Wednesday's Writer ~ @KayPhoenix #KayPhoenix #BorealisArdor

Today, I have the lovely Kay Phoenix with us. I have known Kay for a few years through our association with the Las Vegas Romance Writers. We were critique partners while I was still in the States and I still get to occasionally work with this wonderful author.

She is celebrating the release of her new book, Borealis Ardor, and I can’t be more happy for her. Please join me in extending a heartfelt welcome to this week’s Wednesday’s Writer.

How do we find out about you and your books?  Check my website at www.KayPhoenix.com for updates.  From there you can find links to my blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts. 

How many readers/fans contact you?  I tend to spend more time than I should on Facebook, so they can easily find me there or email me at KayPhoenix@yahoo.com.

Why did you decide to write romance novels?  About six years ago I took an online creative writing class from Gotham Writer’s Workshop and my instructor noticed a common thread of romance in my assignments and suggested I try a Romance Writing class.  I did and was hooked! 

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?  Lots!  There’s a saying “write what you know.”  Well, I don’t necessarily know any werewolves personally (that I’m aware of), but I have a wild imagination.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?  Humor is very important because I think it’s one common thread that crosses cultures and historical lines.  Humor brings a real-life quality to fiction because the saying is true “truth is stranger than fiction.”

Do you ever ask him/her for advice?  Yes, I recently asked my boyfriend about a scene that I was stuck on and he gave me a great (and humorous) suggestion which I used and expanded upon. 

Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?  I’m a member of my home RWA chapter (Las Vegas Romance Writers).  I’m also part of two critique groups, one that meets online and another than meets in person. 

Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?  The characters for sure!  My books have to be “cast” first before I can do anything else. 

 If you came with a warning label, what would it say?  “Do not place in temperatures higher than 95 degrees Fahrenheit.” (which means that I need to stay indoors almost all summer in Las Vegas.)

What is your secret guilty pleasure?  Candy Crush!  I should have never downloaded it. 

Leather or lace?  Lace

Black or red?    Black

Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton?   Cotton

Ocean or mountains?    Mountains

City life or country life?     City

Hunky heroes or average Joe?    Average Joe

Party life or quiet dinner for two?    Quiet dinner

Dogs or cats?     Dogs

I love pizza with _____.   Pineapple!

I'm always ready for _____.    An adventure!

When I'm alone, I _____. Love it!

You'd never be able to tell, but _____. I’m a nerd (well, maybe you can tell that).

If I could (fill in the blank) I'd _____.  Move, move to the Pacific Northwest!

I can never (fill in the blank) because _____. Get my house organized, I’m too OCD for my own good.  J

Dessert ~ Chocolate ice cream

City ~  New York, NY

Season ~  Fall

Type of hero ~  Underdog

Type of heroine ~   Nerdy

Buy Link:  https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/coming-soon/borealis-ardor-detail

Price:  $2.50 ($2.00 pre-order)

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Publisher:  www.MuseitUppublishing.com

Release Date:  February 7, 2014

Book Excerpt

The rows of standing gravestones stared defiantly back at me like pale faces in a crowded hospital ward, each eager for attention.  But I was focused on only one patient in particular.  I would find his gravestone in the last row, fifth from the side, according to the annoyingly cheery caretaker I had spoken to on the phone earlier in the day when I’d pulled over at a rest stop.

I took a breath and stepped into the eerie yet comforting stillness, taking the walking path that led down the left side.  I glanced at the stones along the way, reading their names aloud to myself in quiet acknowledgment of the frailty of life.  There were approximately twenty rows, each with about forty stones across.  Empty spots were scattered here and there, patiently awaiting their future occupants.

I cleared my throat lightly and wiped my moist eyes with my sleeve.  Soon, the last row was upon me.  I paused.

