Meet author Vicky Burkholder, writing for Liquid Silver Books.

Title The Ruby Key

Genre contemporary romance

Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

Who or what inspired you
to write?

My dad. When I was very young, I was considered a “slow
reader”. Back then, we didn’t have enrichment classes so my dad took it upon
himself to show me the wonders of the written word. Though not highly educated himself,
he was an avid reader. He would take me on his lap and read to and with me. He’d
do word games with me – for instance, if we were in the car and waiting somewhere,
he’d find a billboard and point to a word in it and tell me to find as many words
with those letters as I could. Or he’d do crossword puzzles with me. He found things
I was interested in and books that would go along with those interests – like horses
(what little girl doesn’t love horses?). He bought books about horses, both fiction
and non-fiction. In short, through my love of him and my interests, he taught me
to love the written word. And in a year, I moved up from the “slow” section
to the top of the class.

What are your five “desert
island” books?

Probably a Boy Scout handbook (come on, I’m nothing, if not practical!),
a science fiction book (like Anne McCaffrey’s Crystal series), a good mystery (like
Laura Bradford’s Amish mystery series), a good romance (like Nora Roberts, especially
her paranormal romances), and a good fantasy (like David Eddings). You will note
that these are all paperback books. I’d choose differently if I could take my electronic
reading device, but on a desert island, I’m not sure that would work well, though
I suppose I could use the handbook to figure out how to create electricity to power
up my devices!

What advice would you
give a new author?

Grow a thick skin. This is not a business for the weak of ego.
You are going to get bad reviews. You’re going to get rejected – a lot. You’re not
going to get rich quick (except in very very rare cases). You need to be able to
bounce back. Yes, give yourself a day or two to rail at the fates on the bad stuff,
then get right back in there. You can’t let the negativity that is part and parcel
of this career get you down. If one bad review or rejection makes you quit, then
you need to rethink being a writer. Because unless you’re just doing it for yourself,
you’re going to get hurt. BUT, if you keep at it… if you keep trying… if you keep
learning and improving, someday you may get that acceptance or that great review
and the sales will start coming in, and it will all be worth it. Perseverance is
the key.

The following blurb and excerpt are from my latest book, The
Ruby Key, a paranormal romance available from Liquid Silver Books. It is the second
in the Crystal Keys series.

Blurb: (from The Ruby Key)

For centuries, four women have held the keys to Lemuria, a land
where magic is real. They and their Protectors are all that stand against The Brotherhood,
a group of exiles who want to return to Lemuria and take control of the gateway
between realms.

Phoebe, Keeper of the ruby key, lost her lover and Protector,
Ryan, to murder. The Powers That Be saddled her with a dorky salesman. That is,
until Zack arrives on the scene. With his Scandinavian good looks, he is the essence
of what a Protector should be, but he is a loner and wants nothing to do with magic.
Magic is what got his brother killed. Phoebe wants nothing to do with him as a protector,
but he draws her in ways Ryan never did.

Edward is the epitome of a British gentleman and shows Phoebe
the genteel side of life, but Edward has a past, and an agenda. He is the leader
of the Brotherhood and if he controls Phoebe, he will control everything—and destroy
it all.

The past, present, and future all come crashing down to one moment.
Only Phoebe can make the choice—and her choice will determine the fate of several
worlds.

They lost the battle once before. This time, will love really
conquer all?

You can read an excerpt here: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/excerpts/therubykey.htm

Liquid Silver Books: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/excerpts/therubykey.htm

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Key-Crystal-Keys-Book-ebook/dp/B00OVEA4UM/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421960806&sr=1-5&keywords=vicky+burkholder&pebp=1421961478085&peasin=B00OVEA4UM

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-ruby-key

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ruby-key-vicky-burkholder/1120648654?ean=9781622101658

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-therubykey-1671865-340.html

The Turn of the Card – a short futuristic romance from Liquid
Silver Books

Other books available from Liquid Silver Books

The Emerald Key – first book in the Crystal Key series

Who’s Your Alpha – short, contemporary shape shifter romance

Finder’s Keepers – short, contemporary paranormal romance

Vicky Burkholder lives in a three-generation home and is lucky
enough to have two other writers in residence. At various times in her life, she
has been a journalist, writer, editor, teacher, short-order cook, computer specialist,
DJ, and librarian. Her writing spans the fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and
romance lines from YA to adult. No matter the age or genre, all of her books have
a touch of romance in them and have to have a happily ever after ending.

Website http://www.vickyburkholder.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickyburkholder
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Burkholder/e/B003GTULTC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1421960806&sr=1-1