• African American,  Book Release,  Contemporary

    Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #NewRelease #urbanromance

    Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #NewRelease #urbanromanceLyndell Williams, 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.

    Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit by Lyndell Williams

    Genre romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    From Lyndell Williams, author of My Way to You, a new novel about keeping the flames of love and passion burning in a world determined to snuff them out.

    Harlem lawyer Marcus Kent fights for justice while preserving a stable, passionate marriage with wife, Toni. Smart and confident, he has it all together—that is until his world turns upside down.

    Not only is someone stalking his sister, but an intern at work is also getting too close for comfort.

    On top of all of that, Toni’s renewed infertility obsession causes them to continually argue, adding more strain and cooling off their steamy union.

    Struggling with insecurities and yearning to have a child, successful psychologist Toni Kent looks to her husband for support. Unfortunately, relentless distraction and stubbornness prevent Marcus from being there when she needs him the most and jeopardizes their happy home.

    After multiple failed in vitro attempts, Toni is ready to try again, but Marcus is done. He doesn’t want another headache or more heartache. Will infertility tear this dream couple apart?

    Why did you write this book?  

    I am a huge proponent of using fiction as social commentary. Novels can reflect and influence society, and many readers seek to connect to realistic characters with problems and issues reflecting the human condition. I wrote Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit to highlight how strong love is not invincible. There are times and situations that will test the strongest bond. Toni and Marcus have it all—fabulous careers, awesome Harlem apartment and the respect of their family and community—but they have to endure the trials of infertility. They are usually simpatico, but when Toni wants to go through more in vitro treatments after agreeing to give up, it threatens their love.

    What is your favorite genre to read?  

    Romance, romance, and more romance. The genre offers the chance for authors to show the ways characters navigate and negotiate a foundational human emotion. Romance can be diverse, influenced by readers and the broader culture. It is truly a misunderstood genre that deserves more respect than it gets in the literary world. Love elements exist across genres, so romance is a foundational part of literature.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?  

    I don’t have one.

    What are you working on at the moment?  

    I am finishing up Building on Broken Dreams, book three in the Brothers in Law series. Adam Kane is a European American Muslim convert. A native Bostonian from a wealthy family, he turned away from a life of luxury and privilege. He concentrates on living simply and his faith when he meets Maryam Avery, an African American Muslim woman and pursues her.

    I am also writing three novellas for the Open to Love series. The three stories feature three Muslim women: Hafsah, Tarika and Rahma. Each of them struggles to allow love to enter their lives and keep it there.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?  

    I plan on releasing each novella in the Open to Love series over the coming months, after the release of Sweet Love Bitter Fruit. Then there is book three in the Brothers in Law series, Building on Broken Dreams.

    Where to buy Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Love-Bitter-Fruit-Brothers-ebook/dp/B07WZ9LT97

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
    She is the founder and managing editor of the NbA Muslims blog on Patheos and a cultural contributor for Radio Islam USA. She is a contributor to the online publications About Islam and Haute Hijab.
    Williams is the lead content editor WriteType Editorial Services and mentors aspiring writers across genres.
    She’s had numerous short stories published in collections and enjoys a growing list of subscribers to her Layla Writes Love online short story series.
    Williams self-published her first interracial romance novel My Way to You. The novel made it onto four Amazon bestsellers lists its premiere weekend.
    She is committed to the traditional use of literature as social commentary to affect positive social change.
    Williams is married and the mother of six children.
    Blog https://laylawriteslove.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laylawriteslove/
    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWpN2YTkr9cGO9Z7-AB8xNw
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
    Amazon http://amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove
    Soundcloud https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/layla-writes-love-the-woes-and-triumphs-of-a-romance-author/id1478573350
    iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/layla-writes-love-the-woes-and-triumphs-of-a-romance-author/id1478573350
    Google Play Music https://play.google.com/music/m/Ives5gtsmyhryktswhjdtkixb54?t=Layla_Writes_Love_The_Woes_and_Triumphs_of_a_Romance_Author
    Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4G0FXyBdBJUol2ixhQtYta
    Newsletter http://bit.ly/2keDszX

     

  • African American,  Do It Write

    Do It Write: Where Lyndell Williams writes @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #contemporaryromance

    Do It Write: Where Lyndell Williams writes @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #contemporaryromanceLyndell Williams, 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.

