Today I’d
like to welcome a fabulous debut author, Molly McLain. Molly and I met in our
common critique group and she’s brought many new insights with her to the
group. She’s happy, she’s bubbly and like I said, a new author. And she's giving things away! She wanted to let me know that she's giving away some gift certificates and some copies of her ebooks...don't forget to sign up with the rafflecopter at the bottom of her interview!
Her debut book
Can’t Shake You was published this week and I
can’t be more happy for her. Join me in welcoming her to Wednesday’s Writer.
Welcome, Molly!
Tell us
about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other
genres? If so, what are they? My debut novel, Can’t Shake You, is a steamy, contemporary
romance, set in the small town of River Bend, Nebraska. It’s slightly new
adult-ish, but not intentionally so. I’ve had a good response from both adult
romance readers and those who prefer new adult, as well.
What can
we expect from you in the future? Can’t Shake You (CSY) is the first book in the River Bend
series. Right now, I have four more books planned (there may be more), following
different characters from the quaint, but sexy little town. Can’t Hold Back
will be out, probably in April, and Can’t Get Enough sometime in the summer.
How do we
find out about you and your books? My website is the most static place to check out what’s
going on with me and my books, but I’m really all over the place. If you’re
looking for the real scoop on my books, Goodreads is the place to be. Can’t
Shake You has lots of awesome (and a couple not so awesome) reviews, straight
from the readers’ perspective.
How many
readers/fans contact you? I’m always up for chatting with readers and fans on
Facebook or via email at mollymclain@live.com.
Do your
fans' comments and letters influence you in any way? I haven’t received
any fan mail yet, but fans’ comments in their reviews definitely make me smile.
I love hearing about how the book made them feel and I love it even more when
they pinpoint a certain scene that did a little something special for them.
Do you
have a favorite comment or question from a reader? Not so much a
favorite comment, but I really like the reviews that include images and gifs of
how the reader envisions the characters or certain scenes. It’s fun to see the
story through someone else’s eyes. And, of course, my favorite question is
‘when’s the next book coming out?’. Music to an author’s ears.
Why did
you decide to write romance novels? I love love and relationships. Plain and simple. I can’t
really explain it beyond that, ya know?
How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? I’m sharp-tongued
in real life, just like my characters are. As far as life experiences, I
haven’t intentionally written something with my own life in mind, but I know
it’s in everything I write, in some shape or form. For example, I don’t have a
good relationship with my dad and both Carissa and Josh have strained ones with
their fathers. Our situations are completely different, but the emotions are
similar.
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book? How fast I write
depends on how passionate I am about a story. I can whip out a draft pretty
quickly if I’m “feeling it”, but then I always slow down when it comes to
revisions. I like to mull over things a bit and really bond with the characters
before I add layers to them. You don’t even want to know how long it took me to
write Can’t Shake You. Suffice to say, I know them quite well.
Do you
have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow? Life is far too
crazy for a schedule, but I dream of having one someday. lol
Where do
you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...? I dig in and write
as much as I can before I hit a roadblock. Then I sit down and figure out how
to get over the hump and through the next bit of the story. Usually this
results in a pretty decent outline. I don’t plot, per se, but I do have a
general vision for where the story is going. What happens along the way is
almost always just as much a surprise to me as it is for my poor characters.
What about
your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there
constant interruptions? My family is great about giving me plenty of writing time
on the weekends, but during the week it’s a crapshoot. Mostly it’s the kids
arguing amongst each other that is the most intrusive, so thank goodness for
headphones, iTunes, and Youtube!
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries? Read, read, read.
I don’t even watch TV anymore. My TBR pile doesn’t allow it. Oh, and I like
camping. With books, of course.
What truly
motivates you in general? In your writing? I like to succeed
and I’m always looking ahead to ‘what next’. I also like to do things differently
than everyone else, at least with my family and friends. I live in a really
tiny, culturally-challenged town where most people don’t even read, let alone
write. When they find out I’m a writer, the expressions on their faces is
priceless. I love those moments. That might make me sound a bit uppity, but I’m
definitely not—I think it’s more my enjoyment of their surprise at something
unexpected. I hope my books bring about similar reactions.
How do you
come up with ideas? Music is, by far, my biggest inspiration. And I have
eclectic taste, so some of my ideas are pretty out there! lol
Do you
feel humor is important in fiction and why?
Humor is important in life, so absolutely
it’s important in books, including fiction. My books are about true-to-life
characters, where not everything is perfect or serious. Also, I enjoy a good
laugh when I read, so it’s natural I’d write with a similar preference.
What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult
to write? Love
the steamy scenes. Can’t get enough of them. Definitely find them hard to
write. I can generally picture them well (little porn scenes playing in my mind,
bow chicka wow wow), but getting them down is never that easy. I have to take
one sense at a time and layer it in throughout a scene that usually starts out
as ol’ Tab A and Slot B. Hopefully the mish-mash at the end is something more
workable. I would love to write even more sensual than I do and I think that’ll
come in time.
What kind
of research do you do? I’m all about visual research. As in eye candy images on
Pinterest. Yummy!
Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre? I’d love to put
out a new adult series. My fall release, Fly, was intended to be a NA book, but
I’m not so sure anymore. At any rate, I absolutely heart Cora Carmack and I’d
love to write something like her Losing It and Faking It books someday.
What does your husband/wife/significant other think of your writing? All my husband
cares about is when I’m going to get paid. He fails to grasp the concept that I
enjoy writing and would do it for free. He also has his moments of impatience
with the amount of time I spend writing, but since Can’t Shake You started
racking up the reviews—and now sales—he’s definitely more forgiving. lol
Do you ever ask him/her for advice? Yep. I always try to disguise it in a subtle question and
he always sees through me. I mean, come on, do husbands and wives not partake
in dinnertime conversation about how male orgasms feel? And why is it not
believable that I would want to know how a guy might feel walking on his crush
giving his best friend a BJ? J Yeah, he
thinks I’m crazy and probably I am a little, but he married me and, far as I’m
concerned, I get to ask all the bizarro questions I want. Tough luck, Mr.
M—you’re stuck with me.
What are
some of your favorite things to do? Buy books, browse at B&N, drink caramel macchiatos,
sing in the car, nosh on jellybeans and fountain soda…oh, and roadtrip!
Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
I have about 10 favorite authors and books. J
Are you a
member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.? I just joined a
formal crit group at the beginning of the year and I’m part of an informal
bunch of CPs, as well. No organized author groups just yet. I’m still weighing
the benefits.
What do
you think of critique groups in general?
They’re priceless. With CP groups, you really
get to know each other’s style and that’s always helpful when critting. A
certain trust tends to build too and I think it gets easier as you go along, to
give better, more honest feedback and ultimately that’s what you want. It makes
your writing so much stronger.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
On an Alaska cruise, sipping prickly pear
margaritas. Still writing books.
After
you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or
read it? Yep.
I bought a copy of my own book, because I had this crazy fear that my preview
version was somehow different than the version my readers were getting. Like,
the formatting was jacked up or something. All was well and, um, I may have
stopped and read a steamy scene or two while I checked it over. J
List two
authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing. Jill Shalvis and
Jaci Burton are two of my favorite authors right now.
Which
comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting? Characters and a
little bit of their story simultaneously. Big gaps to fill in after that.
Are you in
control of your characters or do they control you? Both. Sometimes
they get out of hand, so just hogtie them. Or better yet, not give them sex.
That usually brings them back around to my way of thinking.
Are there
any words of encouragement for unpublished writers? Keep writing!
Don’t ever give up, if it’s something you love. Writing is hard for all
writers, even those who’ve been writing for decades. I wish I could say it gets
easier, but that’s not always a given. My own comfort waxes and wanes from day
to day. Even on bad “I suck” days, power up your computer or grab a pad of
paper…and write. Something. Anything. Or read. Just feed your inner writer…as
often as you can.
If you
were a tool, what would people use you to do?
*snerk* What’s the maturity level of this
blog again?
Picture yourself as a store. Considering your
personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there? Um, I’d probably
be a dollar store or a megastore like Walmart, where you can buy a little bit
of everything…cheap.
What is your secret guilty
pleasure? Tumblr
and Pinterest. Typically the NSFW stuff. J
If you were stranded on a
tropical island, who would it be with? You can choose any living, deceased or
mythical figure. OMG, I just had a palpitation. Channing Tatum, for sure. Or…Clay
Matthews. No, no…Adam Levine. Hmm, I really like Randy Orton’s tattoos. They’d
keep me busy for a while. Or at least my tongue…
If you were on a reality show, what one would it be? A competition of
some kind, probably cooking. And you’d better believe, I’d win. Or they’d have
to drag me out, kicking and trash talkin’.
Leather or
lace? Lace
Black or
red? Red
Satin
sheets or Egyptian cotton? Cotton
Ocean or
mountains? Ocean
City life
or country life? Country
Hunky
heroes or average Joe? Hunky heroes
Party life
or quiet dinner for two? Quiet dinner
Dogs or
cats? Cats
I love
pizza with black and green olives.
I'm always
ready for a good book.
When I'm
alone, I write, write, write.
You'd
never be able to tell, but I’m the most impatient person
I know.
If I could
make a living writing books, I’d quit my day job.
Dessert ~ Cheesecake
Season ~ Fall
Type of
hero ~ A vulnerable, hunky alpha
Type of
heroine ~ A sassy, take-no-shit woman
Price: $3.99
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: 2/22/14
Book Excerpt
They really needed to talk,
to figure out what the heck was going on with them, but Carissa could see the
exhaustion in Josh’s eyes. That conversation was far too deep for tonight,
given the day he’d had. And considering they’d waited three years for this,
another day wouldn’t kill them.
“I’m sorry you had to go
through what you did today,” she said as she led him into his bedroom. When she
got him close to the bed, she turned and went to work, loosening his belt.
“You were confident I’d be
home tonight and not tossed into lock-up.” He dropped his chin to his chest and
watched her unfasten his button and then his zipper.
“You didn’t do anything
wrong. I knew Mark would see that.” She tipped her head back and looked up at
him, as she guided his shirt up and nudged him to finish. He whipped it off and
dropped it to the floor and she held her breath at the powerful, unrelenting
beauty of his body.
He clenched his jaw and held
her gaze. “I’ve done plenty wrong, babe.”
She shook her head
immediately. “This isn’t wrong.”
“It’s not right.”
“By whose standards? Reed’s?
Maddie’s?” Dropping to her knees, she undid the laces of his boots, helped him
out of them, and removed his socks. When she stood again, she tucked her
fingers into the waistband of his jeans and gave a frustrated tug, her eyes
pleading up to him. “This is about us,
Josh. You and me. And being here for you
right now? It’s the rightest thing I’ve done in a long time.”
His Adam’s apple bobbled as
he swallowed and the conflict brewing in his eyes paralleled the riot of
emotions she felt whirling in her chest. Every rational part of her screamed
that she was getting in over her head, but she’d been living safely for far too
long. It was time to jump in and start taking chances again. For herself. For
them.
Biting her lip, she slid her
hands back and into his jeans, her fingers gliding over the hard, sculpted
curve of his butt, still covered in black cotton boxer briefs. Guiding the
denim over his hips and then completely off, she marveled again at the hard,
sinewy lines of his body. Strong, taut thighs, perfectly muscled calves and
just the right amount of dark, crisp hair. When she dragged her fingers along
the bisecting lines of his abs, she felt him flinch and shiver, muscles
jumping.
“What are you doing?” he
croaked, his eyes turning dark and stormy.
“I’m touching you.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s how we
communicate best.” She edged closer and kissed his chest, loving the light
dusting of hair there and the scent of him, so real and masculine. She ran her
hands over his pecs and down his arms, so thick and solid. She hadn’t intended
to seduce him, but there was something innately erotic about undressing a
man…undressing him. The prod of a
growing erection against her belly only added to the arousal low in her pelvis.
“What are you trying to tell
me?” he rasped, his voice tight and brusque.
She wet her lips and took in
a careful breath. Being completely open on a non-physical level was still new
to both of them. But she wanted to tell him. Didn’t want to hide anymore. “That
I care,” she admitted. “That I’m not going to let you go through this alone. Times
got tough for me and you held me up. I can’t make this go away, but I can be
here. I can give you a safe place to fall.”
He pushed a hand back into
her hair. “I really like it when you touch me,” he whispered.
So did she. And it scared
the hell out of her just how much.
Where can your readers find you?
Website: http://www.mollymclain.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollymclainauthor
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7779196.Molly_McLain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MollyMcLain
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/mollyjmclain/
Where’s your favorite place to hang out online? Facebook, for
sure. I tweet and blog here and there, but I’m a bonafide FB addict.
Bio
Molly McLain has lived in
Northern Wisconsin all of her life. She’s a proud fan of the Green Bay Packers,
fountain soda, angsty rock ballads, and jellybeans. She also loves camping and
binging on reality TV, but her favorite vice of all is road tripping with the
radio cranked. Someday, she hopes to travel the country with her husband and
her laptop, because nothing gets the plot bunnies hopping like the wind blowing
through her hair.
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