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Character Interview: Cassidy Novak @stacyjuba #RLFblog #Suspense
Young Ladies of Mystery Stacy Juba, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited to
interview your character, Cassidy Novak from the book, Sink or Swim.Genre: Mystery/Romantic SuspensePublisher: Thunder Horse PressCover artist: Karen A. Phillips (through Mainly Murder Press
as originally published in paperback)Length: 241 pagesHeat rating: PG13 (Sweet romance subplot)Tagline: For reality show runner-up Cassidy Novak, it’s hard
enough being famous and not rich. When a stalker shows up, reality TV has never
been so real.Blurb: A fun beach read endorsed by contestants from Survivor,
Big Brother, and The Amazing Race. Ambitious personal trainer Cassidy Novak has
gained fame for starring on Sink or Swim, a hit reality show. Not only does she
lose and have to walk the plank, but after the game show ends, the terror begins.
Upon returning home, Cassidy discovers she has attracted a stalker masterminding
his own twisted game. She struggles to focus on her health club job and celebrity
endorsement opportunities, but her stalker has other plans. As her former competitors
get knocked off one-by-one, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules.
She’s also being shadowed by hunky photographer Zach Gallagher, who has been assigned
to capture her personal moments for a spread in the local newspaper. She wants to
trust Zach, but fears he may not be what he seems. When the stalker forces a showdown,
Cassidy must once again walk the plank…this time for her life.Buy links:Amazon http://ow.ly/kEygvBarnes and Noble http://ow.ly/kEywiKobo http://ow.ly/kEz7KiBookstore http://ow.ly/kEzdSAlso available as part of the Young Ladies of Mystery Boxed Set:
http://stacyjuba.com/blog/young-ladies-of-mystery-boxed-set/What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Cassidy Novak: 25, personal trainer and fitness director for
a health clubInterview with Cassidy Novak
Tell us about yourself.I’m a personal trainer and fitness director for Spike’s Muscle
Madness. (I’m trying not to cringe as I answer.) I LOVE helping people to lead a
healthier lifestyle and educating them about fitness and wellness, however, Spike
is interested in his bottom line and not in advocating health. I have a hard time
working anywhere that offers tanning beds, which can cause skin cancer. My goal
is to establish my own chain of fitness centers, but I’m in debt due with my college
loans. That’s why I went on the new reality TV show Sink or Swim, because I was
hoping to win enough money to start following my dream.Tell us about (insert lover name here).Zach Gallagher. He is a photographer for the local newspaper
that’s doing a series on my return home after my months competing on Sink or Swim.
He’s gorgeous and has this sexy Texas
drawl. He looks cute in a cowboy hat, though who knew I was attracted to cowboys?
He’s so easygoing though, that it drives me crazy. We’re complete opposites because
I’m so driven. He’s hiding something though, and I’m starting to wonder what’s going
on with him.What do you think is your strongest point?My determination and my vision. When I have a goal, I see it
clearly in my mind and I do whatever it takes to pursue it.What would Zach say is your strongest point?He’d probably say that he admires how I want to help people have
healthy lifestyles. He’s always teasing me about how I nag my family to watch what
they eat, but I think he admires how I want to take care of people.What would Zach say is your biggest weakness?He thinks I’m afraid of failure. Zach thinks I ought to start
with opening one small fitness center and to forget about launching a chain of them,
at least for now. He thinks I’m focusing on this unattainable goal that could take
years to accomplish because I’m afraid to open my own business. Zach thinks I’m
procrastinating. That’s ridiculous. Did I mention that he thinks I’m stubborn, too?Sink or Swim What was it like where you grew up?I grew up in a small suburban town in New
England called Garrett. My dad took off when I was four and I never
saw him again. My mom, Pepper, is flaky but I love her. I was psyched when she married
my stepfather Glenn, but they’re divorced now. He’s still an important part of my
life, though. So is Bo, my younger brother.What do you wish was different about your life?I wish I had enough money to open that chain of fitness centers!
