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Character Interview: Sam Hines from Awfully Glad @charliecochrane #RLFblog #lgbt
Awfully Glad This character interview is with Sam Hines from the gay romance historical book Awfully Glad by Charlie Cochrane.Genre Historical m/m romanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Publisher Bold Strokes BooksWWI hero Sam Hines is used to wearing
a face that isn’t his own. When he’s not in the trenches he’s the most popular female
impersonator on the front, but a mysterious note from an anonymous admirer leaves
him worried. Everyone realises—eventually—that Sam’s not a woman, but has somebody
also worked out that he also prefers his lovers to be male?When Sam meets—and falls for—fellow officer Johnny Browne after
the war, he wonders whether he could be the man who wrote the note. If so, is he
the answer to Sam’s dreams or just another predatory blackmailer, ready to profit
from a love which dare not speak its name?Buy This Book
Publisher http://boldstrokesbooks.mivamerchant.net/9781626391642e.htmlInterview with Samuel Hines
What is it that you want,
but cannot have? Authors call this the conflict of the story.I want what any gay man of my era would want – to be able to
live my life without continually looking over my shoulder wondering if I’ll be caught
and disgraced. The lowliest chimney sweep can walk down the road with his girl on
his arm. Is it too much to be allowed to walk down the road with my man on mine?What’s your internal limitation?
Meaning, what is it about you that makes it so you cannot do what it is you need
to do during this story?I could say it’s the damn unfairness of the law, making men such
as myself prey to blackmailers, but that’s a coward’s defence. If I’m being honest
in my answer, I can’t help usually assuming the worst, and putting a pessimistic
interpretation on things.Tell us about your significant
other, that person who makes living worthwhile.That would have to be Jonny Browne, who I first met when I was
dressed up to the nines as a soubrette. I’d better explain. I was in a WWI concert
party, helping to keep up the lads’ morale. Miss Madeleine was my stage name and
I was trussed up in more feathers, silk and lace than a high class tart. Jonny had
the sort of smile to get my bloomers in a tangle.What would that person
say about you?That I’m an infuriating idiot who wouldn’t know a good thing
if it smacked him one in the gob. He’d also (I hope) say I’m handsome, witty and
have a stunning pair of legs. And that my skills in bed were worth the wait.What special skills do
you rely on?In bed or out? As I’m a gentleman I’ll refrain from commenting
on the former! I discovered a lot about myself during the war, not least that I
could sing and dance well enough to deceive plenty of people into thinking (at least
for a while) that they were watching a girl. I also found unexpected depths of courage.
They tell me I fought like a lion, but all I can remember was being bloody scared
and having to do my duty despite it.Are you happy with the
way your story ended? Why or why not?Of course I am. Happy ever after might be a pipe dream for a
man like me in the era I live in, but Happy for now is more than many of us could
have expected during the war.About You: Questions for the writer.
You have the length of
a tweet (140 characters) to describe yourself as a writer. Let’s see what you can
do.If you want nice young men, quirky humour, unusual settings and
ideas, I’m your girl! I can’t deny having written about gay weresloths…Why did you choose to
write about this character?I read a fascinating book about the songs of WWI, and was amazed
to discover how popular concert parties had been back then, out in France.
When I found out that some of them contained extremely convincing female impersonators
(at least one of whom got kidnapped by another regiment who wanted ‘her’ for their
own) I had to write a story set against that background.Was there anything you
discovered about this character that was a surprise to you?My characters continually surprise me. To the extent that I often
end up re-writing whole sections of stories to make them accord with what I’ve found
out. That may sound like hard work, but I think it gives the storyline authenticity,
rather than shoe-horning a character into a pre-arranged plot. Not that I ever have
a pre-arranged plot.As for Samuel, I knew he was a courageous fighter, so the extent
of his doubts and fears in peacetime surprised me.When you wrote about this
character, what made you the most happy? What made you the most sad?The era itself makes me very sad. Such a waste of life in that
conflict. So many young men cut down in their prime, including heroes of mine like
Wilfred Owen and Ronnie Poulton-Palmer. But I have to keep coming back to it and
exploring the notion of men at war. Awfully Glad is my fourth story set in or around
WWI.Are any sequels planned
for this book?I don’t think so. I have a long running series – the Cambridge
Fellows mysteries – and if I have a contemporary cosy mystery with gay romantic
elements which has been submitted to a publisher and that might become a series.