Not ten feet beyond the last row of stones was the forest’s edge, the trees standing tall like a row of stiff soldiers awaiting inspection.  The moon lit the cemetery in a silver glow, but the forest remained a dense, black, foreboding curtain.  I felt a trickle of fear run down my spine but bravely ignored it, turning right and trekking the remaining few steps to the fifth stone in from the side.

“Madeline E. Sturgis.  Beloved Wife and Mother.”

No, that wasn’t correct, there had to be a mistake.  No offense to Madeline, of course.  I stared blankly at the stone, confused for a moment before recalling that I hadn’t asked which ‘side’ the caretaker was referring to when he gave me directions.  Perhaps he was referring to the other side?  I squinted at the long row of stones stretched out in front of me and began to walk toward the opposite end, glancing at the names as I passed so I wouldn’t miss it.

There was a barely audible crunching sound in the woods to my left, causing me to start and stand perfectly still, head cocked to the side, listening like a rabbit.  My heart raced, pounding heavily inside my chest, and I felt cold to my bones.

Stupid, Lauren, stupid!   You shouldn’t have come here.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  It’s probably an animal.

I heard another light crunching sound in the trees, and a bird flew out suddenly, narrowly missing my head.  I caught my breath, bringing my hand up to my heart.  I breathed deeply for a minute, settling my nerves and letting my heart slow down before continuing.

I took the last few steps.

“You shouldn’t be here, Lauren.  Leave quickly.” The voice stopped me in my tracks.  It was David’s voice, in my head.  But, I shrugged it off and walked forward until I saw the new stone and the rectangle of earth in front of it that had noticeably less pine needles than the surrounding area.

I knelt beside it.

 “David Alan Wagner.  Beloved Son, Brother and Friend.”  The lines of the letters were etched deep and black, contrasting heavily against the light grey stone.  I gently lay the roses down and traced the letters with my finger.  There was a cross carved below the words.  I ran my hand along the entire edge of the top of the stone, feeling the rough edges in contrast to the freshly polished front and back.  I wondered how long the stone had been there.  Dad assured me he had taken care of the funeral expenses, and he must have made sure there was a rush order on the headstone.  There was a fresh bouquet of white roses lying at the base of the stone and it made me feel deeply saddened for his family, as well as for him.  As much as dad irritated the living hell out of me with his overprotective gestures, if I had to disappear forever and have him think I was dead, it would break my heart.  After we lost mom, we were all the family we had.

I loved David with my whole heart.  Even though we had only been together for two of the six months that he was assigned to me, I knew that he was the “one”.  I just knew it.  There was no explanation.  And, I was the “one” for him as well.  But, now he was gone, and it was unlikely that I would see him again, at least not any time soon.

I reached up to trace the “D” again and saw a strange light flash across the polished surface of the stone, which I realized with horror to be a set of headlights.

Who would be coming to a graveyard at this hour? Besides me of course? Teenagers with a Ouija board and bottle of Strawberry Hill wine in tow, perhaps?

I could take no chances.  I could have been followed.

Where can your readers find you?

www.kayphoenix.com

http://kayphoenix.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/KayPhoenixAuthor 

https://twitter.com/KayPhoenix_  

Bio:

     Author Kay Phoenix believes in the miraculous, transformative power of love.  She believes it is possible for the human heart to be reborn just as the mythological creature, the Phoenix, is able to rise from the ashes of its former self. 

     Ms. Phoenix is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada.  She serves on the board of the Las Vegas Romance Writers and is also a member of the Kiss of Death and Women’s Fiction chapters of Romance Writers of America.   

     Prior to writing, Kay was a Graphic Artist for 15 years, and holds a degree in Graphic Technology.  In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping and photography and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology.  She is also a member of the Las Vegas Artists Guild.

     Kay writes in the contemporary and paranormal romance categories, as well as non-fiction articles. 

