Please tell us about your current release.

The Banker Spy weaves history into a contemporary thriller about ex-lovers who become entangled in a web of international intrigue. Investment banker Peter Armstrong believes he’s left his past in the States. He has an exciting new job in London and is managing the largest equity offering in European history. Behind him are an incident at his old employer and a broken engagement. He thinks his only problem is his client—an automobile company desperate for cash. Then he receives a phone call from his ex-fiancée, Dayna Caymus, a beautiful and unpredictable CIA agent.

When Peter discovers that his client is secretly working for the German government the two ex-lovers enter into an uneasy alliance, which their past sometimes helps and sometimes hurts, all the while sorting through their feelings for each other. Dayna puts her mission first, leading Peter into a labyrinth of deception and conspiracy. Peter loses his client, his job, and almost his life as they race to learn Germany’s secrets—secrets that could start a nuclear war.

Set against the backdrop of a national election, action takes place in and around Munich, and in Berlin, Washington and London.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

I always wanted to write and for years would sketch out ideas, but they lacked the critical mass to develop into a book. My wife and I were flying to Germany for a vacation a few years ago. Whenever we’d go to Europe I’d buy a book that had something to do with the country we were visiting. I’d read a lot about the World War II area, an interest of mine, and wanted something different. So I picked up a book on post-War Germany and read it on the flight over. The story of The Banker Spy literally came to me by the time I’d finished reading the book. Over dinner the next night, I outlined the plot to my wife. With some modifications and embellishments, it’s the story you’ll read in The Banker Spy.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

It’s pretty straightforward. I wanted a cover, and a title, that conveyed a sense of the book to the reader. On the cover is a man in a suit, carrying a briefcase, and a woman holding binoculars, standing next to each other. This suggests (I hope!) the two principal characters are a man and a woman, and they have a relationship. The suit and briefcase conveys the banker and the binoculars, the spy. They’re looking at landmark buildings, which gives the reader the idea where the book takes place.

What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?

I’m just beginning marketing and I’m very excited about my blog tour. I’m also asking friends and professional reviewers to post reviews about The Banker Spy. I believe that creating a buzz through word-of-mouth and posted reviews is the most effective way for an indie author, particularly one who’s published an eBook, to generate interest.

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

I really like Daniel Silva’s work. I’m not comparing myself to him or his books. Silva’s obviously an extremely successful author. I like that his books are set in Europe and he conveys a feel for the locale, particularly Italy. His principal characters are in a relationship and both are spies, although neither want to be. In The Banker Spy, the banker is dragged into espionage, just like Silva’s characters get called back into service. My principal characters have a more complicated, at times adversarial, relationship than Silva’s and it’s not resolved at the end of The Banker Spy.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m not sure if this is a quirk but I like delving into history as part of the story, perhaps in greater detail then most thriller writers. The Banker Spy draws on historical events and places. The past is carried forward and guides the plot. Even my characters are deeply influenced by their pasts. Oftentimes, I got lost in my research because I found the information so interesting. This isn’t a historical novel, it takes place today and is very contemporary, but it has a strong historical basis and my characters experience the influences of history.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Since you can’t flip open an eBook, I swept my stylus quickly along the bottom of my iPad’s screen and wound up at the last page in chapter 21. Dayna, Peter’s ex-fiancée and CIA agent, is talking to the CIA station chief in Berlin about the chancellor of Germany. Germany is in the midst of a national election and the chancellor is running for his second, and final, term. The race is close. Unknown to the German voters, the chancellor has a secret program to make Germany a nuclear power and reclaim the territory it lost after World War II. Dayna is tasked with stopping the chancellor. If she can come up with something bad from his past, he will lose the election and the German threat will end.

Do you plan any subsequent books?

I put a lot of thought into developing my principal characters, Peter and Dayna. I think there’s good tension and a complicated chemistry between them (of course, I’m biased!) and I’d like to see how their relationship plays out. I planted the seeds for their next adventure in The Banker Spy when Peter, an investment banker, gets the assignment to sell the German automobile company that figures prominently in the story. I’m thinking about sending them to Mexico or South America, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I like reading a mixture of non-fiction (principally history and business) and fiction. I just finished Killing Lincoln, by O’Reilly and Dugard. The book conveyed a real sense of time and place. The authors communicated a great deal of information about Lincoln, the civil war and Washington, D.C. As O’Reilly said, it reads like a thriller. In fiction, my latest read was Daniel Silva’s Fallen Angel. Just like his principal character, Silva paints wonderful pictures of his characters and locations. Just before that I read David Baldacci’s (another favorite author of mine) The Innocent. Like Silva, Baldacci creates unique characters. Baldacci’s books are fast moving and I like that much of the action takes place around Washington, DC, where I’ve lived most of my life.

The Banker Spy 

Format/Price: $2.99 ebook
Publisher: Publish Green
ISBN: 9781938296345
Release: August 27, 2012

Kindle buy link ($2.99)

William G. Byrnes‘s Bio: 

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome first time guest Elizabeth Finn to the blog today to chat about her new book “The Devil’s Pawn”

Elizabeth, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m a Human Resources Specialist, I’m also a junior in a business management program thanks to a really good employer based tuition reimbursement program, and I’m the mother a four year old little boy.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not always, though after years of being complimented on my writing from professors, teachers, co-workers, family, and my own building satisfaction from writing, I can truly say it is really my passion.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

My typical writing day starts after my son goes to bed at night, though I love to get up Saturday morning and write while he’s watching cartoons too. I often stay up far too late at night and leave little time for sleep. I don’t need much while I’m writing, my notebook where I keep plot ideas and notes for myself and that’s about it.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Most challenging is finding the time without completely exhausting myself or letting other parts of my life suffer. Most rewarding is completing a manuscript and having it contracted – there’s no better feeling in the world.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

How about a blurb…

When Ashton is left orphaned after her parents are murdered, her life becomes a hell she could never have imagined. Left to fend for herself, and responsible for a debt she doesn’t owe, she is swept into a life as a gentleman’s escort at a private men’s gaming hall. Her new manager makes it abundantly clear he doesn’t appreciate her inexperience, innocence, and shyness. On the contrary, he despises everything about her.

