Romance Author Hotspot

When? – October 31st to November 7th

Join your favorite authors and editors for the Romance Author Hotspot’s Halloween Bash starting October 31st.

Where: RomanceAuthorHotSpot.com  (myriad of links to fun!)

There’ll be tricks and treats and giveways everywhere! Stop by each day to find new fun! Chat with your favorite authors, ask the editors questions!

Check out the Guest List (more coming soon!):

Kate Locke (aka Kady Cross)
PJ Schnyder
Allison Pang
Danielle La Paglia
Christina Wolfer
Dana Marie Bell
Delilah S Dawson
Cat Johnson
BA Tortuga
Julia Talbot
D Renee Bagby
Christine D’abo
Leanna Renee Hieber
Stephanie Burke
Christi Barth
Deanna Wadsworth

Editors:
Vincent Diamond
Mallory Braus
Alison Dasho

More details will be coming out, don’t miss anything by making sure to follow us: @RomanceAuthorHS

Please welcome the amazing PJ Schnyder today!  She’s filling in for us at the last possible moment, and offering a giveaway to boot!  Many <3′s to her.

First question:

Wine or Beer? (If you say club soda, we’ll have to send you to the corner…)

What are we eating? LOL. I like either wine or beer, but especially enjoy when paired nicely with a scrumptious meal.

Cake or chips? Are youa sugar or salt kind of person?

Cake! Or even better, cupcakes! Red velvet, or chocolate lava cupcakes from The Georgetown Cupcake Company are particularly fantastic. I just had a few the other night as a guest at a good friend’s wedding.

*squints eyes* Are you old enough to drink?

Oh yeah. For a long, long time now.

Wait! You can’t come in yet! What did you bring us?

Blurb:

Hunting Kat As a mercenary, Kat Darah doesn’t have to pass for a normal human. On the edge of the solar system, she’s just another biped. Most of the time.Nearing the end of his military tour, Lt. Christopher Rygard debates the idea of hanging up his uniform for good. Looking for answers at the bottom of a glass of scotch, he meets Kat.One shared night of mutual desire seems harmless. But when their tryst is interrupted by attackers hunting Rygard, Kat must reveal her other form, the predator beneath the human façade.Together they embark on a dangerous mission—a race against time to meet the enemy’s demands, while trying to deny the passion between them. Rygard is faced with a terrible choice in the face of duty: Report the existence of a human turned shape-shifter. Or forget he ever met her.Status: Released July 4th from Carina PressYou can purchase Hunting Kat in eBook format at the following locations:

Carina Press

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

You can purchase Hunting Kat in Audio book format at the following location:

Audible.com

What makes your characters so special?

There are different kinds of strength. Some of my characters are kick a$$ and wicked strong in the physical sense. Others are challenged in a physical way and their strength is the kind that comes from recovering, overcoming odds and building a new life.

Every one of my characters is tested in my stories, beyond the limits they knew they had. Every one of them is a survivor.

So, what do you write? And why?

 I write sci-fi and paranormal romance on the sweeter side. There’s something about all the possibilities and sheer fun of writing romances with science fiction elements or paranormal twists. The world building becomes every bit as much a part of the story telling as the characters are. And honestly, I love writing happy ever afters (or for nows) for my characters.

Steampunk is another love of mine. My steampunk stories are not all romance, but they all have the Victorian aesthetic particular to steampunk worlds and technology.

And then there’s urban fantasy. These stories allow me to get darker, grittier, and not centered on the romance although there may be romantic elements in them.

Writing in these various subgenres allows me to stretch my imagination and step outside my comfort zones a bit. Every new story brings a new challenge.

What would your characters say about you?

 I’m mean to my characters. Not gonna lie. I put them through hell and bring them out the other end evolved. So whatever they have to say about me, there might be a lot of cursing involved.

What do you like doing besides writing and reading? Is it dangerous?

 I wouldn’t say my hobbies are dangerous…I do enjoy training in mixed martial arts. Specifically, I’ve studied Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing), Jun Fan/Jeet Kun Do (Bruce Lee’s style of martial arts), Kali (weapons training) and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu (grappling). Fitness is very important to me and I try to keep up a healthy routine of yoga, strength training and cardio.

Also, I very much enjoy playing StarCraft II and World of Warcraft, as well as Diablo III and similar games. I’m interested in trying out Mass Effect III.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Continuity. Now that I’m in the second and third books of my series, it’s important to me to maintain the voices of my characters from book to book. I also want to be sure details I’ve mentioned in previous books are carried over accurately in later books in the series.

What else are you working on right now?

The draft of the second book in the Triton Experiments series is close to complete. I’m also revising the third book in the Terra’s Guardians series. Plus, there’s lots of plot bunnies for future books in both series as well as more steampunk stories in the outlining stage.

