Interview with Phyllis Kerr, Author of Wildcat (A Texas Romance Series)

Good morning!

Today’s interview is with Phyllis Kerr, author of Wildcat (A Texas Romance Series).

Please enjoy!

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?     Hello. My name is Phyllis Kerr and I am a native Texan.  2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?      I have a new book in my A Texas Romance Series titled Wildcat and it is a story about a girl searching her way through a difficult time in her journey to womanhood. 3) What is the book about?       Sugar’s path is particularly difficult because her mother left the family when Sugar was only four years old. Her father, Cattle Baron Quint Riley, made sure she learned all the skills needed to someday inherit the ranch in her turn and carry on his legacy in his name. But not the skills to deal with a husband in name only and her awakening feelings of the need for a mate to love and create a family. She needs to find the missing parts of her femaleness in order to set her life on a balanced path to reach her life goals. 4) Where did you come up with the idea?      I started thinking about this story after reading a true story about a girl forced into marriage at the age of fourteen and how she coped with her circumstances throughout her life. Her story touched my heart and Sugar’s story grew from that foundation. 5) How long did it take you to write it?     When I wrote my first book, I sharpened a pencil and found a yellow legal pad and wrote from beginning to end. I did buy an electric eraser about a quarter of the way through, so that helped speed things up. That one took about two years. This time I bought a new computer, read as many planning your writing books as I could get my hands on, planning software that I could manipulate to suit my needs and finished right at four months. 6) Did you learn anything from the project?           I learned so much from this project. Mostly that writing is fun when you set your characters free to be themselves. I love watching them work their ways out of the situations they get themselves into. 7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?  I have a new website. It’s really basic right now because I don’t have a clue about how to make technology work for me. I know the Help staff fights over who has to help me next time. You can find me at phylliskerr.com and email–phylliskerrbooks @phylliskerr.com. 8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?     As far as success goes, writing is like any other endeavor in your life, how hard are you willing to work to achieve what you consider successful? I have a great Cover and Website Designer. I love working with her, she’s terrific. Carrie at cheekycovers.com. 9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?      New authors are awesome. I actually do love reading their work and writing reviews. But when I am working on a book, my book becomes my main focus and takes most of my time, day and night. 10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?       Of course, I love to read. I have my degree in Literature because I find it fascinating. So, of course, my favorite book is a long list of wonderful books that grows longer every day. But as a romance writer I would have to say I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice at an early age. There’s just something special about that Mr. Darcy. 11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?      I have a large orange cat named ChaCho that refuses to leave my side when I am writing. He’s always there, supporting me in bad times and good. He is an excellent listener. 12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?        I have a Kindle paperwhite, I think it’s called. It’s always in my purse when not in use so I never go out without it. I like the size, it’s very small. But the screen can be aggravating when your big fingers keep touching certain parts of the screen and sends you off somewhere unexpected. Thank you, I enjoyed talking to you. Happy writing!

____

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Interview with Steve Searls, Author of My Travels with a Dead Man

Pre-order link:  https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Dead-Man-Steve-Searls-ebook/dp/B089MWWBHZ

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Steve Searls, author of My Travels with a Dead Man.

Please enjoy!

Best,

Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

Steve Searls. I currently live in western New York State.  I was born in North Carolina, however, and then moved to Colorado when I was seven. I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Colorado State University, and the University of Colorado, Boulder, School of Law, respectively.           

My wife and I moved to New York State in 1988.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

   “My Travels With a Dead Man” is a multi-genre literary novel that that blends magical realism, fantasy, alternate realities, romance, mystery and suspense in the coming of age story of the main protagonist, Jane Takako Wolfshiem.

3) What is the book about? 

            Jane is a naïve young woman of half-Japanese, half Jewish American ancestry who suffers a seizure and is saved by an enigmatic man calling himself Jorge Luis Borges, the same name as the esteemed Argentinean literary figure.  When next they meet, nearly two years later, Jane inexplicably falls passionately in love with Borges. Soon however, he reveals a dark side to his character that frightens and confuses her. After visiting the Daibutsu, a bronze statue of the Buddha in Kamakura, Japan, with Borges, a demonic figure she names “the man in black’ plagues her dreams with nightmares of a violent nature. These nightmares and Borges’ manipulative treatment of Jane nearly drive her mad, even as she learns from him that she has the power to travel through space and time to alternate realities. Jane also receives visitations from the ghost of Basho, the famous Japanese haiku master, and the Daibutsu who appears in Jane’s dreams. Both offer cryptic advice warning her about Borges. Borges’ violent and manipulative treatment cause Jane to fear him, but all attempts to break his control over her fail. Ultimately, Jane learns Borges’ is exploiting her powers to fulfill a dangerous prophecy, one she’s led to believe by Ulrikke, Borges’ mother, will result in Jane’s death and threaten humanity’s future. Unable to know who to trust, Jane must decipher the true nature of the prophecy so she can take action to prevent it from coming to pass.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

