I’m here today with the wonderful Courtney Breazile. I’m fascinated by the fact she does a Blog Talk Radio show. Please help me welcome her today.
Welcome to XtraOrdinary Romance!
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote a story in eighth grade called “Santa’s Sweat Shop” It was a dark take on Santa’s toy factory, it was the first time I can remember writing something that I really enjoyed creating and that others thought was really good. After that I fiddled around here and there but didn’t really try and write until I was 18, that is when I started my first book “Pirate’s Savior” that took me a few years to finish and another couple years to get published. Since then I have loved it!
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
The books I read. I so enjoy reading that I want to create something that other people will find as enjoyable.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
EXTATIC! It was so cool and I grabbed it without really looking into the publisher offering it, not the best decision but that’s ok.
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
I have two novels out, my first one is “Pirate’s Savior” a POD at Publish America and the other is “Treasure of Flowers” an e-book from Devine Destinies. I have two novellas at Devine Destinies “Lover’s Stone” and “Dreamed Destiny” e-books, as well and one from Extasy Books “Reincarnated Death Wish” an e-book. I had my first sale, days after my first book became available-gotta love family.
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a stand alone book.
My most recent release is “Reincarnated Death Wish” a dark fantasy I wrote for Halloween. It is about a woman who is reincarnated every 100 years and killed on her 22nd birthday, which just happens to be Halloween, every time. She is haunted by vague memories of past lives and deaths but without enough information to know why she is killed.
What was your inspiration for this book?
Halloween was my inspiration, a horror love story.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
I am most definitely a pantser. Sometimes all I know when I sit down to begin a story is the opening scene, and I go from there. I take notes as I go of important things I have said or want to say and character outlines, but often this is done as I go and rarely done before I begin to write. Only once have I envisioned my ending in the beginning of my story, and that is a story I have still not finished writing.
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
Lots of wine or coffee! I edit here and there, then I edit before I send it off. Then I edit when it comes back from the editor. My least favorite part of the whole process, I like to create, I don’t like to perfect.
You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
If I got reviewed, good or bad, I would be happy. Preferably it would be good of course, and then I would celebrate. Maybe make my hubby take me to dinner.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
I didn’t really have to do any research for this story.
Is writing a lonely career for you?
I
enjoy the alone time of it, but I have to be careful to balance that with family time. I can too easily be happy shutting myself away from the world with my computer.
What is your typical writing routine? Do you count words, pages or time?
I wish I could set a routine for myself but life is too crazy for that. I try and write every day, at least a small bit, the more I write the happier I am about the day.
Who and what are you reading now?
I am reading the J.R. Ward black dagger brotherhood series right now, almost done with it and finding it enjoyable.
Who is your biggest fan?
My sister-in-law is definitely my biggest fan. She has been a huge support from the beginning and always cheers me on when I get frustrated.
Did someone every give you a great piece of advice along the way? What was it?
Yes the advice I have used time and again is: If you are stuck then it is because at some point you have veered off your intended path, you have stopped writing the story you intended to write, go back and figure out where you went wrong. This is advice I use constantly.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
My website http://www.courtneybreazile.com/
My blog www.courtneybreazile.com/blog
My twitter www.twitter.com/cbreazile
My facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=100000064481268&ref=name
My facebook fanpage http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Courtney-Breazile/160551880339?ref=ts
My goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/courtneybreazile
My amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002HDCKPQ
Courney’s Bio: I live and love in North Idaho. My wonderful family is complete with two beautiful daughters and my loving husband. I enjoy reading and writing as much as possible. I host a once monthly blog talk radio show for Total-e-Bound books called The e-world with Courtney Breazile on Total-e-Talk radio. I love the sunshine and the ocean, someday I will live where they are both in abundance. I am working on a paranormal series that will start in February with Blood Visions at Extasy Books. I am very excited about this series and have found it easier in some ways to write than the historicals I have written. I don't know what I will decide to write next, I just go where my muse sends me and love almost every minute of it.
Thanks Courtney for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion. I enjoyed having you here!
Join us next Wednesday when we give a FREE copy of Courtney's book, Reincardnated Death Wish! See you all then!
Lynn
This morning I’m here with the wonderful Tierney O’Malley. Please join me in welcoming her to XtraOrdinary Romance!
Welcome Tierney.
At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
It was two years ago when I realized that I really, really, wanted to see my name on a book cover.
What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
I have to say it was my English professor. She told me on numerous occasions that I write publishable essays and that I should try writing for magazines. Since I am addicted to romance novels, I decided to try writing contemporary romance for online publications.
How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract?
It was December of 2008 when I first received my acceptance letter from Cobblestone Press. I screamed and laughed a lot. I felt pure joy.