Derek can be “difficult,” she’s been told. And however dark and handsome he may be, he terrifies her in a way that chills her to the bone, but leaves her begging to understand him. As they are pulled along together, more secrets and threats than either one could ever conceive are revealed, and a common enemy emerges. This enemy will stop at nothing to bring Derek to his knees while using Ashton as the greatest pawn in his torturous game.

Will Derek be able to let down his shield of cold, harsh emotion before it’s too late? Will he be able to sacrifice himself to save Ashton, or will they both be destroyed by the secrets of their pasts?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’ve wrestled with this question so much on all of my books. I’ve been creating stories in my mind since I was a child, and most of what I’ve written have simply been stories that have been floating around for a few years. They must have been inspired, but I’ll be darned if I can nail it down!

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

In addition to my two releases that are out right now, The Devil’s Pawn and Brother’s Keeper, I have a 12/17/2012 release, Restoring Jordan that I’m really excited about. I’m also just finishing a paranormal erotic romance that I hope to have contracted very soon!

Who are some of your favorite authors?

When I first started reading romance, it was largely historical – I fell in love with Johanna Lindsey and Nicole Jordan. Liquid Silver Books has some amazing authors as well, and my “to be read” list is stacking up.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

I write contemporary and paranormal, though I’d love to tackle historical at some point, and while these genres are so different, I do tend to write about redemption and I see some of that in my favorites.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I can’t wait to read Parker Kincade’s One Night Stand, Rosanna Leo’s For the Love of a God, and also Chastity Bush’s Reluctant Angel.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’m really excited about all three of my recent and upcoming releases, and I really hope people with check them. Visit me on my site, follow me, sign up to follow by email, because I’m not finished and I’d love to share more future stories with you!

Learn more about Elizabeth here:   Website / Facebook / ElizabethFinn77@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Devil’s Pawn

Elizabeth Finn

Amazon|B&N

Derek can be “difficult,” she’s been told. And however dark and handsome he may be, he terrifies her in a way that chills her to the bone, but leaves her begging to understand him. As they are pulled along together, more secrets and threats than either one could ever conceive are revealed, and a common enemy emerges. This enemy will stop at nothing to bring Derek to his knees while using Ashton as the greatest pawn in his torturous game.

Will Derek be able to let down his shield of cold, harsh emotion before it’s too late? Will he be able to sacrifice himself to save Ashton, or will they both be destroyed by the secrets of their pasts?

Excerpt:

Once in the fitting room, Derek takes the chair again while I start to remove my clothes. I intentionally wore ugly, stretched-out, white cotton underwear that is entirely too big on me in the event he should be here. My mouth isn’t the only thing that can get me into trouble—my sarcasm knows no bounds when I’m unhappy.

As he sees the appalling excuse for an undergarment, his eyes move up to mine, narrowing darkly at my obvious defiance. I look coolly back at him before looking away dismissively. My anger and resentment of him from the humiliation he subjected me to the previous morning, not to mention his treatment of me over the past two weeks, have charged me into a bold, fiery bitch that no longer cares what retribution I might face. While my tongue usually gets me in trouble, today I decided to let my underwear do the talking.

Jacob enters with an armful of dresses for me to try on, and he cringes as he takes in my defiant granny panties, hated the world over by men, including, apparently, gay men.

He turns to Derek, and with a scrunched-up face, he worries out loud. “The dresses aren’t going to lay right over those…” He tosses a nod in my general direction.

Derek wastes no time at all reassuring Jacob and striking back at me. “No worries. Ashton was just taking them off. She won’t be wearing underwear anymore.”

I glare defiantly back at him as I drop the loose fabric to the floor. He returns the glare for a moment before letting his gaze travel down my body to my sex, and as it lands there, smoldering with heat, I turn abruptly from him, intentionally showing him my backside instead. I look to the mirror in front of me, and I catch his eyes flit away from me in annoyance. He worries his lip with his thumb and index finger as he contemplates, and the slightest of smirks crosses over his mouth. Jacob is standing by looking from one to the other of us, obviously wondering just exactly what he’s gotten himself in the middle of.

Derek finally looks back to Jacob. “Get on with it.”

I try on one after the other of the dresses. Some are perfect; Jacob pins in additional alterations in others. Derek sits by bored, only glancing up from his cell phone occasionally. One such occasion is when Jacob remarks that I’m “just not curvy enough for this one.”

Derek looks up to Jacob, but he shifts his eyes to mine before commenting, “Yes, well, if you can figure out some way of making her look female, you let me know.”

Jacob again lets his eyes pass between us, seeming to wonder all the while what he’s missing. As I hold Derek’s eyes with my own, my anger falters, and the pain that is behind my fury pushes through. I try to wrangle my tears into submission, but it’s no use. In defeat, first one, and then another spills from my eyes and slides down my cheeks. Jacob regards my state and excuses himself from the room.

I stand on the hemming block in the center of the room, refusing to look at Derek. But he’s looking at me, and as my hurt continues to work through my entire body, I let my tongue do what it does best. “Why do you hate me so much?”

He says nothing, but stands and moves to me. Reaching around behind me, he pulls the zipper of the dress down, and then, returning his hands to my shoulders, he pulls the straps down, exposing first my small breasts, and then the rest of my naked body as it falls to the floor.