Wednesday's Writer with Kay Dee Royal ~ @KayDeeRoyal #MIHAuthors

We're here today with the lovely Kay Dee Royal. Please join me in welcoming her.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

Savage Smoke is the 2^nd book in my LIIA (Lycan International Investigation Agency) series – Trevor wants his primal-mate back, but he’s afraid she’s in too deep with Smoke (notorious villain) and his pack. This is a paranormal erotic romance with a number of relationships intertwining throughout the series, it has a mystery/suspense element with the detective-like agencies involved. 

What can we expect from you in the future?

Book 3 in this series – Smoke-n-Bliss. Another series is bubbling to the surface…more shifters. Plus I have another story (Dragons, Fairies, Other Realms) unfinished (but close) started a few years ago…I believe the characters are tired of animated suspension *smiles*

Why did you decide to write romance novels?

That’s easy…because I love to read themJ

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

Of course there’s some of ‘me,’ but mostly it’s my wild imagination and maybe some from the people I know or read about or watch on television :)

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

I’ve always had an interest in writing, and wrote little stories, even kept detailed journals since my early teens. Then when I resigned from the corporate world, I took the plunge into the writing world and have never looked back. I initially took courses to write children’s books and with the encouragement of my instructor and also from my mentor, I submitted my first book to twenty-some publishers – and got rejections from all of them. I initially wanted to quit then…took months for me to pick up my pen.

But I’d already invested a lot of time, money, and effort into writing and was going to be damned if it would beat me. Yep…after picking myself up out of discouragement and dusting off despair, I went at writing like a full-blown steam engine.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

I wish I knew (LOL). I’ve only got a few books under my belt and they all took different lengths of time. This last one took the longest at 18 months…and I truly believe it’s because I fought with the villain – he was meant to die, but he had different thoughts on that action and stole my pen. As if I only owned that one pen, I couldn’t move forward with the story…until Smoke got his way and lived.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

Because I do more than write (edit, blog, promote, etc.), I do go with the flow, making a daily ‘to do’ priority list…trying to set a writing schedule is the fastest way to stop me from writing anything – as much as I’d like more discipline;)

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

A quick fifteen – Meet in the Middle Plotting event (thanks to Claudia Suzanne!). Then I write up character sketches and begin any early research required. I like to get at least the first few pages written so I know the characters beginning and can use ‘what if’ scenarios to keep the flow of the story moving.

Guess I’m really a bit of a panster ;)

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Spend time with my grandchildren – nothing gives me more of a reason for ‘being’ than they do;)

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult to write?

Love and lust scenes are part of the genre…open door policy ;) I’m always trying to hone my craft and these scenes are part of it. My goal is to write sexy scenes that can be explicit, sensual, and yet honor the characters and plot of their story. Those scenes come fast for me…I write everything down as it flows…then, I go back through and revise. I don’t find them difficult to write, but I know there’s always room for improvement ;)

What does your husband think of your writing?

My DH has always been supportive of my work. Under another name I write young adult…and I believe he likes that genre best for me *smiles* But, he knows how much I love writing erotic romance, so he takes me to dinner on book release day in celebrationJ

Do you ever ask him/her for advice?

No, never…well, unless it has to do with research of locations. My locations are fairly rustic and he’s familiar with a number of the locations in my books.

Leather or lace? Denim

Black or red? Black

Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton? Cotton – lots of thread count

Ocean or mountains? Mountains

City life or country life? Definitely country

Hunky heroes or average Joe? It’s my fantasy, right?…hunky heroes

Party life or quiet dinner for two? Quiet dinner for two…picnic is best.

Dogs or cats? I love them both.

Dessert ~ Crème Brulee

City ~ None – a rural girl

Season ~ Fall

Type of hero ~ Alpha-type, hard to show emotion, loyal

Type of heroine ~ Strong, courageous, stands up for her beliefs

Excerpt

They all shifted to human-form, standing in the shelter of the trees under the cloud cover and snow filtered mid-morning light. No movement, no sound, nothing came from Smoke’s pack site. With Chance pointing at each, Dir, Damen, and Trevor, to take a different direction, they dispersed.

