Today we’ve got Amara Royce here to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

First, thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity! It’s an honor to be here, especially on the official release day of Never Too Late! I’m thrilled to celebrate the big event with The Book Pushers and your audience! 

Explain to us your journey to publication:

Frankly, my journey to publication still stuns me.  I’m not a lucky person. In my house, I’m not supposed to touch other people’s lottery tickets. Sometimes it’s best when I’m not near a TV during an important sporting event. And yet I consider myself extremely fortunate when it comes to publishing. 

I began Never Too Late during the summer of 2011.  While I fiddled with it a bit during the fall and spring, I really finished writing, editing, and revising it during the summer of 2012. And then I immediately began querying. See my “The Call” story below for the rest of the story… 

Suffice it to say that my head is still spinning over this whirlwind journey, and everything about it seems like a beautiful, impossible dream.

What’s your first published book about:

My debut historical romance, Never Too Late, is the first of a series set in Victorian Britain at the time of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It can be read as a standalone, but several characters will appear in my sophomore book, Always a Stranger.  I have plans for additional books in what I think of as the “Crystal Palace” series. 

Never Too Late features widowed bookseller Honoria Duchamp, whose subversive printing activities are making some powerful people very nervous, and Lord Alexander Devin, the viscount who is being blackmailed to ruin her business and her professional reputation. When he meets her, she is not at all what he expected, and their mutual attraction surprises them both. But he isn’t the only one whose secrets can tear them apart.

Do you have anything in the works?

Yes, I’m currently working on the next book in this series, Always a Stranger, for eKensington.  It should be out in 2014. Always a Stranger focuses on Miss Hanako Sumaki, an Asian performer at the Great Exhibition. The Earl of Ridgemont has been assigned by the Royal Commission to confirm that all performances are legitimately contracted and beyond reproach. When Lord Ridgmont learns that her employer is using the troupe as a front for more nefarious business dealings and may be auctioning off Hanako’s innocence, he is determined to rescue her and her companions. To complicate matters, powerful people in Lord Ridgemont’s life disapprove of their cultural differences, throwing deep pitfalls and massive boulders in their path to happily ever after.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author?

I have future books in mind for this series, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of the secondary characters, especially characters who are somewhat unconventional heroes and heroines in historical romance. Since I love all things Victorian, I plan to stick with historical romance for a while.  Even though ideas for other genres pop up occasionally, historical romance is really my “home” and holds my heart.  

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing? 

When I started writing, seriously writing, I worked on literary fiction, and I find that my process has changed a great deal since then. I started out with an “organic” process, writing without an outline or plan and just seeing what popped up.  I’ve become much more of an outliner, although I still write non-linearly. I still jump from scene to scene, depending on what seems most vivid to me at the moment. What’s different now is that I have an overall master plan in mind. And I’m much more likely to try outlandish ideas or “alternate routes” in scenes just to explore what works.  So I’ve paradoxically become both more adventurous and more controlled as a writer.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

Well, I wrote what I thought of as silly, “non-writerly” stuff in high school. I don’t know if that really counts. I started writing in earnest in 2006, give or take a year. My first—unfinished—novel actually used the same setting as Never Too Late, but it was historical literary fiction. It centered on a young Victorian couple, forced into marriage and faced with the harsh realities of Victorian commerce, industrialism, and colonialism.  It had a “horrible, terrible, no good, very” traumatic plot, and eventually I just couldn’t bring myself to complete a story I found so painful and depressing.  I find writing historical romance much more enjoyable!

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

Diana Gabaldon

Audrey Niffeneggar

George Eliot

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”

I got two calls, actually.  

During the summer of 2012, I’d been querying for a few months when I got impatient and submitted to a couple of trade publishers that accepted unagented queries. I ended up getting The Call from my now-editor at Kensington, John Scognamiglio, before getting The Call from an agent.  

Actually, come to think of it, John called me twice. The first time, I answered the phone but wasn’t actually in a position to talk so we scheduled another call for the next day. When he called back and offered me a two-book deal with eKensington, I’m pretty sure I sounded like a bumbling fool who couldn’t string two words together. I was speechless. Fortunately, I’d prepared a list of questions to ask because my brain seemed to stop functioning independently.  

John gave me some time to consider eKensington’s offer so I got over the speechlessness fairly quickly and updated agents who had requested partials/fulls of the manuscript.  As a result, I ended up getting The (Agent) Call from three wonderful agents.  And I’m thrilled to be represented by the amazing Jessica Alvarez at BookEnds, LLC.  

Note: This may seem strange, but I don’t recommend impatience! I don’t wish that level of stress on anyone!

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

This is such a difficult question for me. There are so many authors I’d love to list here, and I can’t pick just one! 

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

George Eliot

Adrienne Rich

Diana Gabaldon

A.S. Byatt

To be eligible to win a copy of the Never Too Late e-book, respond to the following question in the Comments section. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only and ends on May 9th. Good Luck!

I’m borrowing from The Book Pushers: Who is the author you would most like to meet, living or dead?

Debut Author Feature & Giveaway: Amara Royce is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Today we’ve got Christine S. Feldman here to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

Thank you very much for having me!  It’s been a very exciting year.

Explain to us your journey to publication:  

I’ve loved writing since I was around seven or eight years old and would crank out short stories that were my versions of Black Stallion adventures.  Hey, it was cheaper than actually buying a real horse, and nobody had to muck out any stalls.  Win-win.  Over the years I would do a little writing here or there, but it always seemed like “real life” kept getting in the way, and I kept thinking, ”I’ll write when I have more time.”  And then one day it sank in that there would never be time to write unless I started making time to write.  So I started writing on the weekends and in the evenings after my teaching job (kindergarten; now there’s some interesting fodder for a book…), and I completed a couple of novels and screenplays.  Then I started submitting the novels to publishers and the screenplays to various screenwriting competitions and—yay!—I placed in and even won a couple of contests and received an offer to publish.

What’s your first published book about: 

My debut novel—Hee!  I just love saying that!—is a stand-alone contemporary romance about a woman who returns to her hometown and to her first love years after leaving both behind her.  Here’s a summary of Coming Home:

No woman ever really forgets her first love. Callie Sorenson is no exception. Hers was tall, tanned, and—as her older brother’s best friend—completely off limits.

Danny McCutcheon.

It’s a name that Callie hasn’t spoken in years, even if the man to whom it belongs has never really been all that far from her thoughts. Or her heart. But now a twist of fate will bring her back to the childhood home she left behind years ago, and to the hometown boy for whom she secretly longed.

