• Paranormal

    Cupid’s Apprentice Elysa Hendricks #RLFblog #RomFantasy

    Cupid’s Apprentice 
    Cover Love at Romance Lives Forever is a short intro to a
    book and includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social media contacts for the
    author. Today’s featured book is Cupid’s Apprentice by Elysa Hendricks.
    A Short Contemporary Fantasy Romance
    Approximately 15,000 words
    To earn her wings, Cupid’s apprentice Medarda “Dar”
    has until Valentine’s Day to match two-time Loser Laura Quinn with Boring Brian
    Hoffman. When Dar’s love arrow goes astray and hits the sexy PE teacher Flynn Sullivan
    instead things get interesting.
    Laura loves teaching high school in the small town of Council
    Falls, but knows it’s only a matter of time until her famous mother shows up and
    the quiet life she’s created comes crashing down around her ears.
    PE teacher Flynn Sullivan’s been interested in the shy history
    teacher for a long time, but it isn’t until they’re forced to chaperone the Valentine’s
    Day dance together that he gets the opportunity to make his dreams come true.
    With time running out can one bumbling Cupid’s Apprentice bring
    together a Jock and a Brain?

    Buy This Book

    http://is.gd/cupidsapprentice

    Author Social Media

  • Contemporary

    Contemporary: Lucky’s Leprechaun #RLFblog

    Elysa Hendricks, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk
    about your book, Lucky’s Leprechaun.

    Genre: Contemporary Romance
    Publisher: Self-published
    Cover artist: Joleene Naylor
    Length: 7,000 words
    Heat rating: PG
    Tagline: Be careful what you wish for.
    Blurb:
    Lucky no longer believes in wishes, hope, or dreams. Cheated
    by his bookkeeper and his ex-girlfriend, he’s resigned himself to losing everything.
    Twenty-five years ago curiosity about a small human trapped Diamond,
    a leprechaun, inside a crystal paperweight. Now she has one day left to grant Lucky
    his final wish or perish.
    Can a chance meeting between a little boy and a leprechaun result
    in love?
    Buy links:
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00BAVPW9M
    What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?
    Salvatore (Lucky) Luciano is 30 years old. He runs O’Roarke’s
    an Irish pub in the small town of Council
    Falls, IL.
    Diamond Tautha is of indeterminate age. She’s a leprechaun.

