Romancing September Author Cynthia Harrison (Day 30)

I can’t believe we have reached the last day of our Romancing September Across the World. It’s day 30 and we have interviewed and discussed romance writing with 30 authors on both sides of the Atlantic. Today our final author is Cynthia Harrison and she has a little good news for you at the end of our interview. Don’t forget to go over and visit Stephanie later for the final update on writing romance in today’s society.

Let’s find out more about Cynthia;

1) Where is your home town?

I live in small town north of Detroit: Washington, Michigan.

2) How long have you been writing?

I was a star reporter at my junior high school newspaper. So 12-13 years old.

3) Have you always written romance?

No. I wrote two “literary” novels, then a mystery, then a Regency, which is a kind of romance. I indie pubbed a contemporary novel, and only understood how to write full-on romance with my editor’s help.

4) Your book title is “Blue Heaven” with Blue Lake in brackets, what is the connection between the two?

 Blue Heaven is the first title in my Blue Lake series.

5) Where is your book set?

In a tourist town on the Great Lakes in Michigan.

6) Eva takes on an enormous project with a tight time scale can you tell the readers a little about this?

 Eva had a great job in advertising until Detroit plunged into massive unemployment. She looked for more advertising work, but the game had changed and nobody was hiring. She came up with a last-ditch desperate plan to turn “Blue Heaven” (her family’s beat up old vacation cottages on Lake Huron) from the 1920s into a shabby chic vacation resort.

7) What is it that Daniel Bryman thinks Eva will destroy?

 Eva has big plans. She especially wants to recapture that big family feeling without opening up her private space to paying customers, so she plans to put a second story party room on the main bungalow. Daniel is all about integrity of design, and since his ancestor built the bungalow, he did not want to see the original structure tampered with.

8) Will there be time for some romance in Eva’s busy schedule?

 Daniel is so keen to make sure all goes right that he is at Eva’s every minute of every day. He makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Free labour!

9) How do you add the romance; a slow burner or fast and furious like a hit and run?

 For these two, the attraction is immediate, but other things get in the way of them being together, so they do a painful slow burn for each other.

10) Do you like your writing to have a “Happy Ever After” ending or do you leave unanswered questions?

I love happy endings.

11) This book has recently been published, I believe you have some information which might please our readers?

Yes! “Blue Heaven” is going to be free for five days (Oct.1-5) on Kindle.

Here are the links to Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you Cynthia for being our guest today, Good Luck with the book promotion. Now please step over to Stephanie’s side of the tour http://Stephanie-hurt.com/

Romancing September author Cassandra Giovanni (Day 26)

We are near the end of our Romancing September Across the World Tour. Today we meet author Cassandra Giovanni and Stephanie will be discussing romance writing in today’s society with Cassandra over in Georgia in a few hours.

Let’s find out more about Cassandra;

1) Where is your home town?

Holliston, MA

2) You’ve been writing since the age of 7, can you tell us some of the pieces you have written.

The first thing I had published was a chapter for a Josephina novel for American Girl, from there I won contests with poetry, and essays. I wrote my first novels at around 14-15, which all had to do with girls, falling in love and horses. There was one about motor cross thrown in there too. I have three published full length novels now, all varying genres, and I have at least 8 others half-written or in the works. Most of the novels are NA.

3) Is this your first adult romance?

Yes, this is my first New Adult romance.

4) I believe you designed the book cover yourself, is that correct? Tell us bout it.

I’m a professional photographer, so I really couldn’t see using stock photography for my cover. I asked my husband for help, and he obliged (grumbling the whole time by the way). We played around with a lot of ideas, many of which there was no person on the cover–coffee, and beans, and a guitar…lots of different things. I really wanted a person on the cover, so after about 3 hours of photographs my husband broke down and let me use him as the model. I fell in love with the set of pictures as soon as I took it, and then all I had to do was Photoshop some tattoos on to him. Some of the tattoos on the cover are real, while others aren’t.

5) Moving on to “Love Exactly” can you tell us where and when Emma and Evan meet?

They meet in a gas station where Emma is getting a cheap cup of coffee and Evan is hunting down Pizza Combos. She rams into him and spills her coffee everywhere–he offers to replace it with a “real” cup of coffee at the Starbucks across the street!

6) Are they attracted to each other from the start?

Yes, but it isn’t insta-love in any way. They slowly get to know each other through dates and phone calls.

7)  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words…they’ll destroy  my soul” Powerful words! Can you hint at some of the issues Emma needs  to deal with?

