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BOOK TOUR: Tunnel of Mirrors by Ferne Arfin #literaryfiction @Ferne_Travels @FernearfinReal  @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

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We’re celebrating the release of Ferne Arfin’s novel, Tunnel of Mirrors. Read on for more details!

TunneOfMirrors_eBook_cover

Tunnel of Mirrors

Publication Date: February 1st, 2022

Genre: Literary Fiction/ Contemporary Literary Fiction/ Romantic Elements “Eternal Lovers”

Publisher: Green River Press

Rachel Isaacson, spirited, otherworldly and haunted, is born into a rigidly Old World family in New York’s Lower East Side. Hungry for independence, Rachel enters a marriage of convenience with violent consequences.

Across the Atlantic, storyteller, fiddler and cliff climber Ciaran McMurrough is raised in pastoral innocence on Rathlin off the coast of Ulster. His upbringing in a tight-knit, isolated community leaves him unprepared for the subtle political passions following the Irish Civil War.

Outcasts-one by choice, one by chance-Rachel and Ciaran meet on the docks of lower Manhattan in 1928. Drawn to each other in this lyrical story, must they repeat a doomed cycle as eternal lovers?

“Tunnel of Mirrors fires the imagination and stirs the soul…a story to savour that remains long in the mind. I loved it.”

-Sunday Times Bestselling Author of Our Story, Miranda Dickinson

“Humour, emotion, and perfectly tuned dialogue, ensures her people are triumphantly alive.”

-Novelist Janette Jenkins, author of Firefly and Little Bones

“Tunnel of Mirrors is a beautiful, lyrical recreation of the past. With warmth, wit and great heart, Ferne Arfin takes the reader back into the struggles and small victories of a lost world.”

-Toby Litt, English writer and academic, author of Patience

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Excerpt

Every morning, on the way to work, Rachel stopped at Bessie’s to change from the modest cotton dresses her father allowed into one of the swingy, short frocks that she and Bessie made during their lunch breaks. Then, their hemlines a daring nine inches above the ground, the two girls swanked uptown to their jobs at Mishkin’s, Theatrical Costumiers to the Trade.

Mishkin’s son, Arthur, managed the sewing rooms. He was sweet on Bessie and any friend of Bessie’s was a friend of his, so both girls could count on extra break time for their own sewing. They could count on remnants of fabric, from time to time, as well.

Mishkin allowed his trimmers to keep the beads and feathers swept up at the end of the day. Lately, Arthur, who Bessie kept on a very long leash, had begun passing on the full boxes of beads that were often left over when a show was dressed. These were supposed to go back into stock but Arthur said, “What the heck. They’re paid for. If my old man asks, you got them from the sweepings.”

“You’re a real prince, Arty,” Bessie would say and he would glow for a week. Sometimes she even gave him a peck on the cheek. It was a small price to pay for the very same sequins and beads the showgirls wore when they danced for Ziegfeld and Minsky.

Rachel and Bessie were making special dresses. They had big plans. It was no use knowing all the latest steps, if you couldn’t show them off at the landsmannschaft socials, where bearded old men and everybody’s mother prowled the dance floor. And most of the boys at Corkery’s Shamrock Dancehall thought a good time was slipping a double bathtub gin into a girl’s Moxie and seeing how far you could get her to go. If you went to Corkery’s too often, the regulars started thinking you were a charity girl who would do just about anything for the price of a bottle of pop. Drunken boys were always staggering out of there whistling the tune to I’ll Say She Does. Even though Corkery made his payments, the place got raided at least once a month. Duvi said it was part of Corkery’s arrangement with Tierney, who was the local boss, because it kept the neighbours off the councilman’s back. Duvi always knew about the raids in advance, so the girls never got into trouble.

But now Rachel and Bessie were ready for better things. In the right place, a girl could meet big spenders who were hot steppers and who carried real Canadian whiskey in silver hip flasks. But for high-class dancehalls like Roseland or Dreamworld or Feldman’s Coney Island Palace, they needed real dance dresses.

Bessie thought Rachel should bob her hair. But some things couldn’t be left behind in Bessie’s rooms and Rachel was careful to protect her new double life. “You said you wasn’t afraid of your old man,” Bessie insisted. Rachel couldn’t make Bessie, who never did anything by half, understand that some arguments were not worth the trouble. Or that most of the trouble would land on her mother. Bessie hadn’t had a mother in such a long time.

***

Rachel weighed a heavy hank of glass beads across the palm of her hand. Bugles. The most delicate cylinders of crystal blue and green, threaded on lengths of fine silk. They sparked like a shoal of moon-chased minnows. There were enough to finish.

“And about time too,” Bessie said. Bessie had grown impatient with Rachel’s fussy particularity. Anything that glittered made Bessie happy. While Rachel waited for just the right colours, Bessie had finished her dress and was stringing a boa of pink dyed marabou feathers. She waved it under Rachel’s nose. “Ain’t these just dee-vine?” she said. “Ain’t they just the cat’s pyjamas?”

Rachel didn’t have the heart to tell her she looked like an explosion at bead factory; Bessie was so eager to make what she imagined would be a very grand entrance at Roseland. “Look out fellas, here I come.”

Rachel had planned more carefully, making sure Arty found just what she needed. If Arty ever wondered why he took so much trouble for a skinny Jewish girl, when he was already married to one and when it was her Irish shiksa friend he was after, Rachel did not let him wonder for long. Still the dress had taken months to finish. It was covered with beaded fringe and scattered with iridescent sequins, flashes of silver and the smallest seed pearls that Arty could finagle. From its pure white hemline, it rose in a narrow column through all the greens and blues to a deep cobalt at the shoulders. When Rachel put it on, she looked like a creature risen from the bottom of the ocean, seafoam still clinging about her knees.

“Geez, you look like a million, kiddo.” Bessie said. “Who’d ever guess you was jail-bait.”

Available on Amazon and at B&N

Interview with the author…

BCH: Thank you for joining us on the blog today. We’re so excited to learn more about you and your new book! Can you tell us what prompted the idea for Tunnel of Mirrors?

Ferne: I heard a family story that haunted me for years. They key event in the story was so remarkable that I knew there could be a novel in it. But it also led to a bitter, unhappy life for the woman whose story it was. I wanted to try to write her into a different ending.

BCH: You’ve previously had short stories published. Other than time, what was the main difference in writing short stories compared to a novel length book?

Ferne: There’s a wonderful book, Writing in General and the Short Story in Particular, by the late Rust Hills, once fiction editor of Esquire. In it he defined a short story as “Something happens to somebody.” When I write a short story, the something that happens comes first. Usually the whole idea – start to finish – is formed in one concentrated burst of thinking. The story is written before I set down a single word.

A novel is more a process of gradual revelation, a kind of excavation. I start with the characters, and maybe the settings and I set them in motion. I may know some of the key landmarks along the way, but I rarely know where they will end up. I enjoy the process of discovering what my characters will do.

BCH: It looks like you’ve had quite a few interesting jobs. Which is your favorite?

Ferne: I loved being a journalist. It was like being paid to play. Every day was different. Every morning, showing up for my shift in the city room, I never knew what to expect. I never knew where the editors would send me or which of my ideas they would take up. I met politicians, crooks and swindlers, even movie stars. My most vivid work memories are from those days.

BCH: As a writer, do you prefer putting your stories down with pen and paper, dictation, or do you sit at a computer?

Ferne: I write at a computer and have done for years. I have a large-screened all in one. Interestingly, I can’t proofread off the screen. I only catch mistakes when I read from paper.

BCH: Have you had a mentor, in any of your occupations, who you feel shaped who you are today as a writer? What piece of advice resonated with you the most?

Ferne: I’ve had several different mentors. There was a newspaper editor who encouraged me early in my career and an important fiction editor of a major American magazine who invited me to a writers’ group in his home. And then there was the author, the late Malcolm Bradbury who inspired me to give myself permission to be an artist.

BCH: Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers about Tunnel of Mirrors?

Ferne: I hope readers will enjoy entering the worlds the Rachel and Ciaran come from and sharing their discovery of each other.

