and put the characters into a scene. I play it through in my head,
trying to navigate the plot in my imagination. I create the connections and
back stories that way.
Describe yourself in three words.
Ash: Creative, learner, loyal.
Marcus: Analytical, open minded, protective.
Name three of your favorite things.
Hearing from our readers on
how much one of our books impacted them. Having that “Ah-ha!” moment when it
comes to finding the key twist in a plot and the story comes together. Spending
a day at the beach with our daughters enjoying the sun and saltwater.
Name three of your least favorite things
Editing older works, waking up
too early, and cold weather.
Book 1 in the Shattered Cove Series, A Fallen Star, is FREE on all retailers. http://www.amkusi.com/afallenstar He’s tormented by dark addictions. She’s fighting for a lifelong dream. Can they rise from the ashes of despair and find happily ever after? A Fallen Star is the emotional first book in the Shattered Cove romance series. If you like steamy relationships, damaged heroes, and stories of second chances, then you’ll adore A. M. Kusi’s gritty tale. Pick up your copy today!!!
You can FOLLOW them in all the following places!!!