    Interview

    How did you get your start
    in the industry?
    One Christmas Eve a long time ago, in a far away land – no wait,
    it was a long time ago, but not that far away, just the suburbs of Chicago – a woman
    sat alone. Well, not completely alone. Her five-year-old son was sleeping in the
    next room. But her husband and older son were on their way to Arizona to attend a funeral. As a family they’d
    decided to postpone their Christmas celebrations until hubby and son returned the
    following week. On top of that this poor woman’s parents had recently relocated
    to Hawaii.
    While sitting there alone on Christmas Eve the woman decided
    to write a novel. Her currently absent hubby had been teasing her for years about
    all the romances she read, telling her she should write one herself. “How hard
    can it be?” he asked. “Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl.
    You can do that, can’t you?”
    So little realizing the incredible journey she was embarking
    on she sat at her typewriter (yes, I started writing back in the Dark Ages) and
    wrote what she thought would be a short, contemporary romance ala Harlequin. When
    the heroine turned out to be a winged, telepathic alien who stows away on a passing
    space ship, the woman (me) realized that romance has many flavors other than vanilla.
    What websites do you visit
    daily?
    Aside from my email and hanging out on Facebook, other than for
    research I don’t spend much time surfing (do they still call it that?) the Internet.
    Occasionally I’ll visit an author’s web page, mostly just to find out what they
    have coming out. I don’t read a lot of blogs, there’s just not enough time in the
    day to write, read all the great books piling up on my shelves, my Kindle and my
    Nook, and manage to have a real life.
    If you could change something
    about your first book, what would it be?
    My first book? You mean the one about the winged, telepathic
    alien that resides under my bed guarded by killer dust bunnies? Or the one I first
    published? For the former I’d have to make it less derivative of Star Trek: NG.
    I didn’t realize until years after I’d written it how much I’d been influenced by
    STNG. As for my first published book, Rawhide Surrender, a western historical romance,
    I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to make all those changes. I received
    my rights back and revised, edited and re-issued it electronically under a new title
    – Her Wild Texas Heart.
    What do you enjoy most
    about writing?
    I love the creative process. Building worlds. Developing characters.
    I can spend hours detailing the flora and fauna of an alien planet, and outlining
    the social, political, and religious structures of the people who live there. Creating
    the hero, the heroine, the villain and the secondary characters who’ll play out
    their lives on the stage that I’ve set is amazing fun. It’s like playing God. Unfortunately,
    while I may be the god of the world I’ve created, turns out all my characters are
    atheists. They have a tendency not to listen to my directives, but that’s part of
    what’s exciting about writing. I discover what’s going to happen next along with
    my characters.
    If you could choose anyone
    to be your mentor who would it be?
    Anne McCaffrey would be my first choice. Her Dragon Riders of
    Pern novels are still some of my favorite reading. Unfortunately she’s no longer
    with us, so I’ll have to attempt to channel her spirit via my muse.
    I’ve been fortunate over the years to have the help and advice
    (if not an actual mentorship) of many wonderful romance authors – Susan Elizabeth
    Phillips, Lindsey Longford, Cathy Linz, Melody Thomas, Ann Macela, Karen McCullough,
    Donna MacMeans, and the list goes on. In gratitude for their kindness I try to help
    and encourage other writers.
    If you could give the
    younger version of yourself advice what would it be?
    Do be afraid to write crap. Get the story down then edit, revise
    and polish it until that sow’s ear becomes, if not a silk purse, at least a serviceable
    leather wallet.
    What is your work ethic
    when it comes to writing?
    Unfortunately the older I get the worse my work ethic becomes.
    Though I still have tons of stories I want to write (and more occur to me every
    day) I just don’t have the energy I used to have. Where I used to be able to sit
    and write for hours, now I suffer from bouncing butt syndrome. I thought after my
    kids were grown and gone I’d have less distractions in my life. Didn’t turn out
    that way.
    I don’t have a set writing schedule. When a story is hot in my
    head I’ll write for hours. When the story isn’t flowing I tend to fritter away the
    time playing on the computer, hanging out on Facebook or reading.
    The only non-negotiable work ethic I have is no matter how long
    it takes, I finish the damned book.
    Do things your family
    or friends do ever end up in a book?
    I think that bits and pieces of our families, our friends and
    ourselves all eventually end up in our writing. Each character I create is a composite
    of myself and other people I know. Creating a character is like those Mix’n’Match
    flip books we had as kids. I take my hubby’s sense of humor, mix it with Hugh Jackman’s
    eyes (and bod), add in a fireman’s uniform and go from there.
    What are some jobs you’ve
    done before (or while) you were a writer?
    I’ve held a number of jobs – store clerk, commercial casualty
    insurance underwriter, house cleaner, day care worker, video store owner/operator,
    and college text book buyer. Each of these jobs exposed me to people in different
    walks of life and added to my understanding and compassion for the human race.
    Which of your books would
    you recommend to someone who doesn’t normally read your genre, and why?
    For someone who doesn’t read romance I’d recommend they check
    out The Sword And The Pen. It has both a contemporary and a historical type setting.
    I call it my Xena: The Warrior Princess meets Stranger Than Fiction story. The story
    centers around a slightly neurotic writer and how his ability to bring his fictional
    creations to life turns his life upside down.
    What kind of books do
    you read when taking a break from your own writing?
    I love reading romance of any flavor, but I’ll read just about
    any kind of fiction with the possible exception of the really esoteric literary
    stuff. If the story is compelling and the writing is good, I don’t care if it’s
    a historical saga, a contemporary thriller or a space epic. I also enjoy self-help
    books and books that help me research various subjects.
    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?
    Since I’ll be headed to someplace warm (I’m not picky – Tahiti,
    Belize, Hawaii, Southern California or Florida will do) with sunshine, sand and
    surf, I’d pack my swimsuit, t-shirts, shorts, sandals, toiletries, and my Kindle.
    Oh, and I’d make sure Hubby came along.
    What is your favorite
    holiday and why?
    I have to say Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s
    all about family and friends gathering to celebrate all the blessings in their lives.
    There’s good food, good company, and no pressure to purchase impossible, perfect
    gifts.
    What do you like to do
    when you’re bored?
    I can’t remember the last time I was bored. There’s always so
    much to do, to see, to read that there’s rarely a time when my mind and body aren’t
    engaged in something. The only time I feel bored is when I’m forced to sit and wait
    for something or someone and I don’t have access to a book, there’s no one to talk
    to, and nothing to look at. But even then I use that time to think about the book
    I’m working on, develop characters, figure plot points, or do some world building.
    My mother always told me, “Only boring people get bored.”
    If you were a color, what
    color would you be?
    Despite what I said about not getting bored, my motto for real
    life is: Boring is good. Excitement is vastly overrated. (I save the adventure and
    excitement, especially the physical kind, for the characters in my books.) So I’d
    have to pick beige.
    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.”

