Author Interviews
Interviews with authors
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Changing a Life @LloydAMeeker #Cancer #Pinktober
Author Lloyd Meeker is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog
celebrate Cancer Awareness Week 2016.
I was twenty-three when cancer first changed my life. My
childhood friend Michael died of testicular cancer, which metastasized to his
lower back and spine. He had one of those warm, lyric tenor voices that
conquered a room in the first measures of a song. He loved to sing country and
western, and I couldn’t stand it, but I listened, mesmerized, every time he
sang. We’d been friends since we were seven.For a long time cancer was a disease that visited others.
Then in 2003, I was diagnosed — stomach and bladder. I’m one of the lucky
ones. I’ve been cancer-free since 2004. But in the twelve years since that
time, I’ve lost family and friends to the disease. A friend of mine was
diagnosed last month, and it’s been a privilege to sit with him, help him stay
focused on next steps, honoring his fear while reminding him that it’s not an
automatic death sentence, having him over for dinner or just to hang out if he
doesn’t want to be alone.In writing terms, having cancer is a kind of hero’s journey.
Regardless of outcome, I’m convinced that being forced to face fear, pain and
hopelessness, to find inner strength, to learn to rely on trustworthy allies,
and to celebrate the triumph of finding the gold that lies in the darkness of
our frailty makes us stronger, better people. Regardless of outcome.The hero’s journey is never a journey chosen by the hero.
She or he is forced to undertake it by events and powers beyond her/his
control. But as hellish as the journey may be, there are gifts. Hard won,
perhaps, but powerful. I received two gifts, that have stayed with me since my
first hospital stay.Cancer made me get serious about writing, which I’d always
planned to do “one day”. I’m about to submit the manuscript for my
sixth novel, my ninth or tenth title overall. I’ve learned so much about myself
through writing, and I’ve embraced a craft I can pour myself into, working
constantly to get better.Cancer also taught me how beautiful my mortality is, how
sacred it is to be fragile, and loving, and loved. It showed me what matters
most in my life, and I’ll be grateful forever for being led to that discovery.About the Book
Title Blood and Dirt
Author Lloyd A Meeker
Genre Mystery, Suspense, Gay RomanceFamily squabbles can be murder.Psychic PI Russ Morgan investigates a vandalized marijuana
grow in Mesa County Colorado, landing in the middle of a ferocious family feud
that’s escalating in a hurry. Five siblings fight over
the family ranch as it staggers on the brink of bankruptcy, marijuana its only
salvation. Not everyone agrees, but only one of them is willing to kill to make
a point.Russ also has a personal puzzle to solve as he questions his
deepening relationship with Colin Stewart, a man half his age. His rational
mind says being with Colin is the fast track to heartbreak, but it feels
grounding, sane, and good.Now, that’s really dangerous…Buy This Book
Wilde City https://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/blood-and-dirt/#.V_kObqOZPdQ
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/MBe1gpAuthor Social Media
Website www.lloydmeeker.com
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Waiting and hoping @AuthorTinaGayle #Cancer #Pinktober
Author Tina Gayle is helping Romance Lives Forever Blog
celebrate Cancer Awareness Week 2016. RLF has added pink racing stripes to the left side of the blog’s background to represent a pink ribbon, but this week is about all types of cancer. Join us as we delve into rich stories about life.Even the threat of cancer can cause stress. The days before
a doctor gets the results of the test can seem like forever. When I was in my
teens, my mother found a lump in her breasts. The only way for them to tell if
it was cancerous was to do a biopsy. Back in those days, a woman had to check
into a hospital to have a biopsy done. The days before the biopsy, I remember believing that those
may be the last days of my time with her. We grew very close during that time
and remained close afterward. When I decided to write CEO’s Widow, I remembered the pain I
suffered and tried to add that to the story. This book does not go into the
technical aspects of the treatment. Instead, it is about the emotional pain the
cancer causes.About the Book
CEO’s Widow – Book 4 of the Executives’ Wives’ Club seriesGenre: Contemporary romance with strong women’s fiction
elementsFour women…
One fatal car wreck…
Everyone’s lives changed…CEO’s WidowAfter surviving the grief from her husband’s death, Marianne
Clark has built a new life with the help of the other Executive Wives. She
plans to enjoy grandchildren and friends until her doctor tells her he found a
lump in her breast. Her world is turned upside down. She re-evaluates her
priorities and decides she grab hold of life with both hands.Knox Turner lost his first wife to cancer. He’s determined
not to let Marianne face this challenge alone.Can this couple face the trails ahead and build a future
together?Buy this Book
Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/CEOs-Widow-Executive-Wives-Club-ebook/dp/B012YALVN8
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ceos-widow-tina-gayle/1124713902?ean=9781539119142
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ceos-widow/id1160306264?mt=11
Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/ceo-s-widow
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/669036Author Social Media
Home www.tinagayle.net
Blog www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle -
Sweet Christmas Kisses 3 #sweetromance by @MilouKoenings others from @SweetRomanceRds #RLFblog
This quick interview includes info about the author, and introduces the story.