Any other time Trevor might have enjoyed running naked in the snow, but today his heart stuck in his throat, tremors of need waded through him and it disgusted him. Fine hairs of Lindsey’s arousal flitted in the air and struck him like a baseball bat to the head. It lured him on to a snow-covered deck. Trevor opened the door of a small cabin. Lindsey’s scent poured over him. He stood paralyzed. Damen shoved past him.

“Is it your primal-mate’s scent in this room?” Damen stomped around, looking through drawers and across tables. “Well, it’s everywhere if it is.”

Trevor struggled, wanting to smash Damen’s face in and not understanding why. He stepped into the room. Her scent blasted against him, touching, spiraling from every direction. He stopped in the center of the room and instantly grew hard for her.

“Arousal isn’t going to get her back,” Damen shot. Chance walked in right then or Trevor would have nailed Damen. Chance glared from one to the other, gaze dropping to notice Trevor’s state.

“What’d you find in here? Anything useful?” Chance asked.

“Only that this must have been where they kept Lindsey. Her fragrance fills the place,” Trevor spat. Anyone with half a nose could pick up the arousal interspersed in Lindsey’s scent.

“Well, it just might be her smell that carries us to where everyone went. For some reason, it’s the only one uncloaked. You don’t suppose she ran off before the others?” Chance looked thoughtful. “It’d explain why her scent is the only one we can pick up.”

Dir walked in just then. “Lindsey’s trace loops around this cabin and goes off into the forest from the backside. There’s so much snowfall, tracks are pretty much covered. But, I think there’s enough of her aroma to hold us on the trail.”

“You don’t think this is a trap, do you?” Damen stared at Chance, then at Trevor.

Trevor still wanted to punch him.

“Her scent outside is at least a day old, if not longer. Human female scents in the big building are only hours old. They saturate the inside, but there’s nothing outside. So, I’m betting they used the camouflage drug, Total Eclipse, on them,” Dir stated.

“I took in most of the perimeter. Saw no one, but I caught Lindsey’s tang as well,” Chance added. “I say we go wolf and follow it. But no pack-communication. None. Is that clear?”

“Gotcha,” Dir answered. He moved away from the door and everyone filed out of the cabin.

Trevor couldn’t wait to get out and go wolf-form to hide his arousal. This capture would be the hardest for him and yet the most wanted. He needed to know which side of the fence Lindsey would choose so he could finally move on. Stagnated was a bitch.

Where can your readers find you? )

Website

FB

Twitter

GoodReads

Muse It Up Publishing

Amazon Author Page

Blog

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online? Twitter

Kay Dee Royal writes paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary erotic romance—maybe because it's also her favorite genres to read! She pens tales with wild, rugged heroes and strong, intelligent heroines. She'll give them both a few shadowy secrets, making her stories intriguing and fun. She resides in Southern Michigan with her family (her dog, her cats, her caged husband... you get the idea). You can find the latest on her titles from her publisher, MuseItHot.

Wednesday's Writer with Lorrie Struiff

We’re here today with the fantastic, Lorrie Struiff. She’s here to answer a few of our questions.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

A Heap of Trouble is a western romance/action/mystery/humor, so yes, I’d say it crosses over a few genres.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m working on a 10k word, each story, of a series titled The COD Club. (Call on the Dead.)  It’s a humor series of a woman who can talk to spirits. The first one is available now.

How do we find out about you and your books?

Go to my blog under published works.  http://lorriejuly.blogspot.com/

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

None, all come from my imagination. Well, except maybe forWinnie from the COD Club. I think she is my alter ego. Lol.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on how much time I have to devote to the book. Usually a full book will take me under a year. A short story, about three months.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I definitely go with the flow of the time I have. I do write every day, but some days I may not be working on my story. I critique for others, research, comment on blogs and promo. Authors will know what I mean. Lol.

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

I’m strictly a pantster. I mull the story over in my head for a week or so then hit the keyboard.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Go to dinner with friends, watch TV, read my Kindle books.