About the Author

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London-based American writer Ferne Arfin has worked as a journalist, copywriter, actress and travel writer. Her short stories have been anthologised by Virago and Travellers’ Tales. Tunnel of Mirrors is her first published novel.

The View from Chelsea | Ferne Arfin | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

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Book Tour Schedule

March 28th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

Books + Coffee = Happiness (Interview) https://bookscoffeehappiness.com/

Timeless Romance Blog (Spotlight) https://aubreywynne.com/

Latisha’s Low-Key Life (Spotlight) https://latishaslowkeylife.com/

Bunny’s Reviews (Spotlight) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

March 29th

Raven’z Reviews (Interview & Review) http://ravenzreviews.blogspot.com/

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

March 30th

@what.kerry.reads (Review) https://www.instagram.com/what.kerry.reads/

@gryffindorbookishnerd (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/

B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

March 31st

Riss Reviews (Spotlight) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

@infinite.readlist (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/infinite.readlist/

Rambling Mads (Spotlight) http://ramblingmads.com

April 1st

@amber.bunch_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

Not a Bunny (Review) https://notanybunny.wordpress.com/blog

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

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BOOK TOUR: For the Murder by Gabrielle Ash #AuthorInterview #UrbanFantasy @XpressoTours @GabrielleAsh4

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For the Murder
Gabrielle Ash
(The Murder, #1)
Published by: City Owl Press
Publication date: February 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

A lone crow is a dead crow.

That’s what Diana Van Doren, exiled crow shifter, has always believed. The last murder of crow shifters known to exist wouldn’t accept her into the flock, leaving her vulnerable. Worse, her kleptomaniacal father’s schemes put them in a demon’s crosshairs. Without the support of the murder, Diana fears death will come all too quickly. So when an opportunity to steal a rare blade that can kill anything—even demons—crosses their path, she decides to play her father’s games one last time.

However, she isn’t the only one hoping to take the blade. Sasha Sokolov, a clairvoyant, has been forced from childhood to serve the very demon hunting Diana and her family. After two decades of service, his boss finally offers him what he can’t refuse: freedom. All he has to do is bring in the knife and the Van Dorens, and his bloodline will be free from serving the demon forever.

When Diana and Sasha meet at the auction, they strike an uneasy alliance. Diana sees a way to finally be welcomed into the murder. Sasha sees an opportunity to get his freedom. To get what they want, only one of them can walk away with the blade. But when their magic inexplicably links as they reluctantly work together to steal the knife, betraying each other for their own ends may no longer be an option.

Goodreads / Amazon

Interview with Gabrielle Ash…

BCH: Thank you for joining us on the blog today. We’re so excited to have you! The cover for your book is so eye-catching! Do you know who the artist is?

GABRIELLE: Didn’t they do such a great job on it? MiblArt has done all of my covers so far. They also helped me design my bookmarks, and they were such a pleasure to work with.

BCH: So, urban fantasy… What led you to choose that genre? Do you write other genres as well?

GABRIELLE: The thing that drew me to urban fantasy initially was the whole ‘masquerade’ trope—the hidden world and magic beneath the world we know. Cell phones and social media have made this trope less popular, but there have been a lot of cool subversions of it where the magic is already part of the mundane. There are so many possibilities with magic in contemporary worlds, and I love playing with those possibilities!

BCH: When you switched from teaching to writing, was it a scary transition? What made you take the leap?

GABRIELLE: I had wanted to leave education for a couple of years before I actually left. So when my husband graduated from medical school and got into a residency program out of state, I decided to leave the profession when we moved. Since I was facing a lot of new things all at one time, leaving teaching for a writing career was actually a comfort instead of something scary because I love to write.

BCH: Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind your latest book For the Murder?

GABRIELLE: There were a couple of things that inspired For the Murder, or at least things I wanted to do when I set out to write the book. Going into it, I knew I wanted to do a different take on the fated mates trope, and I knew I wanted crow shifters. I also wanted to explore what safety means, and what it means to truly feel not only physically safe, but emotionally safe.

BCH: How hard is it to name your characters?

GABRIELLE:  I struggle hard with names. Most of my characters are [NAME] in my drafts for several weeks until I figure out what to call them. A few times a character has come to me with a name already, like Sasha and Diana, but most of the time, that isn’t the case.

BCH: Are you a plotter? Or do you write by the seat of your pants?

GABRIELLE: I am a plotter in that I have a vague outline with the big plot points mapped out before I write, but I leave how we get to the points up in the air.

BCH: Your bio says you have a dog. Does your pooch ever try lending a paw when it’s time to write?

GABRIELLE: I do! He is a shorkie named Maynard, and he’s 12 years old. He mainly sleeps on my feet when I’m working, and in that regard he does help because my feet are always cold.

BCH: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about For the Murder or about writing?

GABRIELLE: While For the Murder is the start of a series that revolves around safety and what it means, it’s also about a lonely man, a reckless woman, and a teenage boy with a heart of gold trying to steal a knife, and I hope readers have fun.

Author Bio:

Gabrielle Ash is an author and perpetually tired mom of four from the great state of Texas. Born into a family of mischievous storytellers, she grew up listening to tales of the chupacabra, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night, never entirely confident that she wouldn’t get eaten if she went out to the creek after sunset.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, which ultimately landed her in a high school classroom to teach writing and coach the debate team. Dismayed at her inability to wear sweatpants to work, she left the classroom and now dedicates her brain power to books and taking care of her daughters.

When not writing, she spends time with her husband, four daughters, and their dog. The Family Cross is her debut novel.

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Author Interview: Rain Carrington #LGBTQ #contemporaryromance #authorinterview

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Everyone give a warm welcome to author Rain Carrington! She’s agreed to drop in for a short interview, and to tell us about her latest book.

Do you tend to read the same genre you write?

RAIN: Not always. I am a very eclectic reader and read all ranges of fiction and non-fiction. My favorites growing up were horror, and one day I want to write a horror M/M, but I haven’t had a good story come to me as yet.

If you could have a writing retreat anywhere in the world, where would it be?

RAIN: Italy! I want to go there so badly and will very soon, if I can get everything together for it. Like the money! Haha!

Are there parts of your everyday life that ever slip into your stories?

RAIN: All the time! Most of my characters have names from the TV show or movie I just watched, or some scenario is from real life or a conversation with a friend.

Have you ever gotten to me one of your top three favorite authors? How did you feel?

RAIN: I not only got to meet her, but we became good friends and still talk all the time. Not only did she become a friend, but also a mentor.

Do you have any funny stories to share about one of your books or your writing experience in general?

RAIN: Recently I was at GRL and in a Q&A panel. The question for the group was which of my characters was most like me. I had a preset answer that I’d gone over with my PA, but then, the editor of Bear Essentials was in the audience proceeds to take down her mask and mouth the name Ked. He’s my VERY hyper and overly talkative main character from that book. In other words, my friend thought that I had pretty much put myself on my pages! LOL

What’s your poison – tea, coffee, or something else?

RAIN: COFFEE!!!! I drink coffee all day long! I love iced tea as well, but most often, there’s a cup of coffee nearby!

When you aren’t writing, what’s your favorite thing to do?

RAIN: I’m a TV and movie fan, so I watch TV and movies in my down time, hang with my kitties, dogs and family. I started making jewelry recently and love doing that, but it takes a lot of time and room so I can’t do it as much as I’d like.

Now, let’s talk a little about your current book…

What’s the title of your current release and is it part of a series?

RAIN: It’s called Dead of Night, and it’s the second in my serial book series, The Sun and Moon. It’s a must-read-in-order serial about a young man from Colorado who is poor, takes care of a sick mother and ends up having to become a prostitute to make ends meet. This book comes along after Mateo (the main character) finds out he was kidnapped as a child and meets his “real” parents.

Who published Dead of Night?

RAIN: I did. I am self-published.

Do you know what cover artist designed your cover? Have you worked with them before?

RAIN: I design all my own covers, except for a couple of my past books. I find it saves time and money, and I just really enjoy doing them.

Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?

