Romance Author Hotspot

Today, our star of honor is Natalie J. Damschroder. It’s so nice to have you here and shining! I’m sure you’re ready to share with us your success and many fun endeavors. So, let’s get on with the party!

 

BIO:

Natalie J. Damschroder writes high-stakes romantic adventure, sometimes with a paranormal bent. Since 2000, she’s published 10 novels, 7 novellas, and 14 short stories, many of them exploring magical abilities, but all with a romantic core. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her perfect partner of a husband and two daughters who are so amazing, they’ve been dubbed “anti-teenagers.”

 

Let’s get to know you a little better. Why don’t you step over here under the spotlight and shine a little.

 *tries not  to look embarrassed at the spotlight* Thanks so much for having me at Romance Author Hotspot!

 

First questions: (I’ll go easy on you.)

 Much appreciated.

 

What made you decide to become a writer?

You know, I can’t quite pinpoint the decision. I’ve been a voracious reader since I was little. My mother was a writer. In high school, that’s what my teachers said was my strength. Then in college, I won a third-prize writing award, and at some point started writing a romance. That the computer lab tech deleted. I did an internship at The National Geographic Society (since my degree was in geography) and wound up editing abstracts and proofreading field guides. Once I got married and we bought a computer, I just kind of started.

 

What inspires you? Where do you get your ideas?

Really good writing inspires me, whether it’s books, movies, or television. I get my ideas from everything—a “what if” twist on another story, something in the news, characters that just show up in my head.

 

Do you beat your muse? I mean…Wait! Do you have a muse? Does he/she have a name?

LOL My muse has so far not required beating. I have two muses.

Merlin is for my paranormal work, and Fred for my non-paranormal. I bought Merlin in a shop in Woodstock, Vermont, to be my muse. Fred was a gift from my husband one Christmas. He said he just looked like he needed to be mine. LOL

 

Let’s talk about your writing process. Are you a plotter or pantser? Are there any weird things that you do before you start to sit down to write? (Like stretch those fingers…? Scream at the computer…?)

I’m mostly a flyer (I fly by the seat of my pants) but I do plot a little at a time—about as far as I can see by the headlights, to mix my metaphors. I usually get an idea that I fuse with another idea and pick a few more ideas, all little stuff that grows as I consider it. I don’t really have any weird preparations or routines, unless you count flogging myself for not getting started as soon as I sit down at the computer, but doing other stuff first.

 

What is your call story?

I’d actually never received a phone call for any of my sales until this book, Under the Moon. My sales for Avid, Echelon, Amber Quill, Inara, and Quartet all came via e-mail. My first sale to Carina would have been a phone call, but I’d put my contact info in my document header, which she couldn’t see with Outlook’s preview pane, so she didn’t know it was there.

So my first actual “The Call” came with my 11^th novel sale. Liz Pelletier called a day after I sent the query and then the full manuscript. She said she’d stayed up to 3:30 a.m. to read it and wanted to offer me a three-book contract. I confess I hate the telephone and was quite content not to have had to endure a “call” before then, but this was the best way it could have happened.

 

Have you always envisioned yourself a writer? What were you doing before you started writing? Has your earlier career influence your current one?

I actually fought writing pretty hard at first. My mother was a writer—successful in business writing and marketing, but not so much in fiction—and I got praise for it in high school, but I hated doing it. Probably because I couldn’t choose what I wrote. I never considered it going into college. My first interest was aerospace engineering, then I got my degree in geography and environmental studies, and I worked as a naturalist for a summer. Then I couldn’t get a job in my area of study post-graduation (because I followed my husband to an area that had no geography jobs!) and since customer service for a long-distance phone company sucked you-know-what, I started writing almost defensively, to have something I was passionate about.

 

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now with your writing career?

The industry is in such flux that it’s so hard to predict anything. One thing I do know is that I’ll still be writing romance novels and publishing them in any way I can.

 

What is the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome in your writing career so far?

I’ve had all the typical stuff. Rejection, bad reviews, low sales, publishers or lines closing, interested editors leaving, two agents that didn’t work out. But I have to say the hardest thing was living up to my editors’ expectations to make a book they liked into something they could (hopefully) say they loved, and felt good publishing.