When her mother takes a bad fall and breaks her hip, Callie leaves the bright lights of New York City to fly back west and help with the rehabilitation. It’s a tense homecoming due to a long time estrangement between mother and daughter, and it drives Callie to confront both a painful personal loss and her unanswered questions about the father who abandoned her when she was just a child.

It also brings her face to face with Danny again, and Callie quickly realizes that old feelings die hard.

But for Danny, it’s new feelings that are a problem. Callie is not the young girl he remembers but a woman now, and a very desirable one. They both have reasons to fight the growing attraction between them, but the temptation may just prove to be too much to resist, despite some very real risk to their hearts. The past casts a long shadow over the future, though, and Callie will have to overcome it or else face losing the one man who means the most to her.

Do you have anything in the works? 

I’ve got another contemporary romance that I’m almost finished polishing up featuring an awkward, tomboy heroine and the former heartthrob of her high school years. I’ve got a screenplay that has done very well in competitions, so I’m thinking of writing a full-length novel version while I try to shop the screenplay around.  That one’s a paranormal thriller (think haunted house) with an element of mystery and a little bit of romance, too, because a little bit of romance always seems to find its way into whatever I’m writing.  Just can’t seem to help myself!  I’ve also got a rough draft of the first book in a fantasy series with comic undertones, outlines for a couple of other romances, and a few more ideas percolating in my head.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author? 

I’ve always loved reading many different genres, and I enjoy writing in different genres, too.  Romance, fantasy, science fiction, suspense…sometimes they blend together, too.  And screenwriting is also something I hope to continue to explore.  Mainly I just want to always be writing something, whether it’s novels or screenplays or even snappy greeting cards, because writing is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing? 

I like to plan things out rather than just sit down and start writing; I’m pretty uptight that way, what can I say?  I’ll start with a really basic outline and then slowly flesh it out, and sometimes doing general research on a topic/setting will generate ideas that become plot points.  After that I sit down and start writing, editing as I go so it will be absolutely perfect.  Aaaah…

Then I let it sit for a while, and then I read it over, and then I usually cringe and say, “Aack.  What was I thinking?  This stuff is awful.”  And then I rewrite it.  A couple of times.  At least.

The only thing that’s really changed since I first started writing is that now I do a lot more of the rewriting.  I hope that’s a good thing.  Well, I guess you tell me, right?  :)

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about? 

Hmm.  I don’t think I can remember my very first story because I started writing when I was a pretty young kid.  I wrote lots of short stories about horses, magic, and adventure.  I even remember trying to write a choose-your-own-adventure story because I was a big fan of those, too.  Remember those?  Didn’t finish it, though.  Sigh.  Those things are hard to put together!

My first actual novel was a very tame contemporary romance, and it was NOT very good.  The writing itself was, well, not great, and I was also very young and didn’t have much personal experience to draw on for a romance at that point, so the story seemed a little flat.  Now I’ve got my husband for my muse, though, so things are looking up…

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author? 

Every author of every book I ever read as a kid, I suppose.  I loved books, from picture books to children’s novels like The Secret Garden and The Black Stallion.  The Swiss Family Robinson led to lots of make-believe games with my sisters about shipwrecks and deserted islands.  Books fed my imagination back then, and they still do.  And when your imagination is well-fed, it starts wanting to create stories of its own.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call” 

I didn’t actually get “The Call;” I got “The Email,” which works just as well, really.  And it has the added advantage of allowing you to squeal with delight without hurting your editor’s eardrums.

I had gotten back into writing after not doing much of it for years and missing it a lot.  I decided that I had to make time for writing, so I did, but after a couple of years of working my day job and trying to find the energy after that to write at night, it was hard to keep it up and not feel a little discouraged.  It can take an awfully long time to hear back from some publishers, and when their answer is “No,” it can be pretty depressing.  Was I wasting my time?  Was it silly of me to think I could ever be published?

And then I got the email from Crimson Romance…

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why? 

There are so many wonderful authors I would love to meet, but if I had to pick just one it would be J.R.R. Tolkien.  He created a fascinating world and populated it with unforgettable characters that I go back to again and again, and I think it would be amazing to sit down and talk with the person who dreamed up something so rich and timeless.  Plus he could give me lessons in Elvish.

Debut Author Feature – Christine Feldman is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Today we’ve got Heather Lire to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

Explain to us your journey to publication:
Oh my this is a story (spoken like an author right ☺) I’ve always told stories and some I’ve written down and shared with my sister, but getting published was never my dream or my goal. As a literature teacher I was having to much fun talking about books and telling others what to read.

As such I would go to a readers con every year and one year I was sitting down with Jessa Slade and Erin Kellison when Jessa turned towards me and asked when she was going to read my book. How the hell she knew I was secretly writing and sending stories to my sister I have no clue.

But she did.

So I told her about this idea I had for a paranormal. She told me I HAD to write it. So I went home and wrote a couple of chapters and then the characters of Second Chance at Forever started to talk to me again after not talking to me in years. So I finished writing their story and then I put it away as I didn’t think it was very good at that time.

Every once in a while I’d pull it out and work on editing it and then put it back. Then I did a kamikaze read and the visiting editor ripped the first two paragraphs to shreds. So I went back to it and edited it yet again. Then I was talked into pitching at another con. So I pitched and then forgot all about it until several weeks later when I got an email from the publisher I’d pitched to asking for the full manuscript. Two months later I had a contract for Second Chance at Forever, when they found out it was the first book in the series they came back and offered me a contract for the entire series.

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):
The first book in my Holiday Vermont series is Second Chance at Forever. Ryan and Morgan meet at her grandparents 60th wedding anniversary week long house party. They spend the week together and fall in love. At the end of the party Ryan very suddenly leaves, he does however leave her a note.

Then some other things happen, and before they know it it’s 4-1/2 years later and they are reunited. Once they work through what happened to separate them they then work on making their family whole, as Morgan had Ryan’s twin sons while they were apart. The one thing they both recognize right away they still have very strong feelings for each other.

The other books in the series are about Ryan and Morgan’s siblings.