Emma was in an abusive relationship as a teenager and is still dealing from the scars created both physically and verbally.

8) Does Evan have his own problems to deal with too?

Evan has to deal with fame, and people who want him to be the “bad boy” that they idolize him to be, but he’s not.

9) Do the pair have any intimate love scenes?

There are love scenes, but I refer to them as “clean steam”…they’re hot in all the right places, but not enough to make those people that aren’t a fan of graphic sex gag.

10) How do they both help each other? Does the process evolve throughout  the story?

The process does evolve throughout the story–they both help each other be stronger, but they never force anything on one another. As Evan says “I’m not trying to fix you. I don’t think you’re broken. That’s all on you. I’m just trying to show you the only one standing in your way is you.”

11) Can you tell fans about any plans you have for your next book?

The next book in the series will release sometime after Summer 2014. Currently, I’m working on a series that is to be published early 2014 called Beautifully Broken–it’s a two novel series. Book one is Flawed Perfection, and Book Two is Broken Perfection. Here is the unofficial blurb for Flawed Perfection: Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star  hockey player–he was the spitting image of perfection to his family.  Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers. River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She’s been in love  with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she’s stuck right in the middle of the brother’s dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn’t even know she’s the ultimate prize. Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl’s hearts  and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no  matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet,  damaged, with boyish good-looks, no body thought Adam loved anyone but  himself. Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself–or so  everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them  all…

To get your own copy of “Love Exactly” go to Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you Cassandra and I think some of the ladies will appreciate the photo your husband posed for! Don’t forget Stephanie’s half of Romancing September http://stephanie-hurt.com

Romancing September author Ana Calin (Day 25)

It is Day 25 of our Romancing September Across the World Tour, and today we are going to meet Ana Calin and her book “The Blacksmith”. Then you can cross to Georgia in a few hours and read her views on writing romance in today’s society with Stephanie.

Let us find out more about Ana;

1) Where is your home town?

My hometown is Constanta, Romania. (I’ve been living in Germany for four years. Constanta is yet the place where the story unfolds).

2) How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing fiction for one year but researching for two (needed the research as background for what is happening with the ‘superior beings’ in the story). (Technically, I’ve been writing for over ten years since I was an English major in college and Creative Writing was a must. After I graduated I started working as a translator and writer for web sites)

3) Has your writing always included an aspect of romance?

The Blacksmith is my first novel. Romance is its central point and will remain so in the following novels as well.

4) “The Blacksmith” is a romantic thriller, where did the idea for the story come from?

The idea for “The Blacksmith” came from observation and a lot of psychology reading. Observing that many couples who’ve been together for over seven years become disappointed and start chasing the new, often even leaving their partners for a fresh start, I became obsessive on getting to the bottom of happiness through love: should one challenge the old and established for one’s dream? Or should one fight to reignite the fire of infatuation in a long time relationship?

5) The character known as “The Blacksmith” is an unknown murderer. Does his name have a significance?

The meaning behind the Blacksmith’s alias is even more important to the story than his identity. He is  a superhuman whose main purpose resonates with his alias.

6) How does the romance evolve? Does Aurelia become obsessed?

Aurelia first becomes obsessed with discovering who the Blacksmith is. What she doesn’t expect is that she’ll fall in love with him so deeply.

7) What happened to Aurelia’s husband?

Aurelia’s husband, Damian, is present throughout the story just like the boy she secretly desires, Ivan. One of these two men IS the Blacksmith.

8) What does Aurelia have to do to find the answers she needs?

Since she is the one to discover the first victim, Aurelia feels compelled to find out who the villain is. Having no reason to trust what she’s certain are corrupt policemen, she will start an investigation of her own, aided by an attorney, a psychiatrist and a biochemist. She will discover that the one she chases is no common man and she’ll go unveiling secret powers buried in her own psyche.

9) Does “The Blacksmith” have an equal love for Aurelia?

We don’t find out how the Blacksmith truly feels for Aura until the last chapters. He might be madly in love with her or long to kill her in the cruellest way.

10) Are you working on a sequel to this book? Or do you have another book that you are writing?

I’m currently working on a sequel, “Cries of the Blood”. I’ve started posting the chapters on my blog, www.anaatcalin.com. Of course, I’m avoiding spoilers for The Blacksmith. When the book is finished the chapters will be cut to trailers.

NOTE: the book contains some measure of erotica (not going overboard though), so it is recommendable for mature audiences.