How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale?
Let me see. I sold four novellas to eXtasy Books, three novels to Red Rose Publishing. Two are part of a series. To Trust a Wicked Man sold to Cobblestone Press is my debut novella.
Tell me about your latest release. Please include if it is part of a series or a stand alone book.
Wow, I am so tempted to tell you about my latest and upcoming release. But I’m not going to be greedy so I’ll talk about my latest instead. Wicked Proposal is a stand alone book that came out September 2009. This books is about love, of course. :-) But the characters faced hurdles before they finally shared that priceless feeling. Imagine a hero who has to resort to doing something wicked just to be with the woman he loves and a heroine who nearly lost her life trying to show her courage and surrendering herself to the hero believing his intention. Lies, deceit, romance, hot sex, love. Yup. This book has it all.
What was your inspiration for this book?
:-) Books with perfect heroes and kick-ass heroines. Yup, they inspired me to create Wolf who took the deceiving route to win the heroine and Madeline, a simple flower shop owner who found her strength and courage at the perfect time.
I thought why create perfect characters? They must be flawless and ordinary. Characters that most readers would relate to.
How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
I don’t plan, outline or study my characters. When I write, I have the basic idea of what to write. So I have to say that I am a pantser. But, along with an idea, I do have a rough synopsis of the book. I like to know the conflict of the story, the basic facts about my characters, and how the book is going to end. So, am I a little of both?
How do you handle the editing/revision process?
I write whenever I find the time. It’s the same with the editing process/revision process. Lately, I’ve been using my timer to keep me going and not check my email every other ten minutes. :-)
You received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why?
Reading a glowing review is like pumping gasoline into an empty gas tank. It gives you more power, energy to face yet another grueling hour of writing and rewriting a story. I do appreciate reading reviews. I feel that they not only help boost sales, but also tell me that I have the skills to write and the time and effort I put in to finish a book is not a waste.
Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story?
Is coming up with a new idea for my next book counts as odd or unexpected? :-)
How much of yourself can we find in one of these books? Do you every make yourself a character?
Every heroine in all of my books possessed a part of me. I find that I could really step in their shoes if I knew what it was like to lose someone, to fear water, to be passionate about saving the forests, and how frustrating it was to misplace a pair of prescription glasses.
Did you do anything special after that first sale?
Not right away. My first book came out in April, we left for Europe in June. So I consider the trip as my way of celebrating my first sale.
How do you get your ideas for your stories? Do they come all at one or in bits and pieces over a period of time?
Coming up with an idea, I think is the easiest part of writing a book. All I have to do is listen to my children, people at work, news and I could come up with a handful of ideas.
Is there a message you want the readers to take from this book?
True love doesn’t come easy. But when true love comes, it is the sweetest and most romantic of all.
What’s your favorite scene? Most difficult? Why?
Oh, I so love this question. My favorite scene in this book was when Wolfe recited the line in Elizabeth Barret Brown’s poem How Do I love Thee. Oh so romantic. The most difficult scene would be when Madeline was drowning. How does one describe the feeling of not being able to breathe? What does one think when dying. Tough.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work? (List them all.)
My website: http://tierneyomalley.com/
Blog: http://wickedthornandroses.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://tierneyomalley.blogspot.com/
Twitter: TierneyOMalley
eXtasy Books: http://www.extasybooks.com/
Red Rose Publishing: http://www.redrosepublishing.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002D66HJ2
Fictionwise
Amazon Kindle
ARE (All Romance Ebooks)
Mobipocket
Tierney’s Bio: Tierney O’Malley began writing her first eBook two years ago when her youngest was in fifth grade. Today there are four eBooks available for purchase on her list. Her first precious eBooks include To Trust a Wicked Man, published by Cobblestone Press; Three Christmas Kisses, and Wicked Proposal, published by eXtasy Books. Ms. O’Malley lives with her husband and children in Seattle Washington, and is currently working on a new novel and sets of series she recently sold to Red Rose Publishing.
Ms. O’Malley is always excited to hear from readers. To leave your comments, questions or suggestions, you can reach her at http://tierneyomalley.com/
Thanks, Tierney for being my guest today...I had fun learning more about you!
Stop by next Wednesday when we give a copy of Tierney’s book, Wicked Proposal, away! See you all then.
Lynn
Hi everyone!
The winners of last week's drawings are:
Jambrea Jones' The Unseen Path is Billi Jean
Astrid Cooper's Starlight books is deidre_durance
Winners email me at your earliest convenience at lynncrain@cox.net and I'll get your ebooks to you right away!
Thanks for stopping by...see you next week!
Lynn