Last question: Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

1. a.     Twitter: http://twitter.com/pjschnyder
2. b.     Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pjschnyder
3. c.      Website: http://pjschnyder.com
4. d.     Others: http://pjschnyder.tumblr.com/

 Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot, expecially last minute PJ!  You’re our saving grace

Even better for readers – PJ is offering a giveaway (ebook copy of Hunting Kat) to one randomly selected commenter!

Hi all, Monday’s post has broken again   :’(   Our immense apologies for that!  At the last moment PJ Schnyder was awesome enough open some time in her schedule and sit down for an impromptu interview.  

That interview will go up in a few short hours – in the meantime here’s her most recent blog post.  Thank you for your patience awesome readers!  We promise more and more giveaways in the future! 

Lori Foster’s RAGT 2012

Meet PJ Schnyder!

Born and raised in the North East, PJ Schnyder spent her childhood pretending to study for the SATs by reading every fantasy and sci-fi novel she could borrow from the local and school libraries. She scored fairly high in the verbal portion.

She was introduced to the wonderful world of romance a decade later by her best friend at an anime convention in Seattle.

She now lives somewhere temperate watching the seasons go by with her two dogs and super stealthy ninja kitty, writing her stories.

First question:

Eggnog or Mimosas? Are you old enough to drink?

Mimosas! I especially love mimosas capped with a touch of Amaretto to add a little extra something. And yes, I’ve been old enough to drink for a long, long time.

We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…)

Unfortunately, my roomie ate the cookies I’d baked but I do have a cover or two. There’s Evie’s Gift, my holiday steampunk short, and Hunting Kat, my sci-fi romance.

Blurb:

As a mercenary, Kat Darah doesn’t have to pass for a normal human. On the edge of the solar system, she’s just another biped. Most of the time.

Nearing the end of his military tour, Lt. Christopher Rygard debates the idea of hanging up his uniform for good. Looking for answers at the bottom of a glass of scotch, he meets Kat.

One shared night of mutual desire seems harmless. But when their tryst is interrupted by attackers hunting Rygard, Kat must reveal her other form, the predator beneath the human façade.Together they embark on a dangerous mission—a race against time to meet the enemy’s demands, while trying to deny the passion between them. Rygard is faced with a terrible choice in the face of duty: Report the existence of a human turned shape-shifter. Or forget he ever met her.

Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner.

What’s your favorite holiday and why?

I love Christmas. Few things make me as happy as finding the perfects gifts for the people in my heart. Plus there’s the beautiful lights and decorations, the smell of a real Christmas tree and fresh baked cookies, and the quiet hush in the night once everyone has fallen asleep.

Did you ask Santa for anything good?

Shh. That’s between me and Santa.

What’s your favorite place to spend the holidays?

Anywhere there’s family. We’re simple in our holiday celebrations. There’s a lot of relaxing involved, eating and napping. Don’t be surprised if you see me and the lil sis curled up in chairs reading.

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

One Christmas morning, the lil sis pulled out the user interface she was programming. It was inspired by my teaching her the old programming language “logo” and designed to engage children in playing with computer programming.

We brought the lil bro into it by building a Lego car with him. Then we programmed a set of directions using her interface and uploaded it to the car using an infrared tower. We then set it on the floor and ran the program to watch the car go.

The rest of the morning was spent setting up obstacle courses and seeing which sibling could write the appropriate program to navigate the car through the course taking into account changes in terrain like linoleum versus carpet.

The PJ Daddy came downstairs, took one look at the serious geekery, poured himself a cup of coffee and retreated back upstairs.

Do you have personal resolutions for the New Years? Anything interesting?

Absolutely.

I plan to submit the next books in my Terra’s Guardians series and Triton Experiment series so watch for them. I’ve also got some exciting steampunk planned. Stay tuned!

On the personal front, I’ve got some serious fitness goals set for myself. I’ll be a literary guest and panelist at several conventions this year, so my readers can see for themselves how I’m doing there.

Why do you write romance?

Yup. I write both sci-fi romance and paranormal romance with a few steampunk romances out there too. My stories are on the sweeter yet saucy side.

How long have you been writing for? And how would you describe your publication journey?

I’ve been writing for a long time but only recently got published in August of 2010. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind year of releases and becoming represented by Louise.

I’ve worked hard, done a lot of research and busted my behind promoting my stories. Every time a reader lets me know they’ve enjoyed one of my stories, I’ve done a little happy dance. I’m so thankful to my readers and hope they’ll continue to read my work as I write more in the coming year.

Are you a plotter or pantser? What is your routine?

I’m predominately a plotter. I use Scrivener now to plot my stories, take notes and store my research.

However, as I write each scene, there’s always potential for epiphanies and I find myself pantsing it a little too. Then I’ll rework my outline.