About the AuthorMilou Koenings is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author who writes romance because, like chocolate, stories with happy endings bring joy to the world and so make it a better place.
She’s lived all over the world, working as a freelance travel and technology writer, but loves to stay home with her family more than anything.Interview with Milou Koenings
Why did you write this book?This is a collaborative effort by 17 authors from Sweet Romance Reads. We banded together to create a boxed set of holiday novellas. It was a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit as early as possible.My novella, The Kampala Peppermint Twist, is another installment in my Green Pines Romance series. It comes from growing up in Africa and is partly a reflection on how we create our own holiday spirit when we’re not surrounded by all the commercial reminders. But of course, bottom line, it’s a romance!What is your favorite genre to read?Romance and more romance, please. With an occasional spy thriller in there to shake things up. The older I get, the more I want a guaranteed happy ending when I pick up a book.Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?I’ve got so many favorites! But I just love Juliet Ashton, from the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I reread that book every year (along with all the Harry Potters in a row). She’s strong, funny, bright, hopeful in the face of adversity; kind, with such a big heart — and hopelessly befuddled when it comes to her own romance.What are you working on at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?I’m working on another Green Pines Romance, and developing another series.Please tell us about your latest book.Sweet Christmas Kisses 3 is a bundle of 17 wholesome holiday romances, all-new, stand-alone stories from New York Times, USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors. Sweet Christmas Kisses 3 takes you around the globe from small-town USA, to London, England, and even to Africa. Don’t miss out on this sweet romance boxed set that’s sure to touch your heart, make you smile, and put you in the mood for Christmas.About the Book
Title Sweet Christmas Kisses 3Genre Sweet RomanceAuthor Mona Risk, Christine Bush, Lyn Cote, Denise Devine, Shanna Hatfield, Ciara Knight, Milou Koenings, Magdalena Scott, Roxanne Rustand, Alicia Street, Kristin Wallace, Merrillee Whren, Cindy Flores Martinez, Victoria Pinder, Josie Riviera, Pat SimmonsBook heat level (based on movie ratings): G/PGBuy This Book
Publisher IndieWrites, Inc.Amazon http://ow.ly/95Pu3039Sj5iTunes http://tinyurl.com/jvc9n76Kobo http://ow.ly/e2U43039Sp0Google http://ow.ly/6XT9303qp0zAuthor Social Media
Website www.miloukoenings.comPinterest https://www.pinterest.com/donnafaz/sweet-romance-reads/ https://www.pinterest.com/miloukoenings/Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/123223-sweet-romance-reads ; https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7578772.Milou_KoeningsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/sweetromancereads/ ; https://www.instagram.com/miloukoenings/ -
Awake: Wild Love Series @RedLJameson #RLFblog #romance
Who’s that Girl? Breaking Down the Romance Heroine
As a romance writer, generally we call our female protagonist a heroine. She’s usually spunky—that characteristic probably evolved from Austen’s incredible work; young-ish—although, there are some brave authors who are trying to write heroines who are in their forties or older; and she’s usually open to having a relationship or already wants one but hasn’t found the right guy; or she’s at some kind of disadvantage where a hero can save her. She, in turn, emotionally saves him. This has been the standard for—oh, maybe—thousands of years. At least since Austen, which makes it more than two hundred years of this kind of woman as the central figure in the romance genre.Nothing wrong with that. If that’s what you like, it’s what you like. And I’m the last person to judge because what I want in a heroine, I do get judged for, even being called subversive for it.I want heroines who are perhaps too shy to be spunky. Or not young. Or maybe she doesn’t want a relationship because she’s tried her fair share of online and regular dating and it really, really, really sucks. Or maybe she’s incredibly rich and doesn’t have any need to be saved from financial doom by a hotshot duke. Or maybe, just maybe she’s emotionally secure and healthy and doesn’t need saving from herself. Maybe she’s complete, as is.Or sometimes I