I don’t like working for other people. I really want to be self-sufficient and not
have to depend on anyone else for my income.If you were given your fondest wish, what would it be?It would be for my dad to have stayed in my life instead of running
away from his family.Describe a place of perfect refuge.Jogging around the track or lifting weights. Exercise helps me
to escape from my thoughts and to be fully present in my body. It clears my head.As a child, who was your best friend? Tell us about him/her.I don’t know if I ever really had a special best friend. I wasn’t
anti-social by any means – I did have friends. But a best friend? I guess it’s sad
that I can’t answer it. I wish I knew Zach when we were kids. I wonder if he still
wore a cowboy hat?What do you wish I had asked you? Please ask and answer it
now.I wish you had asked me how I am dealing with the stalker who
is terrorizing Sink or Swim contestants. I don’t know who this psycho is, but he’s
messing with the wrong girl.About the Author
Stacy Juba has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s
Barnes & Noble Bestsellers, GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers, and
multiple Amazon Top 100 lists, and she has also been ranked as one of the Most Popular
Authors in Mysteries on Amazon. She has had a book ranked as #5 in the Nook Store
and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants
targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who
control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears
learning to raise the U.S.
flag: she pursues whatever story ideas won’t leave her alone. She is a former journalist
with more than a dozen writing awards to her credit.Previous Books
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today (adult mystery/romantic suspense)25 Years in the Rearview Mirror: 52 Authors Look Back (essay
anthology)Dark Before Dawn (YA paranormal)Face-Off (YA sports novel)The Flag Keeper and the Teddy Bear Town Children’s Bundle (children’s
picture books)Books Coming Soon
A brand new romantic comedy/sweet romance inspired by the Cinderella
theme.Find Me Here
Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacyjubaPinterest: http://pinterest.com/stacyjuba/ -
Taste of Summer: Crockpot Pot Roast @kristynphipps @MFRW_ORG #RLFblog #MFRWorg
Summer Pot Roast Recipe by Kristyn M. Phipps, Activities Director, Marketing
for Romance WritersWhen you think of a retreat or conference, do you think of
making a packing list? Traveling out of town? Hiring a sitter? Spending a ton
of money? Holing up in a hotel for a weekend? Well, you won’t find any of that
at the MFRW Summer Camp in July!Not only is camp free (yes, I said FREE!!), but it’s an
incredible opportunity for any author to get involved in a writers network that
only has benefits. Camp isn’t just another conference, it’s the conference to
learn from your peers and share your knowledge with them. I’m not saying this
because I’m on staff – I experienced this personally long before joining the
staff.This amazing group not only shares knowledge and gives
advice, but it teaches and helps its members succeed. There is a common bond
between the authors that I dare say you cannot find anywhere else. Why? Because
everyone has a voice, and that voice is always heard. We have and give the opportunity
to make a difference in the lives and careers of others.To find out more about our Summer Camp “Tastes of
Summer”, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters/ orhttp://marketingforromancewriters.org/camp.htmToday, I’d like to share my recipe for my summer pot roast – only when the ingredients have spent time cooking together do they come together in a beautiful dinner medley!Summer Camp
Pot RoastIngredients:1 roast (2-3 pounds)7-10 red skin potatoes, washed and halved1 small bag of baby carrots1 beef bouillon cube1 c waterSeasoning Mix: 1/4 tsp of each: garlic salt, black pepper,
thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, and parsleyInstructions:(1) Place prepared potatoes, carrots, and bouillon cube in
the bottom of the crockpot.(2) Rub the Seasoning Mix into all sides of the roast and
place it on top of the veggies.(3) Pour water over the roast to let the loose seasonings
mix in the bottom.(4) Cook on low setting to your liking – about 6 to 8 hours.
