Character Interviews

Interviews with a character from a book

  • Character Interviews,  Gay or MM

    Character Interview: Sean from The Final Line @kendallmckenna #RLFblog #LGBT

    The Final Line 
    Kendall McKenna, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited
    to interview your character, Sean Chandler from the book, The Final Line (Book 3
    The Recon Diaries).
    Genre: M/M, military, mystery/suspense
    Publisher: MLR Press
    Cover artist: Jared Rackler
    Length: 108,000 words
    Heat rating: 4 Flames
    Tagline: Love and Dog Tags
    Blurb:
    Staff Sergeant Corey Yarwood is an instructor
    at the Basic Reconnaissance Course. His last deployment ended in horror, but he
    can’t remember those events. Battling severe PTSD, Corey’s drinking is growing out
    of control.
    Sean Chandler walks into a dive bar, and
    into Corey’s life. An actor and a musician, Sean has the empathy and compassion
    to sooth Corey’s pain, and the strength to support him as he struggles to heal.
    Corey’s lost memories are pivotal to a civilian
    murder, and a military investigation. Remembering could mean salvation, or destruction.
    Will the truth be too much for Sean to handle?
    Buy links:
    MLR http://kendallmckenna.com/books/the-recon-diaries/
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Corey Yarwood, 27 years old, Staff Sergeant, US
    Marine Corps
    Sean Chandler, 30 years old, actor/musician

    Interview with Sean Chandler

    Tell us about yourself.
    Well, okay. My name is Sean Chandler. I’m thirty years old. I’m
    an actor, a singer, and a song writer. I graduated from USC as a musical theater
    major. I’ve had several roles on Broadway as part of ensemble casts. Recently, I’ve
    been getting some high profile supporting roles in movies. Mostly, though, I’ve
    had a lot of guest roles on popular and genre television shows, and I voice a lead
    character in a very successful animated film franchise. Most of my success has been
    in acting, so far, but I would really like to work in music a little more.
    Tell us about Corey.
    Corey. Oh, excuse me. That would be Staff Sergeant Corey Yarwood,
    USMC Force Recon. He’s a big, blond, blue-eyed, tattooed Marine. He’s so strong
    and so capable, he doesn’t feel the need to prove any of it. He’s really sexy, and
    really funny, and has no idea. He’s also the strongest person, emotionally, I’ve
    ever met, but he doesn’t know that about himself, either. He puts up with my crazy
    job and my unpredictable hours, like it’s nothing.
    Fire for Effect 
    What do you think is your strongest point?
    My creativity or my sensitivity. They’re probably intertwined.
    What would Corey say is your strongest point?
    My patience. He thinks I’m more patient than I really am, though.
    For some reason, he thinks it’s a burden to talk to him about the things going on
    in his life and his career. But it’s not. He’s interesting and enjoyable to be around,
    so no patience is involved. He just refuses to believe me.
    What do you wish was different about your life?
    I love my job and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. But it
    requires a lot more travel than I wish it did. If there was anything about my life
    I wish was different, it would be that I didn’t have to travel quite as much. Corey’s
    job doesn’t let him travel with me very much, and it even takes him away for days
    or weeks at a time. I guess it’s not the travel that I’d change, it’s the being
    away from Corey so much. I don’t want to think about him getting deployed again.
    If you were given your fondest wish, what would it be?
    I’ve already been given my fondest wish.

    About the Author

    Kendall McKenna’s first work of fiction was written at the worldly
    age of nine, and was a transformative work that expanded on the story told in a
    popular song of the time.
    She tried her hand at vampire and cowboy fiction, winning high
    school poetry and short story contests along the way. It wasn’t until she discovered
    the world of m/m erotic fiction and found
    her stride with cops, Marines and muscle cars,
    that she felt inspired to share her stories with readers who enjoy the same things.
    Putting herself through college by working in a newly-created
    HIV testing clinic in her local Department of Health, introduced Kendall to the gay and lesbian community. Understanding and
    empathy has made her a lifetime advocate of GLBT issues.
    A brief bout of unemployment gave Kendall
    the time and focus she needed to finally produce a novel worth submitting for publication.
    Her first novel, Brothers In Arms, introduced the world to her authentic
    military stories and characters.

