Guest Interview: Arianna Skye

Today, we have as our special guest Arianna Skye talking about her first book which was just released.

At a young age, Arianna Skye discovered her love for the written word. She wrote her very first book about the woes of peer pressure at the tender age of ten. All twenty pages of it. When she was fifteen, she read her first romance novel and was hooked. Soon after, she knew this was what she wanted to write. At the age of eighteen, she wrote her first romance novel, a two hundred page handwritten manuscript, which she threw away. Bad Arianna!

After college and a slight detour into the world of technology, Arianna began her career as a technical support and help desk representative. Yes, she’s a geek. Deal with it. Then in 2006, she discovered writing again and found what she’d been missing. That, and she was getting sick of all those voices in her head nagging her for so long.

Historical romance had always been Arianna's first love, so it was only natural that her first work would be a regency. However, as she discovered new genres, she realized she had an affinity to the paranormal. She set the regency to the side and started plugging away at a fantasy erotic romance. Wings of Desire, her first complete novel, is an award winning manuscript, taking first in the 2008 Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.

Arianna was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and still lives in one of its small suburbs. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys a plethora of activities, ranging from swimming, arts and crafts, and messing around on her computer. She’s a geek, remember?

Welcome, Arianna! Please tell us about your new book!


Here’s the blurb:

A fairytale, but not the kind your mother used to read you!

Rhiannon Kinsley's life goes from boring to downright crazy when a freak lightning bolt strikes her laptop. To make matters even more bizarre, strange words and symbols flash across the computer screen and she hears a mysterious voice. Time to call the men in white coats! Then Cerne Silverwing, an intriguingly sexy man, appears. He insists she’s a faerie princess whose fate will determine his own. What a crock! Now she knows who really needs those white coats.

With the Dark Faerie forces threatening his kingdom, Cerne kidnaps Rhiannon and brings her to Fey, a land where magic knows no bounds. He's performing a duty to save his kingdom and nothing more—a duty that will bring him his wings and the strengthened magic that comes with them. If he doesn’t unite with the princess as her consort, those wings will never grow. But this princess grew up in the land of laptops and instant messages, and she’s convinced they're both crazy. Despite their differences, the two are thrust together to defeat the whip-wielding Dark Faerie Queen before she takes over the kingdom. Passion and peril aside, will Rhiannon and Cerne discover their true destiny?

Sounds awesome! Please tell us about your favorite character in the book.

My favorite character? I have lots of them, each for different reasons. Rhiannon for her snarky and sarcastic attitude. Cerne for his stubbornness. Korrigan for her ability to remain strong despite the torture her sister puts her through. My favorite character to write was Lilith. She was EVIL. It was fun to push the envelope with her cruelty and even greater fun to see her get her comeuppance.

Sounds like a wild and interesting cast. What element of story creation is your favorite?

I love the world-building. In a fantasy type settings you can really let your creativity soar (no pun intended.)

That's true. What element of this story was the hardest for you?

To be honest, this was one of those stories that seemed to write itself. I was a fairly new writer when I started it, so I guess I learned how to get a better grasp on GMC.

I love those stories that write themselves. What inspires you? What motivates you?

Many things in everyday life inspire me. A tree shedding leaves, a terrible snowstorm, or even a creepy bush that looks like a demon (which actually ended up in one of my books). It’s even more rewarding to find a way to incorporate these inspiring things into the story. As for motivation, seeing the words THE END motivates me. There’s nothing more rewarding than finishing a complete manuscript. Actually there is… selling that said manuscript. :-)

That bush sounds scary. :)What is your writing process or method?

I am a plotting pantster. I start with a loose plot but the characters usually follow their own journey to arrive at the final outcome. That’s when I know the story is good. If I have to force them to do something, then I need to re-evaluate what’s going on.

That's an excellent way to look at it. What's next for you? Can you tell us more about your newest big offer? Hint, hint! ;)

Wow, Nicole, you certainly don’t beat around the bush, do you? *chuckle*

I try not to. LOL

Well, I suppose it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. I was recently offered a contract to publish a series of four humorous paranormals from Sourcebooks under my other pseudonym Sidney Ayers. The first one will be available sometime in Spring of 2011. It’s funny because the book is actually set in the winter, with the backdrop of Christmas. It is not a Christmas themed story though. We are currently negotiating a title, so that’s all the information I can give you all.