 

Now let’s talk more about you. If you could pick to live the life of a movie star, who would it be and why? Does this person show up in your stories?

I’m going to say Rachel McAdams, because I think she’s beautiful but real, talented as well as appealing, working steadily, and able to pick her projects. I’ve never successfully cast a heroine or based one on an actress, but I have used Orlando Bloom, Jensen Ackles, and Jared Padalecki to inform my heroes.

 

Through research, what is the most silly thing you’ve ever done?

The only thing I can think of is actually the opposite of what you’re asking. I was making hard-boiled eggs one day and as the water heated and air escaped from the shells, there was a high-pitched whine in my kitchen that I couldn’t identify at first. Kinda scared me! When I figured it out, I laughed, then jotted down the book idea that became Fight or Flight.

 

What genres do you read? Do you read what you write?

I definitely read what I write! I love paranormal romance and romantic adventure. I also read plenty of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, urban fantasy, and young adult. Some mysteries and science fiction/fantasy, but it almost always has to have romance in it. The most notable exception is Jim Butcher’s Dresden books.

 

What’s the last book you’ve read for fun? Did you read it on an e-Reader or are you still a paperback-kind-of-person?

I usually have two or three for-fun books going. I never stop reading! I do both print and e-reader. I just finished Roxanne St. Claire’s Don’t Look Back in hardcover, MJ Fredrick’s Bluestone Homecoming on my iPod Touch, and Guarding Suzannah by Norah Wilson. I also just downloaded Part Nine of Megan Hart’s horror serial, The Resurrected. She’s the only horror author I’ll read right now! LOL

 

What did you wish you had known back then when you began writing?

That it would be such a long, arduous road.

 

Is there anything else you’d want your readers and friends to know about you?

I have very few hobbies anymore, but very little gets in the way of me watching the New England Patriots and our local pro soccer team, the Harrisburg City Islanders.

 

And lastly, where can we find you?

Email:    natalie@nataliedamschroder.com

   Twitter:    @NJDamschroder

   Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/NJDamschroder

   Website:    www.nataliedamschroder.com

   Goodreads:    http://www.goodreads.com/NatalieJDamschroder

Group Author blog:    www.everybodyneedsalittleromance.com

 

Thank you so much for being a star!  

Again, thank you for including me in this awesome event! I’ll give one commenter a choice of a print or ebook copy of Under the Moon, and some Goddess swag.

 

Blurb:

Their power gives them strength…and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father’s bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by “family ties” she didn’t know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts…

 

 Excerpt:

Chapter One

Society views goddesses the same way they view psychics—

most people don’t believe in us, and since there are only about a

hundred goddesses in the United States, skeptics rarely have occasion to be

proven wrong. Some people have open minds but still no reason to seek to

use a goddess’s talents. If you choose a public career as a goddess, you join

in the responsibility for image maintenance.

Help us keep public opinion positive.

—The Society for Goddess Education and Defense,

Public Relations Handbook

 

When Quinn Caldwell’s cell phone rang, she assumed one of her clients needed an appointment or a Society member had a questionabout next week’s annual meeting. It took her a second to pull her attention from the paperwork on her desk, another three to register the name on the screen.

Nick Jarrett.

Her spark of joy at seeing his name quickly changed to concern. He wouldn’t be calling for anything good. Quinn plugged her ear against the noise from the bar outside her office door, held her breath, and flipped open the phone. “Nick?”

“Quinn.” The rumble of his vintage Charger’s engine harmonized with Nick’s voice. “Service isn’t good out here so just listen.”

She knew it. “What’s wrong?”

“We have a problem. I’m coming early. I’ll explain when I get there. I won’t have a very good cell signal most of the time. I’m at least a day away, so stay close to Sam, and don’t…” His voice cut in and out before disappearing altogether.

Quinn’s skin prickled. She closed the phone, frowning. Nick never came until at least the week before new moon, when she was most vulnerable. In the fifteen years of their relationship, he’d never come a whole week early.

Something big had to be happening.

Quinn was the only goddess whose power source was the full moon, which meant she was only fully able to use her abilities for the seven days around it. As the month waned, she grew more “normal” until the new-moon period, when she had no ability to tap the power. That was when Nick appeared. Never now.