    Kendall
    was born and raised in Southern California, where
    she still lives and works. A non-conventional relationship has kept her happy for
    the last decade. Her four dogs enjoy it when she writes, as she sits still long
    enough for them to curl up around her.

    Brothers in Arms

    Previous Books

    Brothers In Arms (The Recon Diaries)
    Fire For Effect (The Recon Diaries)
    Strength of the Pack (Tameness of the Wolf)
    Nights In Canaan

    Books Coming Soon

    Strength of the Wolf (Tameness of the Wolf)

    Contest

    Leave a comment with your email to be eligible to win an e-book
    copy of The Final Line (Book 3 of The Recon Diaries).

    Find Me Here

    Website: http://kendallmckenna.com
    Blog: http://kendallmckenna.com/kendalls-blog-3/

  • Character Interviews,  Suspense

    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 Suspense
    Publisher: Thunder Horse Press
    Cover artist: Karen A. Phillips (through Mainly Murder Press
    as originally published in paperback)
    Length: 241 pages
    Heat 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:
    Barnes and Noble http://ow.ly/kEywi
    Kobo http://ow.ly/kEz7K
    Also 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 club

    Interview 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

     

  • Character Interviews,  Science Fiction Romance

    Character Interview: Evan Sinclair #SFrom @EvaCaye #RLFblog

    Evan’s Ladies
    Eva Caye, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited to
    interview your character, Prince Evan Sinclair, from the book Evan’s Ladies.
    Genre: science fiction romance
    Publisher: self
    Cover artist: self
    Length: 81,072 words
    Heat rating: warm with one controversial topic
    Tagline: What is Fate?
    Blurb:  Science, sex, sorrow,
    solidarity, scandal, sympathy, and sense deprivation are hallmarks of this add-on
    novel to the To Be Sinclair series!
    Prince Evan Sinclair may be a brilliant stargate scientist, but
    his love life has soared to incredible heights and plunged to unbelievable depths.
    Who will stay by his side forever?
    Is true love more than attraction? More than compatibility? More
    than fascination? More than friendship?
    These four novellas chronologically take place between Loyalty and Nobility, books six and seven of the To Be Sinclair series.
    Part I: The Cremian Dance
    Part II: Good Enough
    Part III: Breathe
    Part IV: Treasure Your Words
    Buy links:
    Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX76ZC0
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Prince Evan Sinclair, 22, stargate scientist; Lady Nicole Knightley,
    23, environmental scientist; Lady Sara Bonnaire, 22, assistant to the Lord Protector
    of the Ducal Assembly; Lady Vivian Oberman, 21, artist; Lady Leah Redgrave, 26,
    teacher.