That's wonderful! Congratulations!! And thanks again for being our guest today! Everyone, if you'd like to buy Wings of Desire, click here. Arianna loves hearing from her fans! You can connect with her on Twitter and Facebook or send her an email.

Arianna's photo above © 2009, Doodledoll Photography

Tess Mallory joins Fierce Romance Blog

Hi, everyone, We are excited to report we have a new member here at Fierce Romance blog, Tess Mallory! Welcome to the blog, Tess. We're thrilled to have you! Please tell us about yourself.

Tess: Thanks! So glad to be here! A little about me, eh? Well, I was born and raised in Texas and live in the Hill Country with my husband of thirty-odd years (and believe me, there have been some pretty odd years-ha) and our three children and their families. I've recently started writing for Berkley's Sensation line and I'm so excited about that! I love all things Irish and Scottish, my favorite music is that of my son, Jordan Mallory (www.myspace.com/jordanthomasmallory) along with Blue October, the Dresden Dolls, Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell, and Mary Black. My favorite authors include Jennifer Crusie, Kim Harrison, and Margaret Weis. I can't wait to see the new Indiana Jones movie, and I love watching LOST, Boston Legal, and the Big Bang Theory, because, after all, I'm a geek at heart!

Vonda: I'm a major LOST fan too! What do you write?

Tess: I've been writing romance novels for the last fifteen years, most of them time travel, but all containing elements of fantasy or science fiction. My newest time travel romance, HIGHLAND ROGUE, is due out May 6th! Other titles are HIGHLAND DREAM, HIGHLAND FLING, HIGHLAND MAGIC, JEWELS OF TIME, CIRCLES IN TIME, MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S MAGIC (The Fairy Bride), and TO TOUCH THE STARS. In the unpublished realm of my life, I write plays, songs, and poetry.

Vonda: Naturally, I love Highland books and time travels! I can't wait to add yours to my TBR stack. Please tell us about your latest release, Highland Rogue. (What a hunky and gorgeous cover, by the way!)

Tess: I'm very excited about the release of HIGHLAND ROGUE. It's the first in a new time travel series from Berkley Sensation unofficially titled "Timeless Highlanders". The series is about three sisters in Texas who end up in Scotland, and are each sent back in time (in three different books) to the past where they fall in love with hunky Scotsmen in kilts! HIGHLAND ROGUE is about the eldest sister, Maggie, who has taken care of her younger twin sisters since their parents died when she was 23. Now she's 33 and feels life has sort of passed her by. Her sisters, Allie and Ellie, surprise her with her heart's desire--a trip to Scotland to work on an archaeological dig! There, in an ancient cairn, Maggie discovers a tri-spiral (triskele) carving on the floor of the cairn, and it sends her back to the year 1711. There she stumbles into the path of a highwayman's horse, and her adventure with handsome outlaw Quinn MacIntyre begins!

Vonda: Sounds like my kind of story. I can't wait to read it! You've had several books published over the years. Please tell us about some of them.

Tess: HIGHLAND ROGUE is my eighth romance novel. I recently learned that my former publisher, Dorchester, is re-releasing the Highland time travel series I wrote for them which includes HIGHLAND DREAM, HIGHLAND FLING, and HIGHLAND MAGIC. These books centered around three women who are best friends, who find their true loves with the help of a mysterious, magical green crystal! They are humorous and were a lot of fun. They should be re-released some time in May, and can be special ordered through bookstores or places online like amazon.com. My other books are very near and dear to my heart and I hope they will be re-released soon as well. My favorite books of all the ones I've written is Circles in Time, which unfortunately, can only be bought used online at the moment! :-)

Vonda: I hope Circles in Time will be re-released too. What do you love most about writing time-travel romance? What do you find hardest?