To find a copy of “The Blacksmith” follow these links to Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com or Amazon.de

Thank you Ana for being our guest today and Good Luck with the new book. Now step over to http://stephanie-hurt.com for the rest of Ana’s interview.

Romancing September author Fay Cunningham (Day 23)

Welcome to Day 23 of Romancing September Across the World Tour. Today our guest is Fay Cunningham. Join her now and again later over with Stephanie for her views on writing romance in today’s society.

Let’s find out more about Fay and her book;

1) Where is your home town?  

Colchester, England.

2) How long have you been writing? 

Since I was at school. I won a prize for English Language and that started me off.

3) Has you always written romance?

I started with short stories for women’s magazines, then a couple of crime novels, but I got hooked on Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb and decided I liked a mix of both romance and crime.

4) This is a romantic suspense novel where did the inspiration for the storyline come from? 

I wondered what would happen if someone found a mobile phone. Would they look at the messages?

5) When does Police Detective Jack Armstrong arrive on the scene in Serena’s life?

Right near the beginning. He is investigating the injured man Serena found in the ditch.

6) How did you build up the relationship between Jack and Serena?

I wanted him to be sarcastic and quite objectionable at the start of the relationship. He has some really good lines of dialogue.

7) Is Serena’s father the proverbial “Skeleton in the cupboard”? 

You could say that, but he is not a villain. Quite the opposite, in fact.

8) Can you hint how you keep the readers enthralled until the end?

I often don’t know how the book is going to end myself, so it is bound to be a surprise for the reader.

9) What other romances have you written?

Five that were previously My Weekly Pocket Novels, all available on Amazon, and two crime thrillers now published by Harlequin Worldwide Books.

10) Do you have a new book or a sequel to “Forgotten” that you are writing at the moment?

My new book doesn’t have a title yet, but it is another romantic suspense novel. A girl is on the run with her four-year-old son, but the reader will have no idea why. Not to begin with, anyway.

Find “Forgotten” at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you Fay, this book sounds very intriguing, Good Luck with the new book. Catch up with Stephanie at http://stephanie-hurt.com

Romancing September – author Sonya Loveday (Day 21)

Day 21 of the Romancing September Across the World Tour, today our guest is Sonya Loveday (What better name could you have for a romance author?) Meet Sonya here and then in a few hours catch up with her again as she talks about writing romance in today’s society with Stephanie over in Georgia USA.

Let’s go and find out more about Sonya;

1) Where is your hometown?

I currently reside in Central Florida in a ‘small’ town called St. Cloud. I was born in Presque Isle, Maine and wish for the weather they have. Florida heat is brutal in the summer.

2) How long have you been writing?

I’ve been actively writing since 2009. I started writing Casted along side of another book that is written but not finished, if that makes sense. I picked Casted back up around April 2012 and completed it.

3) Have you always written romance?

I’ve always had some sort of romance that goes along with the storyline. Since Casted is officially my first published novel I guess you could say yes.

4) Your book cover is gorgeous! What made you chose purple?

Thank you! Ravven is ahhhhmazing! I gave her a brief description of what I wanted the cover to look like and then handed the creative controls over to her. I actually had a choice between blue or purple. Now, besides the fact that purple is my favourite colour, I also associate purple with magic. The choice was, at that point, a no brainer. She totally rocked it out and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome!

5) Ooh Magic! Tell us about the background of the spell book in your story.

Ah, the ancient spell book…

The book itself belonged to Elinor. It was, back then, a way to record her spells. It also became her prison for hundreds of years.

6) Can Jade do magic? Is she a witch or a spell caster? What would you call her?

Poor Jade, she’s had a pretty hard life. Both her parents were killed when she was a young girl. Her bloodline-so to speak-is split between the Original Coven and the Triad. Jade finds out the hard way just how powerful of a spell caster she is as things heat up for her.

7) Who are the Triad? Whom do they represent?

When the Original Coven was formed a select few were unhappy with the restraints put upon them. They broke off from the Original Coven and called themselves The Triad. Their goal was to take out the Original coven and gain full control of all magic users. Those who were sought out by the Triad had one choice, join or die.

8) You’ve woven a complicated love interest into the tale, can we expect some sparks?

But of course! With magic, there’s always sparks!

9) What can we expect from Elinor?

She’s pretty intense. Being trapped in a book will do that to you. Her main objective is to eliminate the Triad. Her focus is set on Lorenzo, the Triad leader. She will force her will on Jade to see the end of the evil that caused so much grief in her life.

10) This is the first book in “The Casted” series, have you a title for the second book? When do you expect it to be available for fans?