Possibly. One day. If I can leave WWI alone!Author Social Media
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Cochrane/e/B002CHWBWY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 -
Character Interview: Abner Rosenthal from In Search of Priscilla @Bellakentuky #adventure
In Search of Priscilla This character interview is with Abner Rosenthal from In Search
of Priscilla by Bellakentuky. The genre is Science Fiction Adventure Romance.Book heat level (based on movie ratings G, PG, PG13, R): PGBlurb (up to 300 words) When a mild-mannered engineer named,
Abner, finds himself alive in post-apocalyptic America, he has but one goal: to discover
the fate of his fiancée, Priscilla. But, Abner faces insurmountable odds, and he
must dig deep for the courage, and ingenuity, to survive long enough to find her.
As Abner develops a plan, he picks up help from a most unusual dog and a nefarious
old man. Will the trio find Priscilla? Or will they die trying?Buy This Book
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Search-Priscilla-Bellakentuky-ebook/dp/B00G82HF9I/ref=la_B006RASQUI_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388602232&sr=1-5Meet the Character: Abner Rosenthal
What is it that you want,
but cannot have? Authors call this the conflict of the story.“I desperately need to locate my fiancée, Priscilla. We
were separated when, The Earth Fell, and I need to develop a plan to cross the crevice.”What’s your internal limitation?
Meaning, what is it about you that makes it so you cannot do what it is you need
to do during this story?“At moments, I had difficulty believing that she is still
alive. I’m moving forward on faith. It wasn’t until I saw her waving to me from
afar that I pushed forward with my quest.”What inner doubt causes
you the most difficulty?“My fear of dying, and my need to rely on, Letch, for help.
He is less than trustworthy. I know that he is only in this for the money and doesn’t
believe in love. I hope I can trust him.”What’s your external complication?
In the story world your author created, explain what it is you fear most.“The Diablos are treacherous monsters. I’ve witnessed the
havoc that they can wreak on a poor soul. And then there’s the crevice. The impassable
crevice, the thorn between myself and Priscilla, I must figure out how to get across
it.”Tell us about your significant
other, that person who makes living worthwhile.“Priscilla is as beautiful as the rising Sun. She is smart
and loyal. We were so happy before we were separated.”What would that person
say about you?Priscilla always said that I was her rock: steadfast and true.
She always called me her little provider and then she would pinch me on the ear
and kiss the top of my nose.What is your family like?“When the Earth fell, I had no family other than Priscilla.
Then I met, Junkyard. He’s my dog and the closest thing to a brother I’ve ever known.”What special skills do
you rely on?“I rely on my engineering skills to keep alive. Junkyard
has a special talent for locating things that we need. Letch provides an extra set
of hands. We need all three to survive.”Are you happy with the
way your story ended? Why or why not?“The end of the story brought me great happiness and great
sorrow at the same time.”About You: Questions for the writer.
You have the length of
a tweet (140 characters) to describe yourself as a writer. Let’s see what you can
do.Bellakentuky has a penchant for the absurd and the unusual. You
will never read another story that is written quite like one of his.Why did you choose to
write about this character?I wanted to explore the idea of misplaced love.Was there anything you
discovered about this character that was a surprise to you?He had more inner strength than I originally thought he would.When you wrote about this
character, what made you the most happy? What made you the most sad?Abner’s ingenuity made me the happiest. His decision to desert
Junkyard made me the saddest.Why do you write?It allows me to become people that I’m not in real life. I live
vicariously through my characters. I would never have the guts to cross the crevice
– Abner Rosenthal does.What do you want to write
next?I’m working on a horror story titled, Teacup. And an action adventure
story titled, Rocket
Man.What other character from
this book do you want to write about? Care to tell us why? Are any sequels planned
for this book?I do believe a sequel might be in order for this story.Is there anything you’d
like to say to your readers?Please note that this book is a short story. “In Search
of Priscilla” will be available for free, on Amazon, from Jan 7 – 9, 2014.I hope you enjoy it. Please leave a review.Cheers!Author Social Media
Twitter https://twitter.com/BellakentukyPinterest http://www.pinterest.com/kentdufault/Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006RASQUI -
Chris Redding’s Author Rock Stars @chrisredding #RLFblog
Most people know about rock stars and have their favorites. I
have mine, but they are not in the music business. My rock stars are in the publishing
business. All of them are writers and for one reason or another they inspire me.Bob Mayer
He’s been traditionally published and self-published and runs
a publishing company that is more of a partnership with the author. He’s taken the
new frontier of publishing and made it his own. What does he preach? Content is
king. Write a good book. Then write the next good book. A former Green Beret, he
uses the skills he learned in special forces to make his company and his brand successful.
Read his blog, Write it Forward.JA Konrath
Another author who has been traditionally and self-published.
Of course he came to self-publishing with an audience already, but he often highlights
authors on his blog, The Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, who have been successful
at self-publishing without having his advantages. He also give back to the community.