Tess: What I love the most about writing time travel romance is that it allows me to take an element of science fiction or fantasy (I love both), blend it with history, (which I also love) and center all of it around the conflicts and romance of a man and woman madly and passionately in love with each other-which of course I love! :-) Writing time travel is just great adventurous fun, and writing one always makes me stretch my brainpower, because there are always plotting details I have to double check, and paradoxes to be explained!

Vonda: Absolutely! Time-travel is one of my favorite elements. What do you enjoy most about writing stories set in Scotland?

Tess: I've loved Scotland since I was a little girl-the amazing landscapes, the incredible history, the ancient mysteries, the powerful sense of honor and loyalty inherent in the Scots. Later I grew to appreciate another facet of that beautiful country - those hunky Scotsmen in kilts! :-) The honor and courage and strength of a Scotsman makes him the perfect hero of a romance novel, and I have had a blast hooking my 'girls' up with some of the most heroic!

Vonda: Now you're talking! I'm in love with Scotland and those men in kilts. :-) What are your hobbies?

Tess: I'm a frustrated artist at heart, and have tried my hand at any number of mediums. My favorites, at least right now, are mosaic tiling-which I find extremely soothing and therapeutic, collages, and painting furniture! :-) I also write songs and sing very, very occasionally.

Vonda: I'm learning we have several things in common, Tess. :-) When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Tess: From the time that my father taught me how to read, sitting on his knee on Sunday mornings, reading the Sunday comics, he influenced my life and my love of words. He was a true storyteller and wordsmith in his own right, and he taught me more about the essence of creating worlds and characters than anyone I've ever known. But I think I first thought seriously about becoming a writer when I was in the seventh grade. That was when I tried to write my first book--a western--and I remember the wonder and amazement that I felt when I started actually creating characters on paper! I think I got 4 chapters done before I fizzled out, but I still have my original folder with those pages inside, and I know it was the beginning of my love for writing books. Over the years after that initial attempt, I wrote so many stories and poems, never worrying about the publishing side of things until I was well into my twenties. I remember I "got serious" at the same time that I got pregnant with my first child. My timing was a little off! It would be another ten years before I was able to tackle writing as a career and sell my first children's story to Highlights for Children. Others followed, along with stints spent working for newspapers and also writing plays for community and church theatre. Nine years and three kids later, I sold my first time travel romance to Leisure/Lovespell books.

Vonda: Fantastic story! How did that first sale come about for you? And what was the most important thing you learned (the thing that made all the difference) just before you made your first sale?

Tess: My first book sale to Leisure/Lovespell (Dorchester) came about because I was in the right place at the right time, so to speak. I had read Jude Devereaux's A Knight In Shining Armor and loved it! As soon as I finished it, my mind was whirling with possibilities for a time travel romance of my own! I was so excited about the story of a woman who inherits a necklace, which turns out to be a time travel device from the future! Right after I finished that story--JEWELS OF TIME--I picked up a copy of Romantic Times Magazine and read in a Market report that Lovespell was "looking for time travel romances". Hey! I had a time travel romance! I sent in a query, got a quick response asking for three chapters, and a month later, got a request for the rest of the book! After I sent in the rest--to my shock and amazement--they bought it! It was the thrill of a lifetime! :-)

What made all the difference before the sale, I think, was several things: First, I finished a project, second, I kept abreast of market trends, and third, I took a chance. A first time writer will have a hard time selling an uncompleted book. It's important to have a product in hand, to market. So first, I completed a book. Then, as a reader of romance, I had begun to read magazines geared toward romance writers and readers. I scoured RT and Affaire de Coure, looking for opportunities for my writing. When I "happened" upon the blurb in RT (if anything "just" happens, which I don't believe!) I had all the usual fears that any writer would have--what if my book wasn't what they were looking for? Why should they buy my book? Did I really know what the heck I was doing?--I took a deep breath and mailed off my query, never really imagining that they would buy my book! But as my dad used to say "Faint heart ne'er won fair maiden". I had to be willing to put myself out there, risk rejection, take a chance! Boy, was I glad that I did!