    Interview with Evan Sinclair

    Tell us about yourself.
    I am the youngest son of Emperor Victor and Empress Felice Sinclair.
    My fellow triplets Josef and Sophia and I were body-births, whereas our parents
    used gestation chambers for our first nine siblings. The benevolence and brilliance
    with which our progressive parents raised their Imperial Brood means my magnificent
    sibs are renowned for their wit, intelligence, and social skills. My identical twin
    Josef and our age-mate Stefan are so ingenious, however, that I always felt like
    a dunderhead next to them, so when Mother began training us up in her secret stargate
    science, I struggled to keep up.
    When my first long-time girlfriend dropped me because she had
    fallen in love with Stefan, who would have nothing to do with her for breaking my
    heart, I felt even more terribly outclassed by my sibs, all of whom had found incredibly
    smart, loyal, and remarkable mates. All I want is to find an honest, brilliant lady
    who loves me for myself, stays true to me, and can stand to live with the dangers
    of being an Imperial spouse.
    What do you think is your strongest point?
    I will do anything to make my lady happy. Our parents based our
    sexual education on a Manuvian sexology textbook, The Pleasure Centers of the Body, so I know I can always make a lady
    happy in bed. But when she longs for her former lifestyle, or feels as if I cannot
    give her the attention she needs, I will pull strings and bend over backwards to
    be what she needs. And sometimes it is still not enough!
    What was it like where you grew up?
    Built almost 400 years ago, some 100 years after Landfall, the
    Palace and its walled and force-shielded grounds were considered a miracle of engineering
    in the galaxy back then. The kings and emperors over the centuries ensured it became
    a virtually impregnable fortress, and the queens and empresses a comfortable and
    beautiful one, but growing up in luxury does not mean your life is complete, nor
    completely safe. The Rendelian Wars and Dalanov’s Coup meant Father grew up as the
    sole Sinclair scion on the planet, with rabidly paranoid Sentinels and watchmen
    from the time he was six years old. We children were constantly prepared for potential
    disasters, including memorizing 37 scenarios to maintain Imperial leadership depending
    on which combinations of us survived the next devastating attack.
    Being surrounded by Sentinels meant it was nearly impossible
    for us to form outside friendships, for how many people really want professional,
    paranoid scrutiny of every facet of their lives by grim security men, just to be
    in our presence? Very few of my sibs developed strong friendships outside of their
    eventual spouses, so for the most part we grew up isolated in the Palace with each
    other as best friends.
    Sunday Family Night gatherings exemplified our parents’ determination
    to foster bonding between us, for we all knew we would be important in our oldest
    brother Zhaiden’s government someday. Although we were allowed our choice of careers,
    we used Family Nights to coordinate who would take over which social duties during
    the week, as well as to ask for or offer help on our personal projects. We could
    invite friends or lovers to Family Night, though we usually only did so if we felt
    they could handle it, for to be Sinclair means responsibility in our every word
    and action. Since most people do not live like that, witnessing our dedication to
    each other and the Empire could be rather intimidating to them.
    Until we were 20, the only way we traditionally found lovers
    was to meet them at balls, and Mother required the boys to introduce ladies to her
    before we could bed them in the Palace. We all complied, not simply because Mother
    was Empress and her word was law, but because she would also ask the ladies important
    questions such as whether they had a contraceptive implant. Even now I go through
    the process because the consequences of going against my parents’ rules would be
    severe. Even then, it’s sometimes not enough…
    What do you wish was different about your life?
    I wish I could walk around in public without the constant attention.
    Father upped our visible Sentinel details to six men when Anne, Stefan, Josef, and
    I mastered Mother’s ultra-secret stargate science, and that does not include our
    invisible outer perimeter details. We must give 26 hours notice to Sentinel Command
    for any excursions, which means we often go in groups. And it’s difficult to get
    to know people in such situations, especially because Sentinels only tell us about
    the more blatant assassination attempts on each other, so we naturally try to minimize
    our exposure for our subjects’ sake as well as our own.
    If you were given your fondest wish, what would it be?
    To have married my first fiancée.
    Describe a place of perfect refuge.
    I’m not certain I can. Even the Palace
    got bombed in such a way that the overhead force-shields were utterly destroyed.
    Sentinel Command is the most secure building on the planet, so I’ll go with that.
    What is your most important goal in life?
    To support the Empire of Sinclair Demesne in every way. Providing
    stargates to facilitate the spread of humanity throughout the galaxy garners the
    Empire vast sums of money, but helping my brothers with Sinclair Enterprises will
    lead to a revolution in starship technology, which will help us maintain our status
    as the preeminent Empire in the galaxy. And, all told, to support my extended family,
    since we are the interface between the Empire and the galaxy, protecting the Realm’s
    interests from both civil and interstellar wars.

    About the Author

    A health crisis inspired Eva Caye to become an obsessive writer,
    completing eight books in her To Be Sinclair series before she could afford an editor.
    She published Dignity in August 2012, with the projected release of her 8th book
    Nobility in late June 2013. She laughingly refers to Evan’s Ladies as Book 6.5,
    an ‘add-on’ book to the series since it consists of four novellas. The other seven
    books are full novels, though most have ‘Easter egg’ short stories as bonuses for
    the reader.
    The To Be Sinclair series is set some 600 years in the future
    and covers the lives and loves of the greatest ruling family in the galaxy. Her
    current works-in-progress are a finale to the series, and two prequels set in the
    TBS universe about 100 years in the future.
    Eva lives with her incredibly supportive husband and two lovely
    mutts in a tiny, century-old farmhouse in Louisville,
    Kentucky.