RAIN: I had mentioned that I love movies. Well, long ago I read all the early series of an author named VC Andrews. About a year ago, I watched all the movies that were made from her books on Lifetime and thought, hmmm, what would it be like for a young man to be placed into terrible situations and forced to endure sometimes horrific parents and obsessive lovers. She has no genre to speak of, so they are my takes on her style of putting characters through hell and seeing if they crack hahaha.

If there’s one thing a reader will take away from this story, what do you hope it is?

RAIN: That no matter what you go through, there are so many joys in life that may seem small at the time, but they get you through the harder things.

Any funny stories (or something memorable) you can share about writing this book, or something that sparked the idea for it?

RAIN: I’ve been told I love torturing my poor characters…hahaha!!

The continuing story of Mateo Luna, or Luna Matias, as he’d learned his real name is, picks up with him confused and hurt that he’d been kidnapped by his beloved mother.

Her passing without explanation leaves him with many unanswered questions. Why would the dear woman he’d loved and cared for all those years have taken him?

Meeting his new family may hold some of the answers. His father, a slave to his work at the winery the family owned. His mother, obsessed with attention, tells a tale of people who might have had little time for the toddler he was when he was taken from them.

Missing Trevor, though trying to move on, Mateo starts a casual affair with the handyman, but could that be a mistake? Things start to happen, accidents in the bungalow on the estate where he’d chosen to live. Then, he gets gravely ill, and like his sister before him, could die.

Life with money and power was no better than when he was poor and struggling, but Mateo finds he knows nothing about the people he was born to, or those he’d clung to in his life…

PLEASE NOTE: This is the second book in the Sun & Moon series, book one, Luna, can be found on Kindle Vella.

Get it at Amazon

Interview with author Marteeka Karland #authorinterview #mcromance #romanticsuspense @marteekakarland

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BOOKS+COFFEE: It looks like you’ve written in quite a few romance genres over the years. Do you have a favorite?

MARTEEKA: –I think Sci-fi/paranormal will always be my favorite, but I’ve learned to love contemporary over the last several years.

BOOKS+COFFEE: Why did you decide to write biker romances?

MARTEEKA: –Good question. I don’t really know. I read a few and enjoyed them. They kinda turned me on so, naturally, I wanted to make my own. Basically the same reason I started writing sci-fi/paranormal. 😉

BOOKS+COFFEE: Where do you find the inspiration for your stories?

MARTEEKA: –all over! Songs. TV shows. Movies. Other books. Real life situations. What ever strikes me as interesting or full of drama or sexy… I can find inspiration anywhere.

BOOKS+COFFEE: Do you have a hero of your very own at home? How did you meet?

MARTEEKA: –*Grin* I do. We’ve been married 25 years. Together for 26. We met at a local cruising spot in our home town. He’s five years older than me and he’s the best hero any girl could have!

BOOKS+COFFEE: When you aren’t writing, what do you like to do?

MARTEEKA: –Usually, I like a movie in the background. Something I’ve watched a thousand times and know every line by heart. It’s like white noise, I guess. But I can break away and watch for a few minutes and not have to worry about where I am in the story.

BOOKS+COFFEE: Do bits and pieces of your real life end up in your stories? Have any of your villains been inspired by real people?

MARTEEKA: –ALL the time! Heroes/heroines and villains have all been inspired at one time or another by someone I know. Usually in vague terms, but yeah. It happens. I’ve also killed several people in fiction. All I can say is, beware. MUHAHAHA

BOOKS+COFFEE: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer? How long did it take for your first book to be published?

MARTEEKA: –I knew in the third grade I wanted to be a writer. I wrote a Halloween story for my reading class (we all did) but the teacher read mine out loud. She said I had a “beginning, middle, and end” and it encouraged me to continue. My high school English teacher wrote in my annual she hoped to read one of my stories as a published author before she retired. Well, she did, BUT it was probably not the kind of story she envisioned. Lol

In 2004, I submitted my first story to Changeling Press. It represented the very first novella I completed. They sent it back to me for revisions and I resubmitted. They accepted me and the rest is history. I’ve been published by a couple different publishing houses, as well as having self-published several books, but I’ve always come back to Changeling. It’s my home. 😊

BOOKS+COFFEE: What’s your favorite genre to read?

MARTEEKA: –romance. Any romance. Well, raunchy romance. 😀

BOOKS+COFFEE: Any advice for aspiring writers out there?

MARTEEKA: –Keep writing. Just… keep writing. Learn from experienced authors in classes or in groups. Keep writing. Then, when you’re done, start writing again.

Now, let’s talk a little about your current book…

What’s the title of your current release and is it part of a series?

Red is part of Salvation’s Bane MC. It’s book 9 in that series.

Who published Red?

Changeling Press

Do you know what cover artist designed your cover? Have you worked with them before?

Some heifer named Marteeka Karland. She’s a bitch. 😀

Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?

I wanted lots of raunchy sex. The heroine’s back story came later. I made the hero in the roll of older man who’d been in a relationship previously and had a defunct relationship with his wife and son. The heroine was a spunky little scrap who was more of a tomboy than she was sexy. She’s tough but vulnerable and needed a protector. Turns out she wanted her protector as her lover as well.

If there’s one thing a reader will take away from this story, what do you hope it is?

I hope they find the characters complex and flawed. Red’s a real jackass sometimes, but Rosanna isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I hope the reader can relate to them. That they seem real.

Any funny stories (or something memorable) you can share about writing this book, or something that sparked the idea for it?

I kept running into songs I couldn’t get out of my head. Rosanna is named for that fucking Toto song, while she likens Red’s mood to a Roller Coaster of Love. (Red Hot Chili Peppers or Ohio Players) Naturally, they made their way into the story.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Rosanna: Salvation’s Bane’s been good to me — more of a family than I’ve ever had before. And I want that. But I’m not a kid anymore, and I know what I want. Red. I need him to see me as more than just another mechanic. No matter how good I am, working beside the man is never going to be enough. I’m going to break him down. Get under his skin, until he realizes I’m a grown-ass woman, and I know my mind.

And if that bitch of an ex of his doesn’t leave us alone, she’s the next thing I’m gonna break.

Red: I’m headed for a special hell. Rosanna knows her way around cars, I’ll give her that, and she looks sexy as hell with a wrench in her hands and a spot of grease on her nose, but she’s just a kid. I know she’s got a past she can’t or won’t talk about, and she may think she’s all grown up, but she’s younger than my son, Anthony. Pretty sure that makes me some kind of a pervert.

And now that Anthony’s the assistant DA, he’s got a bee up his ass to take me down. Be damned if I’ll let him take Rosanna with me. I should send her far away from me and this life, but one kiss is all it takes to pull me under. I could no more give her up than I could give up the air that I breathe. I’d kill to protect her. And from the looks of things, I may have to.

Get it at Changeling Press

ABOUT MARTEEKA KARLAND:

Erotic romance author by night, emergency room tech/clerk by day, Marteeka Karland works really hard to drive everyone in her life completely and totally nuts. She has been creating stories from her warped imagination since she was in the third grade. Her love of writing blossomed throughout her teenage years until it developed into the totally unorthodox and irreverent style her English teachers tried so hard to rid her of.

Find her online: Website | Facebook | Amazon

Interview with author Andi Rhodes #romanticsuspense #authorinterview

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I’m so excited to have Andi Rhodes on the blog today! If you aren’t familiar with her books, you definitely need to check them out – especially if you enjoy romances about bikers! Steamy, sexy stories that will keep you turning the pages…

BOOKS+COFFEE: How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?

ANDI: I’ve been writing for about 3 years and published my first book in January 2020 so there was about a year and a half between when I started and when I published.

BOOKS+COFFEE: Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?

ANDI: I’ve learned that I am more productive when I write in the morning before doing anything else. I typically have music on in the background but every once in a while, I’ll put Netflix on.  I don’t always have snacks nearby but when I do, it’s peanut butter M&Ms.

BOOKS+COFFEE: What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?