Vonda: Wow that was a fast sale! Please tell us a fun, unusual or quirky fact about yourself. :-)

Tess: Oh, gosh, probably most of my friends would be hard pressed to tell you something about me that wasn't quirky! I'm a quirky kind of girl! Ummm... let's see. Okay, here are a few of my quirkier things: I secretly long to be an actress on a soap opera, I'd love to be a comedian, I have a phobia about mushrooms, I want to get a tattoo of the Totoro "ghosts" really bad, but I'm too chicken, I am obsessed with creating LOLcats, and, oh yeah, I write a humorous column about my long time favorite soap opera, All My Children, for an AMC MySpace site at www.myspace.com/superposteroftheyear.

Vonda: Very cool! Those are quirky things. I've enjoyed getting to know you so much! Anything else you'd like to add?

Tess: Just that I love to hear from romance readers and aspiring romance writers, and that I'm always happy to answer questions about the publishing business, or my books, or writing in general!

Vonda: Would you like to ask blog readers a question?

Tess: Yes! What makes a romance novel a "keeper", in your opinion? What would you like to see more of in romances? What's your all time favorite romance novel and why?

Vonda: Great questions! I want to thank you again, Tess, for joining our blog! We'll very much look forward to your entertaining posts. :-) Everyone please visit Tess Mallory's beautiful website at: http://www.tessmallorybooks.com/ By the way, I love your slideshow header of Scottish scenery!

Please click here to buy Highland Rogue.

Rachel Carrington makes us "Breathless"

Today I'm happy to say Rachel Carrington is here to tell us about herself and her newest story out with Red Sage.

Rachel Carrington a successful business woman and multi-published author. She is the ideal independent woman we all want to be. Single and with a full schedule, she prefers to keep her affairs casual and not have the excess emotional baggage that normally comes with the relationship. Motivated, adventurous, and with a wicked sense of humor, she brings us stories we not only dive into but hate to see end. Rachel writes dark paranormal and magical fantasies mixed with wizards, witches, and elves. From mystical worlds to the dark and dangerous corners of other universes, her books take you outside the bounds of reality and into the world where your imagination can take flight. She currently writes for Red Sage Publishing, Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, Loose-Id, and Forbidden Publications.

Nicole North: Thanks for being a guest here at our blog, Rachel! Please tell us about your story "Breathless" in Red Sage Secrets Vol. 22 Dark Whispers.

Rachel Carrington: Let me start by saying this was one of my favorite novellas to write. Pairing a rogue wizard with a determined sorceress was fun and opened up doors of opportunity for dialogue, action, and sex!

Breathless is one of those books which started out one way and ended up going in a completely opposite direction. I fully intended Lark, the heroine, to be this kick-ass heroine and Zac, the hero, to be a rogue wizard. However, Zac’s emotional pain (and reasons behind it) came in much later after I’d actually finished the story. I had to give him a reason to be such an ass to begin with.

Here's a little more information:

Lark Hogan is a martial arts expert who has been trained to handle almost anything, except for the death of her sister at the hands of a madman. Seeking vengeance, Lark sets out to stop him, but though endowed with special gifts, she knows she can’t do it without help.

Zac is a mystery and a dangerous ally for Lark. He is a mercenary, an independent wizard who lives life only for himself, loving no one. The last thing he wants to do is help this sexy, lethal woman who confronts him, even if she knows what he is.

Confronting a common enemy, Lark and Zac battle their own demons as well as their own powerful attraction, and when sex gives way to love, this couple will fight to the death to protect what they’ve found.

NN: I love paranormal stories like this and can't wait to read this one. What inspired you to write this story?

RC: I've always wanted to write a story about a rogue wizard because for so long, the wizards I wrote about were honorable, upstanding sorcerers who had a strict code of what was right and what was wrong. So this was a challenge.

NN: He sounds like a bad boy alpha. Yummy! Please tell us more about the hero of this story.

RC: Zac is a mercenary—a rogue wizard who has been hurt by circumstances beyond his control. He believes his family has caused his pain, and that's what has changed his outlook on life. He doesn't want to get close to anyone again because of that pain. But then Lark comes along, and he's not prepared for what she does to his heart.

NN: I love tortured heroes!! They're so intense and they just need a good woman's love. :-) You have a lot of books published! Please tell us about some of your other works.