    My Way to You by Lyndell Williams

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Lawyer Simon Young is smart, confident, and adept at keeping things with women casual–until he meets his best friend Marcus’s sister, Regina. Immediately intrigued by Regina’s beauty, Simon becomes increasingly enthralled and ultimately risks his friendship to have her for himself.
    Social justice writer and activist Regina Kent is usually cautious and savvy. Yet, unable to resist her attraction to the handsome Simon, she plunges into a torrid affair, knowing that she chances angering big brother and her less tolerant followers, many of whom will not accept that one of their most popular pro-Black bloggers is dating an Asian man.
    As their clandestine romance evolves, Simon and Regina fall deeper in love. Making sure that things stay between them becomes progressively impossible, and neither knows how much longer they can keep Marcus in the dark and the world at bay.
    How long have you been writing?
    I’ve been writing in varying capacities since I started writing for my college newsletter. Once I got bit with the writing bug, I expanded into writing for online publications as well as writing essays for a literary journal, books, and peer-reviewed articles.
    This year, I had several short stories published in collections and published my first novel.
    What was your first published book?
    My Way to You is my first novel. It is an interracial romance about an Asian American lawyer who falls in love with an African American pro-Black blogger. They have to learn to comfort each other as each encounters levels of racial microaggressions from society. They also have to worry about her big brother finding out, who would not appreciate his best friend and little sister dating.
    Tell us about your writing space or home office.
    My writing space is in a corner of my bedroom in our family’s cozy cape. I bought one of those affordable big box store tables and a swivel chair to stake my claim. The table hosts my laptop (pc of course) with an attached keyboard and second monitor. My writing demand requires an ability to work from multiple screens.
    I also have a wonderful lamp I got from my daughter as a gift. It has multiple settings, which is great when I’m trying to work at 4 a.m. while my husband sleeps.
    Anything special about your space?
    My space is also “mommy central.” Because I try to get writing done during a day packed with mothering 6 kids and homeschooling as well as communicating with colleagues and students, I have a bunch of non-writing supplies, such as combs and brushes to do my little one’s hair and moisturizing butter to keep everyone’s skin smooth.
    What do you love most about that area?
    It’s where the magic happens. There is something about being there that helps trigger my creativity. I can get work done in other places. I’ve written chapters and articles on my cell phone, but nothing gets as ready to write as sitting at my desk with a cup of coffee.
    What would like to change about your home office?
    Do It Write: Where Lyndell Williams writes @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #contemporaryromanceI would like for it to be an actual office with a lock and guard dog sitting outside. One of the biggest challenges in having a corner and not an office is blocking out the world, especially a tenacious pack of kids determined to make your writing time theirs.
    I think one of the things I most need is a full space with my books and research. I’m eyeing my oldest son’s bedroom. When he’s finished with college, he’s gonna have to spread his wings so I can get my office.
    If money was no object, what would your home office look like?
    It wouldn’t be a matter of what but who. I so need an assistant. My scheduling skills are so out of whack, and I need someone to help me keep an organized content calendar for the multiple blogs I manage and manage my time to get semester grading done, progress in writing my next book and contribute to the list of projects I’m committed to completing.
    My home office would like a regular one because I would have an assistant with a desk.
    How do you juggle writing and family?
    I don’t know how to juggle. I drop a bunch of balls all of the time. Fortunately, I have a great husband who makes sure I get out of my chair and spend some time with the family. He’s also awesome at picking up the slack at home despite working 90 hours a week himself.
    If I find myself with an immediate deadline, I can count on him to help out around the house so I can keep those keys clicking. It’s extremely important. I couldn’t do any of my work if he didn’t.
    What’s the last book about writing that you read?
    That would be the Associated Press Stylebook. I kid you not. I write a lot of online articles, so I need that by my side.
    I also get into friendly skirmishes with fellow writers about things like the Oxford comma, so I use it for ammunition.
    What book or books about writing do you recommend for new authors?
    The Best Punctuation Book, Period is pretty great. The author, June Casagrande has a lot of great books on writing.
    What do you like to read for relaxation?
    I enjoy reading other romance authors. I’ve become hooked on Black women romance authors like Twyla Turner, Love Journey, Reana Malori and Aubree Pynn. They introduce readers to some culturally-specific romance and explore some topics and corners from which other romance authors might not.
    Do you have an author newsletter?