For now, I’m using the working title “Spelled”, not sure if that will stick since I’m only a few chapters in to the actual writing. It has a huge possibility of changing. I’m looking at the end of the year to have it completed.

On a side note…if you’ve read Casted, I left you with a huge cliff hanger that will jump right into the next book. I will also take the time to apologize now, knowing you will be shouting at me and your books/e-readers with the next one. You’ve been warned. *Insert evil laugh here*

You can check out “Casted” at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

A very big Thank you to Sonya for joining us on the blog today, Good Luck with the new book. Here’s the link to Stephanie’s blog once more http://stephanie-hurt.com/

Romancing September author Jade Reyner (Day 19)

Day 19 on the Romancing September across the world tour meets author Jade Reyner. First we’ll talk to Jade here on the blog and then in a few hours you can catch up with her again at Stephanie’s blog where they will be looking at writing romance in today’s society.

Let’s find out more about Jade;

1) Where is your home town?

I live near Swindon in Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

2) How long have you been writing?

I started a creative writing course about a year ago with the intention of writing a novel at the end of it. The idea for my first novel kept begging to be heard though and so I began writing that in February of this year. I am still trying to complete the course but my novel writing has kind of taken over!

3) ‘Twelve Days – The Beginning’ has a powerful book cover. Who designed it?

It was designed for me by a company called Spiffing Covers who are based in the UK. They have done a lot of the conversion work for me as well. I gave them the information and thoughts on colouring etc.. and they did the rest!

4) Could you place this book into a Romance sub-bracket such as thriller/modern/historical?

Yes absolutely. ‘Twelve Days – The Beginning’ and its sequel ‘Twelve Days – The Future’ are romantic thrillers.

5) Does the whole book take place over a twelve day period?

That’s actually a tough question to answer. The simple answer is no, it doesn’t – the book covers a period of approximately six months however ‘Twelve Days’, comes from a defining period of twelve days during which the course of the main characters’ life changes irrevocably. In essence Elise (the main character), meets Vaughn Granger much as you would meet any random stranger. The ensuing twelve days however, causes their lives to become entangled beyond comprehension and ensures that after those twelve days, neither of them will ever be the same again. Thus ‘Twelve Days’ has become the theme for this book and creates the identity for the sequel and the other books that I have planned in the series. Everything that happens subsequently started in those first twelve days.

6) How passionate is the character Elise? What influenced the way that she is?

Elise is your average girl until you begin to peel away the layers, and as the story develops you realise that underneath she is a very passionate woman who has never had the opportunity to fully express herself. She has been conditioned into behaving a certain way over a long period of time (I can’t say too much without giving the plot away!) and when she meets Vaughn, it awakens a part of her that she never thought she would be able to explore. She also realises that she is much stronger than she ever considered herself to be and she begins to experience the passion and value of true love and find the strength to change her life. Not that it’s that simple of course!

7) Will the main characters of Elise and Vaughn be seen in the whole series?

Elise and Vaughn are the main characters in the first two books, ‘Twelve Days – The Beginning’ and ‘Twelve Days – The Future’ as they are the books that follow their story. I have then developed the rest of the series to deliberately focus on the other characters who deserve their own story, so there will be a book for Cole, ‘Twelve Days – Cole’ and then there will be a book for Dale, ‘Twelve Days – Dale’. Both of these books will contain references to Vaughn and Elise but I have deliberately designed it so that with the exception of the first two books, the others can be read as stand alone books. I don’t want the reader to feel pressured to buy all of the books just to finish the story (although obviously I would love them to buy all of them!).

8) How do you plan to carry on the Twelve Days theme in the rest of the series?

‘Twelve Days – The Future’ is the conclusion of Elise and Vaughn’s story and the theme is carried through by virtue of this. With regards to the rest of the series, which at present includes two other books, the plan is for them to be written from the point of view of both Cole and Dale (two major characters) and covering the same twelve day period. This will be achieved by reflecting the events that occurred and their part in them but written from their point of view, so a completely different take on it. Readers have connected with these characters, particularly Cole, and it was clear from early on that he and Dale (and maybe a couple of other characters too) have their own story to tell and need their own book.

9) How have you written the sex in this book? Could I pass it on to my Granny?

Ha ha. What a brilliant question!

The sex scenes are detailed and they were immensely difficult to write – the hardest of all of the scenes to write for me. I wanted to ensure that the reader got right into the story and that required a certain level of detail, particularly with regards to Elise who is on a massive journey of discovery. I have tried to balance out the sex scenes though because the story itself was equally as important to me and I wanted the reader to engage with all of it – not just the naughty bits!