He leans in to my ear and speaks. “You don’t know anything about me.” He then takes me by the hand and pulls me to stand in front of the mirror, and leaning to my ear once more as I watch him in the mirror, he speaks gently. “Lean forward and put your palms on the mirror.”

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Jessica Subject to the blog to talk about her newest book “Sudden Breakway”

Jessica, can you please share with us a little about yourself.

I’m a wife, mother of two, a reader of many genres, and an author of romance. I love to walk fast, listen to music, and dance.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes and no. Growing up, there were so many things I wanted to be, including a writer. But I went to university for Business Administration. It wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my second child that I considered writing for publication.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I usually have to chew gum while writing. Otherwise, I grind my teeth and end up with a sore jaw at the end of the day.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Sudden Breakaway is about a woman whose life is dedicated to her job, and a man whose life revolves around his niece and nephew who live with him. Both believe they don’t have time to date. Here’s the blurb:

Dressed in her black designer suit, Paige Brown recruits men and women for the Space Service. After the end of her marriage, and several failed recruiting missions, she yearns to find a way out of her lifelong contract to live a normal life. To find love again.

Jared Barnes’s life had been flipped upside down by two little kids. When his former Commander’s wife shows up to give him a reprieve, he jumps at the chance for a break, and to visit his former squad. But it is not his buddies he meets in the private suite at a hockey game, instead a woman who has been the star of all of his recent fantasies, fulfills his wildest dreams except the one that binds his heart.

Has Madame Eve made a mistake or can two lonely hearts overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I wanted to write another 1Night Stand story about an agent for the Space Service which I talk about in many of my other 1NS stories. I had originally planned to include the agent mentioned in Unknown Futures who recruited Flavia, but Paige made her way into the story.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Honestly, I would love to meet all of my critique partners and my editors. They have been so paramount in the publishing of my books, and I really want to thank them all personally.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Read a lot, and find a hard critique partner or critique group. If the only feedback you get is that they love your work, you won’t learn anything.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Oh! I just did one of the things that was on my bucket list. I got a tattoo! It’s an open book with stars around it. There are many places I want to visit, but I have to fly in an airplane to get there, something I’ve never done. But I plan to.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Oh gosh! There are so many. Girl Under Glass by Monica Enderle Pierce is one of them. Also, Awakenings by Kacey Hammell. As for upcoming releases, I’m looking forward to Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Shades of Earth by Beth Revis. And one of my critique partners, Layna Pimentel, has her debut release coming out next year, which I’m looking forward to.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much, Kelly for hosting me on your blog during the Sudden Breakaway tour!

Find me here: Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Amazon | B&N  | Decadent Publishing |Amazon.co.uk  | Amazon.de | Amazon.es | Amazon.it |  Amazon.fr  |  All Romance ebooks  | Coffee Time Romance | Smashwords  |BookStrand

Jared Barnes’s life had been flipped upside down by two little kids. When his former Commander’s wife shows up to give him a reprieve, he jumps at the chance for a break, and to visit his former squad. But it is not his buddies he meets in the private suite at the Washington Capitals game, instead a woman who has been the star of all of his recent fantasies, fulfills his wildest dreams except the one that binds his heart.

Has Madame Eve made a mistake or can two lonely hearts overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

Excerpt:

Jared shucked his towel and stroked his rigid cock. That woman made him hard every time she came to the door, trying to persuade him to sign up for the Space Service. Her claims had seemed far-fetched when she’d first approached him, yet his commander had confirmed her credentials, having been approached to join by another many years ago. While Jared would never add his thumbprint to the contract he’d read, he wouldn’t mind if she stopped by to try and convince him again.

Ms. Brown, with her black blazer revealing a hint of cleavage and a skirt that showed the perfect curvature of her ass. When he’d answered the door fresh out of the shower and seen her on his porch, he’d gripped the door handle to hold himself back from yanking her inside and tearing off her fine-pressed suit.

He squeezed his balls; no time to jack-off. Dylan and Madison would arrive in an hour, and he had to take one last run through his house to get rid of any lingering dust bunnies before Children’s Services appeared. No obvious dirt in the living room, he headed toward the kitchen, but his mind kept flying back to Ms. Brown.

She had the whole librarian thing going on, with her dark hair tied up in a bun and glasses resting on the end of her nose. Though, none of the women who worked at the local branch made his cock throb. Perhaps there was some truth to the naughty librarian tale. He wished.

Most women’s version of naughty did not come close to his. While the whole BDSM club scene didn’t appeal to him, he enjoyed a little bondage during foreplay. He’d spent months at a time deployed in the Middle East. While home, he appreciated the opportunity to date the pretty women who found a guy in uniform sexy. But once he fetched the cuffs, they bolted. They hadn’t even wanted to use them on him.

Ms. Brown was no girl, though. No more than a couple years his senior, she exuded experience with her seductive glances, her posture that plunged her cleavage into his line of sight, and that damn wiggle of her ass as she sashayed back to her car. She could teach him a thing or two. He yearned for the chance to find out.

No, his next lay could no longer be at the forefront of his mind. In less than an hour, he would become the father-figure to two impressionable young children. His sexual urges would have to take leave for the foreseeable future.

He’d been in his last month of deployment to Afghanistan when the call came in. And it took another day for his commander to reach him with the news. His brother-in-law had been killed in a car accident, leaving his niece and nephew orphans. And as much as he loved the Marine Corps—Semper Fi—he couldn’t let the kids be raised by strangers. They had no other family left.