    Where to buy My Way to You

    Amazon https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07K3PZXHY/

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    Blog https://laylawriteslove.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/abdullahpoulos/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove

     

  • Contemporary

    Know the Hero from A Love Affair in Las Vegas by Rachell Nichole @RachellNichole #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomance

    Know the Hero from A Love Affair in Las Vegas by Rachell Nichole @RachellNichole #RLFblog #ContemporaryRomanceRachell Nichole, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your hero, but first, tell us about the book.

    A Love Affair in Las Vegas by Rachell Nichole

    Genre Contemporary Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): NR
    Dawn Jansen has only ever wanted one thing: to provide a life for her daughter in New York City, away from the small-town minds of her family and her upbringing. She has fought hard to finally make it to manager at the Hauteman hotel, and one of her first duties is to attend a conference at the Marietta Las Vegas to learn all she can about running the show. But when she arrives in Las Vegas, her plans to learn as much as she can on a professional level, turns into learning far more about herself than her job. She may get a second-chance at this whole love thing after all.
    Barnaby “Barney” Garrison has always had one goal in life: to help people. He’s found his calling as manager of the Marietta Times Square, and since his past failed relationship, has focused all of his energy on being the best manager he can be. This year, that means helping to run the Marietta Hotels second annual Hoteliers’ Conference in Vegas. But as soon as he notices Dawn in the crowd, his focus instantly splits, his desires for her swift and fierce. When he realizes the attraction is mutual, he doesn’t waste any time seducing her to his bed. But when he suspects she’s hiding something from him, he worries that maybe he’s just destined to attract two-timing women to his life.
    Can what began as a fling in Vegas turn into something more once they’re home in New York? Or does what happen in Vegas truly stay in Vegas?

    Know the Hero from A Love Affair in Las Vegas

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your hero.

    For Contemporary Heroes:

    It’s late, he’s bored. What does he do?
    Read a comic book.
    What kind of food would he impulse buy if hungry?
    Chinese food, definitely.
    Describe the kind of clothes he prefers to wear.
    He’s got kind of a swanky geek vibe. It’s like geek chic, but with a dash of street on the side. He is a New Yorker, after all.
    Does he know how to fix things?
    He likes to think so. As the manager of Marietta Times Square Hotel, Barnaby has to be a little be of a handy-man, for emergencies.
    He tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.
    Barnaby’s biggest “gone badly” story is him trying to get married. He was in love with a woman, Diane, who was his whole world. Only, turns out, she wasn’t his.
    How does he act around children he doesn’t know?
    He loves kids, so the kids he doesn’t know he just tries to get to know, asking questions, being silly, that sort of thing.
    What is he like first thing in the morning?
    Check his phone. Usually for work-related stuff, but after he starts dating Dawn, to check in on her and Hailey.
    Can he use chopsticks?
    Yes. What New Yorker can’t?
    Does he drink coffee? If so, how does he take it? If not, what does he drink instead?
    Of course. He couldn’t manage the hotel without excessive amounts of caffeine. He takes it dark and rich, with just a little cream.
    What apps would he have on his phone?
    Tons of social media so he can be in the know, but places he almost never posts. The Marietta has very strict rules about public appearances.
    Android or iPhone?
    Android
    Beard or clean-shaven?
    Mostly clean-shaven, but a little stubble goes a long way.
    Earrings/piercings/tattoos or unadorned skin?
    Unadorned
    Personal vehicle or public transport?
    Public transport. Driving in NYC is ridiculous.
    Recycle or toss?
    Recycle of course
    Thanks for helping us get to know your hero!

    Where to buy A Love Affair in Las Vegas

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FC6SY95
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-love-affair-in-las-vegas-rachell-nichole/1129054650
    iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-love-affair-in-las-vegas/id1409614813
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-love-affair-in-las-vegas

    Rachell Nichole Social Media

    Rachell Nichole is a contemporary erotic romance author, who loves writing sexy romances about memorable characters who have to fight to hold on to love. Rachell holds two undergraduate degrees, one in Professional Writing and the other in French. She also received a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. She is the author of The Marietta Hotels Series, Spicy with a Side of Cranberry Sauce, Gingerbread Photography, To Sir, Belle By Night, and Queen of Hearts. She lives in Pennsylvania with a mountain of books, the love of her life, and an invisible cat who likes to snuggle.
    Website www.RachellNichole.com
    Blog www.RomanceAccordingToRach.blogspot.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/RachellNichole
    Facebook www.Facebook.com/RachellNichole
    Goodreads http://bit.ly/1vZrGId
    Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/1Cy4qE1
    Newsletter https://bit.ly/2kYJDVn

