• Gay or MM

    Author Interview: @dpdenman Dancer’s Heart #RLFblog #LGBT Romance

    Dancer’s Heart 
    Book: Dancer’s Heart
    Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
    Author: DP Denman
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    Interview with DP Denman

    Why did you write this
    book?
    The idea for this story came out of research I was doing for
    grad school about domestic violence in the gay community. It’s a widespread problem
    people don’t hear much about because like a lot of things in the LGBT Nation, it’s
    kept in the shadows.
    What is your favorite
    genre to read?
    Paranormal
    What is your favorite
    character from fiction (not including your own characters)?
    I’d have to say Deacon Chalk from James R. Tuck’s Occult Bounty
    Hunter series. He’s a tragically flawed good guy. I love those!
    Do you enjoy films and/or
    TV shows? Which are your favorites?
    I’m a big fan of TV…which probably sounds a bit odd since I don’t
    own one. Netflix and I are the best of friends. My favs include My Name is Earl,
    1950s movies, Simpsons, and American Dad.
    What are you working on
    at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    I’m working on a new series called Saving Liam. The first book
    is due out in April 2014.
    Please tell us about your
    latest book.
    Simon Leander has a secret. His life is a lie he hides from
    his partner in a relationship he’s determined to tolerate…jealousy, rants and
    all. Michael was supposed to be the love of his life and he’s not ready to let
    go of that dream even though the romantic has turned tyrant.
    Then Drew appears and a little at a time Simon’s
    determination starts to waver. Drew is everything Michael used to be but isn’t
    anymore. When the truth about Simon’s double life bursts from the shadows, it
    sparks a violent attack leaving him battered and broken. He must decide whether
    he can trust Drew and if love deserves a second chance.
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00HLT7C72/

    Author Bio

    DP Denman is an M/M (gay) contemporary romance author from the
    soggy splendor of the Pacific Northwest. She is
    an eclectic reader, obsessed writer, and determined LGBT rights activist who lives
    with her fur babies and a pair of hyper-caffeinated muses.

    Author Social Media

    Blog: http://dpdenmanauthor.blogspot.com

  • Gay or MM

    Lovelight Gleams #GayRomance @keiraandrews #RLFblog

    Where the Lovelight Gleams 
    Keira Andrews, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about
    your book, Where the Lovelight Gleams.
    Genre: M/M contemporary holiday
    Publisher: Loose Id
    Cover artist: April Martinez
    Length: 22,000 words
    Heat rating: Explicit
    Tagline: Can these Hollywood
    actors take their romance offscreen?
    Blurb: This Christmas, actor Ryan Drake is pining. He may get
    to kiss gorgeous Cary Holloway on the set of their hit TV show, Space
    Academy,
    but he knows it’ll never happen in real life. Charming Cary–the son of Hollywood royalty–is straight, as evidenced by his starlet
    girlfriend. But Christmas is a time for unexpected gifts, and Cary accepts Ryan’s invitation to leave the palm
    trees behind and spend the holiday with his family at their cabin in the Great White
    North.
    Amid the snow and mistletoe, Ryan struggles to keep his longing
    under wraps. Little does he know, Cary
    wrestles with his own unspoken desires and his very identity. Surrounded by family
    and holiday joy, their warm friendship deepens. Will these two co-stars have the
    courage to brave Hollywood pressures and take their
    romance offscreen–or will it be only in their dreams?

    Buy links:

    Loose Id: http://loose-id.com/where-the-lovelight-gleams.html
    ARe: https://allromanceebooks.com/product-wherethelovelightgleams-1366219-149.html
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Ryan and Cary are both twenty-five-year-old actors. They are
    co-stars on a CW-esque sci-fi show called Space Academy.