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)
I do. Book 2 in the series Second Chance at Happiness which is Brynn Morgan’s sister’s story will be out in August. Then it will be Ethan, Ryan’s brother’s story in Second Chance at Passion ending with Case, Morgan and Brynn’s brother. His book is Second Chance Hearts.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author? (want to stick with specific genre, try multiples, different pen names, etc.)
Oh my…ok I want to be a very versatile author like Lauren Dane, Jayne Ann Krentz and others who write across genres. I currently have a pnr I have started working on, and a couple other contemporary series floating in the back of my mind. I don’t want to be pigeon holed into one genre. I want to go where the characters and story lead me. I’m pretty sure I will only ever write under this pen name. Yes I write under a pen name because of my husband’s former profession and also my other profession. However that being said, this could change in the future. I just know I want to be doing this as long as the characters are talking to me, and based on the number of series and story line tabs I currently have in my One Note I will be doing this for a long time

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?
My process honestly hasn’t changed. When the characters are talking to me I write. Some days I get 200 words written and sometimes I can get about 6k written. There have been weeks where I would seriously sit and stare at the computer screen and not write a single word. I discovered a long time ago, if the characters aren’t talking to me I can write all I want and nothing will happen.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?
I have always written stories. The first story I remember writing was in the 2nd grade and it was about aliens and the boy next door and time travel. I have that story somewhere in a keepsake box.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?
Oh my…ok this may sound weird but Miguel de Cervantes, Isabel Allende, Emily and Charlotte Brontë, and Nora Roberts. I have a degree in foreign languages and literature focusing on 15-16th century Spanish literature, so I wanted to write things that had impact, and would stand the test of time. But the other half of me wanted to write stories that took someone out of the reality of their life and transported them into a story.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”.
Oh wow…I didn’t actually get “The Call” I got “The Email”. I hadn’t heard anything from the publisher for almost six weeks after she told she would be reading the full ms over the weekend, and was having a little bit of a panic attack about whether or not she wanted to publish the story. So I sent her an email asking her what she thought of the story. I honestly thought if she didn’t like it I’d at least get some feedback on it. About a week later I get an email, telling me she loved it and was offering me a contract. Now this next part is according to my husband…”She stopped breathing, and then she started hyperventilating, then she screamed Oh MY FREAKING GOSH, and then almost choked me she hugged me so hard. She then proceeded to call her two best friends and scream into the phone.” As this has been corroborated by my sons I’m going to have to say this was what happened as I honestly don’t remember. I do remember reading the email SEVERAL times though to make sure I had read it right.

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?
Crap you guys like to ask the hard questions. Ok the author I would most like to meet would be my great-great-great grandma Hannah Last Cornaby. She wrote poetry and short stories. Her autobiography is a family keepsake, one I can’t seem to get from my dad. She was one of Utah’s poet laureates, and had several of her stories published in newspapers in the late 1800′s. Outside the LDS faith she isn’t very well known, however for me she is one of my greatest inspirations. From her stories and poems I know of her life, and struggles and why she was willing to walk away from her aristocratic family in England and travel to the US with her husband.

Thanks for spending time with us today Heather. Below is an excerpt of Heather’s first published story Second Chance at Forever. Enjoy!

When Ryan had accepted the invitation for a week of nothing but sailing, drinking and hanging out with friends from college, he’d had no idea he would end up at a house party of a couple who resembled his grandparents and their relationship.

All he’d wanted was to relax and decompress after a very stressful couple of months on the job, not spend his vacation constantly fending off advances from women, and ignoring pointed questions about his job from the men.

When he’d stumbled across the hammock on his first day there, he’d thought it was a godsend and spent a very enjoyable afternoon lazing in it, thinking of nothing.

When he’d gone back the next day he’d discovered sleeping beauty had commandeered it. She’d been lying there, a mountain of pillows surrounding her. The sun shone through the trees, creating a halo effect around the hammock. Her long legs were stretched out. God, he loved long legs on a woman. His blood hummed like it hadn’t in a long time.

With her face turned away from him, he’d used all his training to get closer without her noticing him. Then he accidentally stepped on a twig. He’d silently cursed, hoping she’d been so caught up in her book she wouldn’t notice. No such luck, as she lifted her head and her gaze swung toward him.

The piercing glare coming from the most gorgeous set of eyes he’d ever seen had rocked him to his core, drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

Ryan shook his head at that thought, like a moth to a flame. If the guys in his squad had heard him say it out loud he would never live it down, and his brother would be giving him shit about it for the rest of his life if he heard him say it.

At the slight rustling of leaves he turned toward the walkway and sucked in his breath. No matter how many times he’d seen her over the last two days, she still managed to steal his breath away. She had the tall lean lines of an athlete, and a face that kept him coming back to it every time he’d seen her.

She wasn’t one of those women who had to be done up at all times. She was quite comfortable going about with only a hint of make-up, and with her hair in a ponytail. For a guy raised with three sisters he’d learned at an early age about the importance of hair and makeup, whether he’d wanted to or not.

He’d never been attracted to simple but, as he watched Morgan approach wearing shorts, which showcased her incredibly long legs, a simple tee shirt with a hoodie tied around her waist and athletic shoes, he admitted to himself, on her it was perfect.

He took the picnic basket she carried and extended his arm to her. “What do you have here?”

“I thought a picnic on the beach would be good.” She took his arm as they moved to where he’d parked his Jeep.

“Sounds like a plan. How do you feel about driving up the coast and exploring some of the small towns?” Ryan stowed the picnic basket in the back and helped Morgan into the Jeep.

Morgan paused with a surprised look on her face. “That’s something I would love to do, but it isn’t what I expected you to suggest.”

The look on her face was one of pure innocence, belaying the sarcasm in her voice. As she looked at him he couldn’t resist and leaned forward, brushing her lips with his. A spark of electricity shot through him, making him want to sink into her and take more. He held himself back, however, instinctively knowing if he did more she would be out of the Jeep and buried back in her books.

He stepped back and looked at her, a bemused look on her face, like she couldn’t believe what just happened. Good, he thought to himself. It was only fair if she confused him, he should confuse her in return.

Debut Author Feature – Heather Lire is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Today we’ve got Isis Rushdan here to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

Explain to us your journey to publication: 

Stories are constantly brewing in my head, but the characters for Kindred of the Fallen demanded I write their tale. One winter I had a couple of months off and decided it was time. As I revised the manuscript, I entered various Romance Writers of America contests to get impartial feedback. The scary thing was I started winning. My agent also found me through a contest, requested the manuscript, loved it and sold it to Samhain Publishing. There was a second offer on the table from one of the big six publishers, but I felt my debut novel would be better served by the level of support Samhain promised. So far, I’m thrilled with my decision.

What’s your first published book about:

In one sentence: When star-crossed lovers find each other in this lifetime, they trigger a civil war over salvation, catapulting them into the cross-hairs of danger. It’s a paranormal romance with gripping action and steamy love scenes. Instead of vampires, werewolves or faeries, I created a species to appeal to fans of angels and superheroes. The entire story arc unfolds over three books. Readers will feel satisfied at the end of the first book, while I hope eager to buy the second.

Do you have anything in the works?

I’m currently writing the third book in the Kindred Chronicles. I’m also plotting two new series.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author? 