            I originally wrote a short story about a young woman who encounters a homeless man named Borges in 2013. At some point in late 2014, I began to expand the story into a novel. I didn’t work from an outline, but just let the characters dictate how the story developed. It was an organic process in the sense that each time I came to a dead end I would think of a new character to add to the novel, and more of the plot would reveal itself to me. At this time I was re-reading many of Jorge Luis Borges’ stories and Basho’s famous haibun (a combination of haiku and poetic prose developed in Medieval Japan), Oku no Hosomichi – often translated as The Narrow Road to the Deep North.  Both writers had a major influence on the story’s development.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

            It took me roughly 5 years to complete. During that time I was working on another novel, a multi-generational saga, but I stopped work on that book to focus my efforts on completing “My Travels With a Dead Man,” which I deemed would have a better chance at getting published as an unknown author.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

            Quite a lot. I learned how to better hone my craft in order to write a compelling story that would interest publishers to take a chance on a first time writer. And my research into various subjects, including Buddhism, Norse mythology and the history of the Vikings, and the works of Borges and Basho, all proved invaluable in developing the major themes of my book.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

            Yes, I have an Author’s Facebook page. It’s Steve Searls, Author at https://www.facebook.com/SteveSearlsAuthor.  My website, also named “Steve Searls, Author,” includes a blog of my longer form essays, along with pages devoted to some of my short fiction and poetry. The link to the website is here: http://www.stevesearls.com/.

            At this time, I don’t have a video, nor do I plan to hire someone to make one. That’s not because I dislike book videos, but I made the decision to use my limited marketing budget in other areas.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 

            As a debut author, I’m still learning as I go, but if I had one piece of advice, I would say, be persistent.  

The only other thing I’d add is don’t use too many adverbs.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

            I’ll read almost anything, from all genres of fiction and non-fiction, having been a bookworm since I was a young child.  I am constantly checking out new authors, and have reviewed a number of the books from authors old and new.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

            I’ve had a number of favorite books over my lifetime. It’s impossible to limit myself to just one book. Here are a few fiction titles I’d recommend:

“Collected Short Stories” by Hemingway

“As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner

“The Stranger: by Albert Camus

“Lord of the Rings” by Tolkien

“Dune” by Frank Herbert

“The Man in the High Castle” by Phillip K. Dick

“Mrs. Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf

“Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier

“The Rings of Saturn” by W. G. Sebald

“2666” by Roberto Bolano

“The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles” by Haruki Murakami

“The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood

“Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy

“The Broken Earth Trilogy” by N.K. Jemisin

“The Dispossessed” by Ursula K. LeGuin

“House of Leaves” by Mark Z. Danielewski

As to why? Because they are all fabulous reads.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

            I’ve had dogs as pets in the past, but not at present.  Regrettably, I cannot be around cats, as I am deathly allergic to them. And by deathly, I mean I need an epipen handy at all times, because they caused anaphylactic shock that required me to rush to the hospital one time when I was visiting an aunt who has several cats.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

            I own a Kindle. Most books I buy these days are e-books because I own so many print books I’ve run out of space to put them all. For the present, my Kindle meets my needs.

_____

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Interview with Marie Lavender, Author of Chasing Ginger (The Misfits Series)

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Marie Lavender, author of Chasing Ginger.

Please enjoy!

Thanks,

-Vincent Lowry

 

Interview

1)      What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

 

My name is Marie Lavender. I live in Indiana, actually.

 

2)      What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

 

Chasing Ginger is my latest book release. This novel is a steamy romantic comedy – adult contemporary/chick lit/BBW romance/billionaire romance.

 

3)      What is the book about? 

 

The book is about Ginger’s journey, which includes meeting a new man she likes, and deciding what she wants for her life – dreams and all. But it starts with her getting involved in a drug trial. What happens next is just chaos, and it triggers the rest of the story.

 

4)      Where did you come up with the idea?