    Interview

    What inspired you to write this book?
    I’ve always loved the holidays and I thought it was high time
    I wrote a Christmas romance. I have fond memories of Christmases at my family’s
    cottage on Georgian Bay in rural Ontario,
    and it was the perfect setting to convey the cozy warmth of the holiday. I’ve long
    wanted to write about actors, and it was the perfect opportunity to juxtapose Hollywood with this peaceful
    setting far away from the glitz. I love the snow and mistletoe, family and friends–and
    of course food!
    When you write, what things do you want close at hand? (Coffee,
    water, chocolate… pictures of gorgeous hunks for inspiration…?)
    Water or Diet Coke if I need some caffeine. Also my white noise
    machine if my neighbour is belting out Britney, as she is wont to do from time to
    time. (I give her an A+ for effort, but it’s not so fun to listen to!)
    When you’re not writing, what would we find you doing?
    You’d find me catching up on my favourite TV shows and movies,
    at yoga class, or curled up with a good book.
    Are you a plotter, or do you prefer to make it up on the spur
    of the moment?
    I’m a mix of plotter and pantser. I always know where the story
    will end up, and I have a general idea of how to get there. But I need the characters
    to come to life and fill in the details and twists and turns.
    What’s your writing schedule like?
    I aim for 3,000 words per day, five days a week. I get up by
    eight a.m. and work for a few hours before going to the gym for a class at noon.
    Then shower, lunch, and back to work until around seven p.m. Although sometimes
    I’ll keep going if I’m on a roll! I usually work through the weekend so I can take
    some time off mid-week to run errands or perhaps sneak in a cheap Tuesday matinee.
    What other jobs have you held besides writing?
    I was a waitress from the end of high school through university
    and post-degree studies and travel. Until recently I worked as a marketing copywriter
    before becoming a full-time novelist.
    Which of your books was the hardest to write and why?
    Semper Fi, my upcoming
    WWII-era drama/romance. It’s the most ambitious book I’ve written, and I did a lot
    of research on Marines in the Pacific and post-war life in America. It’s not
    an easy era in which to set a realistic gay romance. Some people shy away from the
    war, which I understand. But I loved writing it and I hope readers will respond
    to it.
    What are you currently reading for fun? Anything for research?
    For fun I’m rereading
    K.A. Mitchell’s An Improper Holiday (how
    I love an M/M historical at the holidays!). I’m also reading The Naked Truth About Self Publishing, which
    obviously isn’t research for a particular book, but general career research.
    Do you believe in luck?
    Definitely. Some of the best things in life are due to sheer
    dumb luck! For example, I feel very fortunate to know some of my closest friends
    because we happened to like the same TV shows and started talking about them online
    in the same forum.
    What kind of music do you listen to while driving? Same question
    when writing?
    When driving I listen to pop music or Broadway show tunes. I
    generally never listen to music while writing since I find it distracting.
    What’s your favorite movie?
    It’s hard to choose, but I have to go with Strictly Ballroom. It makes me grin like
    a fool every time. A life lived in fear is a life half lived!
    Are you the eldest, middle, baby, or only child?
    I’m the baby and I have an older sister named Wendy. As a child
    I couldn’t say her name and called her “Girl” for years, much to her chagrin!

    Please complete the sentence

    I love pizza with ham, bacon and pineapple.
    I’m always ready for an HGTV marathon.
    When I’m alone, I talk to myself an awful lot.
    You’d never be able to tell, but I’m a geek. (Actually, I don’t
    hide that well at all!)
    If I had a halo it would be sparkly,
    of course.
    If I could do a headstand in yoga I’d probably pass out in shock
    that I actually kept my balance. And you should never pass out while doing headstands!
    I can never go bungee jumping because I’m too paranoid something
    will go wrong.