My goal is to have two to three books a year published. I just had a baby in June, so my little man is slowing me down a bit in the best possible way. I’ll continue to write paranormal romance and urban fantasy, but I also have a contemporary romance in mind.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

Writing is a passion as well as a career for me. When my muse graces me, the words flow easily, characters speak to me as I exercise, scenes unfold while I shower, and I become completely engrossed for as long as possible in the world I’m creating. If my muse decides to play hooky, I still show up to work every single day.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

Like most writers, I’ve been creating characters and worlds for as long as I can remember, but I started writing seriously in 2010. Kindred of the Fallen is my first book.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

Nathaniel Hawthorne, Anne Rice, and Jacqueline Carey had the biggest influence on me.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”:

First my agent forwarded me an email from an editor who was interested in the story.  Then she contacted a second editor who had also shown strong interest. When my agent called, she told me both wanted to make an offer. She suggested I speak with both editors on the phone to get a feel for their vision for the story, and then we could discuss the specifics of each deal. The editor is your strongest advocate at a publisher so it’s critical that they LOVE your book. It was brilliant advice.

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

I can’t pick just one. Graham Greene, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Nalini Singh. I lose myself in the beauty of their words.

Thanks so much Isis for being here today!

Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Debut Author Feature – Isis Rushdan is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Next, we’ve got Eden Summers here to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

Thanks for having me! It’s great to be here.

Explain to us your journey to publication:

I started writing in late 2010 – early 2011. My first step was to join the Australian RWA and can’t thank the members enough for their support, guidance and hand holding. 

I struggled to finish any of my stories. I had the beginning scenes to a lot of great ideas, but I just couldn’t finish. My confidence would desert me, or by the time I made it half way I had learned so much that the first half was just too damn messy. 

Then one night in December, 2011, I sat down and typed. I didn’t plan, I didn’t plot. I just typed and I didn’t allow myself to waver on the project until I finished. Seven months later I had a contract and Concealed Desire will hopefully be released in early 2013.

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):

Well my first actual release was a tiny short story in a Halloween Anthology last month. The anthology is called Halloween Heat V and my inclusion is called Phantom Pleasure. 

However, the first story I have published on its own is Sneaking a Peek. It’s a steamy, short story about Tarney and her crush on Ethan – the hot fireman next door. Although she is your typical friendly neighborhood graphic designer, she has a habit of hiding in the darkness of her front porch and watching while Ethan does his weekly work out. 

Here is the book blurb:

She’s either headed for jail…or for the best sex of her life.

Tarney Jensen has been crushing on sexy firefighter Ethan Reid, her best friend’s brother, since her sixteenth birthday. She knows acting on her attraction will ruin their friendship, but she can’t fight the temptation of his sweat-slicked skin as he works out. Every hot-blooded woman loves to drool over a sexy piece of man flesh, but watching one from the shadows of your porch when he has no idea you’re spying on him? Totally illegal.

For years Ethan has watched men go in and out of Tarney’s life, but how’s a guy supposed to put the moves on his kid sister’s best friend without looking like a perv? But when Tarney lets out an ear-piercing scream from her front yard, Ethan drops everything to rush to her aid. And finds out that the woman of his dreams has been sneaking a peek at his workouts…

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)

I have a novel length contemporary romance signed with Etopia Press – Concealed Desire. This story is close to my heart because it was the first I ever finished, the one that started the ball rolling. I can’t wait to share it with the world. 

I also have a heap of half finished stories on my hard drive but have no clue what will come next. 

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author?

I have a lot of goals and dreams where my writing is concerned. I want to always strive to improve my skills, so participating in a lot of online courses is one of them.

I’ll be attending my first RWA Australia conference next year, which is a huge goal for me. I pulled out of the 2012 conference and regret doing so.

I’d like to write a series one day.

I want to try my hand at a heap of different romance sub genres. I already have plot outlines for YA, paranormal and fantasy, it’s just a matter of finding time. And one day I’d love to have an agent and be signed with one of the big six. 

Yes, I have big goals. Lol.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

I’m a plotter. My first step is to write down a brief outline of all the scenes or at least know how I want each chapter to end before I get started on the actual writing. 

When the writing begins it’s usually a fifty-fifty mix of “Oh my gosh, I’m awesome. I need to get these words down as fast as I can” and “Oh my gosh. I’m so crap. Why the hell am I writing…lets go procrastinate on Twitter.” 

My writing see-saw hasn’t changed much because I haven’t been writing that long, but I would love if I could get over the emotional garbage and simply write. Unfortunately I think the writing bipolar is something most writers experience and never overcome. 

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

I started my first story in late 2010 – Ravaged by Deceit. It’s a contemporary piece about rekindled love between Sam, a celebrity manager, and Lucas, the lead guitarist in a struggling band. 

Not sure if I will ever finish that one. It’s currently in a very rough draft and sitting around the 55k mark, but I cringe whenever I think of how messy it is.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

There have been a lot, all for different reasons. There are the RWA members who drove me to succeed with their constant talk of success. I wanted to be just like them and share my ‘first sale’ email. 

My favorite authors are also my inspiration. I’ve always said there are two types of awesome authors. The ones who write stories I love to pieces, who make me warm on the inside with their flawless mix of passion, romance and loving characters. The ones that encourage me to share my own stories because I want to make people feel the same way about my work. 

Then there are the authors who write so damn good they make me want to throw my laptop against the wall and scream “I will never be that good!” These authors keep me striving to be better. To never stop learning. 

Both types keep me motivated and inspired. When I’m down and out I know I can rely on their books to give me the kick in the butt I need. 

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”

I didn’t get “The Call”. I got “The Email.” I’ve always had a freaky sixth sense when something really good is going to happen (same goes with the bad). I’d been stalking my emails for days, waiting for feedback on my submissions, so when I woke at 3am with a really good feeling I checked my emails on my phone…

Do you know how hard it is to celebrate a contract offer at 3am when your husband is on night shift and your kids are peacefully asleep?

Lol. It took a while to get back to sleep, but I definitely had sweet dreams after that.

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

Cindy Gerard. I have a HUGE girl crush on this fabulous lady. Her writing is flawless, her characters funny, her stories addictive from start to finish. She can write sassy sarcasm and adds the perfect mix of romance and suspense in all her stories. I would love to meet her one day…maybe one day I will stop hiding in her bushes and ring her bell to say hi. Joke. Seriously, that was a joke. I live in Australia, so no worries about me stalking. But if I lived in America Cindy might have a problem.