    Find Me Here

    Website: http://www.evacaye.com
  • Author Interviews,  Character Interviews

    Character Interview: Kendra Weiss @MonaKarel #RLFblog

     Mona Karel, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited to
    interview your character, Kendra Weiss from the book, My Killer My Love.
    Genre: Paranormal Romance
    Publisher: Black Opal Books
    Cover artist: Pepper O’Neal and Mona did the cover together
    Length: 324 pages
    Heat rating: Sensual
    Tagline: An immortal enforcer is sent to punish an innocent woman,
    and discovers the soul he’d forgotten he possessed.
    Blurb: She came to the woods to heal and found evil lurking among
    the trees… Upon her grandmother’s death, Kendra inherits a cottage deep within
    an ancient forest, along with the powers given only to certain women in her family—powers
    she doesn’t know she has. Recovering from a vicious attack, Kendra returns home
    to the remote cabin determined to heal both her body and her spirit. But the forest
    is ailing, too. Evil stalks its dark places, turning its quiet glades into a battlefield.
    When a strangely beautiful man appears at her cabin intent on punishing her for
    a crime she didn’t commit, Kendra needs all her strength to protect her forest,
    her life… and her heart. Can she learn to use her powers and to trust Mykhael
    in time to save the ancient forest?
    He came to the woods to redeem himself and found an innocence
    that would be his undoing… Throughout his long life, Mykhael has struggled, often
    in vain, to please the Atrahasis, immortal overlords of the sacred places in the
    universe. Now they have given him one last chance to redeem himself. He must punish
    the person they think desecrated an ancient forest in Northern
    California. But when he meets Kendra, he realizes he’s doomed to disappoint
    them once more. Not only is she innocent of the crime the Atrahasis have accused
    her of, Kendra is the missing part of the soul Mykhael didn’t know he still possessed.
    Can he defy the Atrahasis yet again and live long enough to save the only thing
    in his life that matters?
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-killer-my-love-mona-karel/1102269106?ean=9781937329006
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Kendra Weiss is in her mid twenties. She’s been a folk dancer
    but with her injury plus her grandmother’s death, she’s come back to the cottage
    to heal herself and, as it turns out, the forest.
    Mykhael Alastor, oh, he’s ageless. Seriously. He would have stopped
    aging when the Atrahasis offered him an opportunity to right all the wrongs he encountered,
    around mid to late twenties. Which three thousand or more years ago was quite an
    advanced age. He’s an enforcer, a guardian of the sacred places on Earth.