    Find Me Here

  • Historical

    Amanda in the Summer @brendawhitesid2 #RLFblog #romance

    Amanda in the Summer 
    Brenda Whiteside, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk
    about your book, Amanda in the Summer.
    Genre: Mainstream Women’s Fiction, Historical
    Buy links:
    The Wild Rose Press: http://tinyurl.com/ltatmmf
    Worldwide Release date: December 18, 2013
    Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
    Cover artist: Rae Monet
    Length: 45,000 words
    Heat rating: sweet
    Tagline: Three generations of women…and the secret that strengthens
    their love.
    Blurb:
    A line of women, all named Amanda, stretches back for generations.
    Each with her hopes, her joys, her pain—each pouring out her heart in correspondence
    with a dear family friend who shares their lives, understands their loves, and joins
    in their sorrows.
    But within the correspondence lies a secret. And as the youngest
    of the Amandas retraces the journey through the years—beginning in post-war America
    and following through to modern day—the letters reveal, layer by layer, the Amandas
    who came before her. Soon, the truths and lies hidden in the letters lead her down
    a path of self-discovery that forges a bond between her past and future.
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Amanda is twenty-four in the opening letter written in 1947.The
    letter is written to Tilly who is the same age. Subsequent letters are written by
    Amanda’s daughter and granddaughter. All of the Amandas are main characters and
    they all write letters to Tilly from 1947 until 2004.

    Interview

    How did you get your start in the industry?
    My first book was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2010. Prior
    to that, I had short stories published with some free press both in print and on-line.
    What is the most important thing you do for your career now,
    as compared to when you first started writing?
    I write every day. There are days I get hours of writing in but
    there are just as many I get twenty minutes for my craft. The most important thing
    is to keep the creative juices flowing.
    What websites do you visit daily?
    That varies, but I’m on Facebook every day. There are several
    blogs I check in on if the subject matter attracts me.
    If you could change something about your first book, what
    would it be?
    I’d give it one more good edit to catch the things we missed.
    And I might deepen the POV. All in all, it was meant to be a lighthearted suspense
    for entertainment, and I still see it that way.
    What do you enjoy most about writing?
    When words come together I find amusing, or when a character
    pops off the page I get excited. So often, creativity is spontaneous. I’m not the
    only writer that says this. We all have those moments when characters run away with
    the story, and we’re just a conduit to the page. It’s plain old fun!
    If you could choose anyone to be your mentor who would it
    be?
    I’d have to have two – Maeve Binchy and Diana Gabaldon. I love
    the ever day people feel to Binchy’s stories. I also think she’s a terrific storyteller.
    Gabaldon is a master at deep POV. You can live through her characters. I’d like
    to excel to their level in both those talents.
    If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what
    would it be?
    My younger version didn’t know I wanted to be an author. I’d
    have to tell myself my happiness would be greatest writing – and to get busy and
    stop wasting time.
    What is your work ethic when it comes to writing?
    Like I said, I write every day, but I still get distracted by
    life. You know? So I do have that daily work ethic to keep at it although I wish
    I could ramp it up more.
    How do you cope with stress as an author?
    I work harder. And I complain and eat chocolate.
    Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?
    Often.
    What are some jobs you’ve done before (or while) you were
    a writer?
    I managed a swimming pool company years ago. I’ve worked in a
    library, flipped hamburgers at a goofy-golf course and trained child care providers
    in nutrition.
    Which of your books would you recommend to someone who doesn’t
    normally read your genre, and why?
    I’d recommend The Morning After because it’s short (so they wouldn’t
    feel like they were getting roped in for a long read they might not like), sexy
    (but not too sexy) and fun (if they get entertained they might come back for more).
    What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your
    own writing?
    I’m on a suspense kick right now, probably because I’m writing
    a romantic suspense.
    What do you think is the future of traditional publishing?
    There will always be a place for it, but not the monopoly of
    the past.
    What do you wish I had asked you? Please ask and answer it
    now.
    Do you have another book in the works for publication? As a matter
    of fact, I do! The Art of Love and Murder is currently in the editing process at
    The Wild Rose Press so the release date hasn’t been set. This is a romantic suspense
    I had a great time writing. I’ve got at least two more novels spinning off from
    characters in this book.
    Imagine you get to go on a dream vacation, but you have only
    one hour to pack and leave, and it starts as soon as you finish this interview.
    What will you take with you and where will you go?
    My cosmetics would be first, followed by a few sweaters, boots
    and denim. Love my denim. Then I’d be off to Ireland. One of my grandfathers, a very
    colorful man, was Irish and I’ve always wanted to go there.
    What is your favorite holiday and why?
    Thanksgiving has always been my favorite. The coming together
    of family and friends for nothing more than to eat and talk is so enjoyable. No
    stress of giving and getting in the material sense. It’s the one time each year
    when I’ll get to enjoy people I might not see all year long.
    What good book have you read recently?
    I’m reading Sandford’s Prey series about Lucas Davenport. I’m
    on book four.
    Brenda Whiteside