“Who was that?” Sam’s solid, warm hand landed on her shoulder, and he dropped a pile of papers on the desk in front of her. Quinn blinked at the shift from the surreal nature of the phone call to the mundane clutter of her narrow office at the back of Under the Moon, the central-Ohio bar she’d inherited from her father. It was her main business, a connection to the parents who died within months of each other twelve years ago, leaving her without any real family. It also kept her connected to the public between power cycles. The goddesses who made a living with their abilities mostly relied on word of mouth to find clients, and Quinn’s bar, centrally located for locals and travelers, had enough people channeling through it to give her customers for both businesses.

“Nobody,” she said, still lost in thought. She shook off the fog. “I mean, Nick.”

Sam’s eyebrows disappeared under his dark, shaggy bangs. He crossed to his smaller but far more organized desk near the office door. His chair squeaked when he dropped into it. “Nick called you?”

“Yeah. He’s coming early.”

“Great.” Sam glowered and mumbled something under his breath. “Why? The moon is barely waning gibbous.”

“I don’t know. The signal dropped.” She worried her lower lip. Stay close to Sam. Why? The order was protective—and after all, Nick was her protector, so that was his default mode—but what did she need protection from? She rubbed her right forearm, the phantom ache a reminder of the first time Nick had been assigned to her, that “goddess” wasn’t a synonym for “invincible.”

Sam sighed. “When is he getting here?”

“I don’t know that, either.” She rested her head on her hand, her elbow on a pile of folders on her worn oak desktop. The full moon would completely wane by tomorrow, taking most of her power with it, so she’d worked steadily for the last week, using mostly telekinesis and her healing ability to help her clients. She hadn’t slept enough to balance the depletion of her normal energy, and her sluggish brain resisted the apprehension buzzing in her now.

“We’ll have to wait until he shows up, I guess.” She shook off the mental fuzzies and focused on Sam. He watched her, longing mixing with concern in his light brown eyes.

 

Thank you so much for spending time with us Natalie Damschroder!  Don’t forget to leave her a comment below for your shot at the giveaway!  (Print or ebook copy of Under the Moon and Goddess swag)

 

Today, our star of honor is Nina Croft. It’s so nice to have you here and shining! I’m sure you’re ready to share with us your success and many fun endeavors. So, let’s get on with the party!

 

BIO:

Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote farm in the mountains of southern Spain.

Nina writes all types of romance often mixed with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.

  

 

Let’s get to know you a little better. Why don’t you step over here under the spotlight and shine a little.

 

First questions: (I’ll go easy on you.)

 

What made you decide to become a writer? In my twenties, I worked as a volunteer for a few years in Africa. I found myself living in a remote village with no electricity, no internet, no TV, and very few books. The last was particularly hard. When the books ran out, I started writing as a means of entertaining myself, and I never really stopped.

 

What inspires you? Where do you get your ideas? All over—books, newspaper articles, TV, music. Sometimes, I’ll be riding my horse or walking the dogs, and something will just occur to me and I’ll have to rush back and write it down.

 

Do you beat your muse? I mean…Wait! Do you have a muse? Does he/she have a name? I don’t have a muse—honest—I hear other authors talking about their muses and I’m madly jealous. I want one. Where do I get one?

 

Let’s talk about your writing process. Are you a plotter or pantser? Are there any weird things that you do before you start to sit down to write? (Like stretch those fingers…? Scream at the computer…?)

I’m a total plotter. I always wanted to be a pantser, but I get stuck in the middle if I try. And if I know what’s going to happen, I don’t need to stop and think about it, and the writing flows much better. I also find that the process of plotting gives me time to really get to know my characters before I start the actual writing.

I don’t have any weird rituals before I start—I actually hate routines so I try to vary how I write.

 

What is your call story?

I’ve never had a call—how sad is that? Only emails—which were still very nice. My favourite was for my science-fiction/paranormal novella, Break Out. I’d had one book accepted by Entangled publishing and then I saw that they were specifically looking for space operas. I’d been wondering what to do with Break Out as it’s a bit of an unusual mix, but I thought it could definitely be described as a space opera. I sent it in on my birthday last year, and Liz my editor got back to me within the day saying she absolutely loved it and wanted to contract the ‘series’. It was the best birthday present ever.