Thanks so much Eden for being here today! Eden is offering a Giveaway today too: a $15 Amazon gift card and 5 swag packs. Leave Eden a question or comment, then use the Rafflecopter link to finalize your entry:  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sneaking a Peak: Kindle | All Romance eBooks | Barnes and Noble

Debut Author Feature – Eden Summers is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

First up we have Sharon Lynn Fisher, whose debut novel Ghost Planet debuted on October 30th.

Thanks so much for having me!

Explain to us your journey to publication:

Sharon: I started writing when I was very young – 5 or 6. I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t make any serious attempts toward publication until my early 20s. Over a few years I wrote a couple of fantasy novels, and started a couple more. I made it as far as a second reader on a partial at Ace. (Woo-hoo!)

Then life happened for a couple of decades. I never gave up the writing dream, but was both daunted by the hard road to publishing, and the fact I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write. After my daughter was born, I went back to fantasy for a while, but I hadn’t really found my voice yet.

For about a year I entered stories in the Writers of the Future Contest, and kept getting honorable mentions. I decided to try my hand at sci-fi, and the short story version of GHOST PLANET was the first story I’d been really excited about in a long time. WOTF gave that one an honorable mention too, but more importantly I was so inspired that I expanded the short story to a full-length novel within about six weeks.

That was early 2008, and over the course of the next five years I rewrote the manuscript a couple times, was named a finalist three times for RWA’s Golden Heart Award, found an agent, and finally in 2011 signed with Tor.

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):

Sharon: GHOST PLANET is the story of a young woman (Elizabeth) who travels to an Earth-like world to work as a psychologist, only to discover she died en route to the planet, has been reincarnated as an alien, and is symbiotically bound to the sexy Irishman who was supposed to be her supervisor (Murphy).

I really love this description from Publisher’s Weekly: “… an absorbing and exciting story full of science, sex, and intriguing plot twists.”

The novel stands alone for the time being. I do have an idea for a sequel!

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)

Sharon: My second book for Tor, working title THE OPHELIA PROPHECY, is a post-apocalyptic bio-punk romance. A twisty tale with lots of color and texture, science, politics, and adventure.

I also have another Golden Heart finalist manuscript (ECHO 8) that I’d like to polish up and submit in the near future. It’s a sci-fi/paranormal blend about an energy “vampire” from an alternate Earth, the FBI agent intent on destroying him, and the parapsychologist caught in between.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author?

Sharon: For the time being I’m sticking with sci-fi romance. I’m really inspired by science books and new scientific discoveries, and I find sci-fi elements a great way to inject freshness into a story. I love exploring relationship dynamics against the backdrop of speculative worlds.

It’s funny, I never really thought of myself as all that interested in science, despite the fact I enrolled in honors courses throughout junior high and high school. Maybe it was that final, twelfth-grade chemistry class — which I found very challenging — that put me off it for the next couple of decades. Also there’s a ton of math in most branches of science, and as Chuck Wendig once tweeted, every time a writer does math a fairy is beaten to death with an abacus.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

Sharon: Yes and no. I’m still a pantser at heart, but I’ve developed some process along the way in hopes of avoiding ever having to rewrite a book from scratch again, as I did with GHOST PLANET at one point. It tends to go something like this:

1. Come up with a title
2. Noodle on what a book with that title would be about
3. Write a first scene
4. Write a pitch-length description
5. Continue writing the novel while developing a 1-2 page synopsis

The other thing I added to my process is character profiles. Before I get more than about a chapter into the book, I search for images and write up little descriptions that discuss each character’s background, family, etc.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

Sharon: When I was 6, about a little girl who shrank and went on an adventure in her grandmother’s strawberry patch.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

Sharon: Richard Adams (WATERSHIP DOWN), JR Tolkien (LORD OF THE RINGS), Madeleine L’Engle (A WRINKLE IN TIME)

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”

Sharon: I’ve had lots of those! A couple agents, a handful of Golden Heart finals, and finally my sale. All very exciting! But I’m guessing you mean for the sale.

GHOST PLANET had been on submission for about eight months. We’d received really positive feedback about the concept, but the fact that GP is 50% romance and 50% sci-fi seemed to be at issue at least to some degree. What we got from Tor initially was an interested email, but we had to wait a couple months because the editor was really busy with finishing up grad school, the holidays, etc. She got back to us with some suggestions, there was some back-and-forth between her and my agent, and then it was sometime in February 2011 that my agent called with news of the offer. At that point it wasn’t really a surprise, but still pretty exciting!

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

Sharon: Oh, tough one! I think maybe George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans)? MIDDLEMARCH was one of the first classic novels that I loved. I really love the way her mind worked. She also had a fascinating life, living for a while with a man who had an open marriage (in the mid 1800s!), and later marrying a man twenty years younger than herself.

But I’m torn between her and Jane Austen, whom I suspect would be a lot of fun to chat with!

Thanks so much to Sharon for being here today! We always love finding new authors!! Tor has graciously offered to giveaway THREE copies of Ghost Planet to one lucky commenter. Please answer our final question “Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?” to be entered to win. Contest is open to US/Canada only and ends on November 18th. Good luck!

Debut Author Feature – Sharon Lynn Fisher is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Today we’ve got Melissa Cutler to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author.

It’s a pleasure to be here. Chatting about romance books is one of my favorite things in the world to do.

Explain to us your journey to publication:

I’m not going to lie, it was a tough five years of trying. I liken my publication journey to birthing my second child (my firstborn was ushered out via scheduled c-section). After 45 hours of stalled labor and 4 hours of pushing, I had a beautiful, screaming baby in my arms. My pregnant sister-in-law, who was trying to decide between a scheduled c-section or VBAC with her second child, shouted to me over the baby’s cries, “Well, was it worth it to go through labor and delivery?” Panting and exhausted, I wiped the snot and sweat from my face, cast my teary eyes at her, and said, “That was the most mind-blowing thing I’ve ever done, but I’m telling you now—you gotta really want it.” The same is absolutely true for getting published: lots of sweat and snot and tears, along with a heaping dose of perseverance…but when that editor call came and when I held that first book in my hands, it blew my mind.

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):

The Trouble with Cowboys is a mash-up of western and culinary romance novels, with a cowboy hero who not only raises prime beef but knows what to do with it once it hits the kitchen and a heroine who’s a failed reality Chef show contestant (a lá Top Chef) who’s returned to her small town home to open a restaurant featuring locally grown food. It’s the first of a trilogy.

Amy, the star of the first book, has a serious weakness for everything cowboy. As she tells her sister Jenna, she’s the only woman she knows who gets turned on when the song ‘Desperado’ comes on the radio. She attributes her epic fail on television to a conniving fellow contestant posing as a cowboy and has sworn off cowboys for good to focus on her career. So it figures that her key supplier is Catcher Creek’s most eligible bachelor, Kellan Reed—exactly the sort of Stetson-tipping bad boy she finds impossible to resist.