    Previous Books

    Sleeping with the Lights On
    Honey On White Bread
    The Morning After
    Warm Christmas Wishes (Anthology)
    A Holiday to Remember (written
    with nine other authors)
    Just One Wish (Holiday anthology)

    Books Coming Soon

    The Art of Love and Murder

    Find Me Here

    Goodreads: https://http://goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside
    Group Blog, The Roses of Prose: http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com/

  • Christmas or Holiday

    Romance: Be Mine This Christmas Night @LesannSartor #RLFblog #Christmas

    Be Mine This Christmas Night 
    LA Sartor, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about
    your book, Be Mine This Christmas Night.
    Genre: Romance
    Publisher: L.A.
    Sartor
    Cover artist: Neringa http://www.dvdezign.com
    Length: 288 pages print, apx 40,000 words digital
    Heat rating: mild
    Tagline: Will Their Wish Come True This Christmas Night?
    Blurb:
    The Children’s Author …
    Annie Hamilton’s children’s series
    Star Light~Star Bright is a mega hit.
    She loves kids and wants nothing more than a family of her own, but twice burned,
    thrice shy. When a gorgeous man with two young boys moves next door, Annie can’t
    help but dream her impossible dream.
    And The Widower Who Moved Next Door
    Cole
    Evans is a brilliant scientist, but finds fatherhood a challenge. When his son develops a bond with their
    enchanting neighbor, the boy’s favorite author, Cole discovers just how much he’s
    lost—and how much he needs.
    Will Their Wish Come True This Christmas
    Night?
    Can Cole overcome family meddling and
    alleviate Annie’s fears so they can be a ready-made family?
    Buy links:
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00GGAGV1K
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Annabelle Hamilton (Annie) 30’s, Children’s book author
    Dr. Cole Evans, late 30’s, PhD Atmospheric Physicist
    Josh Evans, 7
    Peter Evans, 9

    Interview

    If you could change something
    about your first book, what would it be?
    I changed the cover to Dare To Believe once and I’d change it
    again. If you want to see the first cover, go to www.lasartor
    and scroll down to the bottom of that first page. I’m not sure how I would change
    it a third time, but I’d love to hear from the readers of the blog. Chime in. What
    would you change from my current cover…also on the same website.
    How do you cope with stress
    as an author?
    I go into my back yard which is an oasis for me. Pond, views
    of the mountains, peace. I get away from the computer, and if I still want to write,
    use the ancient tools of pencil and paper. While I love the computer, it can suck
    you dry. Too many distractions, and too many things I should be doing as well as
    writing, like promotion, emails, web-surfing…
    Do things your family
    or friends do ever end up in a book?
    Parts of them do and parts of me. I saw a T-shirt
    once that said, “Be careful what you say or you could end up in my book.”
    True. So watch out J
    Which of your books would
    you recommend to someone who doesn’t normally read your genre, and why?
    I was at a signing recently and was told by some of the readers
    who’d stopped by that they don’t read romance. So I started thinking about my books
    and really, they are a journey, not only of the main characters, but I try really
    hard to take you someplace you may not know. My screenwriting comes in as I set
    the scene, place you there. I’m told I’m good at it. So yes, it’s a love story,
    but so much more. Now how do I tell you that? Thoughts, dear readers?
    Imagine you get to go
    on a dream vacation, but you have only one hour to pack and leave, and it starts
    as soon as you finish this interview. What will you take with you and where will
    you go?
    Shorts, bathing suit, sunscreen and my credit cards. Any island
    where there is sun, sand, palm trees and blue, blue water. Let’s go now. Dare To
    Believe is set both in Hawaii and Colorado. Two of my favorite
    places.
    What is your favorite
    holiday and why?
    Christmas is. Which is why I HAD to write Be Mine This Christmas
    Night. I love the magic, hope, peace and goodwill of the season and wish it could
    last longer, like all year. Wouldn’t peace to all and hope for a better tomorrow
    be a good thing?
    Where were you at midnight,
    on December 31st when the new century started?
    Fun question. At home with my husband, waiting for a calamity
    to befall the bank I was part of. I was on the Y2K team. We were extremely prepared,
    but YAY, nothing!!
    Please underline which statement is more like you:
    “I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”
    “I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
    I do things as fast as possible.”
    Both honestly. But If I had to pick…nope, can’t do it.