What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?

The story and the characters I’ve created in my head. When I feel I’m onto something “hot,” or something “different,” I can’t wait to hit the keyboard.

How do you come up with ideas?

Most times I think of characters first. I like to take a few unusal characters, throw them together, mix well, and see what sort of trouble I can get them into. In A Heap of Trouble, I threw a western sheriff and a monkey together. And of course a love interest for the handsome sheriff.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?

Oh yes. No matter the tension of the story, we all need a giggle break. It makes your characters human.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult to write?

I like romance scenes in novels. In Gypsy Blood I wrote a fairly graphic scene. In Heap of Trouble, I wrote for all ages. So, it depends on the story I’m writing at the time and where the characters lead me.

What do you think of critique groups in general?

If you find a good one, I think they are the best friends of an author. I take part in two. My home group and Critique Circle online. They have helped me beyond belief.

How many books have you written, how many have been published?

This is sort of weird. I started with short stories, received many rejections. When my first one was accepted, all that I wrote after the first have been accepted. Lucky, I guess, or I learned how to write better. Hmm. I think it’s probably the later.

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

Sure, I download it on my Kindle. I may not read it, but it makes me feel like an author.

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.

Nelson DeMille and Nora Roberts. I have a wide reading range.

Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

Gypsy Blood is my favorite. Rita Muldova, my Roma police detective, is my favorite heroine.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

If a reader enjoys the story it gives me great satisfaction.

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

The twists and turns of the plot.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

I’d hate to find out. Lol. Writing keeps me off the street corners at night. Okay, I’m kidding. I’d probably be reading.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?

Either a sigh of satisfaction or a bunch of giggles.

 Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?

Books of course,  food that make your taste buds tingle, and handbags. I have a thing for purses.

What is your secret guilty pleasure?

Snacking at night while watching TV. I’m bad.

How about answering a few quickies for us:

Black or red? Neither. I’m a jeans and sweatshirt person.

Ocean or mountains? Oh, give me the mountains. A little cabin and a computer. I’d be a happy camper.

City life or country life? Country life. I like to see the stars at night.

I'm always ready for liver and onions. Yum.

You'd never be able to tell, but I’m shy.

Dessert ~ Cheese  cake

City ~ Prescott, Arizona

Season ~ Spring

Type of hero ~ Intellectual hunk

Type of heroine ~ Sassy, bold

Where can your readers find you?

Blog  

Facebook

Amazon Author Page       

Book Excerpt

            Saturday afternoon, the day of the social, Cole sat at his desk and cut his old leather belt with his Bowie knife to make a soft collar for Beggar. He glanced at the varmint perched near the window and shook his finger at him. “Don’t you go givin’ me that hangdog look. This one ain’t gonna hurt like the other. ‘Sides, all critters gotta be tied. Can’t go breakin’ my own rules and expect other folks to follow ‘em.” He tested the makeshift collar and the twelve-foot rawhide strip he had found to loop around his wrist and tied it to the small buckle. “Now get on over here. Let’s try this on.” 

            Beggar chattered and shook his head.

             “Well, I can shut you up in an empty room upstairs, close the windows and lock the door, leave you home. Cole stood and brushed off his white Sunday-go-to-meeting shirt. He checked his polished boots and smoothed his pants. Crossing his arms, he tapped a beat on the floorboards with the toe of his boot. “Well? What’s it gonna be?”

            Beggar looked up the stairs, back at Cole, then shuffled across the floor like a man going to his own hanging. He eased up on the desk.

            Cole held back a laugh and fastened the collar. “See, nice and soft.” He stared the critter in the eyes. “And if you wet on me again, I’ll drown you in the creek behind the church. Understand?” He slid his wrist through the rawhide loop. Beggar huffed and crawled up onto Cole’s shoulder.

            The Smithy had delivered a high-stepping filly hitched to a surrey with a shade top. It was three o’clock and near time to fetch Mattie. Spending the day with that pretty gal put a smile on his face, and his mouth watered at the thought of all the food she’d be packing in the basket.