ANDI: There are a few things that scare me… commas (lol), running out of ideas, ads. But the thing that scares me the most is one of my books not being good. As authors, we put our heart and soul, our blood, sweat, and tears into every story. We give so much and the idea that it still may not be enough is scary as hell.  I’ve come a long way as far as that goes though. In the beginning, I used to agonize over every word in every review. I didn’t have a very thick skin. One or Two star reviews would trigger the tears and self-doubt. Don’t get me wrong, I still want readers to love my books but I don’t agonize over as much. My confidence in my ability to tell a story has gotten better. And I’ve learned that I can’t please 100% of the readers 100% of the time.  That’s just not how it works.

BOOKS+COFFEE: What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?

ANDI: You can’t always get to the top on your own. Especially with self-publishing, despite what the words say. Aside from writing books that make readers feel something or help them escape reality for a little bit, my dream is to hit a bestseller list.  I’m not going to get there on my own. I’ve got a tribe behind me. I’ve got fellow authors who encourage me, friends, family, my husband, designers, an editor, my ARC team, and of course, my readers. None of this would be possible without them. So my advice is to find your tribe and love them hard. Appreciate them and support them in return. Don’t try to do it all by yourself.

Now, let’s talk a little about your current book…

What’s the title of your current release and is it part of a series?

Greaser and it’s the 4th Soulless Kings MC book

Who published Greaser?

It comes out Sept. 16th and I’m publishing it under my publishing imprint, Blue Journey Publishing. I publish all of my books.

Your cover looks amazing. Do you know who the artist is?

Thank you! Of course I know. Amanda Walker designed the cover and she did an amazing job.

Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?

I feel like the answer to this should be yes but it’s not. There wasn’t anything in particular that inspired the story other than I knew when Nicole Cypher and I started this series, there were certain characters that would get their own story. I’ve shifted to writing the stories on my own but I still want to give those characters a voice.

If there’s one thing a reader will take away from this story, what do you hope it is?

That you don’t always know what someone’s struggle is, even if you think you do. We all have a past, a story we may not share with those in our lives. I think people are really good at putting on a smile to cover up the pain (physical or emotional). I want people to sit back and remember to not assume you know how someone feels or what they’re thinking. And I want readers to remember that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to have to rely on others to prop you up when you can’t stand on your own.

Any funny stories you can share about writing this book, or something that sparked the idea for it?

The story of Greaser and Trinity was sparked by Trainwreck, a prospect in the club. I LOVE Trainwreck and as each book has been written, that particular character has been written in a way that his story is a guarantee (wink, wink). To me, he’s hilarious, and I wanted to capitalize on that because so far, readers have seen him as this goofball who has a loyal streak a mile wide and who will do whatever he is told for the club. He’s gonna make a badass patched member someday and Greaser and Trinity’s story brings more depth to him. Because Trinity is Trainwreck’s twin. And NO ONE knew about her. Don’t worry, this book isn’t about Trainwreck but he plays a bigger role than he has in previous books and honestly, if it wasn’t for him, Greaser and Trinity wouldn’t have a story to tell.

Greaser…

The Soulless Kings are my family, my life. I would die for them, bleed for them, kill for them. Patched members, prospects, blood relatives… they all have my loyalty, no questions asked. What I won’t do is tolerate lies, no matter who they come from. 

Until I catch a brother in one. 

Danger shows up at our doorstep and I find myself reevaluating my boundaries. I don’t have a choice. It could mean the difference between life and death for the woman who’s done the impossible: risen from the dead. 

Trinity…

People don’t come back from the dead. It’s impossible, yet it’s exactly what I’m doing. For twelve years, I ceased to exist. My family, my friends, the world thought I was gone forever. I was a statistic, a faceless number among millions. But I’m back and I need to be seen, to be heard, to be remembered. 

My escape isn’t planned. It happens fast but I don’t look back. Not until I’m forced to. I manage to track down the one person who will recognize me, my twin. Looking at me should be like looking in a mirror. The problem is, his new family doesn’t know I exist and they don’t take kindly to lies or strangers. 

And I represent both.

GET IT HERE

Where to find Andi Rhodes…

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Interview with E.J. Dawson #authorinterview #horror #supernatural @ejdawsonauthor

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Are you a regular visitor at Books+Coffee=Happiness? You may have noticed I’ve -been reading more horror books lately. I’ve always loved the genre, but for a while they all seemed to be the same, so I took a step back and read other genres. Well, I’m diving back into the realm of horror and all things spooky.

I recently had the pleasure of reading an ARC of E.J. Dawson’s latest book, Behind the Veil, and it’s a definite 5 stars from me. If ghosts, murder, intrigue, and romance are your idea of a thrilling ride, Behind the Veil is a must read! I simply couldn’t put it down! I loved it so much, I reached out to Ms. Dawson and she agreed to an interview! (yes, I totally fan-girled for a moment)

BooksCoffee: Often writers started out as readers. Was there a particular book that inspired you to be an author?

My mother read a lot aloud to us, I often talk about her reading Lord of the Rings to us, twice. But the books that really caught me was the Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. A five book series threaded with Arthurian legends. It wasn’t the Arthurian legends that I loved, but the subtle darkness of the story. The slow build until even the simplest things like crow’s feather invoked absolute dread of whatever was coming next.

BooksCoffee: Do you tend to read the same genre you write?

Not at all. I read quite diversely. On my shelf is a range of urban paranormal romances, along to the Anita Blake series with Anne Rice, down to gothic romances and thrillers, with M. M. Kaye, further along to the Justin Cronin and Kerry Greenwood’s murder mysteries who has good company with Agatha Christie and Ellie Marney. I’m a devoted Terry Pratchett fan, who has a shelf to himself, but for scifi/fantasy I have loved Anne McCaffrey, Anne Aguire, and of course Neil Gaiman. There are other odds and ends on my shelf, I find it hard to say no to any book.

BooksCoffee: Can you describe your office or writing space?

An old boss gave me my desk, its one of those fancy corporate affairs with metal legs and black painted faux wood. While cheap looking, it is expansive enough for all the things on my desk, including a cat bed. Behind the desk on my wall is my goals and failures. These are divided by a line of quotes which change. At the moment, the best one is from my spouse, who reminded me earlier in the year during a dark period that while I may be failing at some things, they are things I’d never dared try before. He told me to keep failing upwards. Immediately above my desk is a list of what I’ve accomplished this year to keep me motivated.

BooksCoffee: Writers sometimes have furry, feathered, or scaled helpers. Do you have a writing companion?

Oh boy do I ever. We have two rescue dogs with special needs. My beloved is Dobby, a mastiff cross who was a skeleton covered in skin, who “smiled” at people. The pulling back of his jowls when nervous/eager to please put him off adoption. After watching him for several weeks, and sending several pleading glances at my spouse, we were allowed to adopt another needy dog. It turned into the best reward I never thought I’d deserved. Dobby loves hugs, and while his namesake was because he was huge eyed, grey, wrinkly and pathetic, he’s now a thirty five kilo brindled mastiff who will happily sit on my if I don’t get out of bed.

BooksCoffee: Is there a book, movie, or song that inspires you when you’re working? (Something you have to read, watch, or listen to in order to set the mood)

I *always* write to soundtrack music. My favourite composer is Bear McCreary who I fell in love with from the Battler Galactica remake, and in fact walked down the aisle to Roslin and Adama. I find it evocative and inspirational. For example, I wrote Behind the Veil to a track on Youtube called the Untold album from Secession Studios. I often find that a song can inspire a story, I forget to this day what I was listening to, but a dark song on my Spotify caused me to stop my walk home from work in the rain, and under the eave of an abandoned shop I wrote a poem. That poem went on to inspire two books, One with Rage an urban magical cyberpunk romance, and Echo of the Evercry, a NA fantasy that later was contracted to be published with Literary Wanderlust.

BooksCoffee: When you pick movies or TV shows, do you tend to choose something similar to the genres you prefer to read or write? Do you have a favorite movie?

My all time favourite movie is Clue, closely followed by Arsenic & Old Lace. I do have a thing for American Horror Story, Firefly, and Killjoys, but I also enjoy watching a lot of anime. Oran High School is a favourite, but so is Blood Plus and Trinity Blood. What I look for in all of these is the hook, the taboo, the thing that’s not like everything else. I love emotional angst and its prevalent in comedy tales as it is horror.