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)

I’ve got to be the luckiest writer in the world because the same week I got the call for The Trouble with Cowboys series from Kensington, I also got a call from Harlequin Romantic Suspense with an offer for my enemies-to-lovers adventure in Mexico, Seduction Under Fire, which debuts in November of this year. Then, 2013 will see the release of my second cowboy book, tentatively titled The Secret to Loving a Lawman and (hopefully) more Harlequin Romantic Suspense titles.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author? (want to stick with specific genre, try multiples, different pen names, etc.)

My big goal in life is to write the kinds of books women want to take on vacation or that whisk readers away on a mental vacation right in the middle of their busy lives. Because, really, life is tough and we all deserve a break (along with some hot, swoon-worthy romance). Reading romance rocks because you can be sitting on a bus or watching your kids play at McDonalds and get swept away to another world populated with gutsy, smart women and sexy, larger-than-life men. My number one professional goal is to provide that experience, and keep doing that consistently year after year. Genre-wise, right now I’m dividing my time between my love of small town contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I’m happy to stick with those for a while, but you never know what the future will bring. The possibilities are endless and thrilling.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

What first sparks in me, creatively, is a character concept—a theme, personality trait, or inner conflict that intrigues me. From there, I build characters until they feel like real people, with histories and flaws and quirks. Then I move on to setting. As an obsessive traveler, a book’s setting is a huge deal for me. I only set books in places I’d love to visit, which means any off-the-beaten path small town around in the world.

Even after I’ve figured out who my characters are deep down and have my setting locked in, I don’t start writing until I can actually hear my characters’ voices in my head talking to each other. Crazy, right? That’s okay; I embraced the crazy a long time ago and I figure that as long as the voices are talking to each other and not me, I’m golden.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

I was born a book geek. Seriously. I’m talking about asking Santa for a thesaurus (true story) and begging my mom to let me attend summer school for reading and writing. I thought it was so unfair that only the kids who were struggling in those subjects got to go! Though I always knew in my heart that I’d eventually write a book, I was way too busy being practical to consider writing as a career. The thing is, I grew up poor, worked an afterschool job nonstop since I was fourteen, and paid my own way through college. I wanted a career that would bring me cold hard cash and health insurance. Hence, Miss Cutler the high school English teacher was born.

The big whammo that propelled me to write my first book happened when I was thirty and a random brain tumor bitch-slapped me into re-examining my life. I thought, you fool, you might die without doing the only damn thing on your bucket list. So after the tumor came out and was determined to be benign, I used the four titanium plates the docs put in my head to channel my writing muse (only joking about the power of the plates. They don’t even set off metal detectors, which stinks.) Halfway through that first book, I knew that writing romance was what I wanted to do every single day for the rest of my life.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

One of my greatest inspirations is the public library. Growing up, we couldn’t afford to buy books, but my mom took me to the library all the time. It’s always been my happy place. Then, when my kids were super little, my local library designated the endcap closest to the children’s section for paperback romances. It was the only adult book section I could browse while still keeping an eye on my kids. I believe I read Every. Single. One. I’d been reading romance since I was a young teen, but there in the library with those paperbacks was when I figured out that if I was going to ever follow my dream and write, it would have to be romance. Life’s too short to read books with unhappy endings.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”

Becoming a great writer and getting published are two very different goals. In the months leading up to “The Call”, I endured several rejections and harsh critiques that devastated me. Mind you, this was five years into my journey and I’d powered through hundreds of rejections from agents and editors, along with an equal number of discouraging contest results and critiques. I realized that my publication quest was beginning to interfere with my goal of becoming a great writer because it was taking away my joy of the process. So a few days before “The Call”, I decided to take a six month break from trying to get published to concentrate on growing as a writer.

I was totally at peace with my choice. The day of the call, I’d taken a hike and written longhand in a spiral notebook while sitting in a beautiful valley of a nature preserve. My soul was filled to the brim with the joy of writing. Fifteen minutes after returning home, Shana Smith of Harlequin called…and changed the course of my life. Four days later, Megan Records of Kensington called with a three book offer. And then the real rollercoaster began. I still smile every time I think about that week, and I imagine I always will.

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

Great question, even though the answer would change every day for me depending on my mood. Wouldn’t Mark Twain be cool to talk to? Or Dr. Seuss? And I think almost every romance writer wants to have a chat with Jane Austin. Today, though, the author I’d most want to sit down and pick her brain would be Susan Mallery. She embodies what I want most to be—an author whose books evolve ahead of trends and who has fostered a genuine connection with her readers in innovative ways.

My thanks to The Book Pushers for hosting me today. Now I have a question for you. Since The Trouble with Cowboys is all about celebrating locally grown food, I want to know: what local food or dish do you most enjoy where you live? For me here in Southern California, locally grown avocados are what I crave. Cut one in half, sprinkle on a little salt, and hand me a spoon. Yum! I’m giving away a print copy of The Trouble with Cowboys to one commenter. Best of luck!

This contest is open wherever Book Depository ships. The winner will be announced on Wednesday September 26th.

Debut Author Feature & Giveaway with Melissa Cutler is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Explain to us your journey to publication:

My journey started about four years ago. I’d already written Secrets and had the second book already percolating in my head when I started submitting to agents and small presses. All in total, I got about 13 rejections and quite a few no responses by the time I found my editor, Jessica Swift of Swift Ink Editorial. After working with her I seriously considered self-publishing. In fact I was well on my way to doing so when a very good friend told me about Dark Dragon Publishing Company. Thinking one more rejection would kill me, I submitted. The last thing I expected was to get that long awaited email.

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):

Secrets is the first book in the Serenity Series. It’s about a young woman who has no idea how unique she is. As a dhampir, her gifts are also her curse. Once she her secret is revealed, her once normal life is turned upside down. With the tragic death of the one person she knew she could always count on, she’s thrown into a world full of more danger than she could possibly imagine. The only way to keep herself and those who have come to her aid is to face the evil hunting her head on.

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)

At the moment I have several things in the works. The first is re-vamping the fourth book in the series. Once that’s done, I plan to continue with the series.

The next are two shorts I’m writing for Ring of Fire Publishing. Both are part of their 7DS brand. The first is a motivational anthology called the Seven Dress Sizes. The second is a short with a plot revolving around death and shoes called the Seven Deadly Soles.

The final project is a Paranormal Romance called Apex I’m writing with fellow author, A.T. Russell. It’s a shifter tale with a hell of a lot of spunk. And of course there’s sure to be passion galore.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author? (want to stick with specific genre, try multiples, different pen names, etc.)