     

  • African American

    Interview with Candace Shaw author of Her Perfect Candidate @Candace_Shaw #RLFblog #historicalromance

    Her Perfect Candidate 
    Title: Her Perfect Candidate (Chasing Love Series)
    Genre: Contemporary Romance/Harlequin Kimani
    Author Name: Candace Shaw
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Why did you write this
    book?
    I wrote Her Perfect Candidate because I wanted to create a hero
    that is even though he’s somewhat of a playboy, he’s not a bad guy. Steven Monroe
    is the epitome an all-around great guy. He’s a millionaire but he doesn’t care about
    that and is quite modest. Instead, uses his position as senator to be active in
    the low-income communities and help others. His pet peeve is people who complain
    about the issues, but don’t do anything to find a solution.
    What is your favorite
    genre to read?
    My favorite genre to read is romance which includes the sub categories
    of contemporary, historical and urban fantasy. I also enjoy chick lit.
    Do you enjoy films and/or
    TV shows? Which are your favorites?
    I don’t watch a lot of television but when I do I can’t miss
    Scandal, Covert Affairs, Marvel Agents of Shield, Once Upon a Time and Royal Pains.
    I have too many favorite movies to name but I love everything with Elizabeth Taylor
    (favorite movie star) as well as more up-to-date romances and comedies such as The
    Notebook, Love and Basketball, You’ve Got Mail and anything with Denzel Washington.
    What are you working on
    at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    Currently, I’m finishing the second book in the Chasing Love
    series, Journey to Seduction, whose heroine is Sydney Chase, Megan’s twin sister
    and Bryce Monroe, Steven’s younger brother. The two have a love/relationship, more
    so on her side, until they take a cross-country trip together to Vegas for motorcycle
    fest. It comes out in February 2015. In the next month or so, I’ll begin writing
    my self-published novel My Kinda Girl which is the last book in the Arrington Family
    Series (check website below for excerpts) and it will be out in Winter 2014. My
    Kinda Girl is about Dr. Sean Arrington, a psychiatrist in his family private medical
    practice. While he’s the most intelligent one out his siblings, he’s also the most
    self-absorbed, arrogant one and playful playboy who has a type of woman he dates.
    He prefers the model-type. Tall, leggy, not-too-bright and dotes on his every word.
    However, he meets his match in Traci and she’s the total opposite of everything
    he thinks he wants. I can’t wait to begin writing the book.
    Please tell us about your
    latest book.
    Megan Chase is career-focused and independent woman who loves
    being single but not because she doesn’t trust men, she simply enjoys her life and
    her main concern is her interior decorating firm. Her family and friends keep setting
    her up on blind dates because they think she’s lonely after a break up from almost
    two years ago. However, she’s not and she’s tired of them. Steven Monroe is a state
    senator who is going to run for the United States senate seat his father
    is retiring from. However, the media views him as a bad boy playboy and his campaign
    team wants him to settle down with one woman before and during the official campaign.
    He keeps running into Megan and they it hit off and decide to date in name only
    to get her family and his campaign team off their backs.
    Co-owner of an up-and-coming interior decorating firm, Megan
    Chase loves being a single woman on the fast track to success. But everything changes
    when a flat tire brings Georgia
    senator Steven Monroe into her life. The sinfully sexy politician needs the right
    woman to clean up his image. And with Megan’s fine eye for detail, she just may
    be the woman for the job.
    Steven’s reputation as a player could cost him his chance at
    a U.S.
    senate seat. But when the cameras catch him and Megan in a kiss that’s all too real,
    it’s not only his future candidacy in jeopardy. As the lines between politics and
    desire begin to blur, how much will he risk to transform their passionate pretense
    into a landslide for love.

    Buy This Book

    All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/1r7E9Xs
    Amazon UK:
    http://amzn.to/1jxYbk9
    Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1oy6Fgu
    Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1pq7ec2
    Kobo: http://bit.ly/1trTBJJ

    Author Bio

    Born and raised under the sunny skies and the whitest beaches
    in northwest Florida,
    Candace Shaw knew she wanted to become a writer after she read Little Women in fourth
    grade. After graduating from the University
    of West Florida with a degree
    in Elementary Education, Candace began teaching and put her dream of becoming a
    writer on hold until one summer vacation she started writing again and hasn’t stopped.
    When Candace is not writing or researching information for a
    book, she’s reading, shopping, learning how to cook a new dish or spending time
    with her loving husband and their loyal, over-protective weimaraner, Ali. She is
    currently working on her next fun, flirty, and sexy romance novel.