 

Have you always envisioned yourself a writer? What were you doing before you started writing? Has your earlier career influence your current one?

I’ve always been a voracious reader, but didn’t start writing until I was in my twenties. Before that, I used to be a chartered accountant. I pretty much hated it, not so much the actual work—I like working with numbers—but I hated having to go to an office every day. So after a few years, I decided I needed something a little more exciting. I ended up volunteering (with my husband) to work in Africa. And that’s how I ended up running out of books and having to write my own. So you could say being an accountant influenced my current career.

 

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now with your writing career?

Hopefully, still loving writing, improving my craft, writing regularly, being published regularly, increasing my reader base…

Long term, I’d love to write a huge fantasy trilogy like LOTRs—I have a few ideas roaming around in my mind just waiting to come to fruition.

 

What is the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome in your writing career so far?

I think accepting that not everyone is going to love my writing. While I’m actually getting much better, I still find my heart pounding when I open up a review of one of my books. But the fact is that you can’t write to please everybody, and if you try chances are, you’ll end up pleasing nobody. So just write what you love.

 

Now let’s talk more about you. If you could pick to live the life of a movie star, who would it be and why? Does this person show up in your stories? I really don’t want to be a movie star; I find the whole idea of being in the spotlight terrifying. But I did want to be Clint Eastwood when I was little. I always wanted to be a cowboy and ride a horse all day. I’ve never written a western yet—I might have to just so Clint can show up.

What genres do you read? Do you read what you write?

I’m a big believer in writing the sorts of things you love to read. Which doesn’t narrow things down very much for me because I read just about everything. Favorites at the moment are paranormal and science fiction, but they vary.

 

What’s the last book you’ve read for fun? Did you read it on an e-Reader or are you still a paperback-kind-of-person?

I love reading both, but because I live in such a remote area and the nearest English bookshop is a long way away, I find myself reading mainly ebooks these days. The last thing I read was the 50 Shades trilogy by E. L. James. I read it on my kindle and enjoyed it lots—very entertaining.

 

What did you wish you had known back then when you began writing?

It took me a while to learn that you should really write what you love, and not be hampered by specific submission guidelines or publisher requirements. I wasted time trying to fit my voice into what I thought was needed to get published. Probably a liberating moment for me, was writing my science-fiction/ paranormal romance, Break Out, where I just let myself write anything I wanted and my imagination run wild. It was a joy to produce, and I promised myself after that, that I would be true to what I really wanted to write.

 

Is there anything else you’d want your readers and friends to know about you?

Just that I love to hear from readers, so thanks for joining me here today.

 

And lastly, where can we find you?

 

Email: ninacroft@hotmail.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Nina_Croft

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000273215409

Website: https://www.ninacroft.com

 

Thank you so much for being a star!

 

I’m giving away a FREE copy of Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire to one lucky winner who comments! 

 

 

Blurb: Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire.

 Seduction by any means necessary…

Olivia Brent is happy with her quiet life in the country, until the imminent loss of her home forces her to embark on a search for her estranged father. Catapulted into a world of criminals and totally out of her depth, Olivia is rescued by the stunningly gorgeous and enigmatic billionaire Luc Severino.

Luc has never considered himself a knight in shining armor, and if he had been, then Jimmy Brent’s daughter was the last person he would choose to rescue. But Olivia is the key to finding her father, and Luc is willing to use any methods available, including blackmail, to persuade Olivia to help him find Jimmy and finally put the past behind him.

And if blackmail doesn’t gain her total cooperation, then perhaps a little seduction will…

Excerpt:

“So, Lia…” Luc said, his tone dangerously gentle. “Tell me, why did you really go and see Harley Watson?”

Lia’s gaze shot to his face. “What?”

“You didn’t want to work at the club.”

It was a statement, not a question, and Lia swallowed. She’d always been a horrific liar, but at least Luc Severino wouldn’t know the telltale signs. He wouldn’t know that beneath the fall of her carefully straightened hair, the tips of her ears were bright red, a dead giveaway to anyone who knew her that she was about to tell a whopper.