So, after he returned to the States, he contacted his lawyer and spent a couple of weeks obtaining guardianship of the children. He’d received his discharge papers, found a civilian position working as a desk jockey for the CIA through his contacts with the Marines, and bought a house suitable to raise two growing youngsters. After months of preparation, they were coming to live with him.

He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes until they arrived.

Shit! He’d wasted precious time thinking about Ms. Brown and his new life.

Grabbing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he yanked them on. Screw the boxers; his niece and nephew wouldn’t notice. He peeked into their rooms to ensure they looked somewhat presentable. Would Children’s Services take them back to California if his new living space didn’t meet their standards?

He groaned. They weren’t even at his house yet, and he’d been distracted. No more. Nothing would come before them. The children would be his priority. Everything he did would be for them, for the rest of his life.

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Sara Humphreys to the blog today to talk about her upcoming release UNTAMED.

Sara, can you please share with us a little about yourself?
SH: Sure! I’m 42 years old. I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for just over 18 years and we have four sons, ages 17, 14 and 11 yr old twins. I am a sci-fi dork and my daydreaming used to get me in trouble in school but now I use it to make a living. I quit my day job three months ago and now write full time.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
SH: I’ve always loved to create stories and when I first started college, I wanted to write for film and television but once I got bitten by the acting bug…all bets were off. I focused my creative energy into the acting world for many years but then marriage and kids took center stage. A few years ago, I began writing again because I needed a creative outlet. I adore creating stories that carry people away from their troubles for a little while.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
SH: There are far too many to list here but my two biggest influencers would be Christine Feehan and Lori Handeland.  They’re both brilliant authors and lovely people to boot!

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
SH: I love the paranormal but I am branching out into contemporary romance. I have a new series in the works, Holding Out for a Hero, which features men in uniform. I’m super excited to jump into a new genre.

What are some of your writing rituals?
SH: It all starts with daydreaming and listening to music. Once I have the inspiration, then I sit down at my computer and write. I can’t listen to music during writing but before and after is very helpful. Sometimes I’ll put on instrumental music and my noise cancelling headphones are a great help too.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
SH: I’d love to! Untamed is the third book in the Amoveo Legend series and features two characters that readers have met previously. In the first two books, the heroines didn’t know that they were human-Amoveo hybrids but the heroine in Untamed knows exactly what she is. Layla Nickelesen is half human and half Amoveo from the Cheetah Clan. She was raised by a foster family in rural Maryland and has two adopted sibliings, Raife and Tatiana, who are also half Amoveo. Layla has lived in fear that an Amoveo man would come along and drag her off like a caveman. She cherishes her independence and is terrified that her fate could be out of her control. The hero in Untamed is William Fleury, a pure blood from the Gyrfalcon Clan who is known for his cold, calculating demeanor. He doesn’t believe in love and thinks the concept is silly. However, when he meets Layla his orderly, uptight world is rocked. The poor guy is simply befuddled and doesn’t know what to do with the spirited woman that fate has brought him.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
SH: William has been a part of the series from the beginning and he’s so flippin’ uptight that I couldn’t wait to give him a spunky woman to loosen him up. I wondered what would happen if he ended up with a woman who was his total opposite. I also asked myself what would happen to a hybrid who actually knew what they were but only knew bits and pieces. I wanted to know what that would look like and we get up close and personal with a situation like that in Untamed.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
SH: You bet! I’m working on the copy edits for Undone, the fourth Amoveo novel (in stores May 2013) and I just turned in the manuscript for my upcoming vampire series. Tall, Dark, and Vampire (August 2013) is the first book in the Dead in the City series which is about a coven of vampire chicks who live and work in NYC. The heroine in Tall, Dark, and Vampire is introduced in Undone, which is a “crossover” book and will give readers a taste of the vampire world.

What would you be if you were not an author?

SH:  A frustrated actor.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
SH: I am dying to read Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knights series and Terry Spears’ new Jaguar series! Also, Olivia Cunning’s latest novel in her Sinners on Tour series. Shall I go on?

Is there anything else you would like to add?
SH: I just want to thank my readers! Thank you for coming with me on this journey and I hope that my books make you smile.

UNTAMED

BY SARA HUMPHREYS 

IN STORES NOVEMBER 2012

Amazon |B&N

An ancient race of shapeshifters has lived secretly among humans for thousands of years…they are…the Amoveo

HER WORST NIGHTMARE IS COMING TRUE…

Layla Nickelsen has spent years hiding from her Amoveo mate and guarding a devastating secret. But Layla’s worst fear is realized when the man who haunts her dreams shows up in person …

HE HAS FINALLY FOUND HER…

William Fleury is as stoic as they come, until he finds Layla and his feelings overwhelm him. She won’t let him get close, but then an unknown enemy erupts in violence and threatens everything Layla holds dear…

 Praise for the Amoveo Legend series:

“Compelling… Deft world-building and sensuous love scenes make this paranormal romantic thriller an enjoyable journey.” —Publishers Weekly

“The characters haunted my dreams…I thought about this book constantly.” —Long and Short Reviews

“I loved the book. I’m looking forwards to many more in this series.” —Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick

“Fast-paced paranormal romance with fantastic world-building.” —The Book Girl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives in Bronxville, NY, with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, and four amazing boys. For more information about her books and to join her street team, please visit www.sarahumphreys.com or follow her on Twitter, @AuthorSara.

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Juliana Stone on the blog today to chat a little about her newest book.