 

Well, I was inspired by a conversation I had with a reader on social media. I’d posted some random meme about wishing the side effects of medications were cooler instead of unfortunate. In this case, the desired side effect was ‘extreme sexiness’. I just took it from there and added a plus-sized main character.

 

5)      How long did it take you to write it?

 

A year to a year and a half, but only because I was struggling with random bouts of depression from a loss in the family.

 

6)      Did you learn anything from the project?

 

(Laughs.) Yeah, for future reference, I probably shouldn’t approach a rom com project in that kind of mental state.

 

7)      Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

 

Of course!

Official Website: http://marielavender.com/

Blogs: http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/  – I Love Romance Blog
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/ – Writing in the Modern Age

http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/ – Marie Lavender’s Books and Other Things

This is the book trailer for Chasing Ginger:  https://bit.ly/2vyy1Bc

 

8)      Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 

 

I would say ‘patience and perseverance’. Both of these traits will get you through a lot of hurdles and headaches. The writer’s journey is never easy, but knowing you can achieve a goal despite the odds will help considerably.

Some great cover artists I’ve had are Kayden McLeod, Dawné Dominique, Select-O-Graphix, Deborah Melanie, SwoonWorthy Book Covers, Spellbinding Designs, Avdal Designs, and LDM Graphics.

The editors/proofreaders I liked include Shawna Williams, Kathi Sprayberry, Cynthia Ley, Kathy Collier, Anthony Kohler, Fred Crook, Tracy Guzzardo, Melissa Manes, Jennifer B. Gaubert, and Belinda Y. Hughes.

 

9)      What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

 

I’ll read anything, I guess, but I prefer any subgenre of romance. I don’t like nonfiction all that much (unless it’s motivational or I’m reading it for research purposes). It’s difficult for me to get into hard science fiction, and erotic horror is just too weird for me (I don’t mind the two genres separated). My top likes would be paranormal romance, historical romance, and contemporary romance.

I was doing reviews for a while on my romance blog, but my TBR list got too big and I had to shut down requests until I can get caught up. So, right now, it would be a hard NO. It’s not because I want to, though (I am a major bibliophile), yet it’s just necessary so I’ll be able to fulfill the promises I made to review those other books. This is my latest book review.

 

10)  What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

 

I still have a weakness for J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. Wrath is a total book boyfriend to me.

 

11)  Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

 

Yep! I have two cats, one calico and the other is almost all black with a few white spots. Emma and Katerina are my babies.

 

12)  Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

 

Sort of. I have a Samsung tablet which I use to read my Kindle books and the ebooks I’ve gotten through contests and newsletter sign-ups. I do like it. My problem, however, is that I’m still a bit old school, and I prefer to read a paperback or hardcover. Not to mention that being an epileptic as well as a migraine sufferer, it will always be easier for me to focus on reading an actual page rather than an electronic screen.

Interview with Lucy May Lennox, author of The Adventures of Tom Finch, Gentleman

Hello,

Today we have another interview, this time with Lucy May Lennox, author of The Adventures of Tom Finch, Gentleman.

Please enjoy.

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

 

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

My name is Lucy May Lennox and I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, USA

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

The Adventures of Tom Finch, Gentleman, historical fiction

3) What is the book about?

The setting is London, 1735, the early Georgian era. Tom Finch, blind from childhood, works as an assistant conductor in a Covent Garden theater, and as a composer of popular tunes. He doesn’t let his blindness get in the way of living the high life with his low-class friends. If people condescend to him, that’s their problem. Tess Turnbridge is an aspiring opera star who auditions at Tom’s theater. She’s not about to let anything get in the way of her rising career, certainly not a lowly assistant conductor who keeps flirting with her.

This witty, lively novel is a picaresque romp through high and low Georgian society among rakes, rovers, thieving whores and demireps, highway robbers, bigamists, and duelists, bisexual opera divas, castrati, mollies, and cross-dressers, lecherous aristocrats, and headstrong ladies.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

I was frustrated with the stereotypes and clichés about blindness and disability in historical fiction, particularly the 18^th century. So often, the plot is about an impossibly wealthy man who is recently blinded, and is angry and bitter, until a self-sacrificing woman comes along and by passively loving him, helps him get over himself. Often the happy ending can only come after his sight is miraculously restored, as if people with disabilities can’t live full, rich lives.