“Oh yes, I did.”

He quirked an eyebrow in disbelief. “Why?”

“I wanted to get away from home. I live with my family in a small village outside London, and it’s so boring.” And if she ever got back there in one piece, she would never leave again. “I wanted a little excitement and I needed a job. I remembered Mr. Watson from when we stayed in London. It seemed such a glamorous idea.” She sighed, deciding it was time to inject a little much needed honesty. “But once I got there, it didn’t seem quite so glamorous anymore.” She shuddered at the understatement. “And I…well, I just didn’t seem to have the right…” she cast a surreptitious glance at her chest, “…qualifications for the job.”

Luc intercepted the look. “Not all men are obsessed with enormous breasts,” he said.

She risked a quick glance at his face and found his eyes lingering on the long length of her legs beneath the hem of her dress. Lia resisted the urge to tug it down—she was beginning to hate that dress. It was going straight back to Kelly when she got home.

“Anyway, thank you for getting me out of there. You were right—I was out of my depth.”

Luc examined her curiously for a moment. “Just what is it you thought might happen?”

“White slave trade,” she mumbled under her breath.

To her surprise Luc didn’t laugh. Instead, he inspected her from head to toe as if trying to decide whether the price would be worth the trouble.

“Not Harley’s specialty,” he said after an uncomfortable minute.

Did that mean he knew someone whose specialty it was? After all, what did she really know about this man?

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Guess who’s here? It’s Decadent Publishing’s Ellen Keener! It’s blog Wednesday and Ellen’s here to talk fairytales and Halloween. Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and leave the hot guy alone in the corner!

Let’s go!

So I thought long and hard about what I wanted to blog about. This blog thing is harder than I thought it would be! I finally decided on talking about fairytales. It’s a good season for it. Halloween is fast approaching and the Barzakis Manor is breaking out all the decorations to be put up as soon as my feet hit the door on Friday. (I have more Halloween decorations than Christmas at this point, I think)

I love fairy tales. Always have. But I love the originals. Not the watered down versions that we have now. The real deal. I once wrote an entire paper in college about the censorship of fairy tales and legends and the reasons why we’ve done it. They were originally meant to say something. About growing up, how to mature, how to behave, and what would happen if you didn’t. There were a lot of themes, some of them darker and more adult than you might think. I’ve always collected version of fairytales. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite. But I also love the obscure ones. The Goose Girl, Thousandfurs, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I’ll give you an example – Thousandfurs. In the beginning of the story, the princess leaves because her father intends to marry her because he’s widowed and she’s the most beautiful maiden in the land. Issues? I think so.

Thank goodness I have a mother who not only encouraged me to read, but let me read things like that. Love you Mom!

I have plans for those originals. I think every little girl eventually at some point rewrites the tale to suit themselves. There are lots of examples in bookstores. Pick up a few. Even some stories are versions of fairytales without realizing it. They address the same issue, or they deal with similar plotlines. Everything is recycled, after all. The Key is in how well you do the recycling.  Lol.

Halloween is a good time to think about it. To think about legends and the things that go bump in the night. I think it’s a time when more of us are open to listening to stories about stormy nights and the flash of fang in the darkness. Read a few fairy tales. They’re darker than you think.

I don’t think Blood Moon has as much to do with any of those stories, (now that I’ve said there are lots that do) although the theme of running away and disobeying your family is popular. But it’s another good read for the season (if I do say so myself) because it’s got Werewolves and Celtic mythology and romance.  Everyone loves a good Celtic god of the Hunt. If you’re interested in reading more, here’s the blurb:

Fugitive shifter, Aria Legreve, is always on the run. With her own life at risk, she helps a badly beaten shifter to his Pack, knowing the danger her meddling entails. Hoping to use her status as an Outcast and be set free, her world changes when she meets head on with no other than her Mate—who is dead.

Alpha Lukas MacLeod has been searching for his wife for the past year, until Aria walks straight into his lair. Fate intervenes and gives them a second chance. Caught up in an intricate web of lies and prophecies in the making for generations, Aria and Lukas must discover a way to balance the darkness in their world, but will their love be strong enough to save their pack and each other?

