Author Interviews
Interviews with authors
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Who needs an alpha when you can have a lone wolf? đș Do It Write: Where NJ Walters writes @njwaltersauthor #RLFblog #ParanormalRomance #PNR
An immortal lone wolf and a human woman battle werewolf assassins, magic, and obsession while falling in love with each other in NJ Walters’ latest paranormal romance book, Taming the White Wolf, the first book in the Lone Wolf Legacy trilogy.
NJ, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Before we talk about your office, please tell us about your latest book.
Taming the White Wolf by NJ Walters
Genre paranormal romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): AdultThe lone wolf answers to no alpha or pack. From his first transformation, he knows his destiny: to be both judge and executioner for rogue werewolves. Welcome to the spellbinding first book in New York Times bestselling author NJ Walters intense new werewolf series.
White wolf Devlin Moore has spent nearly the last century following his destiny: hunting rogue werewolves. His fate is to be the only one of his kindâhardened, feared, and brutally ruthless. Only now, Devlin’s not alone. There are two others. And if that wasn’t unsettling enough, Devlin is drawn to New York City for what appears to be a humanâŠ
As far as Devlin can tell, vibrant artist Zoe Galvani is no threat. But there’s something about herâfrom her unusual eyes that look similar to the same shocking hue as his own, to his growing need to mark her as his that suggests magical forces may be at play.
Now there’s no escaping each other, or the attraction that grows stronger by the second. But no one, especially a human woman, should have this effect on a lone wolf. And just when he’s sure that having her could be his undoingâŠthe truth steps out of the shadows.
How long have you been writing?
I didn’t actually write my first book until I was in my thirties. I wrote two books in the mid-1990s, tried to find a home for them, put them away, and didn’t write again until late 2003. My first book was published in October 2004, a month shy of my fortieth birthday.
Tell us about your writing space or home office.
All but my first two booksâwhich weren’t my first published booksâhave been written in an office nook I created in the corner of my living room. It’s cozy, but it works for me. I write on a desktop computer, not a laptop.
What do you love most about that area?
I like that it’s a small and cozy space. It helps keep me focused. When I sit there, there’s nothing to do but write. I have a small shelf behind me and a tall screen tin front of my computer desk that acts as a “wall.”
What office equipment do you use most, other than your computer?
Other than my computer, I am the queen of the file card. I know most writers organize their book or series notes on computer programs, but my brain works better with a physical copy. I have a row of file cards propped up on the top of my keyboard, sometimes taped to the wall, all in an effort to keep me organized. They contained brief character sketches I can refer to, as well as other details I need to remember. On larger series, I’ve used notebooks to organize details, but I still primarily rely on my 4″X6″ file cards.
What’s the last book about writing that you read?
I honestly don’t read many books about writing. I get frustrated because my brain doesn’t want to follow the “rules” set down in most books. I do love the Writers Helping Writers Series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. They’re reference books I use often.
What book or books about writing do you recommend for new authors?
I’d recommend Becca Syme’s QuitBooks for Writers series. They’re more about the writing life and the writer than about how to write a book. Also, any books in the Writers Helping Writers series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. They’re a great reference.
What do you like to read for relaxation?
Romance books are at the top of the list. I started writing them because I love reading them. I change it up with self-help books and the occasional biography. Basically, whatever interests me.
Where to buy Taming the White Wolf
Publisher https://entangledpublishing.com/books/taming-the-white-wolf
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7NTXG92/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-the-white-wolf-n-j-walters/1143634327
iBooks https://books.apple.com/us/book/taming-the-white-wolf/id6450183902
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/taming-the-white-wolfNJ Walters Social Media
NJ Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, assassins, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looksâall vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
Website njwalters.com
Blog https://njwalters.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/njwaltersauthor
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/NJWalters
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/n-j-walters
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/njwalters
Get to know NJ Walters better by signing up for an email newsletter https://eepurl.com/gdblg5
Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.
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Discover secrets behind Burning Bridges by Anne Krist @DeeSKnight #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance #SecondChance
Old letters turn Sara’s life into chaos in Anne Krist’s Burning Bridges. Did you ever tell a lie for so long that even you believed it? And then get caught? Ah… Then you understand Sara in Anne Krists’ Burning Bridges.
Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.
Burning Bridges by Anne Krist
Genre Contemporary romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PGNot your typical “secret baby” book, this Southern romance is filled with emotion between a mature heroine and the man she used to love.
Letters delivered decades late send shock waves through Sara Richards’s world. Nothing is the same, especially her memories of Paul, a man to whom she’d given her heart years before. Now, sharing her secrets and mending her mistakes of the past means putting her life back together while crossing burning bridges. It will be the hardest thing Sara’s ever done.
Tell us a secret!
Describe a scene you decided to cut. Bonus – explain how you decided.