RC: I have another novella releasing with Red Sage in December 2008, I believe. It’s entitled Enchanted Spell, and the teaser description would be: Take one bitchy witch and toss her into country filled with wizards—her mortal enemies—and there’s bound to be trouble.

I also have three more books in the Hot Magic series I have with Ellora’s Cave which should be releasing in 2008. They are Unchained Spell, Timeless Spell, and Breaking the Spell, which are all sequels to Indigo Spell.

The series revolves around a family of wizards known as The Assembly, and I tell the stories of four of the wizards, three of whom are brothers. Their separate journeys are filled with the trials of falling in love with women they aren’t supposed to love and the dangers they face because of their feelings.

I also have several more books releasing in 2008, so check out my website at http://www.dawnrachel.com/ to find out more.

NN: Congratulations on all your sales!! What is your writing process or method?

RC: I'm an evening person, so I do most of my writing after midnight. It's my most creative time. I just grab my laptop, crawl up on my bed, and dive in. I don't really have a set process as to how I choose what to write other than whatever work is due at the moment. And sadly, there really is no method to my madness. I can be working on one book, realize another one is only 2,000 words or so away from being finished, and I'll switch over just so I can mark another goal off my list. It actually sounds more scatter-brained than it is! LOL

NN: Sounds like a smart method. What was the most important thing you learned (the thing that made all the difference) just before you made your first sale?

RC: Take the next step. I don't think I every really thought about giving up or quitting when all the rejections were coming in, but it did get tough for a while. I've always been a very determined, aggressive person, so I had to get to a point where the rejections were just another piece of paper (unless there was information on that which helped to improve my writing). So I just kept taking steps!

NN: Wonderful advice! Some people are afraid of taking that next step. What's next for you?

RC: Besides the books I have coming out this coming year, I'm about to start working on a screenplay for one of my books as well as a non-fiction book and a different type of cookbook with a close friend. (Trust me. It's one like you've never seen before). I have a couple of speaking engagements lined up for this year as well. I'll post everything on my website as soon as I get more information!

NN: Great! Best of luck with all your projects. I can't wait to find out about that cookbook. Thanks again for being a guest here!!

RC: Thank you so much for having me, Nicole.

Everyone please visit Rachel's websites:

http://www.dawnrachel.com/
www.bebo.com/rachelcarrington
www.myspace.com/drcarrington

A question for blog readers: If you read erotic romance, do you prefer full-length novels or novellas in this subgenre and why? Thanks in advance for commenting!

Rae Monet talks about Blood Game

Rae Monet is a multi-published, award winning, sensual romance author and speaker. She is former Air Force, FBI agent and now is a licensed Private Investigator as well has having a Bachelor and Masters Degrees in business. Rae loves to write strong female characters, lots of action, and hot romance.

Nicole: Thanks for being a guest at Fierce Romance, Rae! Beautiful cover! Please tell us about Blood Game, out now from Red Sage.

Rae Monet: You bet, I'd be happy to. Blood Game is the second book in my futuristic Vampire series called Blood Squad. The books in this series hold a special place in my heart, they touch on the healing of love and the need for hope. There are two more stories planned in the series. Sangerian Rose is the first book, it comes out this week from Cerridwen Press. Here's the short blurb for Blood Game:

When a rogue vampire threatens the truce between vampire and hunters, Byron Sangerian is caught in the middle of an unraveling mystery. The only reality anchoring him to sanity is one, flawed human woman, in a Blood Game he can’t seem to win.

NN: Sounds wonderful! Please tell us more about the world this story is set in and how you created it.

RM: Blood Game is set in the future, the year 2075. It's 16 years after the Treaty of the Faction was signed which forces a truce between the Vampires and the Human Hunters. I created the plot on a dare from my sister who loves vampires, but wanted to see them moved into the future and so the Blood Squad Series was born.

NN: Interesting twist! Please tell us more about your hot hero, Byron.

RM: Byron is the third and youngest brother of the Sangerian Clan Vampire Brothers. Yes, he's the baby. Tall, muscular, blond hair, very sensual. His personality style is very carefree until he's kidnapped and tortured by a rebel vampire clan. Byron's world is turned around until he meets one flawed woman who brings him back.