If we look at real history, though, there were blind men who achieved great professional and social success in Georgian London, such as John Fielding, brother of Henry Fielding, and John Stanley, a composer and conductor who was an inspiration for Tom.

I wanted to write something that is the complete opposite of the usual stereotype: a man who has been blind all his life and is already fully independent and capable when the story begins, who doesn’t need a woman to be a nursemaid or carer; people at the fringes of polite society, rather than only the super rich; characters who are gay and bisexual, because they definitely existed back then. And I wanted it to be funny and exuberant. I dislike historical fiction that is grim and dark, or self-serious. It’s frustrating when characters with disabilities only exist to create angst. The 18^th century was a peak of satirical, funny writing, and I wanted to reflect that.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

From start to finish it took me ten years! But I wasn’t working consistently the whole time. I wrote the first draft in 2010. In 2013, I published my first novel, Love in Touch, with a small indie press, although I actually wrote that novel second. The press very kindly had a professional editor look over the first draft of Tom Finch, which was tremendously helpful, but then the press went out of business and all the rights reverted back to me. For a while, I tried to get an agent interested but didn’t get anywhere, and I realized I didn’t want to be locked into producing a high volume series or creating a brand. Then I had children so it was many years before I got back to writing seriously. Finally in 2019 I decided to do the major revisions suggested by the editor. It took me almost a year to go through many rounds of revisions, with suggestions by other readers as well.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

I did a lot of research, and I learned so much about the Georgian era. You can read my other blog posts about some of the research I did on disability and homosexuality in the eighteenth century, and about Baroque opera in London.

About the craft of writing in general, I learned how important it is to go through multiple rounds of editing with lots of feedback from different kinds of readers. The first draft was definitely not the best draft.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

Follow me on Goodreads: Lucy May Lennox.

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

Freelance professional editors are expensive but absolutely worth it. It’s also good to be part of an online community of writers who will read your work critically and give more detailed feedback than you might get from a friend.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I enjoy classics and literary historical fiction, but I also read a lot of comic books and graphic novels.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

It’s hard to choose just one, but at the top of the list is Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susannah Clarke and the Master and Commander series by Patrick O’Brian. I love historical fiction that feels true to the time period, that is funny and fun to read.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

No, taking care of small children is enough mess and chaos for now.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I use the Kindle app on an iPad. I love it because it’s so fast and efficient. I almost never buy hard copies of books anymore.

 

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Interview with Dick Rothschild, Author of The End Game

Happy Friday!

Today I’m very pleased to bring you this interview with Dick Rothschild, author of The End Game! I’m sure reading it will inspire you!

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

Title: THE END GAME

Genres: Fiction, Romance

What is the book about?

THE END GAME is a tale of love and loss, the experience we share,
though our life paths diverge. Specifically, the novel is the tale of Bob and Coco, teenage lovers, estranged for fifty years, who find one another again, try to rekindle their romance but struggle with thwarting physical and emotional baggage they have taken on in the intervening years.

Where did you come up with the idea?

How did I even come up with the idea of writing a debut novel well into my nineties? I wish I could tell you that I experienced an epiphany but the reality is less dramatic. After having written bylined newspaper columns for thirteen years, one morning, facing a deadline, I realized that I was burnt out with that. But I knew I still wanted to continue writing. A novel came to mind, I think because I was aware that my own expiration date was coming up before long and I wanted to leave a piece of myself behind. The idea for the plot came as I was ruminating about my own life and wondering how different it might have turned out, had I married my teen-age girl friend. That melded into the idea of a fictional story of two teenage lovers, reunited after many years.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft took about eighteen months, after which I had it evaluated and critiqued by a real pro, Stacey Donovan. I made changes, then had Don White, another consummate professional, copy and line edit the manuscript. The whole process took
about two and a half years.

Did you learn anything from the project?

Yes, I came to understand that while each of us follows a different path through life, that we share the need to find love and, having found it, the need to cope with the loss of that love.

Do you have an author website or blog?

No¸ but I do have an active Facebook page, which covers a broad range of interests including the latest about THE END GAME, such as the recent release of an audiobook version, expertly narrated by Steve Miller.

Any tips to pass along to fellow writers?

Yes, I do. Make writing your top priority and schedule it at regular time, daily. Don’t let other activities interfere.

What genres do you like to read?