Julianna, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Hi!  Thanks for having me stop by.  Sure, as much as I hate talking about myself, I’ll give you the bare bones!  I’m a wife to the dude, mother to two teenagers, a cat and a dog.  I love music of all kinds, though I’m especially in love with the 80’s, hockey and baseball. I live somewhere in Canada and have the best girlfriends in the world.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I think it’s something I always dreamed of, but did I think it would actually happen?  Not really.  My imagination was pretty intense.  I mean I dreamed of marrying Jon Bon Jovi and that didn’t happen either! J But, I’ve always had an artistic bent, and if I wasn’t writing music I was putting together stories.  I suppose it was inevitable, but again, it’s one of those things where, if you don’t try, you never know!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m not sure if this is interesting or quirky, but I talk a lot when writing.  I argue dialogue with myself and make a lot of hand gestures.  I also need absolute silence when writing and that’s not always easy to find in my house.  Makes for a grumpy mom and writer.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Sure!  TO HELL AND BACK is a continuation of the novella, WRONG SIDE OF HELL.  These books are set in my LEAGUE OF GUARIANS series, a series that features all sorts of otherworld creatures. It’s one of the reasons I love writing these books so much.  These novellas are not so much prequels for the full length mass market books, (Wicked Road to Hell and the upcoming, King of the Damned) as companion novellas.  They follow the story of Logan, a hellhound, and Kira, a human who’s kinda sorta not your average everyday human, as they fight to survive in a world where everyone wants Kira either dead or in their possession.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m not sure how I come up with any of my ideas, to be honest.  I’ve always had an active imagination, but something about Heaven and Hell and all the creatures in between fascinates me.  I love taking the idea that anything from hell is automatically evil.  In my world, this world that the League exists in, evil can carry many faces and not everything is as it seems.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Sure, King of the Damned is the next book up in the League of Guardians.  It releases November 27^th.  I plan on writing the next installment next year, people can look on my website for release information.

I’ve also begun writing contemporary romance, writing two series, The Barker Triplets, featuring OFFSIDE, which is a hockey romance featuring a female hot shot player!  It’s available now!  I also have a new series debuting in April, Bad Boys of Crystal Lake, and the first book, THE SUMMER HE CAME HOME, features a hero who is a rock star! So, I’ve combined my love of sports and music.  Again, all this info is on my website!

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

That’s a hard one, mainly because I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting the one author who inspired me to write paranormal romance, Christine Feehan.  I was lucky enough to not only meet her but have dinner with her.  Such a lovely, lovely, lady.  I think If I could pick, it would be Anne Rice.  I read Interview With A Vampire in high school and fell in love with the darkness of her world. I was pretty much hooked.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Just do it.  Don’t say you’re going to be a writer. BE a writer and FINISH what you start.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’ve always wanted to go to New Orleans and spend the night in a plantation.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Hmm, that’s a hard one.  I’ve got so many book in my kindle that I need to get to. I think it would have to be, Iced, by Karen Marie Moning.  I loved her fever series and am curious to see what happens next.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Again, thanks so much for having me.  I hope everyone enjoy’s Logan and Kira and this hard and fascinating world they live in!  I love to hear from readers, so please don’t hesitate to contact me.

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Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Ashley Rae to the blog today!!   Please make Ashley feel welcome. 

Ashley, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I am living proof that dreams come true.  In the past two years I have cured myself of the Major Depressive Disorder that plagued my life, earned my MFA in Creative Writing, published my first book, organized and taught most of the workshops in four weekend retreats teaching divination, healing, and writing (with two to go in 2012), and started a Love Your Life Coaching practice, which is possibly the most rewarding job on the planet.  I get to help people empower themselves to make their lives awesome for a living.  How cool is that?

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, I have wanted to be an author since I was a very little book worm.  When I was young and suffering through the child abuse, I would hold myself and tell me that all my suffering was for a reason and that someday I would write books that would help other people get through and overcome their own hurts.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

My favorite author since I was 8 was Jean M Auel of the Earth’s Children series.  I feel those books raised me, though reading them now as an adult I see that her writing isn’t that great, but the story and the mass of information that she imparts through her stories is what makes her series so amazing.  My favorite writers today are the ones whose writing takes me on an emotional journey with clever writing and a fantastic sense of humor.  I love J.K. Rowling, C.L. Wilson, Kim Harrison, PC Cast…the funny thing is, I write memoir but I don’t read many memoirs.  I think reading 50 for my MFA tired me of my own genre.  I’d say the books that influenced the writing of my memoir the most were Two or Three Things I Know For Sure by Dorothy Allison, the poetry of Mary Oliver, and The Liars Club by Mary Karr.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?  Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I got into writing memoir as an undergraduate in my very first Creative Writing course.  I tried making a short story out of something that had really happened to me, which failed miserably, as I learned that reality just isn’t believable in fiction.  But when I tried my hand at writing my first short memoir, my professor told me that my work was the strongest he’d seen, and that I should pursue memoir-writing.  Memoir definitely comes naturally to me.  But I do write some poetry, and I most definitely want to try my hand at fantasy fiction someday.  I always dreamed of creating this amazing fantasy series featuring two girls who are the soul for a whole new world and go on this epic adventure discovering their inner power.  I even created a language for their world when I was in ninth grade.

What are some of your writing rituals?