Do not overcook as meat will become dry.Served best with a French loaf and your favorite green
veggie!Find Me Here
Website http://kristynphipps.comTwitter http://twitter.com/kristynphippsFacebook http://facebook.com/kristynmphippsPinterest http://pinterest.com/kristynphipps/ -
What a Texas Girl Dreams #interview @authorkristina #RLFblog
What a Texas Girl Dreams Kristina Knight, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk
about your book, What a Texas Girl Dreams.Genre: Contemporary RomancePublisher: Crimson RomanceCover artist: Crimson RomanceLength: 50,000 wordsHeat rating: SensualTagline: A barrel racer on the mend…A Veterinarian with a good
bedside manner…One hot summer.Monica Witte has life the way she likes it. She comes home to
be babied every few months and the rest of the time she has no strings holding her
back. But after her horse is injured in a rodeo performance, Monica knows it’s time
to come home and face her family – warts and all.Trickett Samuels works best on his own. The large-animal vet
likes his quiet life in the Texas
countryside. When Monica Witte blows into town, demanding a quick fix to her horse’s
big issues, his life is turned upside down. Trickett doesn’t understand Monica’s
need to perform before perfect strangers or why she wants to keep the truth of their
relationship from her family. And the more he gets to know her, the more he wonders
if he can convince this Texas
girl that having roots will only help her soar higher.Buy Links:Barnes and Noble: http://barnesandnoble.com/w/what-a-texas-girl-dreams-kristina-knight/1115399006?ean=9781440555732iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/what-a-texas-girl-dreams/id644572360?mt=11What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
Monica Witte is a 25 year old professional
barrel racer; she also trains horses. Her main horse, Jinx, has just been injured
during a rodeo performance. Trickett Samuels is a 29 year old veterinarian who likes
a simple, quiet life…but he just can’t resist Monica.Interview
What is the most important thing you do for your career now,
as compared to when you first started writing?Take a little time. This
is going to sound contradictory, but there are times when the words just aren’t
flowing and I feel stuck. I take those times and do something else – a quilting
project or a walk around the neighborhood. I will sit myself down and force the
words if it comes to that, but I’ve learned that sometimes you just have to take
yourself away from ‘work’ when those moments happens.If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what
would it be?Don’t be afraid. I’ve
always wanted to be a writer, but I never knew what to do about it. I thought writers
all lived these big, exciting lives in New York
or Paris before
writing their stories. I didn’t think I could do that, so I took another path and
used my writing talents in journalism. And eventually I decided to stop being afraid…What is your work ethic when it comes to writing?This is where the contradiction
I mentioned above comes in, because my mantra is ‘get’r’dun’: when I have a deadline,
I make a calendar with daily wordcount goals, research goals and so on. And I make
sure I get those words in on a daily basis. There are days when the words aren’t
flowing and I can’t stand being butt-in-chair any longer. I do take a break those
days – maybe I’ll swim with my daughter or go for a walk with my husband or just
wander the mall by myself…but I do make myself return to my WIP and get those words
in.Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?Ha! That’s a question,
isn’t it? Actual family members or friends, no. Funny things that happen might get
fictionalized at some point…What are some jobs you’ve done before (or while) you were
a writer?I was a journalist and
am still a freelance writer for magazines. I have a radio show and I’ve been the
assistant director for an environmental non-profit. And all of those jobs have (or
will) show up in a book…at some point!What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your
own writing?I read everything. Some
of my favorite authors are: Lisa Wingate, Nora Roberts, Lisa Kleypas, Jayne Ann
Krentz. I do read primarily romance, but I love a good biography, true crime or
thriller, too. It kind of depends on my mood.What was the proudest moment of your life so far?There are a couple: when
our adoption of bebe was finalized, that was a cool moment, and when she graduated
from pre-school this spring. I couldn’t stop grinning. And, when my first book was
contracted – it was a moment of relief and excitement and pride because I’d written
those words and they had resonated with an editor and a new path was opening up
to me.What is your favorite holiday and why?Valentine’s Day because
of the flowers and the 4th of July because of the fireworks. Or it’s
Labor Day because it’s also my birthday every few years. Maybe Christmas because
of the presents but, no, I’m going with New Year’s because it’s the start of something
new!Where were you at midnight, on December 31st when the new
century started?I was in a hotel ballroom, camera and microphone in hand to report
on the Y2K virus – you know, the Virus that Wasn’t? – and when nothing happened
I did a quick, ‘Happy New Year’ report, packed up and went home to celebrate with
RadioMan.Please underline which statement is more like you:“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
I do things as fast as possible.”Please complete the sentences
I love pizza with EVERYTHING! Except anchovies. Anchovies
are baaaaaaad.I’m always ready for a trip!When I’m alone, I wait anxiously for everyone to come back.You’d never be able to tell, but I hate meeting new people.If I had a halo it would be crooked
and maybe a little tarnished.If I could have millions of dollars I’d take a trip
around the world!I can never be a wedding coordinator because I can’t
pin those man-corsage-things.Kristina Knight Previous Books
What a Texas
Girl WantsWhat a Texas
Girl NeedsThe Saint’s Devilish DealBooks Coming Soon
Mr. Right NowFind Me Here
Website: http://kristinaknightauthor.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/authorkristinaPinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorkristinaGoodreads: http://goodreads.com/authorkristina -
Character Interview: Clint the #ZombieKiller @aria_kane #RLFblog
Once Upon a Darkness Aria Kane, welcome
to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited to interview your character, Clint from
the book, Once Upon a Darkness.Genre: Paranormal
RomancePublisher:
Entranced PublishingCover artist:
Kendra Egert http://creationsbykendra.com/Length: novellaHeat rating: mild
sensualityBlurb:Gretchen and her
twin brother, Hank, were abandoned to a zombie horde when they were five years
old. Intended to be a sacrifice by their zealot parents, they were instead
rescued by The Company. Raised to become soldiers in the war against zombies,
they now provide safe passage through danger zones, one contract at a time.Clint’s only skill
is war, but he’s weary of killing other men. When his contract with the Marines
runs out, he takes a job on Gretchen’s team, hoping that the search-and-rescue
life will suit him better.On Clint’s second
day, their four-man team is attacked, drugged, and taken to a prison full of
frightened civilians. The only way in or out is by helicopter and, here, their
enemies are human. One by one, the captives are culled from the holding area.