I really liked Matt, the Marine in the book who is sort of Sara’s boyfriend. He’s being transferred to California and wants Sara to come with him. He’s in love with her but because of her daughter, her heart always has a tie to Paul, the sailor she fell in love with as a young girl. I had a scene where Sara and Matt were almost intimate but I cut it because it felt like Sara would be cheating on Paul.
Fill us in on a quirk or background info about your main character that you might not have revealed in the book.
Sara and Paul enjoyed some real-life places, like Virginia Beach itself, the Alan B. Shepard Convention Center, and Sand Bridge, a beach in the area.
What quirk of your own is written into one of your characters?
Sara and I share a little history. My dad was in the Navy when we lived in Virginia Beach and, like Sara, I attended a concert at the convention center, though I didn’t meet a sailor there and fall in love. Like Sara, my dad did not want me dating sailors. Wonder whyâŠ? đ I did fall in love while living in Virginia Beach, though, a young man I went to school with in eighth grade. We later married but before that, we walked along the shore at Sand Bridge many a time, like Sara and Paul. Happy memories!
Without naming names, tell us about a character quirk that is patterened after someone you know.
Sara’s father is a lot like mine. He was strict and protective, but I know he loved me and that that was the reason for his protectiveness.
Where to buy Burning Bridges
Amazon Kindle Unlimited https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Bridges-Anne-Krist-ebook/dp/B083HN3ZG2/
Amazon paperback https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Bridges-Anne-Krist-ebook/dp/B083HN3ZG2/Anne Krist Social Media
Anne Krist is the “sister” to erotic romance author Dee S Knight. She is quieter, more reserved, and certainly more circumspect about S-E-X than her wild and crazy sibling. Thus, she’s more comfortable writing sweet(er) romance, where there might be a few sensual scenes, but no more than that. One thing about Anne: she’s not less romantic than Dee. They both write in happily ever after and share the solid belief that love can last forever and beyond!
Website https://www.nomadauthors.com/annekrist/index.html
Blog http://nomadauthors.com/blog
Twitter https://twitter.com/DeeSKnight
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN
Newsletter https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6
LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749
Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas https://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/ -
Happy Birthday @MFRW_ORG 17 years of Marketing for Romance Writers #MFRWauthor #MFRWorg #Authors
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Peek behind the cover of A Midsummer Night’s Demon by Brenda Sparks @brendasparks #RLFblog #PNR
A blind date takes a deadly turn in Brenda Sparks’ paranormal romance, A Midsummer Night’s Demon. The only problem: demons and witches go together like fire and ice.
In A Midsummer Night’s Demon by Brenda Sparks, a blind date takes a deadly turn. When a mysterious man comes to the rescue, there’s only one problemâŠDemons and witches go together like fire and ice.
Brenda, I’m happy to host you on Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Tell us about A Midsummer Night’s Demon.
A Midsummer Night’s Demon by Brenda Sparks
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): RBorn a witch, Daelyn Torres knows little outside her home and work. A chance blind date promises adventure and a walk on the wild side. But her night on the town takes a deadly turn when she is gravely injured and left to die. A handsome, mysterious stranger comes to her rescue and brings with him a passion she has never experienced. Daelyn never believed in things that went bump in the night but is more than willing to be seduced by the sexy demon who marks both her body and soul.
A dark guardian sent to investigate a series of missing person cases, Ky Robinson is ready for anything, except the insatiable desire that engulfs him when he meets Daelyn. He senses that their destiny is intertwined and vows do everything in his power to keep her safe. The only problem: demons and witches go together like fire and ice.
Tell Us About Your Cover
What was your reaction when you first saw this cover?
This is the second version of this cover. The first was created when the book was published through an e-publisher. Once I got the rights back to the book, I was able to contract with a cover artist to create a new cover. I adore this cover. I think it is the best cover of any of my stories.
How did you choose the artist?
The artist is personally known to me. He has been doing cover art for years, and it was a pleasure to be able to get him to do this cover.
What was it like to work with this artist?
Working with the artist was easy. He strives to make the author happy. The only thing I wanted to change from the original design was the font on the lettering of my name. He made the change in minutes and sent me a new mockup of the design.
What do you like best about your cover?
The fire. Fire is involved in a pivotal moment in the story. I love seeing it included on the cover.
In what ways do the models match your story’s characters?
The models are a perfect fit for my characters. The artist used my descriptions of the main characters when choosing who to put on the cover. They are an exact match, right down to the ice-blue eyes of the hero.
A good cover conveys the genre at a glance. What are the genre clues on this cover?
I believe the hazy moon, the hero’s icy stare, and the attractive male and female models all help to convey the paranormal romance genre.
What emotions do you hope your cover communicates?
I wanted this cover to be like my heroesâŠdark and intriguing with an air of mystery.
If they are open to new authors, feel free to share their website.