want heroines who make big mistakes. Colossal. And I want to read how they turn themselves around and become better people.But this latter example is controversial. In the movie Trainwreck, the character Amy is a drinking, sexualized, snarky woman who has to learn how to overcome her dysfunctions to become vulnerable with a man who loves her. Amy has to conquer her fears. She has to work at becoming a better person. She has to pursue her love interest when she realizes she could lose him. This kind of role is usually reserved for the male protagonist or hero in a romance.It’s a simple switcharoo of gender roles. Or is it? Or is it a lot more complicated than that?In Kameron Hurley’s latest article, “In Defense of Unlikable Women,” she compares the two protagonists of the movies Sideways and Young Adult. Both protagonists drink too much, one steals to help a buddy cheat on his fiancé, while the other actually tries to have an affair with a married man. One protagonist is male. The other female. The female character is called “thoroughly unlikable,” “angst-driven,” and “controversial.” The male character was “critically applauded.” In Jami Gold’s blog post, “Why is ‘Unlikable’ Often a Deal Breaker for Readers?” she also notes the double standard for hero and heroine characters, asking, “The majority of [romance] fiction readers are female, and the majority of those giving pushback to ‘unlikable’ heroines are women. So the question becomes: Why are we so hard on ourselves?”Excellent question that I don’t feel qualified to answer, except for myself. I do want a variety of heroines. I want to read about a forty-year-old woman falling in love with a twenty-eight-year-old man. I want to read about a heroine who saves the hero from financial ruin. I want to read about a quiet girl who gets the guy. Or the overweight girl who falls for the hot hunk who falls for her without requiring her to lose weight or thinks anything derogatory about her body. I want to read about a woman overcoming great obstacles, some she might have created herself, to find not just love for someone else but for herself too.Toni Morrison said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” So, I do. That’s why I write because I want to read about women, real women who make mistakes, who pursue love, who chase after life and happiness with reckless abandon. I want to read about women like me.Today’s featured book is Awake, Book 3 of the Wild Love Series by Red L. Jameson.About the BookTitle Awake, Book 3 of the Wild Love SeriesGenre Contemporary Erotic RomanceAuthor Red L. JamesonBook heat level (based on movie ratings): ROne, two, Secrets accrue; Three, four, Shame galore;Five, six, Add two men to the mix; Seven, eight, My life’s about to disintegrate…Off-limits. Forbidden.I shouldn’t have slept with him.Should never have fallen for him.But I did—Secret #1And I’m drawn to someone else.He wants me too. This time, I do have an ounce of willpower.An ounce.But it’s waning, deteriorating quickly—Secret #2Two secrets—secrets that are tearing me apart.And Secret #3 is the hardest to keep.I’m not the “good girl.”I’m not the “sweet one.”I hide behind a mask—a mask of lies.But something within me is clawing the mask off.Revealing the real me.And my secrets.Risking…everything.The Wild Love Series is set in Wyoming and Montana, where things are little more…wild, where love can never tamed. Each book within the series can be read as a standalone and intended for a mature and adventurous reader. Enjoy and fall in love!Buy This BookAmazon http://amzn.to/1XN6IHWBarnes and Noble http://bit.ly/28Y4epqARe http://bit.ly/22w95Q2Kobo http://bit.ly/28ZBGglSmashwords http://bit.ly/28Y4yV5About the AuthorRed L. Jameson is an award-winning and multi-published author. She writes in many genres. Her pen name, L. B. Joramo, includes the odd combination of historical and paranormal for the Immortal American Series. However, it is under her “Red” name, her nickname too, where all her stories are strongly laced with love, including contemporary, historical, time-travel, paranormal, and erotic romance. Red lives in the wilds of Montana with her family and a few too many animals, and is currently working on her next novel that she hopes will make her readers laugh, cry, think, and fall in love.Author Social MediaWebsite http://www.redljameson.comTwitter https://twitter.com/RedLJamesonPinterest www.pinterest.com/redljameson/Goodreads http://bit.ly/1Gvpo5OAmazon Author Page http://goo.gl/Gvd2vq -
But, Do I Have To… @olivianightreads #RLFblog #RomanticSuspense