Can you pass it onto your Granny? Hmmm… depends how open minded your Granny is! All I would say is that I am certain I wouldn’t be telling her anything she didn’t already know!

10) Tell us about the next book in the series. When will fans be able to get a copy?

The next book is ‘Twelve Days – The Future’ and is the conclusion of the story of Elise and Vaughn. This expands the story further and moves their journey forwards as they continue to battle both their love for each other and all the negative elements in their lives. This is where all of the questions are answered and some shocking truths are revealed and is just as much of an emotional roller coaster as the first book (although without the cliff-hanger ending!).

I am currently finishing writing it and am hoping to get it published late October time. To keep up with release dates and news etc. then fans can follow my blog at www.jadereyner.com.

Find a copy of this book here on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

I’d like to say and big Thank you to Jade for being our guest on the blog today and Good luck with the new book. Catch up with Stephanie’s half of meeting Jade here http://stephanie-hurt.com/

Romancing September author Marina de Nadous (Day 17)

Welcome to Day 17 of Romancing September Across the World. Today’s author is Marina de Nadous and her book “The Celestial Sea”. Cross over to Georgia USA in a few hours and read what Marina has to say about writing romance in today’s society with Stephanie.

Marina has chosen not to reveal her full picture for privacy reasons.

Let’s find out more about Marina;

1) Where is your hometown?

My hometown is Frome in Somerset, UK

2) How long have you been writing?

I began writing 7 years ago

3) Have you always written romance?

No—I never set out to be a writer. I am a novice author launching a series I have been working on since 2006. I consider myself a scribe, recording a story that arrived unexpectedly in my lap. 

4) Your book is written in diary format, why did you choose this?

My above answer goes some way to explain my reason for the diary format. Written as a diary narrative, the story includes the beginnings of my writer’s career and the conception of the series. In a way, the story turns itself inside out as my writer’s journey becomes embroiled in the script.

 5) There is a chalk model of a ship on your book cover. What is the role of the ship in the book?

I shall leave that as a mystery—for now. I don’t want to expose too much of the magic interwoven through the pages of The Celestial Sea Voyages. ‘Lovers’ Metaphor’ is a clue.

6) Much romance is written with characters in the 20-30 year old age bracket, do your characters fit this model?

Move it on ten years—my story will probably resonate more strongly with adults in their 40/50’s. I presumed I had written a romance for women in this age bracket but I have been enormously surprised to find that the men are appreciating the story just as much, if not more, than my female readers!

7) You chose New Zealand as the setting for your book, why?

For one reason only—I just happened to be there when the story appeared. Others would say it was destiny that took me there. My story certainly points to the ‘destiny’ theory.

8) Do the New Zealand Maori traditions play a part in some of the spiritual areas of the book?

Many aspects of Kiwi life are represented throughout the story—seen through the eyes of a domestic housewife and mother new to the Southern hemisphere. I hope I have represented lots of interest in this realm and yes, Maori heritage, culture and spirituality provide evocative elements throughout the tale.

9) Fans have described this as one of the ‘Great Love Stories’, why do you think that is?

This is a hard one to answer because I am both the writer and the protagonist. All I can say is that the romance is totally unique. I have never read anything that compares. Each person takes from it what they will. Readers with a spiritual leaning will gain most from the series. Mix a cocktail of ‘Shakespeare in Love,’ ‘Bridget Jones Diary’, add a nautical, sacred ingredient that can’t be put into words and perhaps—perhaps that might just define the story—sort of!

10) Will any of your work be available to buy on Kindle?

Yes—the series is available in both paperback and Kindle.

11) You’ve just published book 2 in the series, what is it called? How many more books are you planning for fans? Any planned publication dates?

The first book; ‘The Celestial Sea’, was published last August. The second book is called ‘Dry Dock’ and came out at the beginning of this month. There are several volumes planned, but as yet I have no fixed publication dates. It rather depends on the public’s appreciation. Over to you, readers—how much can you take?

Find “The Celestial Sea” on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

A Big Thank you to Marina for being our guest today, Good Luck with the series.

Romancing September author Annie Acorn (Day 10)

It’s Day 10 of our Romancing September Across the World Tour and today we meet Annie Acorn, one half of writing duo Charlotte Kent, yesterday we met her writing partner Juliette Hill. Check out Annie’s views on romance writing in today’s society later on Stephanie’s blog.