    Interview with Kendra Weiss

    Tell us about yourself.
    “I’m afraid I’m
    a bit of a disappointment to my family though they try to say otherwise. My father
    controls large corporations, my mother is the ultimate hostess and my siblings are
    at the top of their field. I was uncomfortable in that life as a child, so they
    let me stay at Gran’s cottage deep in the Sequoias.”
    Tell us about Mykhael Alastor.
    “Mykhael’s had a
    rough life. He was rejected by his father, one of Atrahasis overlords, though he
    was known as the god Alastor, whose duty was to ensure the sins of the father were
    visited upon their sons. Kind of grim, don’t you think? Since his mother was not
    of the Atrahasis, he grew up away from the family and alone after his mother died.
    In spite of this beginning he became a soldier, then a war lord, then was offered
    a position with the Atrahasis. Even though his life has been one of war and fighting,
    he loves sunlight and the natural order of things.”
    What do you think is your strongest point?
    “Oh, I’m not much
    really. I learned to keep the garden growing and how to live here in the woods.
    For a while I performed with a folk dance group, which was great fun until I had
    a set piece dropped on my legs and couldn’t dance any more. I guess my strongest
    point is being too stubborn to give up when other people might.”
    What would Mykhael say is your strongest point?
    {smile} “Mykhael
    really likes my cooking. Seriously, I guess he’d agree I don’t give up easily…oh,
    here he is.”
    “Yes, and just in
    time. It sounds like you’re once again bending reality, my dear. Let’s see, hmmm…a
    disappointment to your family? And they LET you stay at the cottage?” Sigh.
    “My darling you really don’t need to hide yourself from these people, after
    all they want to read your story. Kendra’s grandmother recognized the power in her
    as a baby, and asked that she be sent to be raised in the woods. They resisted until
    they realized Kendra didn’t belong in their modern world. They could not be prouder
    of their ‘fey’ daughter even when they don’t completely understand her. As far as
    her strongest point, stubborn does come to mind. But even more her inner self glows
    with the light of her power, which she has never used to her own benefit. Although
    she does bake a marvelous loaf of bread.
    “Now let’s see about
    these other questions, since you seem hesitant to be truthful about yourself. Hmmm,
    weakest point, you have none except you don’t think enough of yourself. You grew
    up here in these sacred woods, a magical area for sure. I’m not going to let you
    wish for something different in your life since all of your life brought you here
    to be with me in these woods, and isn’t that your fondest wish?”
    “Am I not allowed
    to answer questions for myself? And here I thought you’d become a more modern man.
    Now let me answer my own questions…oh, a place of perfect refuge–“
    “I do believe you’re
    blushing my love. Do you really want to tell them about your refuge…our refuge?”
    “Why not let them
    read what Mona had to say about it?”

    About the Author

    Mona Karel is the writing alter ego of Monica Stoner, who has
    lived her life in a manner guaranteed to give any parents gray hairs. She’s been
    a dog groomer, horse trainer, stable manager, waitress…then at thirty five took
    a job as a buyer’s assistant at a nuclear power plant. A few years later she married
    the man she’d loved for far too long, and settled down for a while. During this
    passage into normal life she rediscovered her love of writing. Of course she couldn’t
    do that the easy way either, completing numerous manuscripts which will never see
    the light of day while learning her craft. Distractions abounded, including her
    long time involvement in pure bred dogs and her husband’s amazing artistic talent.
    Eventually her characters called to her to be set free upon the world, and she braved
    another round of submissions.

    Find Me Here

    Amazon
    Author: http://www.amazon.com/Mona-Karel/e/B0052GL1R8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

  • Character Interviews,  Shapeshifter

    Character Interview: Trip from Intrepid Trip to Love @charliecochet #RLFblog

     

    An Intrepid Trip to Love
    Charlie Cochet, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited
    to interview your character, Trip Hagan from the book, An Intrepid Trip to Love.
    Genre: Contemporary/Fantasy shifter
    Publisher: Self (Part of the Goodreads M/M Romance group’s Love
    Has No Boundaries writing event)
    Cover artist: Charlie Cochet
    Length: 34k
    Heat rating: Rated-R
    Blurb: Tristan ‘Trip’ Hagan is a Husky shifter who was born to
    be the Hagan Clan’s next Alpha, a position of honor and nobility, a position he
    never wanted and was all too happy to pass onto his younger brother. But when they
    discovered his brother couldn’t have pups, the responsibility of continuing the
    Hagan Alpha line fell back to Trip. At the tender age of eighteen, Trip gave in
    under the weight of the Hagan Council’s demand for him to fulfill his duty, but
    after years of struggling to uphold his family’s traditions, Trip found the courage
    to do what no other Hagan Alpha had done in the history of the clan: he came out.
    With
    his Enforcers–the Devil Dogs, at his side, Trip won the battle against the Council,
    who attempted to banish him and take his young son away. His victory allowed him
    to remain within the clan and raise Robbie. Now five years later, the dust has settled,
    and Trip is living a happy life with his cheeky pup and their own little makeshift
    family. Brook–Robbie’s mother, her true mate Deacon, and the Devil Dogs are the
    only ones who support Trip and know of his heartache.
    True
    mates within canine shifter clans are very rare, but Trip has had one since he can
    remember. Despite losing his heart to Boone twenty years ago, Trip holds little
    hope of ever getting to bond with the sexy Enforcer, as it’s against clan laws for
    pure-bloods to bond with half-breeds. How much longer can Trip and Boone resist
    the longing in their hearts? With the call from their feral halves to seal the bond
    growing stronger by the day, can Trip and Boone find a way to be together without
    losing everything?
    Buy links: Coming Soon
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Tristan “Trip” Hagan, 35 years old, Full-time dad
    Robbie Hagan, 7 years old, mischief-maker
    Boone Devin, 38 years old, Enforcer
    Hunter Devin, 36 years old, Enforcer