But do I have to? Making research less painful.by Olivia NightWhen I started my first novel, I knew immediately that I was
going to need to do some a significant research. I knew nothing about the arms business,
Sierra Leone or it’s vibrant customs and culture. Research was not something I had
considered a necessity before I got serious about writing novels. But now it’s one
of my favorite parts! (Dork Alert!)My second novel required even more research. As a Type A person
I had to be sure to that what I was writing was accurate. One research topic I was
not quite prepared for was delving into the psychology of victims of abuse. The
heroine in Seduction in Seville, Madison Lockwood, survived a horrific situation
and it was important to me that I tell her story correctly. It felt like a balancing
act at times when writing her and her growth through the novel.Poorly researched novels stick out like sore thumbs and can sometimes
communicate to the reader that the author just really didn’t care all that much
to get things right, even if that isn’t the case.Research can a dreaded task when writing, so I compiled list
of research tips that I swear by. Enjoy!Tip #1 – It is totally okay to type “(need information here)” in your manuscript as you are write instead of stopping at that moment and finding the answer you need. I do this quite frequently, especially if I am on a roll – so to speak. This leads naturally to the next tip.Tip # 2 – Commit and then sit down and do the research. It’s much harder to get a clear picture of political environment of say, Tunisia, if you research five minutes here and ten minutes there. Tell yourself you are going to research the hierarchy of wolf dens for thirty minutes and research not only what you need but as much as you can.Tip # 3 – Notes, notes, notes. Just doing a copy/paste into a new document isn’t going to actually give you the knowledge that you need to write. Or write well. Of course you want the information on hand when you need it but, you need to understand the information as well. At this point in our lives we are all pretty aware of how we best learn. Do that. Because it’s important to…Tip # 4 – Do more than regurgitate information. It is pretty easy to spot information within a novel that is simply reworded or paraphrased from somewhere else. As the author of your book or series it’s important to have a real understanding of what you are writing about.Tip # 5 – Google Earth! I have spent sooooo much time on Google Earth. I want to get even the smallest details correct. This includes street names, landmarks and restaurants. Recently I used it to chart my hero and heroine’s trip from Hungary to Scotland. I wanted to use the correct routes, with accurate time traveled as well as places they could stay that were off the beaten path (because people on the run need to be off the beaten path).Tip # 6 – Ask questions. When I was researching human trafficking laws within the European Union tons of questions came to mind. I spent the time and researched to find those answers. Then when I was writing about the human trafficking ring in my novel the words just flew off the tips of my fingers. Of course, a lot of what I learned was not included, but that didn’t matter. I felt confident in my knowledge as opposed to nervous that I may be getting something wrong.Research may not be the most favorite pastime for authors, but it’s a necessary evil to create a well written book. Plus, when you spend time on google earth tell the kids and hubby or wife to leave the room and you can pretend you’re taking a mini vacation!In a hospital in Seville, Spain, Patrick Kane lies in a coma. Ambushed and shot while protecting a friend, he fights to survive.She never thought she would see him again. Patrick, the man who’d brought her back.Eight years ago, Patrick Kane, a joint partner in Fairlane Trade International, descended into a basement of horrors. That horrible day he rescued many women, but one he would always remember. Her beautiful doe eyes filled his dreams and haunted his nightmares.Madison Lockwood, a nurse, has struggled to put her past behind her, trying to forget the time she spent in captivity. But she recognizes the man who rescued her and brought her out of that terrifying reality. She owes him her life. Patrick is gravely injured, and Madison vows to see him through.When Patrick opens his eyes, he instantly knows that he made a mistake leaving Madison after freeing her from the clutches of a human trafficking ring. She is meant to be his. As Patrick tries to win over a wary Madison, the past they both thought was gone for good comes back with a vengeance. One by one, the survivors of the horrific ordeal are being murdered. Patrick knows that Madison will be next if he doesn’t protect her.Together they must fight for their survival. Seduction In Seville, book two in the Men of FTI series, is a tale of redemption, murder, new beginnings, and love that takes the reader on a wild, exotic ride.Title: Seduction in Seville, The Men of FTI Book TwoGenre: Romantic SuspenseAuthor: Olivia NightBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RBuy This Book