Rumors say the facility director uses the prisoners as experimental subjects
for the testing of a zombie cure.When Hank is taken,
Clint and Gretchen must put aside their personal feelings and find a way out of
the prison, surrounded by thousands of starving zombies, before Hank becomes
just one more disposable guinea pig in the hands of a twisted mad woman.Buy links:Entranced http://entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/kissed/once-upon-a-darkness/What are your
main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Gretchen is in her
mid twenties and she leads a team for The Company, an organization that escorts
people through and rescues people from zombie-infested areas.Clint is a few
years older than Gretchen and has just left the Marines to join The Company.Hank is Gretchen’s
twin brother. He’s on her team and serves as the team’s tracker.Erik is the serious
muscle of Gretchen’s team. He’s about the same age as the twins.Blog Tour – Once Upon a Darkness Interview with Clint
Tell us about
yourself.Not too much to
tell, really. I grew up with a good extended family and joined the Marines when
I was eighteen.Tell us about
Gretchen.She’s the most
incredible woman I’ve ever met. You know the first time we met, she tackled me
and promised to shoot me? Yeah, I guess that doesn’t sound great, but she meant
it in the best possible way.I just wish she’d
open up to me.What do you
think is your strongest point?I don’t lose my
cool.What would
Gretchen say is your biggest weakness?I’m not sure about
biggest weakness, but she sure gets pissed when she tries to pick a fight with
me and I don’t react. I think she just likes to fight.What was it like
where you grew up?I don’t know if I
remember what it was like before the virus. Sometimes I think I have a memory
of my dad, but I couldn’t, right? I was too young.Both sets of
grandparents and my aunts and uncles lived in Orlando, which was one of the first Safe
cities, so we moved in with them about a year after the outbreak. It was
crowded and loud.What do you wish
was different about your life?I wish my sister
was still here. And, if I can be greedy, my dad too.If you were
given your fondest wish, what would it be?My mom tells me
they used to say, “If you could go back in time and kill Hitler, would
you?” I don’t know much about him, but I’d definitely take out the bastard
who created the virus.Describe a place
of perfect refuge.The minute right after I wake up next to Gretchen, before the world
catches up with us.About the Author
Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance
writer. She lives in sunny Florida with a 60
lb mutt who thinks he’s a Chihuahua.
She is the author of Once Upon A Darkness and A Titan For Christmas. You can
learn more about her at ariakane.comAria Kane Previous Books
A Titan for Christmas, a sci-fi romance novelette.Find Me Here
Website: http://ariakane.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/ariakaneauthorTwitter: http://twitter.com/aria_kanePinterest: http://pinterest.com/ariakane/ -
Were Bear! Some Kind of Trouble @Christygis #RLFblog #paranormal
Some Kind of Trouble Christy Gissendaner, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s
talk about your book, Some Kind of Trouble.Genre: Contemporary, PRN RomancePublisher: Liquid Silver BooksCover artist:Length: 42,000Heat rating: Spicy, hot romanceTagline: For werebear Hal, Macy is trouble with a capital
“T.”Blurb:Hal and Macy just don’t get along. Not since their break-up
in college have the two of them spent more than five minutes in each other’s company.