My dream is to be able to make a decent enough living off my books to be able to stay at home and write more. I don’t see myself as the next great anybody. I just want to be able to share my stories and offer my readers an escape from their everyday lives for a little while.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

My writing process has pretty much stayed the same. I never know what will end up on the screen until I sit down to write it. I may have an idea of where I want a story to go, but it nearly always goes in the opposite direction. That usually leads to even more little twists and turns.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

Roughly four years ago. Secrets was my first story.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

The thing that made me realize I really wanted to be an author was hearing what my beta readers had to say about the book. They gave me more confidence in my writing than I ever thought possible. They made me want to push myself to write more.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”

I was at work when I got the email from the publisher at Dark Dragon. She had asked for a full the Friday before, but I never thought I’d hear from her quite as soon as I did. When I opened my email, I was actually sitting in my co-workers (sister’s) office at work waiting to ask a question. While she was on the phone helping a customer, I was re-reading the email over and over again. I was sure the wording would change. When it didn’t it took everything I had not to scare everybody in the building with would have been the loudest shriek they’ve ever heard. Trying to remain calm, cool, and collected when your dream has just come true is the hardest thing in the world to do.

If you would like to know more about Ms Kirby you can find her at the following links: Blog | Goodreads | Smashwords | Facebook | Twitter
Thank you Ms Kirby and Illuminated Tours for asking us to participate in the Secrets blog tour. We would also like to thank Dark Dragon Publishing for sponsoring the giveaway. One lucky entrant will receive an electronic copy of Secrets. Choosing the winner will be a little different then our usual giveaway. In order to enter you MUST follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below (per the tour organizer’s request). The contest closes at 0001 on the 15th of Aug and the winner will be announced on the 16th.

It is said that the truth will set you free, but for Leah it kills.
Leah always knew she was different. From her extreme light sensitivity, to her ability to read people by their auric scent, she kept these differences secret.
Not even Mia, Leah’s mother, knew the fullness of her daughter’s differences, but she held even greater secrets to Leah’s past – the truth about her father and Leah’s conception.
With the escape of an old foe, Mia is too late to reveal to her daughter
the truth before Judith can exact her revenge in a wash of blood and death.
Thrown into a world unheard of, Leah discovers that she is not alone in keeping her secrets. That there are people from her parent’s past who would die to protect her. If she only knew why.
Raine, placed as her protector, hides deadly secrets of his own. Drawn to each other, Leah and Raine must uncover the truth before one of both are killed.

Links to purchase:
Smashwords | Amazon | Kindle | Dark Dragon Publishing

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debut Author Post & Giveaway with Dawn Kirby is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Today we’ve got Cynthia Justlin to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

Explain to us your journey to publication:

I’ve always loved the written word and wrote short stories from a very young age. As early as junior high, I dreamed of what it would be like to publish a book someday. It wasn’t until my children were born, though, that I really started pursuing that goal. I wrote a couple of contemporary romances aimed at Harlequin that will probably never see the light of day. And then I got an idea for a romantic suspense book, a genre that I’d never considered attempting to write—and found my voice.

I shopped that first book around and received great feedback, but ultimately, the romantic suspense market was too tight and I couldn’t find an agent or editor interested in taking a chance on it. So, I wrote another. This one finaled in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart, which got my foot in the door, but still led me to the same dead end. So I wrote one more, a book so dark and different that I actually wondered if I was crazy for writing it. But I felt compelled in a way I’d never felt compelled before, so I finished it. That book was Edge of Light.

I was diagnosed with cancer just as I finished the book. I started shopping it around to agents while I was going through chemo and was almost universally told that the writing was great but they didn’t know how to sell it—it was too much of a thriller to be a romance and too much of a romance to be a thriller. But, if cancer had taught me anything, it was that life is too short to wait on your dreams. So I took my first two romantic suspense books and self-published them and then pitched Edge of Light to Carina Press, the only publisher I thought might take a chance on something outside of the box. And I’m thrilled to say, they did!

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):

Edge of Light is the story of Oliver Shaw, a CIA agent who has been held captive in Cambodia for over two years. After witnessing the slow execution of all his team mates, he’s the only one left. He’s broken. Defeated. He’s lost the will to fight and is just going through the motions of each day.

In comes Jocelyn Hewitt, a forensic anthropologist with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command on a mission to find the truth about her dad’s disappearance. Armed with his letters and vague clues to his whereabouts, she heads into the Cambodian jungle with her team. But a ruthless group of anarchists believe her dad’s letters hold the key to an ancient red diamond mine and she is taken captive, placed in a cell next to Oliver.

Through the metal wall that separates them, her strength and hope breathes new life into Oliver. Together, they fight to escape and take down their captors.

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)

I’m currently working on another romantic suspense for Carina Press (not contracted, as of yet!). This one takes place on a pirated merchant vessel and features an undercover NCIS heroine with eidetic memory and an Army hero who is fighting to regain huge gaps in his memory. If any of you have read Edge of Light, you may be able to guess who the hero is going to be! I’m excited about this book. It’s going to be another gritty, emotional read.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author? (want to stick with specific genre, try multiples, different pen names, etc.)

My main goal as an author is just to write compelling stories. I like intense, emotional books, and that’s what I want to bring to readers. I love exploring theme and symbolism and giving readers something to think about when they reach ‘The End’. If I can accomplish all that, I’ll consider myself a success! Eventually, though, I’d love to write in more than one genre as well, but for now, I’m concentrating my efforts on building a career as a romantic suspense writer.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

My writing process changes from book to book and, unfortunately, I have yet to find a foolproof method that works every time. But I do start every book with a firm foundation, which begins with getting to know my characters. What values do they have? What baggage do they have? What are they afraid of and how is that keeping them from getting what they want? From there, I tend to go with the “write a little, plot a little, write a little, plot a little” strategy.

I’m a very linear writer, so I have to start at the beginning and work my way towards the end. When I get stuck on a scene, it’s usually because I haven’t solidified what comes before it. And then I backtrack in the hopes of getting it right. I am NOT a vomit the first draft and clean it up later kind of writer, although I wish I was! I’m too much of a perfectionist to let go of a chapter before it’s perfect.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

I won’t go back to my junior high days! My very first book was a contemporary romance about a woman who travels to Colorado for her best friend’s wedding. She no longer believes in love and marriage, but as the maid of honor, she tries to put on a happy face for her friend. She’s horrified to find herself paired up with the best man—an equine doctor with a passion for healing—especially when she realizes he’s got his sights set on her.

I love the characters in this story, but it’s one of those ‘better-off-under-the-bed’ books!