    Please complete the sentences

    I love pizza with mushrooms, onions, bell peppers-any color
    and lots of cheese.
    I’m always ready for wine and pasta, a good walk and a chat
    with my best friend.
    When I’m alone, I love to read, do cross stitch and play the
    piano.
    You’d never be able to tell, but I can be a very shy person.
    If I had a halo it would be gold
    with diamonds.
    If I could win the lotto I’d set up a literacy foundation.
    I can never scuba dive again because I’m terrified
    of drowning, but love to swim.

    About the Author

    Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor)
    began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence,
    wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them. As an adult she writes suspense and
    action adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she’s had a contracted
    adaptation! She lives in Colorado
    with her husband whom she met on a blind date. Leslie loves to travel. She thinks
    life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.

    Find Me Here

    Amazon author site: http://amzn.to/VB7ed9
  • Author Marketing

    All About Street Teams @pendarielraye #RLFblog #MFRWauthor

    Kaden’s Reprieve 
    Dariel Raye and I have worked together on several projects,
    so when she started a street team recently, I asked if I could tag along. She
    soon outran me energy-wise, and I dropped back to admire from a distance. I
    asked her to keep me posted on what was what. This is her report. — Kayelle
    Allen
    1. Street
      teams are all the rage in the book market right now. Ideally, an awesome group
      of loving fans sacrifice their time and effort to help get the word out about
      our books. Realistically, though, it’s not quite that simple. After contemplating
      the pros and cons of street teams, I finally started one a couple of months
      ago. I’d been reading about them and asking questions from more experienced
      marketers, but since I started working with Raye’s Ravers, quite a few more
      things have been made clear to me. Here’s my take, along with a few suggestions.
    2. Ongoing
      point/reward system is too tedious, and even that doesn’t get everyone sharing/tweeting.
      Also becomes impersonal, IMO. The golden rule for street teams is to find unique
      ways to show appreciation. Never forget that these awesome individuals are
      helping you for FREE, so personal thank yous are definitely a requirement.
      I’ll talk more about this later in #6 and #11. Points/rewards for special campaigns/projects
      works better. You can use Google or some other spreadsheet to help keep up
      with points for each team member during the campaign. I started with a month
      long campaign, but I don’t recommend that – too LONG. Two weeks is probably
      a good maximum for special projects and campaigns.
    3. Don’t accept
      people onto the team who are on more than 5 street teams – there are exceptions
      to every rule, of course, but generally speaking, they simply don’t have time
      to keep up with all the boards, groups, and teams on a regular basis. Unless
      your team quickly becomes a favorite, they’re seldom around to respond to tags
      or any other messages you post.
    4. Create
      a private group for sharing and team files.
    5. I’m sure
      you know this, but very few writers have time to be on street teams. Like you,
      they need to be writing. Any time they have left needs to be spent marketing
      their OWN work. Cross promotion is always awesome, but it should never be just
      about you and your work when working with another author. Enough said.
    6. Team-ONLY
      parties can be nice incentives for special campaigns, and this is another reason
      for #7.
    7. Let people
      go nicely who never share. I call most of them “Friends of Raye’s Ravers”
      because they cared enough to give the team a try, and they still help by sharing
      occasionally. Occasional “house cleaning” is important though. Unless
      a team member lets you know why they’re not around (vacation, family problems,
      illness, etc.), set them free if they don’t respond to posts and never share.
    8. Chatting
      with team members as a group helps everyone get to know each other better –
      strengthens the team and it really is nice to get to know people who like your
      work.
    9. Another
      thing I’m planning is choosing a “Raver” of the week or something
      to help get more consistent sharing. It’ll be random.
    10. Playing
      random games and asking questions helps with team building too.
    11. Create
      special prizes only given to team members to increase interest and pride.
    12. All in
      all, if you’re planning to start a street team, expect to spend the first few
      weeks or so just getting your team up and rolling. In other words, don’t try
      to start a street team in the midst of a big writing project. Your goal is
      to keep the team moving and show appreciation without
      constant hands-on involvement from you. Let’s face it – if your team needs
      your constant attention, you still don’t have time to write! I don’t think
      there’s a hard and fast rule as to what works or doesn’t work, but the beauty
      of it is that the sky’s the limit in terms of fun things to try, and you get
      to meet some awesome people along the way.
    Heck, you might even get a little more marketing done than you
    can on your own.