The cover artist is DW Adler. You can find Don on Instagram @DW Adler or contact him via DW.Adler9@gmail.com
Where to buy A Midsummer Night’s Demon
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55095894-a-midsummer-night-s-demon
Amazon: http://mybook.to/AMidsummerNightDemon
*This story is exclusively available on Kindle Unlimited.*Brenda Sparks Social Media
Brenda Sparks has always loved all things spooky and enjoys incorporating paranormal elements in her writing. She refuses to allow pesky human constraints to get in the way of telling the story. Luckily the only thing limiting her stories is her imagination. Her characters are strong, courageous, and she adores spending time with them in their imaginary world.
Her idea of a perfect day is one spent in front of a computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on their latest adventure.
Brenda loves connecting with readers. To contact Brenda or for more information on her books, including excerpts, free reads, and more please visit her website.
Website brenda-sparks.com/index.html
Blog brenda-sparks.com/blog.html
Twitter https://twitter.com/brenda_sparks
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/forBrendaSparks/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/brendasparks/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4416074.Brenda_Sparks
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Sparks/e/B00B7AJBBQ
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brenda-sparks
Get to know Brenda Sparks better by signing up for their email newsletter.
http://brenda-sparks.com/welcome-readers.html -
Read Someone Murderous at The Midnight Motel, the new humorous #Mystery by Kris Bock @KrisBock #RLFblog
Someone Murderous at The Midnight Motel is book 5 in Kris Bock’s Accidental Detective series, which stars a witty journalist who solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kate Tessler lost her celebrated career as an international war correspondent after an injury. Now she and her sister, Jen, dabble in detective work, and they’re facing their toughestâand most dangerousâcase yet.
Kris, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Someone Murderous at The Midnight Motel.
Someone Murderous at The Midnight Motel by Kris Bock
Genre: humorous mystery
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): GNo one warned her hot flashes could lead to deathâŠ
Becoming professional private investigators is trickier than expected. Kate and Jen need all the practice they can get, so when an old friend of Jen’s asks them to investigate suspicious activity at a motel he inherited, they take the job.
It sounds like a free vacation with a little surveillance thrown in. But when Kate’s hot flashes wake her in the middle of the night and she wanders outside to cool down, she witnesses darker deeds than any of them expected. Sure, she’d heard menopause might make a woman want to commit murder, but no one warned her about this side effect!
They have to figure out what’s happening, and they can’t trust anyone at the motel or even the local police they suspect of corruption. Good thing they have the Coffee Shop Irregulars, their father and his senior friends, to share the undercover work. With this enthusiastic but inexperienced team on the job, things are sure to break soon. They just have to make sure they can survive the damage.
“I LOVE this series. It’s so funny butâŠmurderous & the mystery is not messing around.” â author Sinclair Jayne
Why did you write this book?
I got the series idea a few years ago, as I was facing fifty. I thought it would be fun to create a mystery main character dealing with some of the same issues: aging parents, concerns about financing retirement, and a body that doesn’t recover from injury like it once did.
This title was specifically inspired by hot flashes! I was awake in the middle of the night, wandering around trying to cool off. I’d been reading a mystery set at a country house in historical Britain. What if someone in that situation left the room at night to cool off from a hot flash and found a body ⊠So this book is at least one good thing that came from the annoying side effects of menopause.
What do you want prospective readers to know?
These books are fun! Some of the topics might seem dark, but Kate has a wry sense of humor and makes witty observations about the world. She starts collecting quirky friends and helpers. There are lighthearted moments and a lot of warmth. Readers say they adore the characters and the books are really fun.
Do you have to do any special research with this series?
In Someone Missing from Malapais Mountain: The Accidental Detective Book 4, I researched the wilderness area Kate and her team have to search. (See some pictures in this blog post.)
Book 6 in the Accidental Detective series, Someone Rotten Riding the Rails, is set on a train. I wanted to try a “closed circle” mystery, where the suspects are limited to the people present in a location cut off from the rest of the world. (A remote island, a country house during a snowstorm, a ship, etc.) Part of my research involved taking the Grand Canyon Scenic Railway! I interviewed the train car attendant, and he gave me some good tips on what happens if a passenger disappears and where one might hide a body.
What are you working on at the moment?
My Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat cafĂ©, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Six books are out, and I’m getting ready to start Pride and Prejudice at the Cat CafĂ©. You can probably guess the inspiration for this one!
(Visit the Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series or Amazon UK or see the series with links to all retailers.)
What books will we see from you in coming months?
Book 6 in the Accidental Detective series comes out in January. You can preorder the book now at Tule Publishing with links to all retailers.
In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys sweet romance series, a Texas ranching family struggles to maintain their privacy and work ethic after an enormous lottery win. Can they build new dreams and find love amidst the chaos? Four books are out, with #5 coming early November.