So, tell me, what are your favorite fairy tales? The original ones or the new versions?

Thanks for having me, and I hope you all enjoy the stories!

Blood Moon? It’s a great story! I’ve read it and I know you all want to, too! Post a comment, come party! Are you Beauty & the Beast or Cinderella fan? What other fairy tales am I missing? (Wow, now I want to go watch one…) Ellen’s giving away a copy of Blood Moon! Talk it up!

Check this out! Sharon Donovan has a new release, Her Biggest Fan! From The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb:

From the shadows of the woods, he keeps vigil. The stage is set to drive the pretty little princess insane. He’s coming for her. And when he catches her, he’ll pounce on her like the big bad wolf.
After receiving a disturbing fan letter, New York Times best-selling author Tess Kincaid flees to the New England home she’s inherited following her father’s death. The manor has been tainted, every room staged to resemble the way it was in its glory days. However when Tess calls the police, the chilling props vanish into thin air.

Ruggedly handsome Sheriff Mike Andretti is called to investigate the reported burning candles, dancing gargoyles and otherworldly events. When he discovers no trace of the eerie setting, he finds himself caught between duty and desire. Is the woman with the bewitching green eyes delusional or is this a trap of twisted wit set by a demented fan?
Excerpt:

Cool air drifted out of the ballroom, carrying the scent of burning candles and cigarettes.
Music floated through the corridor, the seductive undertone hauntingly familiar. The music was hypnotic, mesmerizing. Tess could barely think over the loud beat of her heart. Every sense screamed to beware. She was about to come face-to-face with her stalker, her biggest fan. But over the hammering of her heart and accelerated senses, her will to put an end to this deadly game prevailed. She had to face him, find out who was behind this bizarre masquerade. Anticipation mounting, she made the turn at the end of the corridor and came to a riveting halt.

A female wax gargoyle stood in the doorway, long blonde hair billowing in the breeze. Her glass eyes shimmered with madness, an eerie smile on her face. In one hand, she held a mission bell, the other reaching out for a candle.

Music played from the old phonograph, the plucking of guitar strings laced with seduction. A breeze blew in through open terrace doors, stirring the sweet scent of jasmine from the candelabras.
Two wax nymphs stood at the bar, glass eyes shining bright in the candlelight, pliable fingers wrapped around flutes of pink champagne. Lit cigarettes burned in ashtrays. From behind the bar, a winged monster served drinks.

In the center of the ballroom, two gargoyles held a pose as if they were dancing, their waxy bodies closely pressed together, their reflections glowing in the mirrored ceiling. From the old phonograph in the corner, the hypnotic music played.

Tess gasped, her hand clasping her mouth. “Oh, my God!”

Mike raised his gun, circled the room. “Come out with your hands up. Hancock County Sheriff. Put your hands where I can see them.”

Intrigued? Leave a comment! Come play and we’ll talk! Enter to win a copy of Her Biggest Fan!

Today, our guest of honor is Cindy Spencer Pape. It’s so nice to have you here, and I’m sure you’re ready for a good time! Let the party begin!

*clears throat*

First questions:

Wine or beer? (If you want a club soda, I’ll have to send you to the corner.) Diet Coke. Sorry, I’ll go stand in the corner now.

Cake or chips? Are you a sugar or salt person? Chips. The saltier the better.

Are you old enough to drink? (*eyeing you warily*) LOL.  My marriage is old enough to drink.

All right, I guess you can come in. Now off to the roast….

Let’s see what you have in your bag…

I had a new book out yesterday from Carina Press, and one today from Ellora’s Cave. Busy, busy week!

Show me something first and maybe I’ll give you more diet coke and chips…

Motor City Witch

Blurb:

She’d left magic behind.

Once upon a time, Elise Sutton had been a powerful witch and paranormal enforcer. Once she’d been madly in love with Fae lord Aidan Greene. But when Aidan had considered his duties more important than their relationship, the love affair ended badly. Shortly after, while on the hunt for a rogue demon, Elise was brutalized and almost killed. Months later she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. To protect her child—and her heart—Elise decided to live a nonmagical life.