NN: Sounds like a hero I'd easily fall in love with. What inspired you to write this story?

RM: It had to be my sister all the way. We set about plotting the book when I was laid up in the hospital. Thinking about writing the book really got me through a difficult time in my life. You can visit the Blood Squad, including my trailer here: http://raemonet.com/BloodSquad.html


NN: You have other books published. Please tell us about some of them.

RM: I've published over thirteen book in various series. Like I said, the first book in the Blood Squad series will be coming out next book from Cerridwen Press. Then I have my Racing Romance Series, my Wolf Warrior Series, my Romantic Suspense Series. My gosh, so many I can't list them all but if you mosey over to my website at http://RaeMonet.com I have them all listed out.

NN: Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?

RM: I subscribe to Nora's philosophy, butt in chair.

NN: LOL! Great advice! What is your writing process or method?

RM: When I sit down to write I try to give myself several uninterrupted, quiet hours to really get into the nitty-gritty of what I'm writing, but sometimes that will stretch to 8 hours or more when I'm in a groove.

NN: Would you like to ask blog readers a question?

RM: What's you favorite genre to read?

Please come explore Rae's other books on her website, http://www.raemonet.com/

Nita Wick tells us How Faerie Dust is Made

Today we have a wonderful guest here, my friend, Nita Wick, talking about her book, How Faerie Dust is Made... released today!

NN: Welcome, Nita! Thanks for being a guest at Fierce Romance! What a beautiful, creative cover. Please tell us about How Faerie Dust is Made.

Nita Wick: Hi, Nicole! Thank you so much for inviting me. How Faerie Dust is Made is part one of The Roscommon Faerie Tales. In the series, a colony of faeries lives among the lush green forests of Roscommon, Ireland near the Arigna Mountains. Their lives would be peaceful were it not for the humans who live in the area with them. The humans dislike faeries and their magic, and the two races are often at odds. But faerie or human, love makes no distinction. And both will soon find that love is the greatest magic of all.

In How Faerie Dust is Made, Conall may be human, but he is Aisling’s life mate. She’s certain of it. After all, a faerie knows these things. Can her magic end the feud between their families? And just how is faerie dust made?

NN: Sounds like a fun, entertaining, romantic story! Please tell us more about your faeries and their world.

NW: The faeries of Roscommon have the ability to be both human size and small. With their magic, they can take their smaller form which is about six inches high. In this form, they have wings. Their magic can be put to many uses such as helping plants to grow and healing arts. Some faeries are more powerful than others. And some even practice other, darker forms of magic like witchcraft. Just like humans, the faeries have their faults as well as virtues. Some of them are very nice people you’d love to befriend. A few you might want to avoid.

NN: They sound charming! What a unique world. Please tell us more about the hero, Conall.

NW: Oh, Conall is one handsome Irish man. He stands well over six feet, has auburn hair and blue green eyes, and that lilting Irish brogue that makes a woman’s heart flutter. If he weren’t so blasted opinionated and stubborn, he’d be almost perfect.

NN: He sounds yummy!! What inspired you to write this story?

NW: I’ve always been fascinated with stories of faeries. I suppose like all my stories this one began when I was daydreaming – again. I imagined a very handsome hero stumbling across a lovely, petite woman in the forest. I didn’t understand at first why he was so upset to discover that the woman was faerie. Turns out, the humans of Roscommon don’t much like faeries.

NN: Interesting! Which element of this story was hardest for you?

NW: I can’t say that any of it was really hard to write. I loved my characters and my imaginary world so much I didn’t want to leave it. So I didn’t. I’m about half finished with part two and I’ve begun an outline for part three.

NN: Wow that's super! I'm sure everyone will want to visit this world again and again. Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?

NW: Hang in there. Don’t give up. And write what you enjoy writing. Don’t force yourself to write what’s hot in the industry right now. By the time you get it written and submitted, the trends will have changed anyway. You can always tell when an author has put her heart and soul in a book. That’s the kind of book a reader remembers. That’s the one on their Keeper Shelf.