    Please complete the sentences

    I love pizza with feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke
    hearts, and olive oil
    .
    I’m always ready for visits with friends and family.
    When I’m alone, I love to read.
    You’d never be able to tell, but beneath my outwardly cheerful
    personality I’m just as happy inside
    .
    If I had a halo it would be –
    definitely askew (those baby horns keep knocking it off kilter) and tarnished.
    If I could carry a tune I’d sing duets with my talented
    hubby
    .
    I can never climb a mountain, because first off I think
    it’s a waste of time and secondly I’m afraid of heights
    .

    Find Me Here

  • RLF Gems

    RLF Gems: Blog Stats for Sep 2012

    RLF Gems.

    September on Romance Lives Forever produced many big hits
    with readers. Top with readers are articles, followed by author interviews,
    character interviews, and new book releases. Blog tours continue to do well. Here
    are the top five authors (judging by page hits) with a tie at number five
    1. Elysa Hendricks — Sword and the Pen (Article)
    2. Denyse’ Bridger — Vampire Erotic (Interview)
    3. Tiffinie Helmer — Dreamweaver: Paranormal Romance (Interview)
    4. Viki Lyn — Lover’s Trill (Interview)
    5. R Ann Siracusa — Game of Seduction (Interview)
    5. Candace Shaw — Suspense: A Fist Full of Ashes (Interview)
     I did not include myself in this list, but my article on alpha hero Luc Saint-Cyr would have been counted among the top three. Go, Luc! ^_^ He and I are sitting out this “hit parade” since I also blogged about him on my personal site, Unstoppable Heroes.
    Participants this month in alphabetical order by first name
    are: Candace Shaw, Danita Minnis, Denyse’
    Bridger, Elizabeth J Kolodziej, Elysa Hendricks, Justine Elyot, Karen Sue Burns,
    LM Brown, R Ann Siracusa, Tiffinie Helmer, Ute Carbone, Viki Lynn
  • Author Interviews,  Fantasy

    The Sword and the Pen: Elysa Hendricks

     

    Elysa, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about your book, The Sword and the Pen.

    Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance
    Buy links:
    The Sword and the Pen
    http://tinyurl.com/sword-pen
    Star Crash
    Star Raiders
    Publisher: Elysa Hendricks
    Cover artist: Joleene Naylor
    Length: 72,000
    Heat rating: PG-13

    The Sword and the Pen

    Tagline:
    When his fantasy becomes reality, reclusive author Brandon Davis
    learns how to live.
    Blurb: It was time. After penning ten popular sword-and-sorcery
    novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his
    fictional world. Ready to start living a real life. There was just one problem:
    as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D’Lar, his fictional creation complete
    with mile-long sword, skimpy leather outfit and badass attitude, appeared in his
    study.
    Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked?
    This warrior woman whom he knew so well, so strong yet vulnerable,
    was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew–that
    life is an incredible, magical journey and, for love, any man can be a hero.
    What are your main characters’ names?
    Brandon Alexander Davis
    Serilda D’Lar
    Ages?
    Brandon
    – 35
    Serilda – 30
    Occupations?
    Brandon – fantasy novelist
    Serilda – rebel warrior