Let’s get to know Annie a little more; (Please note that some of Annie’s answers have been scaled down in keeping with my blog style, but I’m sure Annie will still appreciate your time spent reading her replies, as I do)

1) Hi Annie, yesterday we met one half of the writing name Charlotte Kent, today we are welcoming you to the blog, please tell everyone how you came to join with Juliette to form Charlotte Kent.

On January 10, 2013, she and I were discussing how best to organize her efforts during the coming year, and I suggested she attempt a romance series. In the end, we decided to collaborate.

2) “A Man for Susan” is the second book in the “Captain’s Point” series, how many books are planned for the series?

The simple answer to this question is who knows?

As I was working on A Clue for Adrianna, text for other books in the series kept coming to me, we titled Love’s Surprise and I Love You, Baby!

3) In this book Adrianna sets out to find a man for her friend, that’s quite a controversial issue, how long did it take for you both to agree the plot?

Two seconds.

Frankly, we didn’t have much choice in the matter.  Adrianna had set her mind on doing so, it was completely in line with her character, and way down deep inside, Susan wanted a man for herself anyway.  It appeared to be win/win/win, so we went with it.

4) When you share writing a book do each of you have a special role?

Yes, but I would point out that when you’re doing a series the way we are, it morphs.

5) I’m glad you have worked humour into you book.  I like a book that makes me laugh.  Many people find writing humour extremely hard, does it come easy to you both? Or are you like a pair of comediennes where one of you is the straight man?

Over the years, I have developed a fair reputation as a humourist, although it is not something that I actively intended to do.  In fact, I was not aware that there was a fair amount of humour in A Clue for Adrianna until I read the whole book from start to finish, once the writing was completed.  In point of fact, the chapter where Adrianna digs up the bottle that contains locks of hair is quite funny, and I surprised myself by laughing out loud when I reread it.

Juliette claims she has no sense of humour at all, but I disagree.

6) How steamy is the romance in this book? What age range have you marketed the book at?

Captain’s Point Stories is not an erotic series.  Having said that, though, with the advent of A Man for Susan, we now have a young, married couple who are certainly going to be spending a good bit of their honeymoon in bed.

We are marketing the series as General Adult.

7) Have you heard of the new marketing bracket for books N/A (New Adult) do you think there was a need for it?

The problem with new marketing brackets is that they tend to be devised by authors and the reality is that book sellers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iTunes, don’t tend to offer the categories as choices to those of us who are uploading content on their sites.

8) You’ve published your books through your own company “Annie Acorn Publishing” do you specialize in certain genres?

We currently have offerings available from a number of authors in the romance, mystery, nonfiction (health, weight loss and finance), anthology, children’s literature and Christian genres, although it is not our intention to limit ourselves to just these.

9) You’re a very busy woman, how long did it take to write and then edit “A Man for Susan”? Could you advise a working time ratio for writers from starting writing to publication?

Now, this is a trick question.  (Not at all! I was hoping you could give some general advice to writers who are starting out)

Any committed author can write a full-length book.  You simply state that you will write a set amount of forward words per day on the manuscript and follow through on this commitment until you have completed the story.  The trick is for the story to say something that will capture readers’ imaginations.

From my perspective, there are three things that contribute heavily to success in this area:

1).  Write about both what you know and are passionate about

2).  Edit well, and

3).  Always, always, always listen to your characters.

I will add two more pieces of advice; One, the minute you begin to write your character’s dialogue for them, you have killed your character.  Two, you write with your heart and your gut.  You edit with your mind.

10) Can you tell fans the title of the next book in the series and its estimated publication date?

Juliette and I are both confident at this point that Love’s Journey will be the third full-length volume in the Captain’s Point Stories series.  The writing on this book is about half finished.  We anticipate publication will occur sometime this fall.  The cover has already been designed and approved.

I will give your readers a sneak preview by confirming that, yes, Kate Sinclair will return to Captain’s Point and will be the centre of the new storyline.  The man she is pursuing?  Now, that would be telling.  Suffice it to say that it is someone readers of A Clue for Adrianna and A Man for Susan will have already met.

Thank you Annie. Readers can check out “A Man For Susan” here at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Romancing September author – Cheryl Koevoet (Day 8)

Day 8 of the Romancing September World Blog Tour and today we meet author Cheryl Koevoet. Then in a few hours time you can go over to Georgia to Stephanie Hurt’s blog and meet Cheryl again for a discussion on writing romance in today’s society.