    Author Social Media

  • Contemporary

    Meet Fredrick from Just My Type by @SynithiaW #RLFblog #contemporary

    Just My Type 
    Title Just My Type
    Genre Contemporary Romance
    Author Name Synithia Williams
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Janiyah Henderson may be an adult, but her dad doesn’t see it
    that way. Granted, she’s enjoying her post-college life of little-to-no responsibility,
    but when her dad announces at a family meeting that she can’t handle working a
    “real job,” there’s only one thing to do: land a desk job and prove him
    wrong. When her brother’s best friend, Fredrick Jenkins, needs a new assistant,
    she knows she’s the perfect candidate. So what if she’s had a crush on the conservative
    accountant since she was nine? She’s the last woman Freddy would fall for.
    But Fredrick is far from impervious to Janiyah’s charms. Though
    he can’t help but be attracted to her, he knows Janiyah is more interested in eating
    his cereal and teasing him than viewing him as more than the good guy next door.
    When he offers her the job, he can’t imagine her giving up her late mornings and
    colorful outfits for 8:00 a.m. meetings and pantyhose for too long. But as Janiyah
    excels as his employee, he fears he’s in danger of falling hard for a woman he shouldn’t
    care for.
    Pretty soon the attraction they’ve tried to ignore boils to the
    surface. And after Fredrick shows Janiyah the man behind the numbers, she’s ready
    to show him that she’s just the type of woman he needs.

    Buy This Book

    Publisher: http://www.crimsonromance.com/crimson-romance-ebooks/crimson-romance-book-genres/contemporary-romance-novels/just-my-type/
    iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/just-my-type/id881625145?mt=11
    Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/just-my-type-3/EgqszQm5NU28LBI2WRmGNQ?MixID=EgqszQm5NU28LBI2WRmGNQ&PageNumber=1

    Interview with Fredrick P. Jenkins

    Tell us about yourself, please.

    I’m an accountant that started my own firm two years ago after the
    firm I worked only wanted to deal with clients perceived to be financially viable
    instead of taking care of the ones who needed the most help. In the two years since
    l left, I’ve made my firm one of the most successful startups in my area.
    On a personal level, I enjoy reading, biographies mostly, watching
    documentaries and weight lifting. Don’t let my hobbies fool you. Many times women
    see the conservative outer appearance and automatically put me in the “good
    guy” or “friend” category. But, believe me, I’m far from the reserved
    good guy when it comes to relationships. It was something I longed to show Janiyah
    for years, but at the same time didn’t want to ruin our friendship.

    What is it that you want, but cannot
    have? Authors call this the conflict of the perceived story.

    I always wanted a nice, predictable, stable relationship. I dated
    women who had similar career goals and were settled in their lives. But there was
    always Janiyah. Unpredictable, flirty, and definitely not looking to settle into
    a nice and easy relationship. She drove me crazy, I wanted her and didn’t want her
    at the same time. I thought she was exactly what I didn’t need in my life. It was
    impossible to continue to ignore the way she made me feel.

    What inner doubt causes you the most
    difficulty?

    I didn’t want to want Janiyah because I watched my dad make poor
    choices based on the whims of my mother. What I didn’t realize was that Janiyah’s
    unpredictability wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. She brings excitement and joy to
    my life.

    What’s your external complication?
    In the story world your author created, explain what it is you fear most.

    Janiyah already lived next to me, but then she wanted to work
    for me. I didn’t doubt she could do it. I did doubt that I’d be able to resist her
    when she was with me in the office all day. Not only did she become a stellar employee,
    but I saw a side of her that I refused to acknowledge was there. I was still afraid
    to trust myself to be with her. Janiyah dated men much more exciting than an accountant.
    I wasn’t sure if she’d be happy with me long term, and I want a long term relationship.

    Tell us about your significant other,
    that person who makes living worthwhile.

    What would that person say about
    you?

    At first, I think Janiyah would say that I wasn’t interested
    in her. I spent years trying to hide my attraction. She’s my best friend’s little
    sister, I couldn’t do my boy like that by stepping to his sister. I also think she
    viewed me as a “good guy”. She would tease me and call me Freddy whenever
    she tried to get me to loosen up. After I showed her my looser side, and opened
    myself up to accepting our relationship she calls me her man, the guy she loves,
    and a damn good lover. I can’t argue with any of that.