BooksCoffee: How long have you been writing, and how long did it take before your first book was published?

How long have I got? I kid. But I kind of don’t. I’ve been writing picture stories since I was a little girl about a princess who didn’t need a prince. I wrote my first book when I was sixteen, but bullies tore up the notebook I carried with me everywhere. I met up with a friend from the same school years later, and I will be forever grateful for what she said to me when I told her. “If you know what happens, why can’t you write it again?” I wrote it again, better than before. I made a semi Ok attempt at a paranormal romance in the naughties, but when I turned thirty and was told I may never have children, I knew I had to do something with my life. I started an overly epic steampunk series, before funds ran out and switched to a dark paranormal tale that became Behind the Veil.

BooksCoffee: Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?

My routine has changed over time, but generally I outline now after being a prolific punster for years and having one too many novels with soggy middles. I also tend to write in sprints, so I’ll write nonestop for a set time, have a small break, and do it again. These times can be from ten minutes to two hours. I am always working. Work and writing for me at first molded into social media management, editing, beta reading, critique partners, dev editing work, and writing, but now writing often takes a pleasurable activity. I’ve worked hard to learn the rules, but my stories still very much run away with me, and I’m eager to be taken.

BooksCoffee: Did anyone give you writing advice when you were first getting started? Do you think it helped?

I absolutely hold my current status to Scott Vandervaulk, an Australian editor who edited my self published series, Last Prophecy. I also have a huge thanks for other editors I’ve worked with, including the great staff at Literary Wanderlust, Sharon Salonen (Behind the Veil) and Jennica Dotsen (Echo of the Evercry). But also the publisher herself, Susan Brooks. I’m also indebted to Marcus Vance and Jennifer Jarrett, who worked on my self pubbed scifi romance Queen of Spades. Each editor has pointed something out to me, about my writing, where to improve but where I shined. I recommend getting a professional editor to work with you on your script, because their outside and unbiased opinion is what you need to make your story up to scratch for the reader.

BooksCoffee: What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?

People think that rejection or bad reviews is the worst thing you can experience. And its not. As someone who’s worked at this for eight years now the worst thing I wake up to is nothing. You cut pieces of your heart out, swathes of time, to write, edit, and publish a novel. I will love everything I work on but nothing is dispiriting as feeling as though you’re offering your heart and no one wants it. But its not all darkness. It’s never not worth doing. For the people who review my book and want it added to their shelves. To the story where my mother, bless her, had Behind the Veil as a draft, started talking about it at the hair dresser, and describing one terrifying scene, had the entire salon’s attention as she described the scene where Letitia realizes where an evil entity is, and that it isn’t after her.

BooksCoffee: If you could pick your top 3 favorite books of all time, what would they be?

Oh gosh I always hate these. I always go back to the books I read again and gain. Nine Coaches Waiting is an old Mary Stewart novel that I’ve loved. Anne Rice the Witching Hour, and everything with Granny Weatherwax from Terry Pratchett. I can’t put a single book to Granny’s name because she’s stayed with me during some very dark times. She was my humor when I couldn’t laugh, proved there was a way to beat every problem, and was a light in dark times.

BooksCoffee: What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?

Never quit on a dream you aren’t willing to let die. It’s a saying that I constantly come back to, and its complicated but works for me. Things don’t always or ever turn out the exact way we predict and often leaves us somewhere very distant from where we thought we’d end up. Life’s thrown a lot of curveballs at me, and I haven’t always handled them very well. What I carry with me is that people like what I do, enough to buy my books, to keep reading, to put their hands up every single time I need a beta reader. I’ve been told I write good stories often enough I believe it. Now I’ve got this experience, I’m going to keep creating from the heart, knowing I tell good stories despite imposter syndrome, but aiming for great stories. I keep failing upwards.

BooksCoffee: Does your family support your writing?

I struggle with this question a lot because I know that many writers not only have very unsupportive families but most importantly unsupportive spouses. I am autistic, and as such have needed my family and spouses support and they’ve been exceptionally giving. I’m so grateful to them, for inspiring me and believing in my writing journey. But the thing about their belief, is that at first some of them were a little skeptical. I’ve been doing this for eight years now and I have nothing but their love and devotion. Yes, you will always have doubt at the start, within and without, but the best advice I can give is to persevere.

Now, let’s talk a little about your current book…

What’s the title of your current release and is it part of a series?

Behind the Veil is a gothic stand alone, but other books of a similar nature are drafted.

Who published Behind the Veil?

Literary Wanderlust

Do you know what cover artist designed your cover? Have you worked with them before?

Violeta Nedkova designed my cover, she also designed the covers for the Queen of Spades trilogy.

Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?

My love of the supernatural, ghost stories, and the subtle insidious of the gothic genre

If there’s one thing a reader will take away from this story, what do you hope it is?

Strength. That even a coward like Letitia, who isn’t a coward at all, (but annoys my mother, much to my amusement), that strength isn’t about saying yes. Sometimes its about saying no.

Any funny stories (or something memorable) you can share about writing this book, or something that sparked the idea for it?

I knew I had something that might be greater than I’d done before, when my mother was recounting a scene from the book, and was just telling her hairdresser about it. But by the time she was finishing, the entire salon had stopped everyone listening. She is a master class story telling, but I like to think I had something to do with it. I sent her hairdresser a copy of my book as thanks for the assurance that I told a good story.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Can she keep the secrets of her past to rescue a girl tormented by a ghost?

In 1920s Los Angeles, Letitia Hawking reads the veil between life and death. A scrying bowl allows her to experience the final moments of the deceased. She brings closure to grief-stricken war widows and mourning families.

For Letitia, it is a penance. She knows no such peace.

For Alasdair Driscoll, it may be the only way to save his niece, Finola, from her growing night terrors. But when Letitia sees a shadowy figure attached to the household, it rouses old fears of her unspeakable past in England.

When a man comes to her about his missing daughter, the third girl to go missing in as many months, Letitia can’t help him when she can’t see who’s taken them.

As a darkness haunts Letitia’s vision, she may not be given a choice in helping the determined Mr Driscoll, or stop herself falling in love with him. But to do so risks a part of herself she locked away, and to release it may cost Letitia her sanity and her heart.

Preorder for October 1, 2021 at Amazon

ABOUT EJ DAWSON

Beginning a writing journey with an epic 21 book series, Ejay started her author career in 2014 and has taken on the ups and downs of self-publishing with her fantasy series The Last Prophecy since 2016. At the start of 2019, she put the series on the backburner to write Behind the Veil in 25 days, and signed a publishing contract for the gothic noir novel to independent publisher Literary Wanderlust. She resumed self-publishing a scifi series, Queen of Spades released across 2020 and 2021, as well as signing another contract with Literary Wanderlust for NA fantasy, Echo of the Evercry. Believing in more than one path to a career in publishing, Ejay pursues self-publishing alongside querying traditional publishers with multiple manuscripts.

Find EJ Dawson Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Tiger’s Last Chance by Christina Lynn Lambert #AuthorInterview #ParanormalRomance #MFRWAuthor @chris4lamb

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Tiger’s Last Chance

(Stranger Creatures book 3)

By Christina Lynn Lambert

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-68361-431-9

ASIN: B088P6MYDB

Cover Art by Fantasia Frog Designs

Genre: Paranormal Romance, romantic suspense

While working a case, Sean Whitman is tortured for information, drugged, and bitten against his will by a shape shifter. The fallout leaves him jobless, friendless, and dumped by his girlfriend. Needing a fresh start, he leaves town and opens a private investigation business. Learning to live life sober isn’t easy, but he makes it to the two-year mark.

When Detective Nikki Jackson with the Great Oaks, Virginia Police Department calls him, accusing him of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house, Sean can’t help but like the sound of her voice, despite her ridiculous accusations. He’s shocked when she calls him back with an apology then asks for his help as a consultant on a case. On the phone, her sweet, slightly Southern voice captivates him. In person, she’s unlike any other woman he’s encountered, and nearly impossible to resist. But could the sexy detective ever want a man like him?