    Interview with Tristan ‘Trip’ Hagan

    Tell us about yourself.
    “Sure, why not.” Trip sits down, bounces a little,
    testing the plushness of the couch and getting momentarily distracted. “Oh,
    right. Me. My name is Tristan Hagan, but everyone calls me Trip. I’m thirty-five
    years old, divorced, and I have a seven year old son who’s obsessed with zombies
    and owns a LEGO collection I’m convinced has been created for the sole purpose of
    bringing me pain. They’re like little landmines of sharp evil pointiness.”
    “I’m the oldest of four, meant to be the next Alpha of our
    clan but…” he wrinkles his nose and shrugs. “Let’s just say there was
    some unpleasantness, drama drama drama, I’m no longer next in line. My hobbies are
    watching movies, eating food, and driving Boone crazy.”
    Tell us about Boone.
    With a wide grin, Trip reaches into his back pocket and pulls
    out his wallet. He removes a small photograph and holds it out. “This here
    is Boone. You want to ogle him. I can see it in your eyes. It’s okay, you can ogle
    him. He’s very ogley.” Trip cringes. “That didn’t come out right. Ogle-worthy?
    Ogle-ish? Hot. We’ll go with hot. I’m going to put this away now or we’ll never
    get anywhere with this interview.” Trip turns the picture for one last look,
    let’s out a small sigh then puts it away before patting his back pocket. “I
    like keeping him close. To my heart, not my ass. Though…” He trails off and
    wriggles his eyebrows. “Sorry, you were saying something or asking a question.
    Your lips definitely moved. I get distracted easily. Right! Boone. Boone is amazing.
    If you didn’t know him, you’d probably be doing everything you could not to piss
    him off. He’s big and can get real scary, but that’s why he’s an Enforcer. It’s
    his job to be tough and protect the clan, specifically me and Robbie. They didn’t
    nickname him and his brother Devil Dogs for nothing.” He discreetly looks around
    the room before leaning forward and whispering,” He’s also a big softie.”
    With a chuckle he settles back again. “But don’t tell him I said so, ’cause
    then, well, he won’t seem so cuddly. There’s no one I trust more than him.”
    He pauses. “What’s with the face? Oh, you wanted something juicy.” His
    cheeks get a little pink. “I did mention he’s hot, right? Not that we’ve uh,
    done a lot, but he’s an amazing kisser, and well, I mentioned big, and his arms,
    Gods, and his ass!” Clears his throat and murmurs an apology. “Next question?”
    What do you think is your strongest point?
    “I’m a pretty cheerful guy, even when it seems like I’m
    grumpy. I like to keep things light because there’s no point in dwelling on things
    out of my control. I have a pup to look out for and he needs me to be strong for
    him.”
    What would Boone say is your strongest point?
    “That would depend on what mood he’s in and if I’ve done
    anything to influence that mood.” He laughs softly. “He would probably
    say my attitude. He’s always telling me how much he loves that I can make him laugh.
    I love making him smile or teasing him. It keeps us from getting lost in our own
    thoughts too often.”
    What would Boone say is your biggest weakness?
    Trip rolls his eyes. “My sweet tooth, but he’s a dirty liar.
    I don’t have a sweet tooth. So I indulge in Macadamia nut cookies every once and
    a while, or homemade pancakes with lots of maple syrup for breakfast. Nothing wrong
    with that. Doesn’t mean I have a sweet tooth.” He peers warily. “Do I
    have a secret stash? Well if I did and I told you, then it would no longer be a
    secret, would it? Get your own cookies.”
    What do you wish was different about your life?
    “I wish my father would remove the stick he’s got shoved
    up his–I mean, I wish my father would at least make an attempt to understand me
    rather than blindly following our clan’s council, but his priority has always been
    his position first, our family second. I probably fell somewhere between bringing
    home a gallon of milk, and approving aboveground sprinklers.
    If you were given your fondest wish, what would it be?
    “To be left alone to live a happy life with my son and Boone.
    That’s not a lot to ask, is it?” He sighs before pursing his lips thoughtfully.
    “And a magic remote with a ‘mute’ button I can use on Hunter. That would be
    awesome.”
    Describe a place of perfect refuge.
    Trip smiles fondly. “One summer,
    the Devil Dogs and I took Robbie camping out in the woods near the river. It was
    supposed to be clear skies, but ended up pouring rain. We made the mistake of letting
    Hunter set up the tents, and he put Boone’s too close to the river, so when it rose
    from the rainfall, it got swept away with all his clothes and equipment inside.”
    He laughs. “Boone was ready to strangle Hunter. Later that night, the skies
    cleared up and we all sat around the fire to keep warm. Robbie fell asleep in my
    arms and I told Boone he could share a tent with me and Robbie. Boone took my hand
    in his and kissed me. It was the first time he’d ever done that. It was perfect.
    I’ll never forget it. When I feel crappy, I just think about that night and it makes
    me smile.”
    As a child, who was your best friend? Tell us about him/her.
    “Boone and Hunter have been my best friends since we were
    pups. I wasn’t really supposed to become friends with my Enforcers, but those two
    were just too much fun not too. Plus, I was never really in the habit of following
    the rules. They’re great guys.” Trip smiles widely, his eyes filled with affection.
    “You can always count on them to be there for you. They’re fearless and lucky
    for me, the toughest Enforcers out there.” His smile fades and his eyes get
    a little glassy. “If it weren’t for them, I would have lost everything. I owe
    them so much.”
    What do you wish I had asked you? Please ask and answer it
    now.
    “Would you like a cookie?” He grins broadly.
    “The answer would be yes, yes I would like a cookie. Macadamia. If you’ve got
    it.”