All of that is about to change when Macy takes a job at Hal’s bar, Out of Bounds.Hal is a werebear with a problem … namely one sexy ex-cheerleader
who gets under his skin. His hopes at a football career were dashed, but he’s made
a name for himself as a likable bar owner. When Macy appears, saying she needs money
fast, he reluctantly agrees to let her waitress for him. But neither expects the
sparks to flare to life again. Battling their own desires and demons, these two
exes must learn to trust each other when a life and death situation threatens to
tear them apart.Buy links:Liquid Silver Books http://lsbooks.com/christy-gissendaner-c81.phpWhat are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Hal Sparks is 31. He
owns the bar Out of Bounds. Macy Henson is 30. She works in Human Resources and
is an ex-cheerleader.Interview
What websites do you visit daily?AOL, for my email of
course. Amazon’s Author Central – I can’t help it! I’m addicted to checking my ranking.
I also love to chat on Facebook and Goodreads. Liquid Silver’s forum is another
of my daily pitstops.If you could change something about your first book, what
would it be?Not written it probably!
I swear, my first book is cursed. It’s been through two publishers and they’ve both
closed not long after publishing/republishing it. Even though I loved A Most Dangerous
Affair, I’m scared to pimp it back out because it seems to leave a trail of bad
luck in its wake.If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what
would it be?Floss more!What is your work ethic when it comes to writing?I’ve managed to churn out a book a month for ten months since
my return to writing last summer. But I really don’t have a set schedule. I write
when I feel like it. I work full-time and I have three young sons, so I don’t have
a lot of time to dedicate to writing. Most of my work is done on weekends or a spare
hour or two during the week.Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?Oh, absolutely! I use
my friends’ names often in my books. Many of my characters traits are based on myself
and/or people I know in real life.What are some jobs you’ve done before (or while) you were
a writer?Currently, I’m a payroll/accounts
payable clerk. I’ve been at my job for over ten years now. Before (and during) that,
I was a karaoke deejay, a bank teller, a hospital worker, and a grocery store clerk.
Sorry…nothing exciting like an exotic dancer or Vegas showgirl!What is your favorite holiday and why?New Year’s Eve…what can
I say? I love a good party. I’ve always wanted to go to a nice, fancy party like
you see in the movies. So if you know of one, send me an invite!What good book have you read recently?Spring Training by Parker
Kincade. It’s a sexy romance between an up-and-coming baseball rookie and the daughter
of his team’s owner. The hero is deliciously sweet and hot.Where were you at midnight, on December 31st when the new
century started?Oh my gosh…I don’t remember!
Hmmm. Oh, yes. I was at my favorite karaoke joint. It’s the best place to hang out
in my hometown.What do you like to do when you’re bored?Eat. Yes, I admit it.
Not healthy, nor do I recommend it, but I love going out to have dinner.A Touch of Sin If your life became a movie, who would you want to play you?Rebel Wilson. She’s so funny and
is probably the only actress I know who looks even remotely like me.If you were a color, what color would you be?Ummm…I am a color. It’s
flesh toned, a little pinkish actually. Hehehe. I’ll get serious. I would be yellow.
Who isn’t happy when they see yellow…unless it’s on a traffic light!Please underline which statement is more like you:“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
I do things as fast as possible.”Please complete the sentences
I love pizza with mushrooms.I’m always ready for anything!When I’m alone, I watch television.You’d never be able to tell, but I have a tattoo.If I had a halo it would be a miracle.If I could turn back time I’d make sure my dog Oreo
didn’t get hit by a car.I can never wear heels because I have wide feet.Previous Books
Overnight Sensation – Liquid SilverThe Deed – Cobblestone PressChristmas Spirits – Cobblestone PressAmuse Me – Liquid SilverAmuse Me Again – Liquid SilverA Hot Mess – Liquid SilverA Touch of Sin (Out of Bounds, book 1) – Liquid SilverHaving Cake – Liquid SilverSome Kind of Trouble (Out of Bounds, book 2) – Liquid SilverBooks Coming Soon
Gone to the Dogs, Entangled Publishing – July 2013Contest
Win a copy of A Touch of Sin, book 1 in my Out of Bounds series.