    What is your family like?

    The complete opposite of me. My dad spends his days ignoring
    responsibility to make my mom happy. My mom picks up and drops hobbies constantly
    and is more concerned with appearances. I have one sister who lives in New York; we don’t speak
    often. I love my family, but we’re just different.

    Are you happy with the way your story
    ended? Why or why not?

    Of course I’m happy. I’ve got Janiyah, my business is doing well,
    and her four older brother’s didn’t kill me for being with their baby sister.

    About the Writer

    You have the length of a tweet (140 characters) to describe yourself as
    a writer. Let’s see what you can do.

    I write spicy romances set in the south.

    Why did you choose to write about this character?

    I like the idea of the nice guy next door that has a naughty
    side. It was fun to tease Freddy and then finally have him snap and go after Janiyah
    full force.

    When you wrote about this character, what made you the most happy? What
    made you the most sad?

    Of course I was happy writing his love scenes. Freddy is great
    in bed. I was sad writing his struggle to trust his feelings for Janiyah. It was
    tough making him continue to push away from her when she was so open about her feelings
    for him.

    What do you want to write next?

    I’m working on the stories for Janiyah’s brothers. One is a pretty
    boy, the other is a bad boy, and one is a wanderer. I’m going to have lots of fun
    with these guys.

    Author Bio

    Synithia Williams has loved romance novels since reading her
    first one at the age of 13. It was only natural that she would begin penning her
    own romances soon after. When she isn’t writing, this local government gal balances
    the needs of her husband and two sons.

    Author Social Media

    Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Synithia%20Williams&search-alias=digital-text

  • African American

    Women’s Fiction: Give Me Everything | Interview @AngelaKayAustin #RLFblog

    Give Me Everything 
    Angela Kay Austin, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk
    about your book Give Me Everything.
    Genre: Romantic Women’s Fiction
    Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing
    Length: 180 pages
    Blurb:
    He’d sat on top of the world… the perfect woman, a daughter,
    and a job that made his father proud. Now, Kendis was divorced, and his daughter
    wasn’t really his. At least, he has a good job…at Brady and Associates, the firm
    that sends him to Maryland
    for their client, Eastover. Eastover, one of Maryland’s largest commercial real estate developers,
    is on a mission to take over older, outdated malls.
    She’d been through the wringer in her personal life, and now
    LaKia thinks the only thing she can control is her career as Marketing Director
    for a small commercial real estate company. She’d always wanted marriage and children
    like her best friend has… but she’s given up on ever finding her own Mr. Right.
    Until Kendis.
    Buy links:
    What are your main characters’
    names, ages, and occupations?
    Lakia Jackson (almost thirty) and Kendis Washington (early thirties.)