After Nikki’s last dating disaster, the mountain lion shifter has sworn off men. Then she meets Sean, and with every second she spends around the tall, dark-eyed man, her resolve crumbles. But for some reason, despite the undeniable attraction between them, Sean seems determined to push her away.

An investigation into missing refugees leaves Nikki with more questions than answers. Her refusal to let the matter drop leads her to the discovery of a radical political group’s horrifying plot for dominance. Traitors are embedded within the very organizations meant to keep shifters safe. As the list of people she can trust dwindles, Nikki calls on Sean to help her unravel a web of deceit.

As Nikki and Sean fight for survival, his fear of losing her could become a reality. Will he get one last chance to show her he loves her?

Let’s hear from the author….

Do you have a favorite type of hero or heroine to write?

My favorite kind of characters to create are ones who, despite imperfections, fears, doubts, and past mistakes, manage to find the strength to continue on in the face of difficulty.

Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?

I normally write when my children are in school during the day. I have a new obsession with Body Armour water in watermelon flavor so I always keep some next to me. I made some beaded bracelets to fidget with so I won’t be tempted to look at my phone and fall down a rabbit hole of unnecessary social media browsing. Chocolate milkshakes and honey barbecue chips help me when I’m up late and trying to work on a scene or chapter that’s giving me trouble.

When you’re writing, do you prefer silence or background noise?

 I like music or TV on in the background, something that can slide to the back of my mind and keep me company in a chill kind of way.

Writers Block. Is it a problem and if so, what do you do to break through and start writing again?

Writers Block is definitely an annoying problem for me. Sometimes I just don’t know what comes next in the story. I can’t seem to ever plot a book out entirely beforehand. That’s just not how my mind works. Usually, when I’m stuck, I step away from that story and work on a different one, or write a poem or two. Sometimes I procrastinate by doing house work or going for a walk because I don’t want to go back to the computer or notebook and be stuck again. I think writer’s block is my brain’s way of telling me I have other things to learn and consider before the story is ready to resume. 

As a writer, I’m sure you also love reading. Do you have a favorite book and what do you love about it?

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is one of my favorite books. I read it for the first time in seventh grade and was intrigued by the fact that the characters weren’t from nice, upper middle income homes with perfect lives and that they dealt with more than just how to find a date for the dance or how to deal with the mean girl in class who always ended up being pretty decent. The characters in The Outsiders were teenagers dealing with being poor, being judged by their financial circumstances, and having to live through some difficult and traumatizing life situations. But the beautiful thing about this story is that it showed the characters being capable of such kindness, compassion, and understanding despite their younger age and difficult lives. This story showed me that stereotyping people because of their economic circumstances was foolish because we’re all capable of being decent, smart, empathic human beings regardless of our bank accounts or past circumstances.

At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer, and how long did it take for you to realize that dream?

I was 36 when I decided I wanted to write a book. I got started a little late, but I think it’s good to try different careers and hobbies throughout life. Aside from a creative short story writing elective I took in college, I had no real fiction writing experience. I read books on writing and also read a ton of books in the genres in which I wanted to write. It took me a couple years to finish my first book and have it accepted by a publisher. I’m still learning more about writing (and marketing) as I go.

Movies. Books. Which do you prefer and what genre/trope do you lean toward the most when wanting to escape for a bit?

Books are nice escape for me. Science fiction, horror, fantasy, and romance are my favorite genres. I prefer books that end with the characters finding their way out of whatever bad situation they were in. A good, hopeful ending brings me such peace.

EXCERPT

For the briefest moment, Nikki felt the depth to which Sean might be capable of pushing her. His kiss was crushing and brutal. His tongue pushed past her lips and his grip in her hair tightened. If desire were a vine, it would have wrapped itself around her veins and encased her heart. The heat between them flooded her. There was a sweetness, too, in his kiss, and the sweetness made her burn hotter.

A polite cough from inside the waiting car put a quick end to things. Sean pulled away and met her gaze. No words, but she got the message. She wasn’t alone. Comfort and friendship; he’d probably meant the kiss to comfort her and had gotten carried away in the heat of the moment. He’d carried her away with him, and she wanted to take him so much further into the unknown.

With each second, each step towards the waiting car, she tried to find reasons and more reasons to ignore her growing attraction to Sean. The number one reason to forget about the kiss they’d shared—relationships were trouble. She had plenty of other amazing things in her life, including her career, her volunteer work, and her band, even though the band rarely played anywhere because the members had trouble aligning their schedules. She didn’t need a man. Besides, he was probably still messed up over Sydney. Also, he was a regular. Or mostly regular. Not to mention he lived over a thousand miles away in Texas. She should tell him the kiss was a mistake. One look at him and she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. The kiss they shared had been anything but a mistake.

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Google books | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A few years ago, I read my first romance novel and I was hooked, so much so that I decided to give the idea of writing a story a chance. Love, courage, hope, and second chances are a few of my favorite themes. My stories include a fair amount of sarcasm, suspense, steam, and violence. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time outside and finding ways to avoid cooking. I live in beautiful Virginia with my husband, two daughters, and a sweet, hairy monster of a dog. 

Bohannon by Marteeka Karland and an interview with the author! #MCromance #bikers #NewAdult #ActionAdventure @MarteekaKarland

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Everyone give a warm welcome to author Marteeka Karland!

Marteeka is joining us today for a quick interview and to tell us about her latest Changeling Press release — Bohannon! But before we move on to the delicious MC Romance she has for us, let’s find out a little more about the author.

 

Has writing always been part of your life or did you just fall into it?

I started writing when I was in the 3rd grade. A Halloween story we were told to write as a fun project in our Reading class. My teacher loved it and while everyone else wrote like a paragraph, I wrote a while page front and back. I never stopped. It just took another thirty years for me to finish my first book. I’ve been published now for exactly sixteen years.

If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?

Definitely. More things than I can say. I think writing is like anything else in life. It’s a lesson in successes and failures, most of which can’t be predicted. I’ve had my share of both. The only thing I can say with certain is I’ve managed to surround myself with incredible writers along the journey. Some of which are so very willing to help in everything from proofreading to plot grid construction help, to marketing, to just being a shoulder to cry one when things go horribly wrong and that new release sells 10 copies. 🙂

What different genres have you written over the years and do you have a favorite?

That’s a tough one. Probably Science Fiction Romance. I love the idea of aliens in general. It’s even better if they’re the hard-bodied sexy kind who appreciate their women. 🙂 With science fiction, there are always rules to follow (the science part) but there are limitless possibles with what you can do with it. I’m hoping to make it back to science fiction and paranormal one day.

What’s your favorite type of hero to write?

I like the strong Alpha type. But I also like him to fall hard for his woman. He must be super protective and helpless in the face of her displeasure or, God forbid, her tears. I especially like it when he fights his attraction to her. At least for a while. I mean, it just makes his surrender that much sweeter.

Is there a common theme or trope that tends to carry through your various books? Or is there one you enjoy writing more than others?

p style=”text-align: justify;”>Soldiers. I LOVE soldiers. Military. There is nothing hotter than a take-charge guy in uniform. (In books. Those real-life types tend to be major assholes.) Fortunately, I’m a woman. I make them Alpha without being complete assholes to their women. Everyone else is on their own. 🙂 I like to write heroines who need some kind of rescue but are still fighting to make a place for themselves. I like for her to need her man’s help, but to prove to him she can survive without it. Oxymoron?? maybe. But it’s MY imagination! lol

As to other things in my writing, you may notice that the main characters in my books all drive some kind of Ford vehicle. That’s by design. 😀

Can you tell us about your current series? Do you have a set number of them planned?

Bones MC is the series. I’ve currently got three books complete (Cain, Bohannon, and Sword) with a fourth in the works (Viper.) As to how many I have planned, I suppose that depends on how well they are received. As long as readers are enjoying them, I’ll keep writing them. 🙂

 

Thank you, Marteeka, for joining us today! And now… I’d like to introduce you to her latest book — Bohannon!