Writing my first memoir involved going to Starbucks with my laptop, getting a venti iced coffee with mocha and soy, and typing and crying until I could barely keep my eyes open.  There’s a lot of sad in my first memoir.  Writing it was incredibly healing.  Now when I write, I get up early in the morning, and rush to write as much as I can before everyone else in the house wakes up.  I want to get myself into the groove of enjoying a cup of hot herbal tea, but I so far I only remember the tea after I’ve been writing for an hour or so, and I don’t want to stop to make tea when I’m in flow.  I also write a lot in my head when I’m driving, and then I’ll record a voice memo on my phone or jot down notes at red lights in my notebook, and as soon as I get back to my laptop try to get it all down before it slips away.  When someone else is driving, I’ll write longhand in my notebook and then type it up while revising.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)? My first book, Not My Mother: A Memoir is the story of how my unplanned pregnancy helped me, or forced me, to take the first steps to healing the wounds to my heart and mind so that I could be for my unborn child the mother I’d always wanted for myself.  The story starts with the positive pee stick and ends with my incredible home birth, and throughout I explore my biological parent’s lives and deaths, the traumas that I survived up to and during my pregnancy, and what kind of mother I wanted to be.  The book also explores the Buddhism of my childhood and a bit about the Paganism of my adulthood.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

My story started as my mother’s story when I first started writing memoir. Every time I visited her family in Virginia, I would get snippets and pieces of her life from her mother and siblings.  I felt like I was putting together a puzzle, and if I could just get the whole picture, I’d be able to understand her and forgive her.

Then it became the story of my abuse.  But I was still abusing myself at that point, so I didn’t have an ending.

But with my pregnancy, I finally found the frame, or the lens, that I needed to tell that story.  So while I wrote the same material for seven years, I ended up writing the first draft of the book in three months, and then taking another three months to turn that raw emotion into the haunting, heart-warming beauty that I published.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Right now a hypnotherapist and I are working together to create a multimedia online program for self-healing.  I’m writing the book, she’s recording the hypnosis tracks.  I’m so excited about this project I’m literally bouncing in my seat as I type this.

I’ve also been working on the sequel to my memoir, which for now I’m calling, Sentence Interrupted: Memoir of a Moody Mama, which is about all the hell my son and I went through in the two years following his birth and how it helped me to conquer my depression and really be for my son the loving mother I hoped and prayed I’d become in the first memoir.  The second memoir will get a lot deeper into my spirituality and the tools and processes I used to heal myself.

Writing the memoir is helping me write the self-healing book.  I explore what happened in the memoir, get the epiphany, make the connection, and write the process in the healing workbook.  I love it!

What would you be if you were not an author?

In addition to being an author, I’m a full-time single mom, a professional psychic, a Love Your Life Coach, a teacher, and a weekend retreat organizer.  I can’t imagine not being an author; writing is breathing.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Oh my goodness, too too many books.  I’m reading every book published by my publisher so that I can review them, and I’m looking forward to all of them.  I’ve been putting off reading the most recent books in my favorite series until I can take the time to enjoy them, so those would be the latest by Dianne Sylvan, Kim Harrison, PC Cast, and believe it or not, I am STILL reading the very last book in the Earth’s Children series, which came out like two years ago, one page at a time.  I think I just don’t want the series to be over.  I devoured the last Harry Potter book in one sitting, but I’m only a third of the way into the last book of the series that defined my childhood and young adulthood.  Go figure.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I encourage everyone who is reading this to invest in yourself.  Give yourself fifteen minutes a day to just be.  Take a baby step towards making your own dreams come true.  Give yourself the love that you’ve deserved since you were an adorable stinky baby.

Not My Mother: A Memoir

Release Date: July 13, 2012

Buy Links:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords

By the age of twelve, Ashley Rae had survived incest, child abuse, and the deaths of both her biological parents. Born to Baptists but raised by Buddhists, Rae found peace and healing on a Pagan spiritual path while obtaining her college degree and starting the career of her dreams.

Rae thought the hardships in her life were over…until she lost her job, started a new relationship, and found out she was pregnant with another man’s child all in the same week. Terrified of cesarean surgery, Rae vowed to give birth to her child at home – but first, she had to find one.

Alternately haunting, humorous, and heart-warming, Not My Mother: A Memoir follows Rae over a nine-month quest to break her family’s generational pattern of abuse and victimhood in order to become for her unborn child the mother she had always wanted for herself.

Excerpt:

From the moment Dad rushed us through the dark living room, too quickly for me to see her body, I’d been looking for my mother.  Even after her funeral in Virginia, I kept looking for my mother.  She came to me in my dreams and told me it had all been a mistake, and she wasn’t really dead at all.  I’d wake up and jump out of bed in a hurry to continue our conversation, then freeze and fold in half, hyperventilating as reality hit me.

At twenty-two, I had not yet explored how the violence that I couldn’t remember witnessing affected my life and my relationships.  Ike died when I was five.  Mom hated him.  His mom loved him.  I, on the other hand, had never given myself permission to have feelings about this man who’d loved me and killed my mother. Until I saw him staring back at me through my mirror in the flickering light of a white candle.

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Giveaway # 2:

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The Shadow Man

Mark Murphy 

Overview

            I’m a gastroenterologist.  That’s my day job, and it’s a busy one.  But I have an alternative life as a writer. That alternative life is a reflection of what I see every day.  It is seen in the beautiful and ancient city that I live in, filled with ghosts and intrigue, drawing its very lifeblood from the sea to its east and the marshland that gave the city its name.  It is in the practice of medicine, a veritable parade of characters who waltz through my exam rooms every day.  It is in the love of my wife and children—the driving forces behind everything that I do in my life.  And it most certainly in my love of the written word—the subtle nuances of spoken diction, the deft use of description the place a reader in a certain contextual location—that makes me revel in what I do in my writing life.

             Those are the things I derive my writing from.  I’m simply a reflection of what I have been given to describe.

And what a wonderful gift that is.

Mark, please tell us about your current release.