He challenge his readers to write a book and publish it in 24 hours and he then
highlighted all those books on his blog. A write can also use on of his characters
to write a book and if he accepts it, he will edit and publish it at his expense
with both his name and the writer’s name. That is quite a boost for anyone willing
to do it.Victoria Strauss
Victoria
is a founding member of Writer Beware. As long as there have been aspiring writers,
there have scams. Writer Beware is there to inform about them. With more and more
authors going the self-publishing route, Writer Beware’s services are needed even
more. Unscrupulous companies being bought by legitimate publishers has led to a
blurring of the lines between good business and bad. Writer Beware is there to save
us all from our desperation to see our books in print.Melissa Foster
World Literary Café is website that all indie and traditionally
published authors can benefit from and it was started by Melissa. The site offers
paid advertising, some free advertising and, among other things, Tweet Teams, where
an author can help others tweet items in return for getting retweeted.Kayelle Allen
Founder of the Yahoo Group Marketing for Romance Writers, Kayelle
has expanded it to include a blog and a newsletter both of which offer opportunities
for writers to get exposure. The group also has lots of discussions about marketing
which is a topic for every author.If you as a writer are unfamiliar with any of these authors or
sites, you should acquaint yourself now. Your career will benefit from it.Thanks for having me today.CmrAvailable Books
Which Exit AngelShe’s a homicide detective and and angel who hasn’t earned her
wings. She’s sent down to investigate a murder at the Jersey Shore.
He’s a preacher questioning his faith. How are these two supposed to stop the impending
apocalypse? http://amzn.com/B00D1TPXZYA contemporary romance about a dog that brings two people together
who don’t want to be. She’s a vegetarian veterinarian who needs cash for a no-kill
shelter. He’s the heir to a hot dog fortune who must give away money before he gains
his inheritance. Sounds like a perfect match. It isn’t. http://amzn.com/B00EN33QNIAbout the Author
Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons, one dog
and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State
with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing, she works for her local hospital. Her books are filled with romance, suspense and thrills.Author Social Media
Website/blog http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.comTwitter http://twitter.com/chrisredding -
Character Sketch: Sam Samuels – Protective Instincts @mmarvelab #RLFblog #suspense
Protective Instincts Protective InstinctsAuthor: Mary MarvellaGenre: Romantic Suspense/Erotic RomanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings) PG13They met because he had premonitions and she was in peril. But
you will never believe why they fell in love. Paranormal romance at its best.After mourning the loss of her husband, Brit Roberts manages
to pick up her life as a teacher for a rural Georgia High school.
Things are fine until anonymous phone calls turn creepy and her life is endangered.
It’s not until Sam Samuels, shows up to check on her that she finds a little peace,
if not a slight attraction to the handsome yet meddling security specialist.Sam Samuels isn’t just the father of one of Ms. Robert’s students,
he’s a man with premonitions so strong, they make him ill. So when he meets his
son’s teacher and pain kicks in, he knows something’s awry but can’t put his finger
on it until he interrupts an attempt to kill the teacher. Sam makes it his personal
goal to protect her, only he didn’t count on falling for her.Someone wants Brit, and now Sam, dead too. Could the death of
her ex husband be part of the reason? Can Brit and Sam navigate a relationship despite
both of their headstrong natures?About the BookThey met because he had
premonitions and she was in peril. But you will never believe why they fell in love.
Paranormal romance at its best.After mourning the loss
of her husband, Brit Roberts manages to pick up her life as a teacher for a rural
Georgia High school. Things are fine until anonymous
phone calls turn creepy and her life is endangered. It’s not until Sam Samuels,
shows up to check on her that she finds a little peace, if not a slight attraction
to the handsome yet meddling security specialist.Sam Samuels isn’t just
the father of one of Ms. Robert’s students, he’s a man with premonitions so strong,
they make him ill. So when he meets his son’s teacher and pain kicks in, he knows
something’s awry but can’t put his finger on it until he interrupts an attempt to
kill the teacher. Sam makes it his personal goal to protect her, only he didn’t
count on falling for her.Someone wants Brit, and
now Sam, dead too. Could the death of her ex husband be part of the reason? Can
Brit and Sam navigate a relationship despite both of their headstrong natures?Buy This BookSizzler Editons https://sizzlereditions.com/protective-instincts-by-mary-marvella/
Amazon http://amzn.to/1cEyZFnAbout the Character
Name: John Samson Samuels (Sam, please)Age: 38Gender: maleBirthplace: Florence, GeorgiaProfession: He owns a security systems companyEthnicity/Species (if not human): Caucasian.Sam is tall, broad shouldered. He has thick black
hair and piercing green eyes.Who is the significant other in your character’s
life (hero/heroine)?The heroine is Brittany Marie Simpson Roberts,
33 and a teacher.If
you could only hear this character’s voice (but not see him) what characteristic
would identify him?Sam’s baritone voice suggests strength and confidence.