Comment below to be entered in a random drawing. Winner to be announced tomorrow,
so check back to see if you’ve won.Find Me Here
Website: http://christygissendaner.webs.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/christygisTwitter: http://twitter.com/christygisGoodreads: http://goodreads.com/christygissendaner -
Big Gay Wedding Tour: 5 Authors @loveunleashed #RLFblog #GLBT
Big Gay Wedding Today’s post is by a group of five authors with the Big Gay
Wedding Tour. Loose Id has a new special that featured the concept of “I
do… unless.” The point was to write a story about a wedding where things
didn’t go quite as planned… Check out this group of writers who made it
happen. They are, Dev Bentham, Dominique Frost, Cassandra Gold, Kate McMurray,
and JA Rock.—Ah weddings – they bring
out the best and worst in all of us. This month you’re invited to Loose Id’s wedding
extravaganza where marriage equity means equal opportunity wedding disasters. Kate
McMurray writes about the thorny problem of finding a hot date to one’s ex’s wedding
while Cassandra Gold’s hero agrees to be best man at his brother’s wedding only
to discover that his new in-laws include someone he’s, um, met before. Meanwhile,
in J.A. Rock’s sequel, on the way to the altar the brat and his dom have to deal
with everything from another bickering couple to an intimidating dildo. Dominique
Frost explores whether a depraved hedonist can find love with the innocent and proper
man he married for money. And Dev Bentham’s story has an emotionally damaged catering
chef who needs to tame his demons or lose the love of his life. Something borrowed,
blue, old and new for everyone this month at Loose Id.Tell us about your latest book, including its
genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?Dev: Bread, Salt and
Wine is a contemporary m/m romance.Cassandra: Always
a Groomsman is a contemporary gay romance. Despite the issues myMCs have to overcome
to find happiness, it’s a lighthearted wedding tale.Cassandra Gold Kate: Save the Date is a romantic comedy about a guy who needs
a date to his ex’s wedding. It’s kind of an homage to those romantic comedies from
the 90s starring actresses like Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan. It’s a little light
and fluffy, but it’s got some real emotion in it, too.Dominique: My latest
book is called The Bitter Rednesses of Love, and it’s pseudo-historical romance
with steampunk elements. In it, a degenerate aristocrat discovers the meaning of
love when he finds himself trapped in a marriage of convenience to a highly moralistic
young man who is his opposite in every way. And, well, opposites attract, don’t
they?How do you come up with ideas?Cassandra: I come up with ideas in a lot of ways. Sometimes
a song, TV commercial, movie, or book will spark the idea. Occasionally I’ll get
a title idea, or the idea for a first line or character, and the story will evolve
from there. Other times I’ll just be sitting and think what if… That’s how I got
the idea for my latest release.I wondered what would
happen if a character went to his brother’s wedding expecting to meet the bride’s
twin sister, only to learn she has a twin brother.
The whole story fell into place after that.Dominique: I don’t so much come up
with them as get struck by them out of the blue. I had long wanted to do a rewrite
of history favoring marriage equality, but the idea of this novel actually came
from a dream I had in which a man was nervously waiting at the altar for his intended
to arrive, and it was a marriage of convenience. Most of my ideas are sparks of
inspiration from unlikely sources!Dev Bentham Dev: My stories usually start with a single scene or just a setting in which I
meet the two protagonists and the stories unravel from there in a series of what
if’s. For example, the other day I was listening to a program on trail maintenance
in the national forests and someone mentioned putting on wet long underwear for
the fifth day in a row. I started thinking–two guys in the woods, dirty, wet and
sore from days of hacking trail. Oh, and maybe there’d be grizzly bears in the neighborhood.
Now that would make for a great romance. Don’t know if I’ll ever write it, but if
I do, by the time I finish only one of the guys will be with the forest service
(or wait, maybe he’ll be an archeologist) and the other will be a cook or a rancher
or a tourist, maybe a doctor who’s lost a patient and has gone to the woods to mourn
and has gotten lost. The story could start with the doctor waking in the morning
on a hard stone ledge and wiggling out of his sleeping bag to pull on wet long underwear
for the fifth day in a row. That’s how the ideas come.Are your stories driven by plot or character?Dev: I strive to write character driven
fiction. Plot doesn’t make sense to me unless it comes out of character – particularly
in romance. We’re funny, prickly, inconsistent beings and it’s my experience that
our paths are mapped by our choices more than by external events.What
do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?JA: I write BDSM, but I like to focus
more on the everyday aspect of it, rather than the clubs and leather and magic doms.