    Previous Books

    Kaden’s Reprieve:
    Barnes and Noble http://barnesandnoble.com/w/untameable-heat-dariel-raye/1116022654?ean=2940148255086
    Dark Sentinels Book One: Sable:
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B008L87H0O
    Jordan’s
    Wings – The Alerians – Dark Progeny Series:
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00AQBDTJW

    Find Me Here

  • Christmas or Holiday

    Contemporary Holiday: Christmas Goes Analog @Kate_Lowell #RLFblog #LGBT

    Christmas Goes Analog 

    Kate Lowell, welcome
    to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about your book, Christmas Goes Analog.

    Genre: Contemporary
    Holiday
    Publisher: Loose Id
    Cover artist: Valerie
    Tibbs
    Length: 30,000 words
    Heat rating: Explicit
    Tagline: When plans
    to celebrate a traditional Christmas together with Rob’s family fall apart, Shawn
    decides to create their own Christmas tradition.
    Blurb:
    When Rob’s dad was injured
    by an uninsured driver, it spelled the end of Rob’s carefree childhood and, more
    important to Rob, the idyllic Christmases they used to have. Hard work and sacrifice
    nets him a degree in computer programming and then a contract at a rapidly-growing
    video game company. Things are looking up, especially when he meets his new System
    Administrator. But the closer it gets to Christmas, the more bugs there are in the
    system.
    Shawn’s found him. The
    Guy. But Rob’s had it rough and it’s been years since he’s been anything but responsible.
    It all comes boiling to the surface when a family financial crisis is followed by
    a work emergency that ruins Rob’s plans to bring Shawn home to meet the family over
    Christmas holidays.
    With Rob’s mood growing
    darker the closer it gets to Christmas, Shawn needs to find some way to give Rob
    the Christmas he’s so desperate for. And he just might have the plan…
    Buy links:
    Loose Id http://www.loose-id.com/christmas-goes-analog.html
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00H2TWRVW/
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-christmasgoesanalog-1366214-149.html
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and
    occupations?
    Robert Forbes, 24, works
    as a video game programmer
    Shawn Thomson, 26, works
    as a system administrator/hardware guy at the same video game company as Rob.