All true!How
educated is this character? Is he book smart, self-taught, widely-experienced?Sam has a college degree from University of Georgia. He played football for them.Are
any of his/her skills a source of pride? Embarrassment? Which ones and why?Sam has premonitions when bad things are likely
to happen. He can’t ignore them, but he won’t discuss them. He doesn’t see visions
or hear voices, he just has physical pain and the knowledge that a certain person
is in danger. His premonitions have never been false alarms.What
is your character’s family like?Sam has two brothers and a sister. They are close.
His mama gave each child a Biblical name. Sam’s are Samson and John. He goes by
Sam!Is
he close to family?Sam still works on his daddy’s farm and calls
on his mama when he needs someone to watch over the heroine when — You didn’t
think I would give away part of the plot, did you?Does
he have children?He has a son, one of Brit’s students.Is
your character involved in his/her community?He installs a security system in his son’s school
at a low price, just as he did several churches. He attended all of his son’s sporting
events.How
does your character handle challenges?He meets challenges head-on!About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.
Why
do you think your writer chose to write about you?Mary had no choice. I pestered her until she
gave in and started writingWhat
do you wish your writer had not told others about you?She did blab about my premonitions, but i guess
she had to.Why
do you think your writer loves to write?Mary has stories to tell and voices inside her
head. She’s been telling stories for so long I knew she had to tell mine. She listened
to me instead of making up a story.What
do you wish your writer would write next?Mary needs to write a book about my baby sister
Esther. She’s a pistol and a strong southern woman.What
other character from your book do you think your writer should write a book about?
Care to tell us why?Mary has a book about my brother she needs to
send out again or publish it herself. My brother is a great guy who saves lives.
He’s an undercover cop. It’s a good story, too!Is
there anything you’d like to say to your writer?Thanks, Mary, for
finding us a publisher. I was leery when you sent my story to a publisher specializing
in erotica. I never thought about my story and Brit’s as erotic fiction, though
we have a VERY erotic relationship!Author Bio
Mary has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember.
She made up stories for the other children and created the details for their “play
like” or “let’s pretend” games. Sometimes the details were so real
they scared Mary.Mary was born in Augusta,
Georgia to two eighteen-year
olds. Her daddy, a young Mississippi man, was stationed
at Camp Gordon and fell in love with a young girl
selling flowers.Mary graduated from Mercer University
where her mama worked in the library. Her mama started working there when Mary’s
daddy went to college to become a preacher and a teacher. Mary taught language arts
for 15 years, perfect for her BA in English. Her M.Ed in Counseling served her well
during her years as a school counselor and as a teacher later.Now she tutors, teaches writers, and edits. Her inner English
teacher loves the editing part. Mary helped her husband photograph hundreds of weddings.
Her daughter is her cover artist now. Danielle was raised in the photography business.
She doesn’t read Mary’s books. Something about TMI.Author Social Media
Website http://www.MaryMarvella.comBlog http:// www.PinkFuzzySlipperWriters.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/mmarvellabFacebook http://on.fb.me/1anqdxkPinterest http://www.pinterest.com/marymarvella/Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/19AJ37F -
Character Sketch: Bruno Komarov – One Night in Santiago @AudraNorth #RLFblog
One Night in Santiago Author: Audra NorthGenre: Contemporary RomanceBook heat level (based on movie ratings G, PG, PG13, R): RLily Stanton’s vacation goes from bad to worse when a storm strands
her in a foreign country, arguing with an arrogant–and very sexy–stranger over
the last available hotel room.Successful CEO Bruno Komarov wasn’t expecting the gorgeous woman
checking in at the reception desk to challenge him over a room. Even more surprising,
he actually enjoys their exchange.But when Lily proposes a compromise–she’ll take the bed and
he can sleep on the couch–Bruno pushes his attraction aside and assures himself
that this can remain strictly business. After all, they’re both adults capable of
keeping their hands to themselves. They’ll share the room, get a good night’s sleep,
and be off to their respective destinations in the morning.What could possibly happen in just one night?Buy This Book
Amazon http://amzn.com/B00H6EOKTKBarnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-night-in-santiago-audra-north/1117650802?ean=9781622664108About the Character
Name: Bruno KomarovAge: 37Gender: maleBirthplace: Santa Rosa, CaliforniaProfession: head of Komarov Enterprises, an import and distribution
businessEthnicity/Species (if not human): Russian, Spanish, and Incan
descentDescribe his/her body build, skin tone, height and weight. Include
any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars: 6’1″, lean and muscular,
about 170 pounds, dark brown hairWho is the significant
other in your character’s life (hero/heroine)?Lily StantonHow does your hero/heroine
dress?For business meetings, he always wears a suit and tie. When he’s
at the family vineyard, he likes to wear sturdy clothes that are good for kneeling
in the soil or helping to rig up machinery. And when he’s by himself at home, he
loves to wear sweats and worn T-shirts…but don’t tell anyone.What is your character’s
family like?Bruno’s family is close-knit but not interfering. Usually, they
respect his privacy. His mother, father, and three younger sisters all live in California,
as well. Last year, his father suffered a heart attack and decided to retire as
head of the family company. Bruno took over the position.Does he/she have children?