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

I got my love of reading from my dad. He was never more content than when he was reading, and that was a trait that was definitely passed on to me. Now, writing, he avoided like the plague, so I didn’t get that talent from him, but, he gave me my love of books, and I truly believe that cultivated my writing.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call.”

Unfortunately, we were in the middle of a move when “The Call” came. I remember stopping at home to pick up more boxes and seeing that there was a message on the phone. I checked the caller ID. It was an unfamiliar number and area code. And then I listened to the message from Angela James telling me that Carina loved my book and wanted to contract it. She followed up with an email, and I danced around the house and then crashed back to reality when I realized how much more work still needed to be done. I held off on celebrating until we’d moved and I signed the contract. Hopefully next time I get the call, I’ll be home!

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

Beverly Cleary. Because her Ramona books shaped my childhood and I’d love to tell her thank you for that. I am in awe that her books are still popular and relevant and finding new readers who love Ramona and Beezus every bit as much as I do.

Ms Justlin, thank you for joining us today. Ms Justlin is also sponsoring a giveaway of one digital copy of Edge of Light. Open internationally and ends May 24th. To enter leave a comment talking about the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why. Good luck!

Debut Author Feature & Giveaway: Cynthia Justlin is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Today we’ve got Cathy Perkins to talk about what it’s like being a brand new author!

I’m delighted to be here. It’s so much fun to connect with readers. I was a reader before I was a writer, so I understand wanting to share a love of books and stories.

Explain to us your journey to publication:

While I’ve had a life-long love affair with reading, I didn’t start writing until fairly recently. This probably isn’t how most people start, but I had a long-term consulting job in a city about 90 miles away. I’d listen to music and daydream during the commute. Pretty soon the day dream had dialogue and I thought, hmm, this is turning into a good story. That particular book lives in a box under my bed, but I was hooked on writing and creating worlds and characters. 

After writing The Professor, I joined a critique group. These writers encouraged me to join RWA and enter a few contests, including the Golden Heart. The Professor won those contests and was a Golden Heart finalist, but I kept hearing ‘romantic suspense is dead’ so I really didn’t try to sell the book.

Instead, I put the story away and kept writing. About this time last year, I pulled the story out and thought, I love these characters and I want to share them with a wider audience. Carina Press made an offer and I’m thrilled to say the novel released yesterday, on January 23.  

What’s your first published book about (start of a series, a stand alone, we want details!):

Set in South Carolina, stopping the serial killer who’s terrorizing college campuses drives the plot of The Professor. The tension and stakes build as the characters’ wants and needs set them on a collision course: Charismatic State Agent Mick O’Shaughnessy wants more from life than work and a pretty face. Fiercely independent graduate student Meg Connelly always wanted a loving family and professional success, but has to learn to trust in order to get either. The Professor knows the only way to get what he wants is to take it—and taking Meg’s life will destroy Mick with the same stroke of his knife.

I wrote The Professor as a standalone, but I’ve already had several people ask me if there’ll be more from either Mick and Meg or the extended O’Shaughnessy clan. I can see possible story lines, but I’m working on another project right now.

Do you have anything in the works? (contracted or not?)

I just finished a financial mystery that I love—lots of twists and turns. When initially I didn’t plan a Happily-Ever-After for the hero and heroine, my critique partners nearly killed me over that ending. So, yes, I did rewrite it. J It’s under consideration right now, so we’ll see what happens there.

Currently, I’m working on two very different manuscripts. One is dark and introspective, revolving around the theme of betrayal. The other is a light, amateur sleuth mystery about a CPA—houses, handbags or companies, she knows how to make a deal— who’s dodging a vengeful detective, while staying one step ahead of a murderer. A fun relief after the intensity of the darker ones.

What are your overall dreams, goals and expectations for your future as an author?  

I absolutely love writing mysteries and suspense, so I’ll stay with that genre. Having said that, I might publish the light amateur sleuth series under the pen name Cathy Ann Stewart Hamilton, because when a woman’s initials are CASH, how can she not get involved in finance? I’m finding my darker stories are becoming more introspective and wandering over into mainstream territory. At this stage, I feel blessed to have so many opportunities. Ultimately I want to write a story that readers enjoy.

What’s your writing process like? Has it changed from when you first started writing?

Once I decided to write for publication, I realized I had lots to learn about the craft of writing. While I’ve read craft books, I attend an annual, week-long, Masterclass. The in-depth sessions and nightly critique groups fit my hands-on learning style. I think the first year I went, my head exploded from everything I learned! 

My overall process hasn’t changed, but I’m far more conscious of structure, drawing on a four act/eight sequence framework, and on what several instructors call “persistence of view” rather than just point of view. Of course, when I “run the movie in my head,” I’m aware of the visual storytelling and look for thematic elements and ways to incorporate the setting into the story—things I didn’t know existed when I started writing. While elements can always be added or deepened during editing passes, I’ll always be a plotter—I need to understand where my stories are headed.

When did you start writing? What was your very first story about?

The first story—that extended daydream—was an erotomania obsessed woman determined to eliminate my heroine. I made every mistake with that story, except I discovered I love creating characters. My critique partners actually like the premise and want me to dig this one out of the dust bunnies. Don’t see that happening.

Who were some of your inspirations for becoming an author?

For my inspiration, I’m going to reach way back to when I was little. I read everything from Nancy Drew to My Friend Flicka to Madeline L’Engle. Even then I loved getting caught up in a story. Fast forward a lot of years and I love reading mysteries – Ridley Pearson, Barbara Parker, Tess Gerritsen, Allison Brennan… the list can go on forever. When I started writing, I wanted to create that same experience for the reader.

Give us the story about when you got “The Call”

I missed The Call! I was working out of town with my day job, came home and found Angela James’ voice mail, saying she’d read The Professor and wanted to talk to me about it. I met my critique partner for lunch – I’m not sure that café will welcome us back – and we decided she wouldn’t call to turn me down. Later that afternoon, I got an email extending the offer and setting up a time to talk. 

Who is the author you would most like to meet living or deceased and why?

There’s a long list of literary authors I’d love to invite over for a drink on the porch but I’m going say it’s a toss-up between Ridley Pearson and Allison Brennan. Both have built successful careers based on character-driven stories with page turning plots. I’d love to pick their brains on everything from plotting to suspense layers to confronting all the doubts writers face on a daily basis.

Thanks so much Cathy for being here today!  Cathy has also generously offered a giveaway – a copy of The Professor, coming soon from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Carina Press and other e-book sellers. This giveaway ends January 31st and is open internationally.

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Debut Author Feature: Cathy Perkins is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter