Destiny Calling ~ An Interview with Maureen L. Bonatch ~ @mbonatch #amreading #NewAdult

Hi Everyone!

Let’s welcome author Maureen L. Bonatch to XtraOrdinary Romance. She’s going to tell us all about her new release Destiny Calling as well as a little bit about herself.

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

Destiny Calling is the first of the Enchantlings series. The story follows Hope as she struggles to accept the extraordinary about herself and find the family she never knew. It’s laced with humor and light suspense. It is a Paranormal with Romantic elements that cross over into New Adult.

What were you doing the last time you laughed out loud?

Today when I was reading Chuck Wendig’s blog about the Holiday Hellidays. I find him hilarious.

What is your favorite curse word? Why?

Currently? Don’t laugh. Dag-nabbit! I’m not even sure how to spell it but it’s my current go to word. You have to consider that I’ve never been one to curse a lot and try to curb it even more around my 13 year olds. When they were younger, I tended to use ‘tarter sauce’, courtesy of Sponge Bob.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always considered myself a writer, because I’ve always been writing something. Short stories, journaling, you name it. But I didn’t consider myself an ‘author’ until my first full book was published. 

What inspired you to write that first book? Why?

It depends on how you define ‘first book’. My first book, was more of an ongoing work in progress short-story when I was in Junior high, but I don’t think you’re referring to that. My first published book was for a writing assignment in a class I was taking and it was inspired by one of my favorite television shows, Charmed.

Leather or lace? Lace

Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton? Egyptian 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 for two

Dogs or cats? Dogs

Favorite dessert? Chocolate torte

Favorite city? Pittsburgh

Favorite season? Fall

I love pizza with green peppers and onions.

I'm always ready for dancing.

When I'm alone, I write.

You'd never be able to tell, but I’m a back seat biker girl.

If I could find a way to clone myself, I'd finally get caught up.

I can never quit writing because writing brings me peace.

Buy Links: Amazon Kindle   Amazon Paperback  The Wild Rose Press

Price: $5.99

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: December 22, 2014

Log line

Hope doesn’t know if the man she can touch is a dream come true, or A Nightmare Just Beginning.

Blurb

Hope only wants to find out if her ability to infuse euphoria or despair with her touch makes her the devil's spawn, or his exterminator. But when the woman who raised her is murdered by something not human, she loses the only family she knew and discovers one she might wish she hadn’t.

Drawn back to the hometown she vowed never to return to, her ability is seen as an asset to everyone but Hope, and she doesn't know who to trust. Her family wants her to help them overcome an enemy oppressing the human population, while the man of her dreams is courting her for the Underworld.

Time is running out, and Hope’s choice may be made for her, as she discovers she’s a pawn in a bigger game played by a merciless ruler who doesn't lose.

Excerpt

I strained to release my arm from Griffith’s vise-like grip while scanning the surrounding trees, trying to determine which was less of a threat, the beast of a man holding me or those who might be waiting for me in the woods.

“You will come inside, now.” Griffith spoke slowly and deliberately as if I were a small child.

I batted at the hand Griffith placed on my head. “I’m not a puppy, quit petting me.”

“I will protect you.” Griffith’s warm breath caressed my ear. “If for no other reason, to find out what I’m giving up and why she wants you so badly.”

I inhaled his masculine scent, like musky earth. It washed over my face, and the tension in my jaw released. I stopped struggling. “Are you the devil?” My tongue was thick and heavy so the words came out slurred.

“Not even close.” His words soothed and comforted, like having a weighted blanket cocoon me. Each movement was an effort. It wasn’t the same as the thing in the woods. This was more like the feeling after a long massage or bubble bath.

“It’s not safe.” Griffith wrapped his arms around me, and I rested against his broad chest.

“It’s not safe.” I nodded. My muscles relaxed and my eyelids grew heavy.

“It’s cold. We’re going inside.” Griffith kept his arm supporting me as he steered me toward the house.

“We’re going inside.” I parroted and walked up the steps, leaning heavily on him.

Out of the corner of my eye, something was cautiously moving at the edge of the woods. Branches snapped as whatever was observing us crept closer.

Where can your readers find you?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbonatch

Blog: http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/

Website: http://www.maureenbonatch.com

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/1AV4L

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/maureenbonatch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureenlbonatch

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3103486.Maureen_L_Bonatch

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online?

Facebook

About the Author:

Growing up with four siblings had Maureen familiar with escaping into a good book, or the recesses of her mind. She realized later in life everyone didn’t have characters telling stories in their heads, or weren’t envisioning magic and mayhem within the everyday. This, and long walks in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania spawned a love of writing.

Since her desire to become a Solid Gold Dancer was thwarted when the show was discontinued, Maureen opted to pursue other paths. Attempting to conquer new endeavors proved fruitful with her first novella, while other attempts, such as challenging a fear of heights with parasailing, were unsuccessful.

Therefore she’s chased other interests, though none-the-less-daring, but closer to the ground, such as belly-dancing, becoming a self-proclaimed tequila connoisseur, fulfilling her role as biker babe to her alpha hubby and surviving motherhood to twins (so far).

Penning stories boasting laughter, light suspense and something magical in the hope of sharing her love of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary world.

Wednesday's Writer with Lynn Hardy

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

Prophecy of the Flame – Love’s Dawning is a romantic comedy set in a world of fantasy from an urban point of view. Though it was not originally intended for a YA audience, I have discovered that teens love this series.

My male fans informed me that they loved the series – the romance adds to the suspense, but if I hadn’t been there to talk to them about it, they wouldn’t have picked up a book with Love in the title. Now the books are just labeled Book One, Two, and Three on the outside.

Here is the brief synopsis:

In a blinding flash of light, five strangers are yanked from this world and thrust into a land of sorcery as they are granted the looks and abilities of the people they were playing. This band of wannabe heroes soon discovers that having the powers they have always dreamed of, does not make life a dream come true. The Crusaders of the Light struggle to form a cohesive band as they blend twentieth century technology with the supernatural powers of this new world, fighting to liberate the kingdom of Cuthburan from the evil horde threatening humanity.

Battle is also waged within Reba, an ordinary housewife who has become the most powerful mage on the planet, as she struggles to remain true to her wedding vows. Drawn against her will to the arms of Prince Alexandros, Reba must choose between a marriage to a handsome prince in a magical world or returning to the husband she left behind.

What can we expect from you in the future?

Life has gotten real interesting. I’ve been working on Book Three is the series for way too long – as my fans will tell you. I’ve been distracted by writing a screenplay (based on Book One) and more recently, I was given a publishing company.

I had been mentoring several other author, showing them the ropes of self-publishing. I quickly realized that this mentoring was taking a lot of time. I began developing this idea of how a publishing company should be run – a company to help authors instead of just take their money. Unfortunately, with the screenplay, I didn’t have time to develop a company – the necessities authors would need like the ability to get onto book store shelves or get high profile reviews.

A friend of mine was running a local company that had all the assets in place. An emergency family medical situation caused her to have to step away from the company. She gave it to me late last year.

Since then, I’ve been putting the system I had dreamed of into place. We are launching BAM! Publishing in March of 2013. We already have two traditionally published authors, one of which is a bestseller, listed with us. Here’s the link for you: BAMauthors.com.

How do we find out about you and your books?

My Facebook page is good place. Also my website/blog – my website was hacked so right now LynnHardy.com goes to my blog. If you purchase the book from my blog and put your name in the comments, I will gladly sign it before I send it out. (Then I don’t have to give Amazon 55%!)

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

Oh yes. If it hadn’t been for my fans contacting my by email I may have stopped publishing a few years back. There support means the world to me!

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

My favorite comment from a fan was:

Your books are as good as Harry Potter’s third book.

Since they told me that they always buy an extra Potter book to collect on their shelf, I was dumbfounded!

Why did you decide to write romance novels?

My writing always seems to have a romantic slant, no matter what I am writing about. In college, a professor asked me write about scenery. We read the stories out loud to the class. By the time I finished reading my composition about the rugged peaks, and sweat sliding down glistening breasts… the men were open-mouthed and the women were fanning themselves.  

I got a “C” because I didn’t stay on topic enough.

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

I sit down at my computer, close my eyes a moment, focus on the character I am writing about, then it just flows.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

They try and interrupt – it usually takes 3 or 4 times before I acknowledge them. It irritates the heck out of my hubby.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?

Important? It depends on the story. I think, if done correctly, it really adds flavor. I’ve had several people tell me I should list mine as a comedy – but truly, it’s just a good dose of sarcasm.

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

I find them difficult not to write…lol. I discovered that teens were really attracted to my storyline, so I removed the steamy scene – it was the hardest thing I had done as a writer at that point in time. The beautifully crafted scene, reduced to two paragraphs!

It seemed like the responsible thing to do. Now the story just has the romantic suspense.

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?

My next series will be a Science Fiction romance.

Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

I joined Authomony when it was new a few years ago. The top 5 books get looked at by a publisher. I was in the top 10% by the end of the week, but the politics weren’t worth it.

One person wouldn’t give me a good rating until I listed it as a comedy!

What do you think of critique groups in general?

If moderated properly, they can be great. However, writers must remember that everyone has an opinion – and it doesn’t mean they are right! But if you hear it several times you may want to take a look at the issue.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I’ve been working on Book Three is the series for way too long – as my fans will tell you. I’ve been distracted by writing a screenplay (based on Book One) and more recently, I was given a publishing company.

I had been mentoring several other author, showing them the ropes of self-publishing. I quickly realized that this mentoring was taking a lot of time. I began developing this idea of how a publishing company should be run – a company to help authors instead of just take their money. Unfortunately, with the screenplay, I didn’t have time to develop a company – the necessities authors would need like the ability to get onto book store shelves or get high profile reviews.

A friend of mine was running a local company that had all the assets in place. An emergency family medical situation caused her to have to step away from the company. She gave it to me late last year.

Since then, I’ve been putting the system I had dreamed of into place. We are launching BAM! Publishing in March of 2013. We already have to traditionally published authors, one of which is a bestseller, listed with us.

In five years the Prophecy of the Flame series should be complete and hopefully BAM! Publishing will be known around the world as what gave authors control of their work and readers control of what becomes the next bestseller! Here’s the link for you: BAMauthors.com.

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

Good characters can be molded form many settings. However, the story revolves around the characters, although sometimes a good story helps to define the characters. So that is like asking about the chicken and the egg.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Prophecy-Flame-Loves-Dawning-ebook/dp/B004KKXSNC      

Price: FREE during this blog tour!

Genre: Fantasy Romance with an urban twist – YA Rated

Publisher: Resilient Publishing

Release Date: 1/2008

Where can your readers find you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnHardy

Website: www.Lynnhardy.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArchMageReba

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=144697826

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Hardy/e/B002BM666W/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online?

Facebook

Bio:

Led by a series of dreams and encouraged by friends, Lynn Hardy began the journey to become an author. She stored her work in a computer file labeled “second job.” Writing began as a passion she could not contain and has become much more than she ever expected.

In the Fall of 2010, Prophecy of the Flame – Book One, reached #1 on Amazon kindle, shortly after Book Two in the series released. In the spring of 2011, Lynn released the Full Cast unabridged audio book of Book One. Now both fans and newcomers can hear the book come to life as every character jumps of the page with their own unique voice.

The road has been longer and more complicated than she would have ever guessed –not always smooth, but filled with wonderful surprises. Lynn is sure that her journey has only just begun.  

An Interview with BonSue Brandvik

Help me welcome today the author of Pearls ~ Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore, BonSue Brandvik. Welcome BonSue!

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?  “Pearls: Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore” is difficult to describe because it crosses several genres.  It’s Paranormal (Victorian spirits haunt the Belleview Biltmore hotel where Honor, my protagonist, is staying), Historic (while she’s sleeping, spirits take Honor back in time to relive some of their memories) Contemporary (Honor is a current-day guest at a historic hotel where the spirits also once stayed)  Romance (actually, there are two romances… one historic and one contemporary) Woman’s Fiction (the sub-plots are all about sisterhood and banding together to outwit Honor’s ex-husband, who is a scheming , lying creep, who’s trying to cheat Honor out of her life’s work.)

What can we expect from you in the future?  “Pearls” is Book One in a planned series of four stand-alone novels that are set in the real Belleview Biltmore Hotel. I’m currently writing Book Two, “Ripples” which I hope to release early next year. It involves spirits from the Prohibition Era who connect with a hotel guest named Lily. She’s consumed with guilt and estranged from her husband, following a car accident that claimed the life of their only child. The third book in the series, “Redemption” will feature spirits from the WWII Era and a plot to steal an antique jewel collection, and the fourth book, “Nails” will harken back to early pioneers in Florida, when the hotel was first built.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? A great deal of my life experiences and philosophies go into my storylines, and several of my characters are a compilation of people I know. For instance, the little boy in “Pearls” got his name from the son of a former employee, his looks from the son of one of my daughter’s friends, his fascination with Spiderman from one of my nephews, and his advanced vocabulary from my daughter at his age.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to write your first ms?  I was a 17-year-old with a brand new baby when I watched a tear-jerker movie titled “Sunshine.” It was about a young mother who discovers she’s dying and decides to record a bunch of cassette tapes for her daughter to remember her by. Still raging with post-partum hormones, I decided to write down all my thoughts and dreams for my baby daughter, in the event I died before she grew up. I’ve been writing ever since, but I wasn’t inspired to write a novel until one day, when I learned preservationists were trying to prevent developers from tearing down the 1896 Belleview Biltmore hotel. I decided to go see what all the fuss was about. I took the sanctioned historic tour and afterwards, I sneaked down into the basement tunnels where the servants used to work. Then I crept through an unlocked door and climbed up to the abandoned fifth floor servants’ quarters and attic. Everywhere I went, I was nearly overwhelmed by the echoes of the past that seemed to permeate the entire structure. I kept thinking, “If only these walls could talk, what stories they would tell!” I was intrigued and so I researched the hotel’s amazing history. Then, in a flash of inspiration, I decided to write novels about women who had lived and worked in the hotel decades before and compare their stories with female hotel guests in the present day.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book? I used to write children’s books and could have the first draft completed in a couple of weeks. “Pearls” is my first full-length novel and it was quite a learning experience. The first draft, including research, took about a year. Unfortunately, there were four more drafts after that to incorporate a tremendous amount of input from various literary agents, so it was almost five years before it was published! Hopefully, the rest of the series will take less time!

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

I call myself a “Jigsaw-Puzzle Writer”, which is a person who uses a combination of  pantser and plotter techniques. This is my system:

1.       I rough-out the opening scene/ inciting incident, two big subplot elements, and a rough ending. I consider these to be the “corners” of my jigsaw puzzle.

2.      Next I do research and write some key elements/subplots that make up the “frame” of the puzzle.

3.      Then I do more research and write the big fill-in pieces (sub-plots/scenes which gives the storyline some twists and turns, to keep the reader from guessing what the final picture will look like before she reaches the very end of the story)

4.      Once I have all of the big pieces put together within the frame, I start writing details that connects one piece (scene) to the others.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions? Heavy sigh –No one in my world seems to understand the creative concept of burying yourself in your story. Therefore, I usually get most of my writing done in bed at night, after everyone is asleep and the phone quits ringing. Unfortunately, I tend to fall asleep at my laptop after a couple hours, so writing new material is a rather slow process.

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing. J.K. Rowling and James Patterson – I do read a lot of romance, too, but my favorite authors write in different genres than me.

What is your secret guilty pleasure? I enjoy watching TV, including: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Once Upon a Time”, “Game of Thrones” and “Trueblood.”

What’s your most embarrassing moment? One day at work (Director of Human Resources), I stooped down to retrieve something from a low shelf, and didn’t realize that my heel caught in a thread and when I stood up; it unraveled the back seam of my short skirt. As if that weren’t bad enough, it was on one of those days when my short, black slip was in the laundry, so I didn’t wear one, thinking, “No one will ever know!” I was just starting to give a newly hired manager a tour of the office, when one of my assistants noticed and rushed to me with a sweater to tie around my waist. The poor new guy just kept looking up at the ceiling, pretending he didn’t notice a thing, but I’m sure he had a bird’s eye view of my panties and was probably wondering what I meant when I said he would enjoy working for us because everyone at our company was so friendly!

Answer the following: 

Leather or lace? Lace

Black or red? Black

Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton? Egyptian Cotton

Ocean or mountains? Ocean

City life or country life? Country life

Hunky heroes or average Joe? Hunky heroes

Party life or quiet dinner for two? Yes

Dogs or cats? Dogs

I love pizza with lots of cheese and pepperoni

I'm always ready to entertain at our home.

When I'm alone, I sometimes don’t get dressed all day.

You'd never be able to tell, but I used to have six-pack abs.

If I could win Power Ball I'd buy the Belleview Biltmore hotel and restore it.

I can never be a morning person because I write until 3 or 4 a.m.

 

Fill in your blank favorites:

Dessert ~ Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

City ~ Belleair, Florida

Season ~ Autumn

Type of hero ~ Mmmm… He’s tall, with a muscular V-shaped torso. He’s sexy, funny, considerate, selective, and willing to commit. He lets his lady soar as high as she wants to go, but keeps an eye on her - ready to catch her if she falls.

Type of heroine ~ She has her share of struggles, but even when she’s down, she is never out. She is funny and intelligent and although she might prefer to fall in love and share her life with the man of her dreams, she is also comfortable in her own skin and if push comes to shove, she knows she can make it on her own.

Where can your readers find you? 

Websites: http://www.SpiritsOfBelleviewBiltmore.com and http://BonSueBrandvik.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BonSue-Brandvik/125933191378

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BonSueB

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5427994.BonSue_Brandvik

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bonsueb/

E-mail: BonSue@SpiritsOfBelleviewBiltmore.com

Where’s your favorite place to hang out online? 

Facebook and Goodreads can suck me in for hours at a time.

Excerpt - Chapter Four:

“Pearls: Spirits of the Belleview Biltmore”

…Late in the afternoon, Honor Macklin took her checklist list out of her pocket and with a triumphant flourish, checked off the item “Clean-out Mom’s Kitchen.” Then she gathered up the day’s treasures, including the antique journal, and put them in her car. Remembering her hotel room at the Belleview Biltmore was quite chilly the night before, she went to her mother’s closet and grabbed an old-fashioned flannel granny-gown to sleep in, and then drove the short distance back to the hotel to order room service.

Belly full, bathed and dressed in her mother’s old flannel gown, Honor snuggled under the goose-down comforter, against the oh-so-soft pillows and began to read the faded text in the old journal. It began, “I long for a world so different than the one I inhabit…”

As she began to drift off to sleep, Honor became aware of a chill in the air and she heard voices coming from… coming from where? The hallway? Her suite? She tried to focus on the conversation.

“She has the journal. It’s time for her to know everything,” a woman’s voice said.

Honor rose from her bed to investigate and was amazed to find two women sitting in her parlor, clothed in full Victorian dress. Then it slowly began to sink in. They weren’t exactly what you would call solid.

“Who… what…” stammered Honor, startled almost beyond words.

“Good evening, darlin’,” the larger of the two women greeted her. “I’m Margaret and this is…well, this is Darcy. We see you’ve found her journal, gone from sight these many years.”

Margaret turned to face the thin, older woman. “It’s time, Darcy. You know it’s the right thing to do.”

“But what if she doesn’t understand?” The older woman looked worried. Her anguished eyes locked on Honor.

“She comes from good stock. She’ll understand,” the plump woman replied.

Suddenly, Honor found herself inexplicably fading from her hotel room, into a fog. She floated through the mist, enjoying the sensation. When the fog lifted, she was sitting at a cast-iron garden table with a cool breeze caressing her face.

She felt dizzy and a bit sick to her stomach, as if she had just stepped off a roller coaster. Desperately, she tried to orient herself to her new situation by focusing on a pink hibiscus bush nearby. She heard someone call out from a nearby path.

“A grand afternoon to you, Madam Darcy.”

Honor turned toward the voice and saw the heavyset woman who had called herself Margaret, waving at Darcy, who was seated across from Honor at the garden table.

Honor’s mouth hung open as she gazed beyond the courtyard to the original Belleview Hotel. She felt Darcy’s eyes upon her, pulling her attention back across the table.

Darcy spoke as though they were still in Honor’s hotel room, seemingly unaware their location had changed, or that she appeared to be several decades younger than she had been only moments ago… 

BonSue Brandvik

I’ve led topsy-turvy life. At the age of seventeen, I dropped out of high school to get married and become a mom. I spent a few years working as a babysitter, cake decorator, fast food cook, and door-to-door saleswoman, before getting divorced. Then I gave up sleeping and devoted several years to juggling college classes, while volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and Room Mother, and working as a cocktail waitress/entertainer. Eventually, I earned my degree and pursued a career in the field of Human Resources. Somewhere in there, I also found and married the true love of my life, we built our home in Belleair, Florida, and my daughter grew up to become a beautiful and brilliant woman (she and her husband are expecting a daughter of their own early next year.)  

These days, when I’m not writing or working with preservationists to save and restore the historic Belleview Biltmore Hotel (the inspiration for a series of novels I’m currently writing), I volunteer my time to lead the Clearwater Writers critique group; I serve as the Chairman of our town’s Planning and Zoning Board; I’m a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem for children; and I’m a volunteer docent at the Heritage Village Living History Museum. I also speak to various groups on topics ranging from The Art of Weaving Historic Facts into Works of Fiction to Ghost Stories of the Belleview Biltmore.  For fun, I like to read and I enjoy photography, gardening, golfing, camping, and raising koi. I’m also addicted to the on-line game, “Words with Friends.”

Interview Winners

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season so far.

The responses rolled in last week and I can't thank you enough. Authors love hearing from readers!

The winners are:

Sherry for Anne Douglas

skyla1377 for Angela Caperton

Winners please email me at lynncrain@cox.net and I will get you in touch with the author.

Thanks everyone for participating!

Lynn

An Interview with Erin Sinclair

Help me in welcoming our second interview of the day, Erin Sinclair. I met Erin through a mutual friend and we started emailing in regards to her writing. I enticed her to come to a writing group and we’ve been friends ever since. Here’s her answers to some very interesting questions.

At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer? I was very young, eight years old to be exact.

What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer? Storytellers in general. Those incredibly entertaining, imaginative souls that transport us from the reality we live, to adventures we can scarce imagine.

How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract? My brain went into overload, excitement doesn’t begin to describe what I felt. There was a rush of sensation so energizing, so powerful I was in high revolution for weeks afterward.

Is writing a lonely career for you? Not at all. I lose myself in writing and enjoy every moment of it. It gives me a peace that sometimes is hard to find elsewhere.

How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale? I have published one novel and two novellas to date, with a third novella coming out on Halloween via Devine Destinies Publishing, a division of eXtasy Books. My first sale occurred with my first batch of printed novels of Twilight’s Son, Book 1 of the Fallen Angel trilogy. When I received my first order of printed novels and my friend Dani bought the first one, I thought “Good Lord, this has been thirty-seven years in the making.” I couldn’t take the smile from my face for weeks.

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? My ideas are a total inspired moment. They hit me fast and hard. I have to write them down or I will forget them. I have a ton of stories in their first stages, now to write them.

If you could take the place with one character in your books, who would it be and why? I would take the place of Lt. Detective Brianna Carter in Twilight’s Son. She’s brilliant, beautiful, strong, independent and has the eternal love of an angel who has given up his angelic existence because he can’t be without her. It doesn’t hurt that he’s all man, all hers and gorgeous inside and out.

Tell me about your upcoming release. Please include if it is part of a series or a stand alone book. My next release is a novella entitled Witch One? scheduled for sale on October 31, 2009. It is about a beautiful witch living a perfect life in New England whose fiancé has just proposed. She joyfully accepts but she’s forgotten one small item, her first fiancé, a man to whom she’s been engaged since a child and, inconveniently, still is betrothed. It is a stand-alone novella.

What was your inspiration for this book? Several sources actually not the least of which Bewitched, Fantasy Island, my spiritual belief system and my passion for romantic comedy.

How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter? Basic plotter, but allow my characters to tell me their story. When that happens, pantser all the way.

How do you handle the editing/revision process? Methodical and one sentence at a time. I tend toward perfectionism, but fall short more often than not. A wise woman I know who is also a writer has subsequently advised me to devote more time to writing than to obsessing over every paragraph. I’ve taken her advice and have attempted to become less paranoid.

You’ve received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why? I’m flattered to say the least. My goal is to entertain, transport, maybe even teach my reader something along the way. When I receive a good review, I appreciate that reviewer’s opinion because knowing what they liked about the story means I’ve reached them in the way I wanted to, what they may have had issue with, I utilize to improve my style. What I truly enjoy is when several reviewers have the same positive reaction to something I’ve written because that means they understood what I was trying to convey in my story.

Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story? Not odd, more like intriguing. Witch One flowed so smoothly from my imagination to computer, I wrote it in a minimal amount of time. I felt like I was literally watching a Hallmark movie in my head. That’s my hope one day, that Witch One is translated to a film as a charming romantic comedy. Well, a girl can dream can’t she?

What is your favorite literary quote of all time? This is the last stanza of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets and definitely in my top five favorite literary quotes of all time. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” It has told me life is choice and your will is free. Life is done when you are and not before.

Where do you see your career in five years? Ten years? I see my writing career expanded and unlimited. I see myself exploring every artistic bone in my body. I see myself pursuing my first love writing via several different aspects of fiction and even a non-fiction book or two. I see myself illustrating young adult/children’s books. I see myself pursuing photography, finishing my Master’s Degree in Creative Fiction and in Art. Quite frankly I see myself pursuing whatever sings to me and calls me to explore its possibilities.

Erin Sinclair can be found all around the web and is looking forward to hearing from readers at:

erin_sinclair_writer@yahoo.com
http://www.erinsinclairauthor.com/
http://www.devinedestinies.com/
http://themanyshades.blogspot.com/

She posts here every Friday:

www.myspace.com/erin_sinclair_author
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/devinedestinies/

Erin is also on Facebook, Twitter (ESinclairWriter), Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction, Romance Book Junction and many more!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat with you today Lynn, this has been so enjoyable!

Erin's Bio:

I have been writing since I was eight years old. Writing is everything to me. It is my dream, my hope and now my reality. I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. As each role ebbs and flows in my life, the one that is constant is that of a writer. To me, storytelling is the original art form. I am thrilled and honored to be a part of such an ancient, noble tradition. My goal is to transport the reader to the worlds of my imagination. The greatest compliment I receive as an author is when a reader tells me I’ve “taken them there”. When I hear that, I know I’ve done what I am supposed to do with my career.


Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion, Erin.