            As they passed the hat peg, Beggar snatched the Stetson and rammed it backward onto Cole’s head. Cole plucked off his hat and set it on straight.

            He walked the filly the short distance to the mercantile. As he helped Mattie into the surrey, the hem of her yellow dress rode up a few inches and he caught another peek at her ankle and at least three inches of her leg. His heart fluttered. “Ah, you look mighty fetching today, Miss Mattie.” And she did in that frilly dress and her hair piled atop her head in them little curls. When she smiled at him, his stomach lurched along with his heart. 

            “Thank you, Cole, and don’t be so formal. Just Mattie will do.” Beggar, tied to the armrest of the backseat, crawled over the front seat and onto her lap.

            He hefted Mattie’s heavy picnic basket onto the back seat. “Get off her, Beggar.” Cole pulled at the rawhide. “You’ll get her all mussy.”

            “Oh, he’s fine.” Mattie laughed. “He just wants to snuggle, see?” Beggar curled on her lap. She ran her delicate fingers around the leather. “What a wonderful idea making this comfortable collar and rope for him. You can keep this cute little imp in check.”

            Beggar looked up at Mattie, blinked, then jumped off her lap and into the back. He flopped next to the huge picnic basket.

            Cole beamed at the compliment and snapped the reins.

            Once out of town and on the dirt trail, Cole had a hard time keeping his eyes forward. He wanted to count every freckle on her pretty face.

            The bright sun reflected off the smooth stones along the side of the trail. The steady clip-clop of the horse’s hoofs pounded the dirt and sent small puffs of dust in the air. Mattie’s rose scent tantalized his senses. Every so often, it would waft over to his side, caught on the hint of an intermittent breeze. The carriage springs creaked beneath them and birds warbled in the trees. He sighed and hoped this day with Mattie would be perfect.

Amazon Buy Link

Price:  Kindle price $5.50

Genre:  Western romance/action/mystery/humor

Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing

Lorrie's Bio: Lorrie lives in West Mifflin, PA, thirty minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. She lives at home with her favorite toy—a computer.

 Once a gold medalist teacher/manager for a big-name ballroom dance studio she has retired and now enjoys the quiet life of writing and watching TV. But she loves to have lunches with local writers to keep abreast of the challenging world of publishing.

Lorrie writes in many genres so you never know what she will come out with next. She never wants to bore her readers and enjoys the thrill of entertaining them by writing a good story.

She would love to hear from her fans at struiff@msn.com. Please put “reader” in the subject line. Thank you for choosing my book.

An Interview with Michelle Pickett

Today, I have the wonderful Michelle Pickett to tell me about her latest release, Concilium. Please join me in welcoming her to my blog.

Please tell us about your latest book.

Concilium is an urban fantasy romance.  It centers on a young woman named Les who stumbles across and ancient secret, although she doesn't realize it.  The people keeping the secret think Les knows about them and aren't too happy, so they set out to kill her.  The Concilium is a secret society sworn to protect humans and they send a group to guard Les.

What can we expect from you in the future?

Concilium: The Departure, the sequel to Concilium, releases in November.  And my debut young adult novel PODs releases in paperback June 4, 2013 (my son's 12^th birthday) through Spencer Hill Press.

How do we find out about you and your books?

My website has a section on all my writing and my blog has information about upcoming releases and news on giveaways and things like that.

How can readers contact you?

My website, blog, facebook, email, goodreads, linkedin, I'm all over the web.  But the best way to contact me is through email.  I try to answer every email and blog comment I get.  If you don't get an answer it's because I didn't get your email, so please send it again.

I LOVE to hear from readers and other authors!