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduction-in-sierra-leone-olivia-night/1122341426About the Book
Title: Seduction in Sierra Leone, The Men of FTI Book 1
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic SuspenseBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RIn the mangroves of Sierra Leone, two strangers raised a world apart find themselves inextricably connected. Seduction in Sierra Leone, the first in a series of three novels, is a fast-paced tale of murder, lust, and love that transports the reader to a foreign and mysterious world of danger.Aislinn Salameh, an American relief worker, is searching for purpose in her self- imposed lonely world. The stranger who enters her village on a blistering hot day seems more animal than human. She knows she should stay far away but can’t stop herself from being drawn to the mysterious man.Brandt Fairlane is haunted by the sins of his past. Detached from others, Brandt has spent his life alone. His line of work is too dangerous for the luxuries of love and family.When Brandt sees Aislinn and her haunting eyes, he knows he must possess her. But when Brandt’s past comes back from the dead and Aislinn is caught in the crossfire, it is up to him to keep her safe. In order to survive, they must learn to rely on one another. As they run for their lives, the heat between them becomes undeniable. Now, Brandt must not only protect Aislinn from a madman committed to stealing her away, but he also must protect her from himself. Because if Brandt steals her body and her heart, he’ll never let her go.Buy This Book
Publisher Liquid Silver Books- http://lsbooks.com/seduction-in-sierra-leone-p1043.php
(ebook and paperback available)Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduction-in-sierra-leone-olivia-night/1122341426?ean=9781622102426Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/seduction-in-sierra-leoneiBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/seduction-in-sierra-leone/id1020494392?mt=11
CreateSpace https://www.createspace.com/5907892About the Author
Olivia Night, a fictional character herself, has always been an avid reader and writer. She found the romance genre in college and has never been able to get enough. One sleepless night, the main characters of Book One in her Men of FTI series sprang from her head fully formed. They demanded she tell their story; so she did. As they revealed themselves, so did two other intriguing characters. Those characters convinced her to give them their own books because their stories were worth telling too. And so Olivia suddenly became a romance author. When Olivia is not writing, she has the best job in the world, which, too, will remain a secret. In her free time, she reads, write, drinks wine, or is, most likely, out emulating Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Olivia lives in one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the U.S. — Baltimore. She lives with her cat, which she is convinced was a gladiator in his past life. Olivia plans to continue being awesome at this thing called life. Really, that’s her only goal.Author Social Media
Website http://olivianight.weebly.comAmazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Olivia-Night/e/B017I1WULU/ -
Stockholm Diaries 2: Caroline a new #contemporaryromance by Rebecca Hunter #RLFblog
This quick interview includes info about the author, and introduces the story.Rebecca Hunter is a writer, editor and translator who has always loved to read and travel. Though she earned a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in English Education, most of what she learned about writing romance has come from other sources.Rebecca has, over the years, called many places home, including Michigan, where she grew up, New York City, San Francisco, and, of course, Stockholm, Sweden. After their most recent move from Sweden back to the San Francisco Bay Area, she and her husband assured each other they’ll never move again. Well, probably not.To sign up for news, sneak peeks and free stories, go to Rebecca’s website at http://www.rebeccahunterwriter.com.Interview with Rebecca Hunter