My current release is a thriller called The Shadow Man.  It is the story of a Savannah surgeon, Dr. Malcolm King, who is accused of being a serial killer.  He suspects he is being framed for these crimes by another surgeon, but does not know who that person is.  Dr. King must race to determine the identity of the killer before anyone else, including his family, can be harmed—and before the police capture Dr. King for these same crimes.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

I’ve always been a writer.  I edited my high school newspaper, winning several writing awards in the process, and actually enrolled in undergraduate school as a journalism major before switching to a pre-med track.  As a clinician, I wrote several book chapters and medical journal articles, but it was the death of my wife’s close friend Lisa Erickson that catalyzed a renewed interest on creative writing.  I spent a couple of summers at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, wrote a short story about Lisa’s death called The Funeral that saw publication in a short story collection in 2004, and began writing a regular column for the Savannah Morning News, my hometown newspaper, two years ago. A little over a year ago, my car was nearly struck by a dark-tinted black SUV my way home.  I thought about honking at him, but deferred this gut response.  The car just looked ominous.  And then I thought, “What if you honked at a car like that and the driver was a psychopath who then hunted you down?”  That was the initial premise for the novel—being targeted by a serial killer.  The rest just took off from there.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

The cover of the book is a black-and-white nighttime photo of the Forsyth Park fountain, an iconic structure in my hometown of Savannah, which is the setting of the novel.  It was taken by a local Savannah photographer named Tim Nealon.  I found it online and obtained permission from Mr. Nealon to use it.  It’s a creepy, shadow-draped image, with Spanish moss draping the surrounding trees and a starry night sky overhead.  You could almost see a killer lurking in the edges of the photograph, if you look hard enough. It’s also an image that is instantly recognizable as Savannah to anyone who has ever visited our city. I thought it was beautiful and provocative, and the perfect image for the cover of this novel.

What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?

Marketing will be done through traditional print media (reviews via various media outlets, etc.), web-based media (social websites, blog tours, and my personal website) and personal appearances (book launch party, book signings, etc).

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

Probably the closest similar recent work was the John Hart novel called The Last Child, which won the Edgar Award a few years back.  Hart’s work is a well-written thriller set in the south with a twist-filled plot that kept me guessing the entire time I was reading it.  I could not put that book down while I was reading it.  That’s the effect I was striving for with my book.  However, I’m a big Stephen King fan—the protagonist’s last name is a tip of the cap to him—and there are a few Stephen King touches in my story.  Also, the Savannah setting is unique. In fact, I think Savannah is an integral part of the fabric of the story—a mysterious character woven throughout every facet of the story.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

In writing a novel, I outline the entire plot before I begin the first line of the work.  I then flesh out that skeleton by writing a chapter or so every weekend until I am finished.  Since I am a practicing physician, this requires a great deal of discipline.  I’m up every Saturday and Sunday at 4 A.M. so that I can get in four or five writing hours each weekend day.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Page 43:  Detective Sam Baker is interviewing Malcolm King about the murders, and—to his horror— it becomes clear to Malcolm that he is the prime suspect.  Moreover, he realizes that Detective Baker has physical evidence linking him to the case—and enough physical evidence to convict him.

 Do you plan any subsequent books?

Yes, there will likely be a sequel to The Shadow Man.  And I am currently writing a young adult sword-and-sorcery series called The Bloodsword Trilogy.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I’m currently reading the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (currently on book 3 in that series, A Storm of Swords), which I really love for the complex plot structure and in-depth characterization.  I’m also reading Wiley Cash’s A Land More Kind Than Home, a well-written Southern gothic tale reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor.  I love O’Connor’s writing; she’s a Savannah native, and arguably the most talented Georgia writer of all time.  Anything that echoes her writing is an attraction to me.

The Shadow Man

Formats/Prices: $14.95 paperback, $5.99 ebook

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Linda Andrews to the blog today

Linda, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Although I was born in Baltimore, I moved to Phoenix at such a young age that I consider myself a native. Growing up, I’m pretty sure my mom had superpowers, but as a parent I now know that kids are really bad at keeping secrets. Still, the idea that she could read minds started me exploring paranormal worlds, much of which is now incorporated in my stories.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

No. Writing is hard work and I like the easy things like math and science. But I love to tell stories. Since there are quite a few artists in my family, I decided to stop sketching and start writing (none of my siblings write). There are days, I wish I kept on with my drawingJ

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I usually make sporadic notes in a bound notebook while at work to keep the story in my mind. Then when I come home I write for 2-3 hours depending on if I want my 1 hour of TV time. On weekends I use my early morning alone time to write another 2-3 hours then try to squeeze in another couple in the afternoon. I really find I’m creatively exhausted after 5-6 hours of writing so I do other crafts or housework. I absolutely must have my MP3 player going when I write. Although I don’t always hear the music, the lyrics trip something in my brain and help me to slip into my fantasy world.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Getting the words right is the most challenging and rewarding part of writing. Getting to that point is a lot of hard work.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Brianna is the story of Brianna, a woman who was diagnosed with consumption at a very young age and spent most of her life in hospitals looking for a cure. On the day she arrived at her sister’s house to die surrounded by family, she met Duncan and fell in love with him. This as well as being in the dry climate of Arizona helped her to get better. Unfortunately, Duncan’s own fears caused him to run. Now healthy, she’s on her way to Egypt at the behest of her cat (an Egyptian goddess) and Duncan’s been sent to retrieve her.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

When I was younger I wanted to be an Egyptologist. Alas, I realized I’d have to climb into some really cramped places and my claustrophobia wouldn’t allow that, so instead I decided to switch to science. But I never gave up my love of ancient Egypt or mummies. While there aren’t any mummies in my book, I did include secret passageways, undiscovered tombs and a necklace that holds the key to ancient secrets.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Currently, I’m working on the third book of my apocalyptic series, Redaction. In it, the surviving remnants of humanity are living in mines. And you guessed it, there’s going to be a cave in somewhere because though I rarely face my fears in real life, I do so a lot on paper.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Linda Howard, Linnea Sinclair, Julie Garwood, MM Kaye, and Barbara Michael’s to name a very few.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

Actually, I don’t usually read when I’m writing as I tend to mimic another author’s style, but they do inspire me to tell a darn good, entertaining story.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I currently have 300+ books in my TBR pile and I want to read all of them. But since I’m sprinting for the finish line on my current book, I’m trying to ignore their siren call. When I do finish, I plan to scroll through the ebook app and tap one. That’s the one I’ll read first.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’ll be giving away a pdf copy of Brianna to one lucky commenter.