Until she meets Aidan again, and he assumes Dina is his daughter. When Dina is kidnapped by a racial purity movement, Elise turns to Aidan for help. The icy facade she has built around herself shatters at Aidan’s touch. Together they have to hunt through the human and faery worlds to find Dina…and to discover whether or not they have any kind of chance at a happily ever after.

I can’t stop drooling over this cover!

Questions first before you tease us some more…

So, what do you write? And why? I write romance. All kinds—paranormal, erotic, contemporary, historical, you name it. Why? I’m all about the happy-ever-after, but I get bored easily, and have to mix things up now and then.

(*nodding head*) That is understandable. Why did you want to become an author? Want? Not sure that’s the right word. It’s more a feeling that you just need to do it.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why? EVERYWHERE. I’d love to see the whole world, but if I had to pick a place to start, probably the British Isles.

Oooooo, that’ sounds nice. Now, what is the hardest part of writing your books? Making sure the plot flows smoothly, and that there’s enough going on to keep the reader interested. Also making sure that all the heroines don’t talk or think like me.

(*chuckle*) How would you describe your writing style? Hot, romantic, and just a little bit funny. Because face it, life is just a little bit funny.

Very true! What do you think makes a good story? A heroine you can identify with, a hero you can fall in love with, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

*Sigh* Now, I’m dreamy-eyed. What are you passionate about? Fairness and equality.

Who is your favorite author and why? Do you write what you read? I love so many authors, from Elizabeth Peters to Elizabeth Lowell, to Lora Leigh and Stephanie Laurens. I read mostly romance, but I do also pick up some SF&F and mysteries. Generally, if I’m writing paranormal, I’ll read more romantic suspense or historical, and if I’m writing historical, I’ll devour the paranormals.

How much do you write in a day? Day or Night? Everyday? Anywhere from 1000 to 4000 words on a decent day. I write full time, so pretty much whenever I’m not doing anything else.

Wow! Impressive! Are you a pantser or plotter? Somewhere in between. I write outlines, but rarely stick to them too closely.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? Have fun. You probably won’t get rich, so you might as well have a good time doing it. And if you like it, then keep going. Don’t give up.

LOL. Isn’t that the truth? What else are you working on right now? I’ve just finished up Steam & Sorcery, a steampunk romance for Carina Press, scheduled for March 7, 2011. I’m also getting started on the third Urban Arcana book. I’m also working on a Valentine’s story for Ellora’s Cave, and half a dozen other ideas, that may or may not work out.

Is there anything you’d want your readers and friends to know about you? I’m going to be at Romanticon in Richfield, Ohio, on Oct. 7-11. The Sunday book fair is open to the public, and I’d love to see you and say hello!

Awesome! Now show us your other goods!

Ooooooooo, steamy! What’s it about?

Just for Jess

Blurb:

Vampire Jessamy Maitland is a classic workaholic, until her friends team up to buy her a weekend with the incredibly sexy vampire Dermott McMahon on his luxurious private island. Dermott is determined to get Jess to kick back and relax, so he’s enlisted the help of three lion shifter friends.

Jess finds herself faced with three days of no phone, no computer and four sexy, horny males, all determined to wait on her hand and foot and show her a scorching good time. Naked. Together. In ways she’s never imagined. With those odds, what’s a vampire to do? There’s nothing for it but take them up on their offer and discover that sometimes it’s okay to play.

Wow, that sounds like a very hot read! (*rushes off to look up the link to buy*)

(Runs back.) Sorry.

Now that we’ve picked your brain enough, tell us about your new releases. What makes your character and story so special? Huh, that’s a tough one to answer about yourself. I think it’s that I mix love, action, and humor in a way that makes you not notice when it’s slipping from one to another.

Where can our partygoers find you and your work?

• Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com
• Blog: http://cindyspencerpape.blogspot.com/
• Newsletter group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cspapenewsgroup/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/CindySPape
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000270304390

I guess, I’ll stop interrogating you now. * smiles * Thank you so much for coming! Thanks for having me here—this is fun. And of course I’ll be around!

Since we’re planning on hanging around here all day, did you bring us anything else? (Whispers something…)

Hey! Cindy’s giving out a free download from her backlist! Come on, guys, get in the party! Quick! Post your comments and start cyber dancing!