 

Bohannon (Bones MC 2)

Publisher: Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Marteeka Karland

Luna: Never in a million years did I think I’d meet up with my childhood hero like this. Beaten down and scared out of my mind, my heart dropped when I realized who had me. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life, but Gage Bohannon the man was even harder to resist than the ridiculous fantasy I’d held in my mind.

Bohannon: I’ve never kept a woman who don’t want to be kept. But I’ve made more than one good girl turn rogue. If I had any decency in me at all, I’d have locked her in my room and left her alone. Instead, I’ll take whatever she wants to give me and coax a few things she doesn’t.

 

Get it TODAY at Changeling Press

or pre-order for October 25th at retailers

   

 

EXCERPT

 

All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2019 Marteeka Karland

Gage Bohannon swept the area for more of the unwelcomed club in Bones territory. The local club had gotten hit first, but Bones had finished all of them. By his reckoning, any club selling drugs in their territory deserved whatever they got. Bones was many things, but they weren’t drug dealers, pimps, or a distributor of firearms. They weren’t law-abiding citizens — as evidenced by the slaughter tonight — but they weren’t scum of the earth either.

“One alive in the truck,” Deadeye’s voice came through the earpiece connected to his radio. “Female. Her hands are still on the steering wheel, which is why I left her alive. There is a gun in the vehicle with her. Along with the hand holding it. Orders?”

“Hold. If she moves her hands or in any way attempts to get that gun, shoot her.”

“Copy.” He hated giving Deadeye an order to kill a woman, but he wasn’t compromising anyone’s safety. They’d started this. They’d finish it.

“Keep your hands on that fucking steering wheel,” he bit out. “Don’t fucking test me or the sniper on you will kill you before I ever give the order.” The girl whimpered and squeezed her eyes shut but otherwise didn’t move. “Are you armed?”

She took a deep breath, but didn’t let go of the wheel or open her eyes. “There’s a gun on the floor around my feet somewhere, but that’s it. And it wasn’t mine. I think the owner left his hand with the gun.”

“Good,” he said. “You told the truth about that weapon. Are there any others? Knives? Anything?”

“No, sir.” Her voice wavered in her fear. Again, that was good. She understood the danger she was in.

“What club do you represent? You don’t have colors of any kind. Are you a member? A chaser? An ole lady?” Bohannon had a funny feeling at the nape of his neck. A prickly sensation he knew never to ignore. He didn’t think there was danger or his brothers would have known it. It was the girl. Something about her…

“My brother owes Scars and Bars money for drugs. I’m here in his stead. My service for his life.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m not with them in any way, nor do I want to be. I just want to get out of this alive so I can tell my brother to go to hell.” Fear was making her brave. It surprised Bohannon how much he liked that. It made him want to smile when the circumstances didn’t exactly call for it.

“Keep your hands on the wheel until I open the door. I want you to step out. Keep your hands up and open. Keep it slow. Do you understand?”

“I’m scared, not stupid,” she snapped, then immediately winced. “Sorry.”

Bohannon opened the door to the truck, his gun firmly aimed at her head. If she so much as twitched, he’d kill her himself, saving Deadeye the grief. The girl moved carefully, as he’d instructed. Deliberately. She knew she was in danger. Knew not to fuck with them. That knowledge would make life easier on all of them. The overhead light on the old Ford was long out so there wasn’t much of her features he could see.

She uncurled her fingers from the steering wheel slowly, keeping her hands open and at the same level. One leg slid out to place her foot on the ground. Then the other. All the while she never once looked at him. Fear was etched in every move she made. Sweat ran down her arms in streams as if she’d just stepped from a shower.

Once outside, she stood still, hands still in front of her, fingers splayed wide. Bohannon shut the door with a sharp shove of his hand.

“Turn around. Hands on the truck.”

She did as told, not hesitating in the least. Her willingness to comply with orders surprised Bohannon. Most mules were just as stubborn as their namesakes. This one seemed more resigned than anything else. She acted as if she had nothing to hide. Maybe she didn’t. Or, more likely, she hoped to use her wiles to get herself out of a jam.

As he carefully patted her down for weapons, Bohannon couldn’t help but notice her as a woman. She was slight in stature; barely over five feet and svelte of frame. He tried to be as non-personal as possible, but it was difficult when the swell of her breast was just above his palm as he checked her belly for weapons against her skin. His hands were big, and she was so tiny his palm nearly spanned her from side to side yet the curve of her ass was fleshy and rounded, made to tempt a man.

But he was Gage Bohannon. His club name had been Slayer before his brothers sought to mellow him after that stupid TV show became popular, calling him by his last name because the lead character’s name was the same. He might enjoy women, might be tempted to do wicked things with the forbidden female from time to time, but he was always in complete control of himself. Now was no exception. She was tempting, true enough. But he had a job to do.

Except his cock had other ideas. Bohannon swore to himself, easily envisioning grinding his hardening erection against that savory ass. He could tell she was affected by his nearness. Either she wasn’t adept at staying in control or, more likely, she thought to tempt him with sex. If she did, he’d oblige her. Then take her to his president anyway.

“What are you going to do with me?” Her voice shook, her fear obvious, yet she stayed put, not turning or looking over her shoulder.

“Take you back to our president. We’ll discuss the events of the evening then decide what to do next.” Not that he needed to give her an explanation.

“Will you kill me?”

“Only if Cain orders it.”

She whimpered, her body trembling beneath his touch. She was truly scared, not trying to garner his attention. She hadn’t offered herself. Hadn’t made an overt move of aggression or seduction. So what was her game?

“What can I do to stay alive?”

Bohannon thought about that. What could she do? “Depends on what Cain decides. If you’re looking to convince someone of your innocence, it will be him. I warn you, though, he never goes easy on clubs doing business in our territory without permission. Anything he does to you will be to send a message to Scars and Bars.”

“I don’t mean anything to them. If he wants leverage on Scars and Bars he won’t get it with me. I’m only here to protect my brother.”

“Your fate is in Cain’s hands,” he said. “Accept it. And whatever you do, tell the truth. If you lie, he’ll know. You won’t get a second chance.”

She turned to look at him then. Just a movement of her head, her long midnight hair falling over the other shoulder. When those intensely dark eyes met his, glittering like onyx in the moonlight, Bohannon nearly doubled over as a punch of lust hit him low and mean. He couldn’t see her clearly, but there was something disturbing and familiar about her.

“You have to understand, I have nothing to do with the club. My brother owes them drug money. They used me to pay his debt by hauling their… product here.”

Bohannon fought off his instinct, which was to comfort and protect her. If ever a female needed protection it was this one. Such a small woman in the middle of a biker war? She was doomed from the beginning. Ruthlessly, he took her wrists and zip-tied them behind her back. “Answer any question Cain asks you truthfully and completely. That’s the best advice I can give you.”

“And if he doesn’t ask me anything? If he’s already decided?” Her eyes swam with unshed tears. Her skin glistened with sweat.

“Then he already has the answers he needs. I’ll tell him you cooperated in every way with us, assuming you continue to do so. If he decides you need to die, I can promise you’ll never know it’s coming, and it will be a clean, quick death.”

A little sob escaped before she could press her lips together tightly. She ducked her head, breaking her entrancing stare, but not before she got under Bohannon’s skin. Why did he feel like he knew her? Lord knew he’d never forget a woman like her, so he couldn’t have met her.

Everyone called him Bohannon, but his jacket proclaimed him Slayer because, of all his biker brothers, he had the most kills. He was the enforcer of the club. If something needed doing, he was the one who did it. That way, if the police caught him, they could trace nothing back to anyone else in the club. He’d take full responsibility and shift blame away from his brothers. The name had fit him more than any other, so he thought. This girl, however tested his belief in his job. Could he kill her if Cain ordered it?

“Promise me that if Cain orders you to kill me, you’ll at least look into helping my brother.”

“Can’t do that.”

“His name is Markus Newton. He’s not a bad man, just… self-absorbed.”

Bohannon lost his breath. Before he could stop himself, he snatched a penlight from his utility belt and shone it in the girl’s face. Markus Newton! A name from his past. Now here was a woman from his past. It had to be. But Markus was more than ten years this girl’s senior! Her older brother! That son of a bitch should be protecting her, not the other way around.