    Interview

    How did you get your start in the industry?
    I was laid off one summer,
    from a job I hated, and decided that I would give the writing a serious go, as a
    way to take back the parts of me that the hostile work environment had crushed.
    I started several different projects, in differing genres, and kept noodling away
    at them until I had one finished. At some point, I stumbled across my online critique
    group, which has been the best thing that ever happened to me, because it was their
    support and approval that convinced me to submit something. I was lucky enough to
    catch the eye of Raven McKnight at Loose Id and it’s been a fantastic experience.
    It’s nice to work with someone who gets your goofy jokes and actively encourages
    your weirdness and ‘not in the box’-ness.
    What is the most important thing you do for your
    career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
    I give it time and treat
    it seriously. I think I’m more forward about promotion, because a professional treats
    promotion like a part of the job. And I’m more likely to give myself the ‘down’
    time between drafts, because I understand how I write much better now. I tend to
    write a clean first draft, but–like many pantsers–it’s more of a detailed outline,
    not a full first draft. Rewrites
    Underground Erotica

    are necessary to add in the layers of information
    and make sure plot elements are properly supported. So I keep a number of different
    projects going at once (I have about a dozen right now, at various stages, from
    single scenes to more than half finished.)

    What websites do you visit daily?
    Daily? My email. Twitter.
    Absolute Write. My critique group. News sites and any interesting links that show
    up in my Twitter feed or elsewhere. I try to stay off the internet, if I can, since
    it can be a huge time waster and I’d rather make words.
    If you could change something about your first
    book, what would it be?
    Lol. I’d write the prequel
    first. The biggest complaint about the first book was that people wanted to know
    the story of how Levi and Glynn got together. Bite Me Tender took place about four
    years into their relationship. But I love those two so much, they’ll definitely
    be coming back.
    What do you enjoy most about writing?
    I like that I’m independent,
    that it’s a structured activity that taps my creativity in a way that everyday life
    doesn’t even come close to. If you want to get all psychological about it, I’m an
    INTJ, which makes me analytical, creative and someone who can’t help fusing things
    that, on the surface, don’t belong together. Writing feeds a part of me that the
    day job can’t even touch.
    If you could give the younger version of yourself
    advice what would it be?
    Write anyway. Find some
    time. Find some people to help you learn to do it better. Don’t be ashamed of your
    ideas, don’t let anyone tell you that girls can’t write scifi or fantasy. Own your
    weirdness and seek out people who are also weird. Experiment. Don’t think of a failed
    project as a waste–it’s practice.
    And don’t let anyone
    tell you that you’re too aggressive and it’s not appropriate. Screw that. Push.
    What is your work ethic when it comes to writing?
    When not tied down by
    other responsibilities, I like to hit a minimum of 1500 words a day, though not
    necessarily all on the same project. It’s nice if I get it all on one, but it rarely
    works that way. A lot of days I’ll go beyond that, but not always. I keep a number
    of projects going at the same time, because some days my subconscious isn’t ready
    with the next step of a story, so I move to something else. As long as words are
    coming out, I’m happy, but there have to be words each day.
    How do you cope with stress as an author?
    Work avoidance, until
    I can’t take it anymore. :P Then I very deliberately open up a file that doesn’t
    have a due date and put about 250 words on it. After that, things tend to flow smoothly.
    But I do have a tendency, once I get a book open, to obsess over it and work on
    it all the time, which is part of my stress-coping mechanism.
    Do things your family or friends do ever end
    up in a book?
    Can I plead the Fifth,
    even if I’m Canadian?
    I’ll confess, names
    of people around me often end up in books. Very rarely do personalities get transplanted,
    though, since characters tend to arrive in my head with very definite ideas of who
    they are and what they want. Random stories often appear, with names changed to
    protect the guilty. You’re all fodder to the word machine!
    What kind of books do you read when taking a
    break from your own writing?
    I read MM and other
    LGBT fiction, plus a variety of fantasy and science fiction. I’m a spec fic writer
    by nature, but I love the challenges of writing in the MM genre and the freedom
    it gives me to write about themes and ideas that are skated over or often downright
    ignored in mainstream publishing. So I go back and forth between my two loves. Last
    MM book read was the Power Play duology by Rachel Haimowitz and Cat Grant. Last
    sff book (series, really) read was John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, which was an interesting
    setting, though I found I was getting a little tired of the ‘Oh, what a cool universe
    I’ve created’ by the fourth book, and began hoping for a bit more story.
    Bite Me Tender 
    What good book have you read recently?
    I listen to a lot of
    audiobooks, because I do a lot of driving. So, I’m ‘reading’ Joe Abercrombie’s The
    Blade Itself trilogy, which is a pretty interesting take on the fantasy genre. It
    looks on the surface like a fairly generic epic fantasy, but he takes a number of
    classic fantasy archetypes and–shifts them, ever so slightly. Odd little combinations.
    His characters are likeable, the story keeps me coming back, though it’s so subtle
    I really can’t explain the draw. Next book slated for listening is a non-fiction
    about sociopaths.
    What do you like to do when you’re bored?
    Lol, I do research.
    Or household repairs. There’s always a list for both. Right now, I’m researching
    San Francisco history,
    reading up on police procedures and making lists of angelic hierarchies. I’m also
    fixing two broken chairs, building support frames for the firewood in the basement
    and contemplating building a swinging gate in the pony barn.
    If you were a color, what color would you be?
    Red. Definitely red.
    Or midnight blue.