For a chance to win a PDF of Brianna, Please leave a comment or question for Linda.

Along with your EMAIL address

*No Email, No Entry*

Books-n-Kisses is SUPER excited to have Shiloh Walker on the blog today to chat about her upcoming release of Blind Destiny book 7 in her Grimm Circle series.

Shiloh, can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Well… um.  I write books… LOL.  I read them, I write them, I love them.  J  I’m a mom, I’m a wife…married to my high school sweetheart and we’ve got three amazing kids who drive us both nuts.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I always wanted to write, yes.  The author part, I didn’t get until high school, or so, but I’ve always had stories in my head.

Can you please tell us about your latest book Blind Destiny?

It’s about Luc and Myrsina…we met both of them a few books earlier.  Sina’s got some devils to face and she’s taking Luc with her.  She’s got a lot of history and a lot of guilt.  And…um.  Lust.  She’s been crazy about Luc for years, but up until recently, he was caught up in his own history and never saw her.  Things changed, but it takes a while for either of them to realize it.

I know all your Grimm Circle stories focus on Fairy Tales. Normally you keep us guessing until the end.  But in Blind Destiny we know that Sina is Snow White.  Tell us what makes her Snow White Tale so much different from the other spins on Snow White Tale?

Sina’s story is a twist off one of the ‘Snow White’ like tales…there are a lot of them.  This one is called The Myrtle.  It’s…well, not the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves of Disney you think about when it comes to Snow White.  You can read a shortened version here on Wiki.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Myrtle

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress? Maybe a hint on who is next in line in the Grimm Circle Series

Noooo… cuz I’m not sure yet.  I’m still playing with that idea.  I am working on the next Colbana book…my UF series written as J.C. Daniels.  Book 2 is done and I’m working on book 3.  And a new RS series.  But it’s early days yet.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Go to Australia with my family.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

There’s a contest going on… you can win a feather from an angel’s wing, designed by Cadsawan Jewelry…info is at my website.  J

http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/from-an-angels-wing/

Find her at here

Blog http://shilohwalker.com/website

Twitter http://twitter.com/shilohwalker

Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorShilohWalker

Join Shiloh’s newsletter http://shilohwalker.fanbridge.com/

Blind Destiny

Grimm’s Circle #7

Amazon | B&N 

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Lee Ann, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Please if at all possible return at least a week before your interview date.  Thank you.

I’m a rebel at heart, a dreamer and a storyteller.  I grew up in the historic old river town of St. Joseph, Missouri in the shadow of Jesse James and the echo of the Pony Express.  I spent a lot of time with my grandparents so I ended up being raised in the 1960’s and 1970’s with my head in the 1930’s and 1940’s.  I’m married with three kids, one dog, and I live in what I like to say passes for the suburbs in a small town in the Missouri Ozarks.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Absolutely. One of my earliest memories is of dictating a story to my mother I wanted her to write down for me.  I grew up writing and telling stories.  I tried my hand at a novel in the fifth grade, still have the manuscript.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I like to write with music – and the music often suits what I’m writing.  If it’s contemporary, it may end up being what my characters like, if it’s set in the past, I’m listening to Big Band music (which I love) or jazz.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Dust Bowl Dreams is set in the 1930’s, during the Dust Bowl period and the Great Depression.  It begins when a young man desperate to save the family farm for his widowed mom and younger siblings decides he’ll have to rob banks to get the money.  His gal, a schoolteacher, is against the idea and so is his kid brother but Henry decides to do it anyway.  Things get complicated in a hurry especially after the local chief of police begins courting Mama.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I grew on Depression era stories from my grandparents and watched how frugal they were because of those years.  I also am fascinated with Charley Floyd – better known as Pretty Boy Floyd, a name he hated – an Oklahoma outlaw.  I’m fond of Oklahoma, living basically next door and one of my great-grandmothers’ family pioneered there when it was still Indian Territory.  So all the elements combined together to create the novel.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I wish I could have met Frank McCourt, author of “Angela’s Ashes” and “’Tis” before he passed away – he wrote with such honesty, such raw power and I loved his work.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Grow a thick skin, understand the editor is there to help you, and never give-up. And always be willing to improve and keep learning.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to be in Hollywood, at the Hollywood Forever cemetery some time for the annual Rudolph Valentino memorial held each August since his death and burial there in 1926.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Well, I’m eager to get my hands on the next Outlander book from Diana Gabaldon but I think it’s still about a year away.  And I’m about to start “The Tarot Diaries” by Elicia Seawell.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for interviewing me!

Links:

leeannwriter@gmail.com

Twitter: leeannwriter

Facebook: my personal page is Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy plus I just kicked off an author page – From Sweet to Heat: The Romance of Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

https://www.facebook.com/pages/From-Sweet-To-Heat-The-Romance-of-Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy/287540748010934?ref=hl

Website/blog: http://leeannsontheimermurphywriterauthor.blogpspot.com

Blog: Rebel Writer: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

http://leeannsontheimermurphy.blogspot.com

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Ann-Sontheimer-Murphy/e/B004JPBM6I

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4543214.Lee_Ann_Sontheimer_Murphy

TRR/Manic: http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4543214.Lee_Ann_Sontheimer_Murphy