He doesn’t have any children, but he would love to have them.
His sisters are married and each has at least one child. In fact, they’re all pregnant
at the moment!What is your character’s
biggest need at the beginning of the story?Bruno’s flight out of Santiago
was cancelled due to the weather. He needs to get home soon because he has work
obligations that he has to fulfill.How does your character
handle challenges?Bruno tends to tackle things head-on and believes there is a
solution to any problem. He says what he thinks and he takes action when necessary,
but he does it with grace.About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.
Why do you think your
writer chose to write about you?Honestly? I’m not really sure. I’m not a rock star or a political
powerhouse or a billionaire. Komarov Enterprises does well, but it’s not like I’m
going to go out and buy an NFL team or anything. I’m a pretty good ballroom dancer,
but something tells me that’s not why Audra thought I’d be a compelling hero. I’m
not exciting. I’m husband material. [Bruno shrugs and laughs] Maybe that’s exactly
why she chose me.Was there anything your
writer discovered about you that was a surprise to one or both of you?I didn’t realize just how much I needed someone to love. I mean,
I knew I didn’t want to be single forever, but until Audra put Lily in my path,
I had no idea that…well, let’s just say I was surprised by more than just my physical
attraction to Lily.What do you wish your
writer would write next?Actually, it’s not a wish as much as a pretty solid plan. I happen
to be close enough with my writer to know that Greg Stanton and Julie Stanton are
getting their own books in the next few months. Greg is Lily’s older brother and
Julie is her younger sister.What other character from
your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
I think Lily’s mother should get her happily ever after. Lily’s
father passed away many years ago and Mrs. Stanton hasn’t dated anyone since then.
I haven’t met Lily’s mom yet, but anyone who can raise an incredible person like
Lily deserves to find love again.Author Bio
Audra North fell in love with romance at age thirteen and spent
the next twenty years reading as many romance novels as she could. Even now, after
having read over one thousand of them, Audra still can’t resist the lure of a happily
ever after, and her collection continues to grow. She lives near Boston with her husband, three
young children, and a lot of books. Visit her website at audranorth.com or find
her (way too frequently) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AudraNorthAuthor Social Media
Website http://audranorth.comTwitter http://twitter.com/AudraNorthFacebook http://facebook.com/AudraNorthAuthorGoodreads http://goodreads.com/AudraNorthPinterest http://pinterest.com/AudraNorthAmazon Author Page http://amazon.com/author/audranorth -
Abigail’s Earl historical romance @starla_kaye #RLFblog #historical
Abigail’s Earl Today’s featured book is Abigail’s Earl by Starla Kaye.She is weary of being the “perfect lady.” He insists
upon it.Lady Abigail Remington is tired of being the “perfect lady”
and longs to test her adventurous side. She doesn’t want to be tied down in marriage
to a demanding man. James Ranborne, the Earl of Saliston, is brash, bold, and uncommonly
handsome. She wants nothing to do with him…yet he offers her all that she needs:
a husband her family insists upon, freedom to do as she wishes, and no need to waste
time loving him.A widower, James has no time or desire for love and romance,
but his position as an important noble demands he marry again. He must have a proper
lady beside him at society events and he needs an heir. Abigail appears to fit his
requirements as being acceptable to the ton and she is beyond pretty. She doesn’t
want marriage, thinking she could live happily as a spinster, something her father
would never allow. His proposal of a marriage of convenience, with minor commitments
on her side, should be more than suitable for both their needs.Buy This Book
Blushing Books http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2630Amazon http://amzn.com/B00H9602BA/Barnes and Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/abigails-earl-starla-kaye/1117671732?ean=2940149062270Author Social Media
Website http://starlakaye.com/Twitter: http://twitter.com/starla_kaye