What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in all your stories?

They each have their own strength. Some of my characters are obviously strong in a kick @$$ kind of way. Others display a different kind of strength, overcoming trauma or illness or simply surviving to live every day when someone else might simply cease to exist.

What writing resources do you abide by as a writer?

There are so many valuable online communities open to writers. Many agents and editors provide solid advice on every aspect of the industry from writing craft to query letters to what comes after publishing.

Some of my favorite places are:

The Online Writing Group (OWG) of the Kelley Armstrong Forums (http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/forum/index.php?board=35.0)

Miss Snark’s First Victim (http://misssnarksfirstvictim.blogspot.com/)

Before You Hit Send Workshop (http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/before-you-hit-send/)

Romance Divas (http://forums.romancedivas.com/)

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

I’m going to quote a friend of mine and someone I admire greatly.

“Surround yourself with the most creative people you know, in whatever field — there’s nothing quite like the motivation of being the only one in the room who hasn’t done something cool in the past 24 hours to keep you working and striving to be better.” ~ Kyle Cassidy

What are you working on right now?

I’m finishing up revisions on my urban fantasy novel. I’m also revising the third book in the Terra’s Guardians series and drafting the second book in the Triton Experiment series.

What news would you like to share with your readers?

Some exciting news is upcoming but I can’t share just yet. For exclusive sneak peeks and announcements, please feel free to sign up for my newsletter here: http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contact-2/

Where can readers find you?

1. Twitter: @pjschnyder
2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pjschnyder
3. Website: http://pjschnyder.com
4. Others: http://pjschnyder.tumblr.com/

List other books you have out:

Carina Press titles:

Hunting Kat, Book 1 of the Triton Experiment series

Decadent Publishing titles:

Heart’s Sentinel, Book 1 of the Terra’s Guardians series

Red’s Wolf, Book 2 of the Terra’s Guardians series

Evie’s Gift

Tease Publishing titles:

Drowning Tides (incl in the Love’s Immortal Pantheon Vol 5 anthology)

Remember My Name (incl in the Gimme Shelter anthology) from Galileo Games

Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot! 

PRIZE:  Hunting Kat mug and Black Panther Beanie to a random commenter. (Open to International)

Back in the game! It’s blog Wednesday and we have PJ Schnyder here to entertain us! Are you marked as prey? Do you know? We’ll let’s find out!

Experience the hunt for a day. Know every minute of every hour, something about you awakens predators of every kind. Know the predators will single out and pick you. Face fear and learn the strength a person must summon to survive to see every new sunrise.

In a world where the supernatural is hidden by the veneer of human disbelief, Aine was raised in the melting pot of human cultures where she could grow up free of the stigma of half breed. However, power calls to power. Touched by an eight headed dragon, Aine’s blood incites the hunger of every predator, marking her so the beast can hunt her and feast.

Out of the masses, the herd of humanity, every predator either mundane or supernatural picks Aine of Mischief’s Daughter as prey. Her curse has an origin outside of herself.

In our world, in our day and age, what marks anyone as prey?

An article in Psychology Today (http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200812/marked-mayhem) provides insight on how criminals select their victims. You might be surprised by the thought process behind their choices.

I’d thought perhaps criminals had a particular taste in gender or looks, size or stature. But it goes beyond those to many other factors, including cues as subtle as body language. Posture, the way you walk, or your facial expressions as you move from point A to Point B are all tells.   They let a predator know how vulnerable you might be.

Heck, in the article, researchers ran a study with convicted criminals, showing them images of a busy city street crowded with pedestrians. The victims the convicted criminals picked out weren’t chosen by gender or race, age or size. Those marked as prey weren’t always petite women, sometimes they were men of large stature.

What marked people as prey?

Read the article. Aine knows why she is marked, but do you know if you are?

I recently attended a Women’s Self Defense workshop given by Tri State Martial Arts Academy.  We learned the 4 A’s of Self-Defense: Awareness, Avoidance, Attitude and Action. We then spent two hours learning how to take action if the first 3 A’s fail and there is no recourse but Action to escape.

Leading up to the workshop, I ran a promotion (http://pjschnyder.com/blog/2011/01/07/dont-be-a-victim/) with an offer to give a free copy of Heart’s Sentinel and a signed cover flat to one of the attendees of the workshop. Many of my local friends thought it was a great idea, but all had similar sentiments. They passed on actually attending the self-defense workshop because they weren’t interested or were even intimidated by the physical aspect of the skills to be taught.

A question floats in my mind after learning so much at the workshop. What if my friends who passed on attending need those skills someday?

I’d like to offer a free ecopy of Heart’s Sentinel with this guest post.  Please comment for a chance to win and I’ll select a winner at random in one week.

Be safe.