Why did you write this book?When I wrote Caroline and Niklas’s first story, I didn’t plan on writing a second episode. But after getting the question, “What happens next?” from a reader, I thought it might be fun to explore what happens after their first happy ending.The chemistry between Niklas and Caroline is clear from the beginning, but practically speaking, they have little in common, and their lives are pulling them in different directions. Stockholm Diaries, Caroline 2 is Caroline’s struggle to answer why they belong together.But in writing this book, I thought a lot about the question in general: Why do two people belong together for the long haul? For me, a good relationship means both people actively help each other become their better selves—though sometimes the act of helping isn’t even conscious. But sexual chemistry and intimacy are also musts, both in books and in real life!P.S. Fun fact: The setting for the first surfing scene in Stockholm Diaries, Caroline 2 is from my husband and my surfing honeymoon on Kauai… though the steamy details are fictional, of course! We have our own, private Stockholm Diaries romance insteadJ.What is your favorite genre to read?For many, many years, I only read literary fiction—I was an English major! However, I went through plenty of periods where I felt too busy/too unfocused to invest myself in this kind of book, so I simply wouldn’t read at all. I picked up mysteries from time to time, but each time I’d think, “I don’t like reading about murder, victims and fear.”When I finally discovered the romance genre, my understanding of reading shifted. I didn’t have to invest as much time and thought into starting these books; the books pulled me in! Now, my favorite genre is steamy contemporary romance, but I read historical, paranormal, YA, NA… just about everything!I’m drawn to romance because I honestly believe that love trumps everything, both in romance stories and in life—this sounds little silly on paper, but I really believe it. Romance for me is about two imperfect people struggling to find each other as well as their better selves. These stories bring happiness and hope, which I can’t get enough of as a reader. I hope that readers to find those things in my books, too!Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?Ohhh… Derek Craven!I think he makes the top of many readers’ lists, but for those not familiar with him, he’s the hero of Lisa Kleypas’s historical Dreaming of You. He’s the definition of rough-around-the-edges, so watching him struggle as heroine Sara breaks through his defenses creates a lot of tension. Something that really works in this book is the fact that the characters get together in the middle of the book, so we spend more time on the depth and intimacy of their relationship compared to many historicals.What are you working on at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?Last summer, I started a series called Stockholm Diaries, Alice. The idea is four short episodes, set in three different cities, as this couple finds their way from a one-night stand to something more. I wrote the first story and then got caught up in other project… until I started getting comments from readers—“I can’t find the rest of these stories.” Oh no! Time to start writing them! Right now, I’m in the middle of their third episode.I’m also in the very beginning stages of co-authoring a short non-fiction idea on romance in Stockholm with Kim Golden, to be announced soon!When I’m done with these two projects, I’ll write Stockholm Diaries, Veronica, the story of Caroline’s best friend.Please tell us about your latest book.A beautiful photographer searching for her own pathA pro hockey player trying to leave his rough past behindAfter a summer adventure together, Niklas and Caroline face a turning point. Familiar territory opens old wounds they can no longer avoid. They must both choose what is most important.About the Book
Title Stockholm Diaries, Caroline 2Genre Steamy Contemporary RomanceAuthor Rebecca Hunter
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
Buy This BookPublisher Rebecca HunterAmazon https://www.amazon.com/Stockholm-Diaries-Caroline-Rebecca-Hunter-ebook/dp/B00XZN6PVWCreateSpace https://www.createspace.com/5621425Author Social Media
Amazon Author Page http://amazon.com/Rebecca-Hunter/e/B00Y1BER26/