I’m interested in how we negotiate kinky relationships in real life, and how we
balance them with work, school, family, etc. So I guess I hope I can leave readers
with a sense that these relationships do exist, and that there’s more to them than
fancy equipment and contracts and earth-shattering orgasms.Dominique Frost Cassandra: I would like to think they’ve
had an enjoyable escape from their everyday lives. After reading many of my stories,
if I’ve done my job, they’ll get the warm, fuzzy, “awwwww” feeling. And
one thing all of my work, no matter how light or dark in tone, has is a sense of
hope, so I would like readers to take that with them as well.Dominique: Well, I hope they enjoy
it, first things first. If they find themselves at all changed by my work – or so
deeply affected by it that they look at some aspect of life differently – then that’s
all I can hope for.Where
do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or…?Dominique: To be quite honest, I’m a bit of a carefree
writer – I start writing first, from the very beginning of the book and the very
first scene, without bothering with research, plotting or an outline. It’s only
when I hit a snag of some sort that I sit back and go: “Oh, well. That needs
looking into, doesn’t it?” And then I go off and do my research (about
which I try to be very thorough), or do a brief exercise in plotting. Usually, I
skip plotting altogether, because books tend to arrive in my head fully plotted.
I’m still not quite sure how that works, but miraculously, it does.Cassandra: I’m more a pantser than a plotter. I tend to
jump into the first scene that comes to mind and go from there. Research, attempts
to plot, and vague outlines follow. It’s probably a bit cart-before-the-horse, but
it’s the way I work best.What
do you enjoy most about writing?Kate: Writing can be a really great escape. I as a
writer can sink into the world of other people or go to other places. There’s a
part of me that has also always really loved telling stories; I’m guessing that
comes from my dad, who is not much of a writer but is a great storyteller.What are some jobs you’ve done that would end
up in a book?Dev: Ah, that’s where I think I have an advantage over many writers. I’ve had
a lot of jobs and a few of them have already shown up in books. I’ve been a sales
girl, a business owner, a waitress, a counselor, a commercial diver, a lab rat,
a teacher and a scientist. So far I’ve written about divers, teachers, waiters and
scientists. I love incorporating my old jobs into stories.JA Rock Kate:
Most of my jobs have been pretty mundane—I folded shirts at the Gap when
I was in college and I’ve worked in publishing for more than a decade, which has
totally been done. It surprises me that I still haven’t written a novel about a
violinist; I’ve played the violin since I was 9, so maybe it’s too close to home.
Or maybe someday I’ll write a violinist character! I coached debate for a while,
and I have a WIP sitting on my hard drive about a debate coach that I may finish
one of these days—you don’t see a lot of romances about debate coaches.As
a child, what was your favorite thing about school?JA: Paste! I realize this does not make me sound like
a promising intellectual specimen, but I didn’t eat it. I just really liked the
way it smelled.Tell
us an embarrassing story that has to do with a pet. If you have no pets, a story
about a significant other will do. ^_^Kate:
My cat is insane. I got her as a kitten from a cat rescue, and she was
this little furry ball of energy. I used to worry about leaving her home alone all
day while I was at work, and it turned out my fear was somewhat justified; I came
home one day and found that my living room was wrecked, as if the cat had gone on
a bender. She had somehow knocked the hutch off the top of my desk and dragged the
throw blanket from the couch across the room, among other things. There was no major
property damage, and the cat was totally fine. Now she antagonizes me by stealing
hair elastics out of my purse.Do
you play any online, board, or role-playing games? Which ones?Kate McMurray JA: I’m very open about my Clue obsession. But I also
have a thing for Spider Solitaire. I have fantasies about playing in a professional
Spider Solitaire tournament, but I want it to be just as serious and cut-throat
as chess tournaments were in the Bobby Fischer era.Find Us Here:
Dev BenthamWebsite: http://devbentham.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/devbenthamDominique FrostCassandra GoldWebsite: cassandragold.comOther sites: http://flirtyauthorbitches.com/Kate McMurrayWebsite: http://katemcmurray.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/katemcmwriterFacebook: https://facebook.com/katemcmurraywriterJA RockWebsite: http://jarockauthor.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/jarockauthorFacebook: https://facebook.com/ja.rock.39