Let’s meet Cheryl;

1) Where is your home town?

Good question, but not an easy one to answer! I was born and raised in West Linn, Oregon, U.S.A., (a suburb of Portland) but from the time I married a Dutchman in the early 90’s, I have been living just outside The Hague, The Netherlands for most of my adult life. I consider both cities as being my “hometown.”

2) How long have you been writing?

I have been writing in one form or another since grade school, but mostly just “functional” items such as newsletters, articles, short stories and the occasional poem. I didn’t sit down and actually start writing a novel until 2010.

3) Why did you choose to write a fantasy romance? What inspired you?

I’ve had this epic love story of two star-crossed lovers swirling around in my head for more than twenty years, but have just never had the time to write it down. Then, one day out of the blue, I finally decided that if I didn’t get the story out of my head, it would burst! I was surprised at how fast I was able to churn it out — probably because the story had many years to simmer in my brain before it was finally released onto the page.

4) You’ve published “The Carnelian Legacy” with WestBowPress which specialises in helping authors self-publish, would you recommend this route to others?

Yes and no. I chose the self-publishing route because it fit my needs, but it is much more expensive and time-consuming than traditional publishing. Probably most important of all, one must really believe in the quality of their story enough to put their money where their mouth is. If success is important to you but you’re not willing to spend hours of your life promoting your book and networking in every way imaginable, then you probably shouldn’t be self-publishing.

5) Can you explain how the title of your book relates to the story?

This is one of those books that the reader will only truly understand the significance of the title once he or she has finished the book. At the risk of spoiling the story for those who have not yet read it, let me just say that part of the title will become immediately apparent to the reader, but the other part will only make sense on the very last page! Oh that sounds intriguing!

6) Marisa, our heroine gets sent to an alternative world, does she ever master the skills of swordsmanship?

In The Carnelian Legacy, Marisa is just learning the ropes of survival the futuristic-medieval world of Carnelia and knows nothing about self-defense. However, in book two and three of the trilogy, her knowledge and skills increase exponentially through special lessons she receives (such as history, philosophy, protocol, sword fighting and self-defense). One of the most rewarding things about writing this series is to observe Marisa’s growth from first being a helpless teenager into becoming a strong, independent woman and leader. The transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but she manages to work hard and develop herself into the woman she is meant to be. Believe me, that is so exciting to watch!

7) You’ve also got monsters in the book, tell us about some of them.

The “monsters” in this book were one of my favorite parts to write. Being from the Pacific Northwest, I grew up with the urban legends of Sasquatch (Bigfoot) and re-imagined them for this series. They aren’t the cumbersome, skittish beasts that shy away from humans portrayed in documentaries on TV, but rather, in The Carnelian Saga, they are an incredibly fast-moving, giant-sized, bloodthirsty beast that run in a pack and chase humans as their prey. They’ve been described as a three-way cross between a bear, ape, and wolf, but more deadlier than all three animals combined. You’ll have to read the book to find out more about  them and the other monsters they run up against!

8) Fight scenes can be hard to write so that the reader can follow the action, how hard was it to write fight scenes in your book?

There are action and chase scenes sprinkled throughout the book that thrust the plot forward, and they were so fun to write! Some of the sword fighting scenes were more difficult, but when I close my eyes, I can see it as it happens and then try to describe in words the scene that is playing out before me. And not just visually. I try to infuse as many senses as I can in order to put the reader right into the middle of the action. The metallic clanging of the sword. The scent of sweat dripping from the man’s stubbly chin. The roar of agony when the hero’s sword meets its mark in the beast’s chest.

9) You’ve had some brilliant reviews for “The Carnelian Legacy”. One person said you were a cross between Stephanie Meyer and Johanna Lindsey. What marketing plans have been a success in getting this book out to the readers?

Thankfully, I am a natural-born marketer and have embraced (not repelled) the promotion side of publishing the book. But back when I was still writing, I received some super advice about building a platform before the novel is published. It is so important for a writer to understand that in today’s market, you must establish a platform and build up a network of friends, fellow writers and followers that you can draw from later.

I asked several writer/author friends to help me launch the book and each of them rose to the occasion. It’s very much a give-and-take relationship with other writers, and I have very much enjoyed that process of getting to know them. And I haven’t forgotten those who have helped me along the way. I am always looking for ways to help other authors get their foot in the door. Having said that, I discovered early on that you must stand alone in “branding” yourself as an author. When someone hears your book or name in a conversation, what images or ideas do you want to convey? Your brand is what makes you uniquely you in a sea of voices all screaming to be heard. Be yourself, and be consistent. You owe it to your fans, and you owe it to yourself.