    Interview

    Tell us about your story’s
    world. What is it like in this period or place?
    I set this story in Maryland,
    right outside of D.C. This is significant because it is an area where business and
    politics collide, everyday. This is important to the story because the story revolves
    around local politics and economic development.
    What inspired you to write
    this book?
    Conversation with friends over dinner and wine. I like writing
    stories about women who have followed the path of career. What happens when they
    take a look back, and think to themselves – what about marriage and children? And
    what happens if choosing one affects the other, and you feel you can’t really trust
    what you’re doing because of that simple fact.
    Which character in your
    current book do you think readers will like the most? Why?
    It’s hard for me to judge that one. I hope I’ve written the characters
    in such a way that readers connect to both. Kendis has been lied to, and deceived
    in such a way that I think it will connect with women. He has the chance to do something
    he thinks is important and, from his point of view, it will give back a lot to the
    local community. But, LaKia feels the same way about what she wants. She can protect
    a small company in a great community, and help preserve a little bit of history.
    And, just like Kendis, she’s experienced her own loss, and has been deceived in
    her own way by someone she loved.
    Why do you write?
    Honestly, I think if I didn’t my head would explode. I’ve always
    enjoyed playing out different scenarios in my head. I’ll rewrite scenes to movies.
    Often, I visualize whole scenes to music. It’s always been a part of me; it just
    took me a while to figure out what to do with it.
    Who has helped you the
    most in your career as an author?
    One of my friends, another author, LaVerne Thompson. I met LaVerne
    through the Washington
    D.C. chapter
    of RWA, and through her I discovered Red Rose Publishing. That introduced me to
    digital first print publishers, and online conferences and workshops. That changed
    my life because until that time I only thought about one path to publishing – traditional
    mainstream publishers. I discovered a world of camaraderie, developed my craft,
    and gained confidence in myself as a writer.
    When you write, what things
    do you want close at hand? (Coffee, water, chocolate… pictures of gorgeous hunks
    for inspiration…?)
    Depends on what I’m writing and when. Sometimes, I like to do
    what my characters are doing. Sometimes, I need to remove myself from the picture
    because I’m thinking too hard, and forcing the story verses letting it flow naturally.
    Sometimes, I need to push the story so that it’s not too predictable. Chocolate,
    especially if it’s chocolate covered something paired with a glass of wine, can
    help me slip into a more sensual frame of mind. Eating ice cream can make me think
    of more fun things: childhood, time with my young nephews or niece. Pictures, well,
    hey, pictures are pictures!
    When you’re not writing,
    what would we find you doing?
    People watching. I love to sit and drink a cup of coffee in local
    shops or on an outdoor patio somewhere and watch people do what they do. I keep
    a notebook with me, and I scribble, relentlessly. Conversations. What they are wearing.
    How lovers interact. Whatever I can see or hear. Or, you might just find me doing
    something that one of my characters will be doing. I went white water rafting, and
    in this book – “Give Me Everything” – it opens with the characters doing
    just that.
    Are you a plotter, or
    do you prefer to make it up on the spur of the moment?
    I like to know what the story is about, but other than that,
    I let it flow. I like discovering the story in the same way the readers do. If I
    let the characters speak loudly enough I feel like the story will be better, more
    true.
    Looking back at your first
    book, what do you wish you had done differently?
    Dug deeper into my emotions. I set the story in Pennsylvania. I experienced a lot of what the character
    experiences with regards to isolation. There was also a lot of racial tension that
    I didn’t delve into as deeply as I should’ve. I think it would have allowed readers
    to have a better connection with the story. If I have the chance to rewrite it,
    I will definitely peel back the layers.
    What aspect of your life
    do you write into your books?
    Career. I write about women who are career minded, and how that
    affects their lives. Regrets. Successes. Having it all. Can women have it all? According
    to so many, we can’t. I guess I like to fantasize about the possibilities of it
    being obtainable. We can at least try.
    When an idea hits you,
    what do you do to capture it?
    I write it down. I keep a notebook with me at all times, and
    I jot down everything for the idea. I don’t want to forget it. It’s the little nuances
    that I want to capture. I don’t always see both my hero and my heroine. Sometimes,
    just one of them. So, I like to capture as much as I can when it comes to me. It
    helps me see the other characters more clearly.
    Which of your books was
    the hardest to write and why?
    I don’t know. Because my books cover issues important to women:
    abortion, miscarriage, date rape, homelessness, etc. There are parts of many of
    them that have been difficult. I tackle each piece of each story through deliberate
    research, and sometimes that means reading blogs or watching videos that can be
    heartbreaking. It can be hard to shake the memories.
    Do you believe in luck?
    Not sure. I believe in fate. There are things, I believe, that
    are just meant to be, and regardless of anything, they’ll just be.
    What kind of music do
    you listen to while driving? Same question when writing?
    It depends. My music, whether driving or writing, has to fit
    my mood (or the scene I’m writing.) If the sun is shining, and I’m driving with
    no purpose, I listen to one thing. If I’m on my way to meet with a client for work,
    I might listen to something upbeat. If I’m writing a love scene, of course, I want
    to listen to something appropriate.
    Do you play any musical
    instruments?
    Clarinet and saxophone. I even played in the band in high school
    and college.

    Please complete the sentences

    I love pizza with alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, spinach
    and onion. And don’t forget a glass of red wine
    .
    I’m always ready for travel.
    When I’m alone, I veg out on the SyFy channel.
    You’d never be able to tell, but I was born and raised in
    TN
    .
    If I had a halo it would be shiny sparkly. (fingers crossed)
    If I could live in another country I’d move to Rome, Italy.
    I can never stop writing
    because the voices in my head would find another way out.      

    Previous Books

    Love All Over Me
    Sweet Victory
    Christmas’ Journey
    Love’s Chance
    Scarlet’s Tears
    My Son
    Derailed

    Books Coming Soon

    I’m subbing away. When the ink has dried, I’ll let you know.

    Find Me Here