    About the Author

    Charlie Cochet
    M/M author by day, artist by night, Charlie Cochet is quick to
    succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, and no star is out of reach when following
    her passion. From hardboiled detectives and society gentleman, to angels and elves,
    there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and
    plenty of romance, too!
    Currently residing in South Florida,
    Charlie dreams of the day where the temperature might be something other than hot,
    hot, and boy, it’s hot! When Charlie isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading,
    drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to
    hear from readers.

    Previous Books

    The Auspicious Troubles of Chance (The Auspicious Troubles of
    Love #1)
    Roses in the Devil’s Garden (Fallen Rose series #1) (Free Read)
    The Amethyst Cat Caper (A Tea House Tale #1)
    The Only Star (A Tea House Tale #1.5) (Free Read)
    Mending Noel
    When Love Walked In
    In His Corner
    Lost in My Waking Dream
    Believe Me, Beloved (Masks Off! Anthology)

    Contest

    For a chance to win a free eBook of your choice from Charlie’s
    backlist, just leave a comment or question on this post. Don’t forget to leave an
    email address.

    Find Me Here

    Purple Rose Tea House: http://purpleroseteahouse.charliecochet.com
  • African American,  Character Interviews

    Character Interview: Devin Jones @SynithiaW #RLFblog

    A Heart to Heal

    Synithia Williams, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited
    to interview your character, Devin Jones from the book, A Heart to Heal.