10) Fans can’t wait for the next book in the series have you got a title and release date yet?

Book two of the Carnelian saga is titled: The Carnelian Tyranny: Savino’s Revenge. I am shooting for a late November/early December 2013 release, but the exact date is not yet known. Fans can keep updated with the launch date on the official Facebook fan page at: www.facebook.com/CarnelianLegacy

Find your copy on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you very much for being my guest today and Good luck with the next book.

Romancing September – Olivia Stocum (Day 7)

Day 7 on Romancing September, please join me in welcoming author Olivia Stocum as our guest author, then pop over to Georgia to catch up with her views on writing romance in today’s society with Stephanie in a few hours.

Let’s go and find out some more about Olivia;

1) Where is your hometown?

My hometown is Owego, New York. It’s a historic town dating back to the Revolutionary War. I still live there. My house is 213 years old and has been in my husband’s family for three generations. I love ‘old’ things. Houses, towns, furniture…

2) How long have you been writing?

I started writing as soon as I had the ability to form sentences on paper. I couldn’t wait to learn how to read and write. I just knew books and I were a love match.

3) Have you always written romance?

Yes. It all started with Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

4) Before we get into the book, I must compliment you on the cover, It’s gorgeous! Who designed it?

An uber-talented woman, Stephanie White. https://www.facebook.com/StephsCoverDesign Check her out if you’re in the market for a book cover. She really cares about your vision for your book.  

5) “Dawning” is a historical romance, is this your favourite style?

Yes, it is. Although, that said, I do have a paranormal series about a female werewolf in the works.

6) Set in Scotland in 1599, what made you choose this time and setting?

I wanted to create a world where the great kilt, castles, and damsels in distress all existed at the same time. Since the Great Kilt didn’t come into use until the mid fifteen hundreds, and castles fast went out of style in the sixteen hundreds, (yes, some people do still live in them, but for the most part they were no longer being built) I realized this was my best choice.

7) Do you have any family link to the MacAlastair clan that you wrote about? 

Nope. I completely made up the clan out of my imagination. I did that on purpose, because I knew the last thing I wanted was hate-mail because I made someone’s great-great-great-great grandfather into a bad guy. (Or something to that extent). My grandmother was Scottish however, from the Davidson clan.

 8) Clans are renown for their fierce protection of family, how do you show this in the book?

I could talk about Triona’s father, who is laird, or William, who is heir apparent, or even Triona, who is painfully devoted to the both of them. But I think it’s our hero, Ronan, who shows this the most. He has no idea who his parents are, and although he has been adopted into Triona’s clan, he isn’t able to accept it. He sees Triona alone as his legacy. And he will do anything to build his own clan around her.

9) Tell us more about the mysterious “Blackhawk” in your book, does his reputation precede him?

It does, and in ways he doesn’t come realize until the end of the book. Ronan (AKA Blackhawk) describes himself as the sort of mercenary who only sells to the highest bidder, but at closer examination, he’s left a trail of goodwill behind him. Maggie, for example, who was sold into harlotry at thirteen. Ronan pays off her debt to the man who owns her, then uses his powerful influence to find her a position as a lady’s maid, changing her life forever.  

 10) I was surprised when one reviewer picked you up on your lack of historical content in “Dawning” it is after all a fictional piece. Would this comment influence your future writing?

I don’t see it as influencing my writing at all. I’m very much like Jane Austen, who wrote her books during the Napoleonic Wars, yet never found it necessary to take her reader onto the battlefront. My books are ROMANCE. I write about relationships of many kinds. Friends, father and daughter, cousins, and yes, lovers. That is the essence of my writing. I don’t pretend that it’s something it’s not, either. I never once said that Rob Roy or Bonnie Prince Charley would be making an appearance in any of my books.

11) Fans are clamouring for a publishing date of your next book “Moonstone” do you have a date yet? Is it a sequel to “Dawning”?

Yes, and yes. The release date is January 2014. The book is written, and I am doing some of my own editing before it goes off to my hired editor next month. It’s about one of my most admired characters, William MacAlastair. I have yet to find a woman who doesn’t like him, and I can understand. Secretly, I’m in love with him too. (But don’t tell my husband, please.)

 Thanks for having me on your blog, Rosie. I really enjoyed our interview!

You can go and find “Dawning” here on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thanks for being my guest today Olivia, I loved your answers!