Lynn

An Interview with C.R. Moss

The wonderful C.R. Moss has agreed to be the first author with our 2 for Thursday Promotion. We met at a local writer’s group meeting and I am proud to say I consider her one of my best writing buddies. I know I wouldn’t be here without her support and help. And now that I’ve warped her brain with lots of questions, please help me in welcoming C.R.! At what age did you realize you wanted to be a writer? Between the ages of three and five I had started creating stories, but it wasn’t until the sixth grade that writing truly became my calling. What has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer? My personality. I’m a solitary person and writing suits my lifestyle. Is writing a lonely career for you? Nope. Like I said I’m a solitary person so I enjoy being in my own little world and dealing with the worlds I create rather than the drama of others outside my cave. Granted, there are times when I need to connect to others, but it’s nothing an email or phone call or hubby can’t fix. How did you feel when you got your first publishing contract? Excited. How many novellas/novels have you published to date? When did you have your first sale? My first sale was in May of 2008 and since then I have published 16 stories ranging from 4k to 75k words. My 17th story will be out on 10/15/09 and I have 19 other stories in various stages from contracted to gems of ideas. Tell me about your upcoming release. Please include if it is part of a series or a standalone book. My upcoming release due out on 10/15/09 from eXtasy Books is titled In the Spirit. It’s about a woman who was betrayed by her lover. She ends up becoming a Grim Reaper. When she crosses paths with him again, she wants to exact revenge, but his love for her causes her problems. This book is part of an unofficial series, Immortal Spirits, and though it could be read as a standalone it’s better if you read Holiday Spirits first. Do your characters take over the story? Yep, most times they do. And though I don’t like when they do, they normally take the story in a much more interesting and better direction. What was your inspiration for this book? The Las Vegas Marathon (for Holiday Spirits) and In the Spirit was a spin-off. Plans for a third book in this ‘series’ is in the works and will most likely be another December holiday story. How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter? When I first get an idea in my head and the story formulates, I do an information dump. In this ‘dump’ I’ll put down whatever comes to mind – dialogue, brief scenes, one-liners, etc. From that I’ll work on my story, but I give myself leeway to allow for change. So in a way I’m both plotter and pantser. How do you handle the editing/revision process? I have the habit of editing as I go. This slows down my writing process, but that’s all right. After I’ve written a chapter and gone through it a time or two I send it to my wonderful critique partner. She gets a clean document to read and is able to catch ‘story stuff,’ which I’ll then tweak in the manuscript. At this point, revision requires little effort. By the time all the chapters are done and my editor and EIC get the complete story, they don’t have much to do or catch. By spending time in the beginning, it makes the final edits and galley work a breeze. You’re received some fantastic reviews...how do you feel about them and why? I like good reviews. They let me know people enjoy my work. Did anything odd happen while you were researching this story? Interesting question and I’m going to have to say ‘No.’ Who and what are you reading now? Galilee by Clive Barker. (As per amazon.com: Over many years and many books, Clive Barker has earned a reputation as the thinking person's horror writer. His novels have mixed fantasy, psychology, and sheer creepiness in almost equal quantities, and while the gore quotient remains relatively low, the tension always runs high. In Galilee, however, Barker soft-pedals the ghoulish in favor of the gothic. His novel (or as the author would have it, "romance") tells the tale of two warring families caught up in a disastrous web of corruption, illicit sexuality, and star-crossed love, with a soupçon of the supernatural thrown in as well.) It was the romance part of the book that caught my eye when I bought the book and so far I’m enjoying the story. It’s not the typical romance read, but it’s my kind of tale. Who is your biggest fan? I would have to say my husband… unless anyone else wants to step up to the plate? What does your significant other think about your writing? He thinks it’s fine that I write. We’re both very supportive of each other’s goals and dreams. Though, he did state once he wonders about the thoughts in my head – said after reading Dirty Little Secret, a horror/erotica story of mine. Where can people find you? http://www.home.earthlink.net/~cr_moss http://www.myspace.com/cr_moss http://themanyshades.blogspot.com/ http://twitter.com/CRMoss http://www.facebook.com/crmoss http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theexfactor/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/devinedestinies/ Thanks, C.R., it was great to have you here! C.R. Moss, resident of the hot, high desert in the southwest, knew she wanted to write at a young age, as early as she learned to read, cooking up stories to entertain herself in the rural, non-kid-laden area she had lived in. But she took a round about way to settle down as a fiction writer, having worked in the corporate pharmaceutical and real estate realms writing newspaper articles, press releases, corporate newsletters, etc. Now that she's settled into the alternative health care industry, she has returned to her first love: creative writing. When she isn't working at her practice or at her computer cooking up another tale, she can be found hanging out with her husband and cat, reading a book, chillin' in front of the TV, or working on a craft project. She has also been known to play WOW.

Thanks for taking part in my 2 for Thursday promotion, C.R. ! Lynn