    Interview

    What is the most important
    thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
    I’ve been writing for over twenty years (yes, I started when
    I was merely a babe in arms) and I’ve watched the publishing industry change and
    grow in directions I never thought possible, at speeds I couldn’t imagine. Everything
    about the industry is different except for the most important aspect – the writing.
    The most important thing I did when I started my career is the same as what I do
    now – I write. In the end, nothing I do matters if I haven’t written the story.
    What websites do you visit
    daily?
    I don’t visit many websites, but I do spend more time than I
    should on Facebook and reading email. I do enjoy the Romance Lives Forever blog.
    I love reading the excerpts and interviews, but I have to limit myself. My TBR pile
    is already at dangerous levels and I’m so far behind I’ll be dead years before I
    finish reading them all.
    What do you enjoy most
    about life?
    I like people. Though I’m content to spend time with myself and
    my imaginary friends, I love being around other people – friends and family. I think
    my theme song should be “I Like Life” from the movie Scrooge.
    If you could give the
    younger version of yourself advice what would it be?
    Don’t be so afraid of making a mistake, of writing less than
    perfect prose. Take more chances. Experiment. Write more. And eat more chocolate.
    Do you have a muse? Describe
    this person, please.
    My muse lives in the attic of my mind. She finds the basement
    much too dark and damp for her refined tastes. She’s a bit flighty little girl,
    a bit cranky old woman and full of energy and enthusiasm. She has the attention
    span of a goldfish – about 3 seconds – and is easily distracted by shiny objects.
    She loves to laugh and play. When I’m writing she sits on my shoulder and whispers
    ideas in my ear. She changes her appearance to suit her mood. One day she’s a fairy,
    the next a vampire. Sometimes she’s a cat, sometimes she’s a cowboy. She and my
    inner critic are arch enemies. They can’t be in the same room at the same time without
    getting into a cat fight.
    What does “balance”
    mean to you as a writer?
    Balance? I’m not sure what that is. I don’t have enough coordination
    either physically or mentally to be “balanced.” I can’t ride a bicycle
    or balance my life. I do set priorities. Sometimes family, friends and home life
    are on top, other times I let my writing life take precedence. But I’ve never been
    able to find a way to balance the teeter-totter of the two.
    Do things your family
    or friends do ever end up in a book?
    Everything I’ve ever heard, seen, done, or experienced eventually
    finds its way into my writing in one form or another. I don’t think I’ve ever taken
    a friend or family member and morphed them into a character in one of my books,
    but bits and pieces of them show up.
    What are some jobs you’ve
    done before (or while) you were a writer?
    Star Crash
    Let’s see I was a commercial casualty insurance underwriter.
    I worked in various retail stores. I ran a cleaning service. I had a home daycare
    centers. My husband and I owned and operated a video store and did home delivery
    long before Netflix thought of it. And I still work part time for a wholesale text
    book company and go out at the end of the college terms to buy back used text books
    from the students.
    What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your
    own writing?
    I read just about everything from historicals to futuristics,
    from horror to inspirational, YA to mainstream. Though I have a soft spot for fantasy
    romance, if it’s a good story I don’t discriminate by genre.
    What do you think is the
    future of epublishing?
    The ebook revolution has been a long time coming. My book first
    book, a western historical romance Rawhide Surrender was published in 1999 by one
    of the first epublishers – Hard Shell Word Factory. Back then ebooks were a tough
    sell. eBook readers were few and far between, expensive, and didn’t have the capacity
    or ease of use of the newer versions. I still have my old Rocket Book ereader. I’ve
    since reclaimed my rights to Rawhide Surrender and have re-released the book as
    Her Wild Texas Heart.
    I think epublishing is one of the best things to happen for authors
    and for readers. The opportunities are both exciting and scary. I received a Kindle
    Touch for Christmas and love the ease of purchasing books and having them at my
    fingertips. I’m not about to give up on print, but I like having both options.
    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?
    Since I’m going to somewhere warm with sandy beaches and crystal
    clear water, I’ll be packing my swimsuit and sandals and sunscreen. Other than that
    I’ll need my Kindle, laptop and toothbrush. Oh, and I’d take my hubby.
    What is your favorite
    holiday and why?
    Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the food, the getting
    together with family and friends without the pressure of gift giving. It’s a time
    to relax and reflect on all the good things in your lives.
    Where were you at midnight,
    on December 31st when the new century started?
    My hubby is an IT guy for a major corporation, so on 12-31-99
    we along with all the other computer guys were having a party at the company office.
    The executives wanted to be sure Y2K didn’t crash their systems, so all the IT
    people had to come in to work. Hubby knew nothing bad was going to happen, because
    he and the other guys had already checked everything out and fixed the problem.
    Still, the company brought in pizza and we had an impromptu New Year’s Eve party.
    Not terribly exciting, but my motto is “real” life has always been: Boring
    is good. Excitement is vastly overrated.
    What do you like to do
    when you’re bored?
    Bored? What’s that? I won’t say I never get bored, but it happens
    so rarely that I can’t recall the last time. Even if I don’t have anything to do,
    a book to read, a movie or TV show to watch, the characters who live in my head
    keep me well entertained. Sometimes I wish I could shut them up and let me be bored
    for a few minutes.
    If your life became a
    movie, who would you want to play you?
    You mean my life isn’t already a movie? Hmm, Sandra Bullock comes
    to mind. Anyone but Kristen Stewart. Maybe Jack Black.
    If you were a color, what
    color would you be?
    Since my “real” life is totally vanilla, bland, boring
    I guess my color would be a warm, creamy beige. My fantasy life, however, is a phantasmagoria
    of colors – pinks, blues, reds, greens, purples and oranges – neon, of course.

    Please Fill in the Blanks

    I love pizza with an olive oil base, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes.
    I’m always ready for visiting with friends and family.
    When I’m alone, I talk to my fictional characters.
    You’d never be able to tell, but I’m a really boring person.
    If I had a halo it would be held up by my horns.
    If I could fly I’d spend all my time in the sky watching the world.
    I can never ride a motorcycle because I have absolutely no sense of balance or physical coordination.

    Find Me Here