NN: Great advice!! Would you like to ask blog readers a question?

NW: Yes! Do you like faerie stories? Did you ever imagine yourself as a faerie princess?

Oh, and I’d also like to ask everyone to stop by my web site. I have several pages with more information about The Roscommon Faerie Tales. You can learn more about the characters, the setting, Irish Gods & Goddesses, and some Gaelic words used in the book.

I’ll be having a contest to celebrate the release. There will be a print copy of How Faerie Dust is Made as well as other prizes! Every member of my newsletter mailing list will automatically be entered to win! So sign up for my newsletter at www.nitawick.com! You’ll find more info about the contest on my site soon!

Available in ebook and print – http://www.thewildrosepress.com/

Direct link to purchase: How Faerie Dust is Made

A Perfect Affair by Judith Gilbert & Interview

Hi, today we have my friend and critique partner Judith Gilbert visiting with us. Her book, A Perfect Affair, was released today.

VS: Hi Judith, welcome and congratulations on the release of your book!! Lovely cover! Please tell us about A Perfect Affair.

JG: This is a heart-touching story full of hope and new beginnings. After losing her father ten months ago, divorcee Katherine Cahill goes back home to Houston and fights to return the joy of Christmas to her mother and young son. At the same time she secretly battles two men, her two-timing ex-husband who blackmails her, and a growing attraction to a Texas attorney hell-bent on sharing his bed with her, but not his heart.

Jared Randall swore he would never get involved with another divorced woman after the fiasco when his fiancee returned to her ex. Then he made two colossal mistakes--rescuing ice princess Katherine Cahill from her mother's roof and playing Santa. His cobwebby Santa brows get him in trouble, thanks to his promise to Katherine's young son.

VS: Sounds both fun and emotional. Having read some of your manuscripts in the past, I know it will be awesome! What inspired you to write this story?

JG: Katherine, the heroine, was inspired by two people I knew who went through very bitter divorces, often dangerous for them. I wanted to write about a heroine who would take on her ex-husband when he attempted to blackmail her and would cleverly turn the tables on him, even adding a taste of revenge, a la Katherine's way. Readers and reviewers have said they absolutely love the revenge scene and high five Katherine's audacity. It's an, "I-wish-I-had-thought-of-that moment."

VS: Nice!! Please tell us about your favorite character in the book.

JG: Jared, because you can't help falling for a man who tells a grinning five-year-old Matt, "I bet your dad will be proud," sees the boy's demeanor change, the anger and sadness in Matt's eyes, and cares enough to put happiness back into his life. Poor Jared, no matter which way he turns he steps in it. He has to learn he can't play Superman with Katherine, jump to solve her problems, but learn when to help and when to stand back, even if she's in danger, and trust Katherine to find a way to whip-butt.

VS: He sounds like a true hero. Do you have any advice for unpublished writers?

JG: The difference between a published and unpublished author is perseverance. Don't give up. Per Olin Miller, "Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators." If you don't already know this, the costs of PROMO/Marketing is the responsibility of the author, so expect to shell out money to build a readership. One of the things you should concentrate on is writing faster and still maintaining the quality. Set daily goals, whether it's words or pages, and keep tract of your actual daily output. How long does it take you to produce a novel? You need to know how fast you can produce a novel when you get published because you'll be selling on proposals and giving your editor the date you'll deliver the complete novel.

VS: Would you like to ask blog readers a question?

JG: I'm hoping The Wild Rose Press will also give me a contract on another orphan of mine: Blood Hunt: The Legend by J Gilbert, the darker side of Judith, so I can get the other three books in the Blood Hunt series out for my readers. The Legend has witches, vampires, shapeshifters, FBI and the Army to contend with. The second book has the addition of a Demon from Hell. Think of your worse nightmare. If you had the power to pick a name for this Demon from Hell, what would it be?

VS: Great question! And I definitely hope TWRP offers you a contract for Blood Hunt: The Legend. I have read most of this story in the critique group, folks, and it is fantastic! Thanks again for being a guest here. Please visit Judith Gilbert's website at: www.authorjudithgilbert.com