Links and Contact Information:

Website:                    www.Michelle-Pickett.com

Email:                        Michelle@Michelle-Pickett.com

Blog:                           www.Michelle-Pickett.com/blog

Facebook:                 www.Facebook.com/michellepickettauthor

Twitter:                     http://www.twitter.com/michelle_kp

Goodreads:               http://goodreads.com/michelle-pickett

Trailer:                      http://youtu.be/dxLvVQ9s7u4

Linked In:                 http://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepickett

Book:                         htttp://www.conciliumbooks.com 

PODs:                        http://www.site.spencerhillpress.com/PODs.html 

How many readers/fans contact you?

Before Concilium released I'd get two or three emails a week from people telling me they were excited for PODs to come out or Concilium. 

Since Concilium's release that number has gone up a little, but it hasn't been out very long yet.  I'm hoping to hear from more people.  I'd love to get feedback and know what they liked and didn't like so I know what to focus on in future books.

Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?

Yes, they are very humbling. I can't believe I have fans. I don't think of myself as someone that would.

Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

Yes.  A woman wrote and said—this is a direct quote—"*happy dancin'* I finally have Concilium!!! The wait is over:) Thank you." That made my day.

What does your husband/wife think of your writing? Do you ever ask him/her for advice?

My husband is very supportive of my writing, all my family is.  Yes, I ask him for advice a lot.  I was having trouble with a section in one of my books and I was telling him about it.  I left to run some errands and when I came home he had two notebook pages (frong and back) full of notes for me to read over.  I ended up using part of one his ideas and it fit in perfectly with the rest of the story.

Fill in the blank favorites - Dessert. City. Season. Type of hero. Type of heroine.

Anything chocolate. Magnolia, TX.  Fall.  Flawed. Strong.

What do you think of critique groups in general?

I've never used one.  I hear they can be quite helpful.  When I started writing Concilium I didn't know things like Beta readers and critique groups existed.  I just sat down and wrote.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I hope I'm still writing and being published.  But if my work isn't published I'll be disappointed—who wouldn't be—I'll still be writing because I love it.  It's calming to me.

How many books have you written, how many have been published?

I'm finishing up my eighth book now.  So far I have contracts for three of them. 

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

I do read it and nit-pick at all the things I wish I would have changed.  I don't buy it simply because the publisher gives me a copy. Lol!

What book for you has been the easiest to write?  The hardest?  The most fun?

PODs was the easiest to write.  I think because it was my third book and I was starting to feel more comfortable in my writing and was finding my voice.  It was also the most fun.  I mean, zombies…come on.  Who doesn't have fun when there are zombies around!

The Concilium series books were the hardest.  They were my first and I agonized over getting them *Perfect,* which, of course, they never will be.  We are imperfect people.  So I guess I'd have to say the actual writing part wasn't the hardest, but the editing and rewriting was.

Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

Wow, that's a hard one.  I think it differs for each writer.  For me the story comes first.

Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

A little of both, I think.  Characters definitely take on their own personality as I write.  For example, in Concilium I had originally pictured Leslee as a shy, mousey, introvert.  That is SO not how she presented herself.  So I changed my character sketch to fit her emerging personality.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

I'm going to tell you about my most rewarding day.  It was when my son came home and said he wanted me to go to his school's career day and talk to his class about what I do.  There was nothing better than that.  Knowing you've made your family proud. The feel was indescribable.

Michelle's Bio

Michelle has been an avid reader since a young child.  She began writing for personal enjoyment in college, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting.  Deciding sitting in a cubical all day was her form of cruel and unusual punishment, she decided to do what she really wanted to—share her passion for reading and writing with others.

She wrote her debut novel Concilium in 2010.  It was released July of 2012 by MuseItUp Publishing.  The sequel, Concilium: The Departure will also be published by MuseItUp Publishing with scheduled release date of November 2012. 

Her Debut young adult novel, PODs, will be published by Spencer Hill Press and is scheduled for release in paperback June 4^th, 2013.

Michelle was born and raised in Michigan.  She now resides in a small community outside Houston, Texas with her incredibly supportive husband, four wonderful children, a 125-pound lap dog, a very grumpy cockatiel and a cat that thinks she's queen.