Open to reading new authors and reviewing their work? I especially enjoy contemporary and classic fiction, biography, and non-fiction dealing with big ideas. And I’m open to reading and reviewing the work of new authors in the genes of romance, new and literary fiction. Your favorite book of all time and why? That’s a tough one but if I had to choose just one, I guess I’d chose, Ivan Turgenyev’s “Fathers and Sons.” Why? Because it deals with the eternal conflict between the ideas of the older generation and the younger and because it is so masterfully written.

Do you have any pets and what kind?

Life would be diminished without the devotion of our beloved pet, Cat Ballou, eighteen pounds of unalloyed pleasure. Independent yet caring, he enriches our life.

Do you have an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I do. Its an Amazon Fire tablet with a screen about the size of a paperback page. Useful to bring books along while traveling without taking up space in my suitcase.

 

 

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Interview with Sophie Jupillat Posey, Author of The Four Suitors

Hello,

We have a second interview today. It is with Sophie Jupillat Posey, author of The Four Suitors.

Please see it below.

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

 

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

I am Sophie Jupillat Posey and I live in Florida.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

The Four Suitors. It’s a medieval mystery/romance fantasy for young adults.

3) What is the book about?

It’s about a spoiled brat of a princess who gets roped into being courted by 4 suitors chosen by her parents. She must do so, or she won’t get the crown. There’s an artist, astronomer, philosopher and necromancer. She balks against their teachings. But as she does so, she finds that her kingdom is falling apart. Has been falling apart for a while and it’s accelerating. The newest debacle is the increase of deaths in the peasantry. She needs all of her suitors’ help to uncover who is behind the rising deaths of her citizens.

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

I came up with the idea after talking with my husband about my adopted mother; who always bragged about how many boyfriends she had when she was younger. Four at a given time to be precise. Suddenly an image of a spoiled princess with 4 suitors came to my mind. From there, I knew I wanted to craft a mystery and a way for the character to redeem herself gradually. The rest filled itself in as I wrote.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

It took 2 years to write and 1 additional year to re-edit.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

This story started as a novella. I was satisfied with it, but felt I could add more. Several months later I did add more and made it a full novel. I learned that writing novels is hard but thrilling; I’d only ever written novellas and short stories up to that point. And that editing is just as important as getting the story down.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

My author website is: www.sophiejupillatposeywriter.wordpress.com The book video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1WajrW4IEk

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

Success tips: my most important tip would to never give up; it’s cliché but it’s true. There will be plenty of inner and outer obstacles you face as a  writer. There are many excuses to give up writing. But it is much more fulfilling to plod on and finish that book. And also to let a project sit for as long as it needs. Too many people are so impatient to publish they skip crucial steps. Time is important, because you can better see errors whether they are grammar ones, or plot holes.

I was fortunate to have my work edited by David Curran, a friend of mine and former journalist. His eagle eyes spotted more than one error others and myself had missed. IndieDesignz made my cover art and I love it. She is my go-to designer.

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I enjoy reading science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and paranormal works for young adults or adults.I also sometimes enjoy horror, if it’s more cerebral. Not a fan of gore. I enjoy poetry too but am very picky about which kind. I am open to reading new authors when I have time. I am currently a part-time student, a full-time teacher, a composer and a writer. It’s not something I can do on a regular basis but I’d be willing to do it every so often.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

That’s a really hard question: I have so many. I would say my favorite is Ivanhoe. It made me fall in love with medieval era stories from a very young age. The romance, the adventure, the disenfranchised main character, the strength of the women in the novel, the style… It was all stuff I hoped to one day be able to write, in my own way.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

Currently none. But growing up, my family had 5 cats, 1 dog, 2 turtles and 1 bird. Later on we had 2 ferrets, 2 rabbits and we even fostered 5 raccoons.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

Nope. I borrow my husband’s if he gets a digital story. I’m more of a hardcopy girl. 

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Interview with C.L. Mannarino, Author of Singers of Atlantis

Today we have another author interview, this time with CL Mannarino about the book Singers of Atlantis.

Please enjoy!

Best,

-Vincent Lowry

Interview:

1) What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

My name is C.L. Mannarino, and I’m from Massachusetts.

2) What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

My newest book is called SINGERS OF ATLANTIS, and it’s the sequel to my teen romantic fantasy story called SWANS OF ATLANTIS.

3) What is the book about?

For the first time since she returned to the vacation town of Atlantis, Kat hates the magic of soul mates. They’re complicated. They take a while to find. And they’re not even all you hoped they would be. She wants nothing more to do with them.