Where to buy the Accidental Detective series
Tule Publishing https://tulepublishing.com/series/the-accidental-detective/
Amazon Kindle US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097XPVYSX
Amazon Kindle UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B097XPVYSX
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-shady-at-sunshine-haven-kris-bock/1139733398
Apple https://books.apple.com/us/book/something-shady-at-sunshine-haven/id1573825348
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-shady-in-sunshine-haven
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kris_Bock_Something_Shady_in_Sunshine_Haven?id=br00EAAAQBAJ&hlKris Bock Social Media
Kris Bock writes romance, mystery, and suspense. Get a free 30-page Furrever Friends cat café story, an Accidental Detective short story, and 22 recipes from the cat café when you sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romance Newsletter.
Sign up for the Romantic Comedy Newsletter to get a short story preview of the Felony Melanie series, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.
Website https://www.krisbock.com/
Blog https://swarmchairtraveler.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/kris_bock
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kris-Bock-Author-Page/174350342612332
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/krisbockbooks/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kris_bock_mystery_and_romance/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4735592.Kris_Bock
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kris-bock
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/krisbock
Get to know Kris Bock better by signing up for an email newsletter https://sendfox.com/lp/1g5nx3 -
Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards @JanaRichards_ #RLFblog #Contemporary #SmallTownRomance
In Christmas at Solace Lake, Jana Richardsâ new contemporary small-town romance, a series of thefts threatens everyoneâs holiday spirit.
Jana, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about your book.
Christmas at Solace Lake by Jana Richards
Genre â contemporary small-town romance
Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG to RAn emergency brings Drew Barnes to Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods owned by his aunt and uncle. Heâs sure desperation is the only reason theyâd allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he wants is to be put in the middle of another crime.
Sous chef Celeste Bishop has made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years sheâs worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. After being unfairly fired, this was the only job she could get, and sheâs grateful her gamble on the lodge paid off. The only sticking point is the isolation since she never learned to drive. How can she show her daughter independence when sheâs always relying on others?
Drew sees Celesteâs frustration and offers to teach her to drive. A powerful attraction ignites between them, and soon deeper, stronger emotions blossom. Drew is all in, but Celeste resists her feelings. Sheâs nine years older than Drew. An interracial relationship didnât work for her parents. And loving Drew feels like a betrayal of her deceased husband.
As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Can Drew stop the thief and redeem himself in his familyâs eyesâand his own? And can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas?
Describe the perfect vacation.
In my opinion, vacations should be relaxing. My perfect vacation would see me lounging on a shady deck with a cold drink in one hand and a book in the other. Bonus points if the deck overlooks a body of water. Sure, sometimes Iâll go sightseeing or maybe play golf, but only when I want to.
Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.
I had a Tammy doll that was sort of a Barbie wanna-be. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, but thatâs where the similarity with Barbie ended. She was somewhat bigger/taller with flat feet so none of Barbieâs clothes or shoes fit her. She was also less curvy than Barbie. Obviously, Tammy didnât catch on because while Barbie is still going strong, Tammy is nowhere to be found. But back in the sixties, I adored her!
What are your hobbies?
I play a little golf in the summer and dabble in gardening, at least enough to make the front of my house look nice. I really enjoy live theatre and hope to see a play or two this coming winter season. This past summer I started volunteering at my local zoo as a âzoo ambassador.â Our job is to make our visitorsâ experience at the zoo as enjoyable as possible, and so far itâs been a lot of fun.
When you read for pleasure, what kind of books do you choose?
I mostly read romance. I enjoy contemporary romance, small town, historical, and romantic suspense. I also enjoy mysteries, especially cozy mysteries. Some day I hope to write a mystery series of my own!
What kinds of things do you read when you’re researching a new book?
It very much depends on the book. For instance, Strong Enough, book 4 in my Masonville series, deals with sexual assault and child sexual abuse, so I read a couple of biographies written by survivors, as well as information online. For my World War Two books, Iâve read several books on different aspects of the war, including war brides and the training of air crews in Canada. For my upcoming release, Christmas At Solace Lake, (releasing October 18, 2023) one thing I researched online was ways employees could steal from their employer. I also read a lot of recipes, especially Christmas recipes, since my heroine Celeste is a sous chef and a baker.
Where to buy Christmas at Solace Lake
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
Universal Buy Link https://books2read.com/u/mgRagXJana Richards Social Media
Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.
When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com
Website https://www.janarichards.com/index.html
Blog http://janarichards.blogspot.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/JanaRichards_
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/janarichards155
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JanaRichardsAuthor
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274.Jana_Richards
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jana-richards
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Jana-Richards/e/B002DEVWWG
Get to know Jana Richards better by signing up for an email newsletter https://www.janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter
Romance Lives Forever Blog (RLFblog) is closed as of Dec 1, 2023. Comments prior to 2021 have been deleted. This site will remain online until July 2025.