    Genre: Contemporary Romance
    Publisher: Crimson Romance
    Cover artist: Crimson Romance
    Length: approx 240 pages
    Heat rating: Sensual
    Blurb:
    Shayla Monroe fled her hometown of Helena, South Carolina,
    after a shocking situation broke the heart of the only guy she’d ever loved. Years
    later, after losing her job in Atlanta
    with her name once again shrouded in scandal, she has nowhere to go but home.
    Now a devastatingly handsome and well-respected man, Devin Jones
    became a successful doctor as a way to forget Shayla’s betrayal. When she returns
    as infamously as she left, he plans to put aside old feelings and treat her as any
    other person in town. But after looking into her soft brown eyes, the feelings he
    thought long dead quickly rush to the surface.
    Ignoring rumors, disapproval from family and friends, and promises
    to avoid each other, the two become friends … then lovers. Devin wants all or
    nothing, but Shayla, haunted by her past, is afraid their relationship will damage
    what’s left of her reputation. Can two broken hearts survive the fight against past
    and present demons to heal and find love?
    Buy links:
    Crimson Romance: http://www.crimsonromance.com/crimson-romance-ebooks/crimson-romance-books-by-author/synithia-williams/
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Hero: Devin Jones, 35, Doctor
    Heroine: Shayla Monroe, 34, Unemployed due to an unfortunate incident

    Interview with Devin Jones

    Tell us about yourself.
    Let’s see, I have my own medical practice in my hometown of Helena, SC.
    I grew up here and always knew I wanted to come back and practice medicine. I became
    interested medicine after my mom died of a brain aneurysm when I was in high school.
    It was unexpected and difficult for me and my dad. I’m constantly on my dad about
    his health now. Personally, I enjoy playing basketball with my friends and spending
    time with my dad.
    Tell us about Shayla.
    Shayla. My dad says I’ve been trying to figure her out since
    we were kids, and honestly he’s right. I knew who she was growing up, but it wasn’t
    until high school when she braided my hair one summer that we connected. What can
    I say, we just clicked. She became my best friend, the one person I could count
    on. I had a crush on her, but never wanted to follow it up. Her dad had a reputation
    that spilled over on her. So many guys were trying to push up on her. I was happy
    to just be her friend. Unfortunately, something happened and it tore us apart. We
    went years without speaking. When she first came back to town, rumors were flying
    about what she’d gotten into. That’s the thing with Shayla, there are always rumors
    about her situation. Usually unfounded…some legitimate. But that’s who she is.
    She looked for love in all the wrong places. I’m ready to show her that she doesn’t
    have to look anymore. I’ll never understand her, never have a dull moment with her,
    and never stop loving her.
    What do you think is your strongest point?
    My strongest point? Hmmm. I’m the one my friends always come
    to for advice. I pride myself on my ability to remain rational in tense situations.
    Except when it comes to Shayla. I can never keep my cool where she’s concerned.
    What would Shayla say is your strongest point?
    I’m patient. She isn’t. When she’s impatient or nervous she taps
    her hand or foot. I can usually calm her down. She seems to like that about me.
    What would Shayla say is your biggest weakness?
    Her. She used to think I deserved someone better. It took awhile
    for her to realize she’s had my heart from the moment we met.
    What was it like where you grew up?
    My hometown hasn’t changed much. I grew up, and still live in,
    Helena, SC.
    It’s a small town about an hour or so from the capital of Columbia. It has its benefits: everyone knows
    everyone, a sense of community, no traffic. But it has cons as well. The biggest
    is a result of one of the benefits. Because everyone knows everyone gossip runs
    rampant. I don’t like people in my business or getting unwelcome advice on my love
    life. I’ve had a lot of that since rekindling my relationship with Shayla.

    About the Author

    Synithia Williams has enjoyed romance novels since she was 13
    years old, so it’s no surprise that she began writing her own. When she isn’t reading
    or writing, she’s working on sustainability initiatives in the Midlands of South
    Carolina. She lives with her husband, Eric, and two boys.

    Previous Books

    You Can’t Plan Love
    Worth the Wait

    Contest

    I’m giving away an ebook copy of one either You Can’t Plan Love
    or Worth the Wait (winner’s choice). Tell me if you think a romance between “bad
    girl” and a “good guy” can work.

    Find Me Here