But when she and her childhood crush, Matt Michaels, find out that he has a week to fix his severed soul, or be considered incurable, she wants nothing more than to find the girl who started all this, and demand of her that she fix it.

Except now, that girl has gone missing, and not even the ones who know her best can find her. To make matters worse, she’s also been ingesting the same poison that’s hurting Matt’s soul. By the time they find her, it might be too late for her to do anything.

Will she and Matt be able to find the girl in time? Or will the history between the girl and Matt only get in the way of their finding a healing solution?

4) Where did you come up with the idea?

After I finished SWANS OF ATLANTIS, I wanted to know what happened next. When I started drafting, I looked at all the questions I hadn’t answered in book one, and did my best to find answers.

5) How long did it take you to write it?

Even though I knew what was going to happen pretty early on, it still took me over a year to get the story in writing.

6) Did you learn anything from the project?

Every book is different from every book you’ve written before. Sometimes, a story just takes more time.

7) Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

I do! My author website is clmannarino.com

8) Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists?

A tip would be to just not quit. Even if you have to go slower than everyone else, as long as you keep writing, you’ll do well.

For editors, I’d recommend Susan Bischoff of Forge Book Finishers, and Sara Kocek of Yellow Bird Editors. They’re smart, insightful women who really know their stuff.

For artists, I adore Najla Qamber Designs, as well as OkayCreations. They both do beautiful, stunning work!

9) What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

I love fantasy, and I’m always interested in reading something new.

10) What is your favorite book of all time and why?

Ella Enchanted, which has held up as a wonderful story ever since it first came out. I still love all the characters, and I still find myself getting lost in the kingdom of Frell, both of which I consider the hallmarks of a great book.

11) Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

My family has cats and dogs alike.

12) Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

I have a Kindle, and it’s fantastic!

 

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Peppermint Candi by Melissa Love

Between her job at the firm and her husband’s suspicious infidelities, Rashawn decided to listen to the advice of her close friends and set up online account. Inside the private world of Ultimate Pleasure adult club, you can chat and then meet up at a secret location.

Peppermint Candi, as Rashawn soon calls herself decided it’s time for them to meet in person, but in this twisted story, Dark Chocolate isn’t whom she expected.

 

 

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Lord Poet by Megan M. Franks

Meet Lord Edmund Troy, a carefree aristocrat and renowned poet in Victorian-era London. Idolized by the masses for his charisma and dashing good looks, he finds himself in the sights of wealthy socialite Agatha and her cousin Catrina.

Agatha appears to be the quintessential match for Lord Troy…until he becomes more acquainted with Catrina. Drawn to Catrina for her love of literature, Lord Troy finds himself in unusual territory as he yearns for her. A quiet and intelligent book lover, Catrina is thrust into the middle of their relationship despite her continued efforts to remain focused on following her dreams of becoming an author.

In a twist of events, Lord Troy and Catrina find each other in close contact when she is required to stay with him at his manor; their growing relationship stimulated by a series of truths and mistruths.

Complicating matters, Sam—Lord Troy’s most trustworthy longtime friend—and Imelda—his closest female confidante— weave themselves in the life of the Lord and end up intermingled in a web of sex, lies, and deceit.

Will Catrina unravel secrets too disastrous to rebury, or yet, will she be able to untangle herself from the deceptions and follow her dreams to success?

 

 

 

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Starfish – A Rock Star Romance by Lisa Becker

 

“I’m absolutely smitten. I fell in love with everything about it.” Diana, Goodreads reviewer

“I found the story to be sweet and entertaining as well as funny and suspenseful at times. And when you learn why it’s called Starfish you will be smiling with me” I Scream Books Blog

Ambitious graduate Marin Collins accepts a four-month internship at a prestigious public relations firm to work on a tech account, but her plans are derailed when she’s assigned to go on the road with touring rock band Kings Quarters, hailed by Rolling Stone as the next big thing.

Enter Brad Osterhauser, the reluctant rock star who would rather be coding computer games than penning Grammy-nominated songs.

Traveling by bus, city to city with a group of practical joking bandmates and a greedy manager, Marin and Brad forge a friendship and forbidden romance over a shared love of Seinfeld episodes, stolen moments and Red Vines.

But when Marin’s accused of betraying her company and the band, will Brad come to her defense or believe she was disloyal to him for the sake of her career?

Told in alternating perspectives of Marin and Brad, Starfish is a contemporary romance of unexpected love, the redemptive power of music and hogging the bed.

 

 

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.