    Please complete the sentences

    I love pizza with ham
    and pineapple
    .
    I’m always ready for
    a nice bottle of red wine. Australian, preferably.
    When I’m alone, I giggle
    and immediately throw my to-do list out the window, in favour of reading about boys
    in love and drinking wine.
    You’d never be able
    to tell from looking at my house, but at work I’m really incredibly organized.
    Anally so, so to speak.
    If I had a halo it would
    be dented and crooked, or lost under a pile of papers somewhere.
    If I could change
    one thing about myself
    , I’d like to be able to sing, instead of just scaring
    small children.
    I can never watch
    horror movies
    because then I’m trapped in my house with the axe in my hand,
    until the authorities take me away.

    Previous Books

    Bite Me Tender
    Blurb: Levi is a werewolf.
    His boyfriend, and the love of his life, is a witch. After living together for three
    years, they decided to commit to each other and change Glyn into a werewolf. Levi
    hoped the pack would accept Glyn more readily as a wolf. Glyn hoped it would eliminate
    his erratic magic and erase the OCD it caused. One year later, they’re still trying…
    Levi can’t understand
    why his bite won’t change Glyn and he’s running out of time to figure it out. His
    pack is being threatened by a larger one, he’s facing dissension in the ranks of
    his own ruling council and Glyn’s grandmother is poking her witchy nose into their
    relationship.
    Under threat of a violent
    takeover, the council pushes another potential wolf at Levi, infuriating Glyn and
    adding weight to Levi’s own doubts. Council machinations divide the two lovers,
    leaving both men questioning their lives, their love, and what they’re willing to
    endure for each other.
    Full moon is a time
    of power and change. It could be a disaster, or it could be the key to happily ever
    after. If they’re strong enough to wrestle their happiness from its bloody claws.
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00EIIYQ6Y
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bitemetender-1268404-340.html
    Nuts About You (in the Forgotten Menagerie anthology)
    Blurb: Nathan’s been
    crushing on one of his regular Bulk Mart customers for a while now. In squirrel
    form, he sits on Vince’s bird feeders, munching on seeds and enjoying the eye candy.
    Until the day Vince notices him raiding the feeder…
    Storm Moon Press http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/Forgotten-Menagerie.aspx
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00G61D3BU
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forgottenmenagerie-1326427-166.html
    Love Underground
    Contemporary Romantic
    Comedy, found in the Underground Erotica anthology. It was produced by a group of
    erotica writers at Absolute Write as a fundraiser to help support the massive forums
    there. My story is about the lengths we go to, in order to make our loved ones proud
    of us. Even if it means trying to ignore your claustrophobia to go spelunking with
    your outdoorsy boyfriend.

    Find Me Here

    Website: The Blunt Instrument
    http://thebluntinstrument.wordpress.com