She writes adult and young adult Sci/Fi and urban fantasy romance.

Concilium Blurb

Leslee hit a strange animal with her car.  Now she’s marked for death. 

It was a simple car accident – the animal didn’t even die – but it drew the attention of the Cruor Imbibo. Driven by their insatiable need to feed, the secret society of Imbibo has devoured the dregs of civilization for centuries.  Afraid Leslee will expose them, and put an end to their meal ticket, the 

Imbibo want her dead.

The Concilium is Leslee's only protection. Guardian of the ancient secret and the protector of humans, the Concilium fights to control the Imbibo and end their feeding frenzy. Miller works for the Concilium. Keeping Leslee alive is his next assignment.

Now Leslee is on the run, and the only thing between her flesh and the snapping jaws of the Imbibo is Miller. He and Leslee quickly form a bond, but will falling in love make Miller’s job more difficult? Because if he fails, Leslee will be next on the Imbibo menu.

The Cruor Imbibo are coming, and they're coming for Leslee.

Excerpt

Tired of them talking as if I wasn’t there, I did what they wanted and went inside. I thought about locking Miller out. But I didn’t. It wasn’t because I wanted to spend the evening alone with him like we had spent that afternoon. It wasn’t...

Mostly.

I sank deep into the cushions of my couch and waited for them to finish their work. Grabbing the remote, I flipped on the television, surfing the channels. Nothing was on. More than two hundred channels on the stupid thing, and nothing worth watching. Irritated at the television, at Miller, at the whole situation, I hurled the remote against the door.

“Crap,” I muttered when it fell to the floor in pieces.

“I think you killed it,” I heard Miller say behind me.

My stomach did a little flip-flop, and I cursed it silently. “Yep, I certainly put it in its place. It won’t be talking back to me again. I wish I could do the same with you.”

His lips pursed into what almost looked like a grin. “You think you’re the one to put me in my place, Leslee? You, just a slip of a girl? I doubt it.”

“Don’t mock me, Miller. I meant that I’d like to throw you across the room,” I snapped. “I just might surprise you. And I’m not a ‘girl.’ Girls go shopping at the mall for flip-flops and lip gloss. And, for the last dang time, my name is Les!” I walked around him, my shoulder brushing slightly against his arm. As I caught the faintest whiff of his cologne, not only did my stomach do a flip-flop, but my whole insides swirled out of place.

What is it with this man?

I barely knew him. In fact, the only thing I did know was his first name. At least, I thought it was his first name. What was this thing I had going on? A schoolgirl crush? I was twenty-five, a little old for crushes. And besides, Miller wasn’t the type of man I was attracted to. I didn’t go for the mercenary, guns-and-ammo type. I enjoyed the company of well-read college graduates who had stable jobs and good heads on their shoulders.

Holy crap, I sound like a snob! A stable man with a stable job. What a joke.

I secretly wanted the bad boy. What woman didn’t? Miller didn’t seem to have one stable thing about him. But he smelled so good and looked beyond gorgeous standing in my living room with his hair, mussed from running his fingers through it, falling over his forehead.

Yeah, I was doomed.

I trudged into the laundry room and grabbed a broom and dustpan. When I walked back to the living room, Miller was picking up pieces of the demolished remote.

“Don’t. It’s my mess, and I’ll clean it up,” I said harshly.

“Fine.” He dropped the pieces, and they clattered against the wood floor. “Suit yourself.” He walked over and eased himself down on the chair across from the couch. “And you’re right. You did sound like a snob, and you should find yourself a nice stable guy and have a nice stable life, with perfectly stable kids. Bad boys are called bad for a reason.”

I froze. “Stop it. How are you able to do that?”

“It’s a bad-boy thing.” He flipped on the television. “Sure wish I had a remote. I forgot how tedious it is to channel surf without one.”

Buy Links:       

MuseItUp Publishing

And

Amazon.com

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