“Luna?” Her head snapped up, eyes squinting at the bright light. “Son of a bitch.” She tried to see past the light but, of course, she couldn’t. “Luna Martin?”

 

More from Marteeka at Changeling Press …

Erotic romance author by night, emergency room tech/clerk by day, Marteeka Karland works really hard to drive everyone in her life completely and totally nuts. She has been creating stories from her warped imagination since she was in the third grade. Her love of writing blossomed throughout her teenage years until it developed into the totally unorthodox and irreverent style her English teachers tried so hard to rid her of.

Want to see what’s up with Marteeka? Check out her website at www.marteekakarland.com or join her Yahoo! group at marteekakarland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Marteeka always welcomes e-mail from her readers. You can reach her at mkarland@gmail.com. Check out Marteeka’s blog here: marteekakarland.blogspot.com.

 

Interview with Anne Kane and check out her latest book – Ride ‘Em Cowboy! #interview #MCromance #bikers #RomanceBooks @annekane @changelingpress

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I have the lovely Anne Kane on my blog today! She’s stopped by to answer a few questions and tell us about her latest release, Ride ‘Em Cowboy!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

ANNE: I’ve known I wanted to be a writer forever. Before I was old enough to actually write things down, I used to tell my stuffed animals stories when I was a kid. They were really a great audience. They listened in rapt silence to every word I uttered! It may have given me an unrealistic view of my abilities

Do you have a favorite type of hero or heroine to write?

ANNE: Absolutely. I like my heroines to be kiss-ass independent women who don’t need to have a man around to take care of them. They are smart, strong and invariably attract alpha males who are mature enough to accept a woman who knows what she wants.

Do you have a routine you follow when you’re working on a book? A certain time of day when you write, or a snack you keep nearby?

I’m a morning person so I write best first thing in the morning, often while I’m drinking that all important first cup of coffee. The words seem to flow at that point whereas if I try to write before bedtime, I usually find myself staring at the computer screen with no idea what I want to say next. I’ve learned to do my creative writing in the morning, and my other tasks such as marketing and updating my website later in the day.

Did anyone give you writing advice when you were first getting started? Do you think it helped?

ANNE: When I decided to take a serious run at getting published, I joined a critique group created by a wonderful woman named Barbara Karmazian. She was a published author who was willing to take the time to coach a bunch of us wanna be writers, and I learned a lot of technical things from her as well as how to submit to publishers and what to expect from them. I met her in person in Las Vegas one year and I treasure the memory of that time. She has since passed away and I miss her humor and her gentle support. I credit her with giving me the emotional strength to actually submit my work to publishers who might reject it.

What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?

ANNE: Wondering if it will be rejected. No matter how many stories I publish I still get nervous when I send a new project to my editor. I’m not sure I actually handle it all that well. I try to ignore it.

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when following your dreams?  You need to have faith in yourself, and you need to realize that they are YOUR dreams, not someone elses. No one else gets to decide if your dreams are worth pursuing.

Marketing. I know most authors have a love/hate relationship with it. Have you found that to be true, and do you have any recommendations for new or aspiring authors? 

ANNE: Absolutely true! Marketing takes up time that I could be spending writing, but if I don’t do it then there isn’t a lot of point in writing. Since the advent of the ebook and self-publishing, the competition for readers is fierce and marketing is essential. The problem is that it is a hit and miss proposition. Sometimes a marketing ploy works well and other times it bombs. The price you pay for advertising is not always an indicator of the success of that ad. And of course, what works today may not work tomorrow. Yes, love/hate pretty much describes it!

 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit, Anne!  Now here are all the juicy details about Ride ‘Em Cowboy, Anne Kane’s latest release with Changeling Press!

 

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Ride ‘em Cowboy!

By Anne Kane

Genres: Contemporary, romance, MC romance

http://www.AnneKane.com

Buy it Here

 

Fiona really wasn’t in the market for a lover or a partner or some guy to give her a sappy sweet happily ever after. Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it. She just wanted a nice one-night stand. She planned to be long gone come breakfast time.

When she saw that gorgeous cowboy ride up on his Harley, she figured it was her lucky day. Bikers don’t do forever, right? Her perfect match! They could tell each other a few lies, scratch each other’s itches and then go their separate ways. The last thing she needed was to hook up with some guy she’d smack headlong into at church the next day.

Simple, right? So how did it all go so very wrong?

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Ride em Cowboy banner

 

EXCERPT

The crowd over by the mechanical bull let out an extra loud whoop. She glanced back in that direction and there he was. One hand gripped the rope that circled the bull’s midsection and the other waved in the air high above his shoulder. The well-worn cowboy hat jammed firmly on top of his head was the hottest thing she’d ever seen. She could just imagine him standing in front of her, buck naked except for that hat.

Naked and ready for action.

He nodded at someone she couldn’t see, and the bull started to move.

Damn. Ride ’em, cowboy!

The man was born for this. His body moved with a smooth fluidity that made it look easy. With all the jerking and jumping that metal monster did, you’d think the rider would jump and jerk just as much, but he made it look like a dance that he’d mastered so long ago he didn’t even have to put any effort into it. His body flowed from one move to the next, power and strength visible in each change.

That sexy cowboy hat stayed on his head too, pulled down low enough to almost cover his eyes. They were dark, dark and hard. The kind o

f eyes that made one take a step back and reconsider whether or not it was a good idea to garner his attention.

She worked her way through the crowd to a position in the front row where she could see him better. And where he could see her. That was the point, after all. It was all good and well to admire the sexy bull-riding cowboy from afar but to get what she needed and wanted out of this little excursion, she needed to be closer to him. A whole lot closer. As in, right up tight against him, skin to skin, but that would have to wait until after he finished showing off his prowess on the mechanical bull.

As she moved through the crowd, she realized this wasn’t the cowboy’s first time at this particular drinking hole. The comments from the onlookers implied he came here often, possibly on a regular basis. Most importantly, at least to her, was the fact that he didn’t appear to have a steady girlfriend. If he did, no one was mentioning it and it seemed she wasn’t the only one angling to spend the night playing ride the cowboy.

She felt a familiar surge of anticipation. Nothing like a bit of rivalry to make the prize look even better. Leaning against the railing that surrounded the arena, she eyed up her competition.

A young blonde girl to her left took her hat off as the mechanical bull swung the cowboy around to face her. Letting out a loud whoop, she waved the hat in the air and flashed him with a wide-open shirt. Silly twit had tits the size of grapes, hardly enticing to a real man.

Fiona’s cowboy dude ignored the blonde, which didn’t surprise her. She was guessing this guy had been around the block a time or two and recognized jailbait when he saw it.

Fiona tossed her head back, letting her mane of dark hair bounce around her shoulders before it settled in a riotous tangle of curls down her back. The metal bull was coming around again, and she was pretty sure the guy’s time was just about up. Wasn’t there an eight-second rule or something attached to these things?

She timed it perfectly, leaning forward to give him a tantalizing glimpse of her ample bosom just as he came ’round again. She caught his gaze, letting her mouth form a surprised “oh” before she grinned saucily to let him know the peep show was intentional.

He did her one better though. Throwing his leg across the back of the bucking, bouncing pile of metal he slid to the ground amid a thunderous outbreak of applause. Not bothering to slow down, he strode over to where she stood, still leaning on the fencing. Wrapping one muscular arm around her waist he plucked her over the safety rails and proceeded to devour her mouth like a starving coyote on a drought-plagued range.

The man knew how to kiss!

Fire ignited deep in her belly and she wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his kiss with every ounce of pent-up lust and frustration she’d been harboring since her last get-laid-quick adventure. No man had ever kissed her quite like this though — hard and fast, with an overwhelming hint of more and better things to come. He held her tight against his body, and she savored the feel of his sleekly muscled chest pressing against her. He was as solid as a rock, with wide shoulders that tapered to his waist. As for below the beltline, let’s just say she wasn’t left in any doubt about his attraction to her.

She sure hoped he used his mouth as well in the bedroom as he did in the bar. He bent her back over his arm with practiced ease, using his tongue to explore the depths of her mouth. She gave back as good as she got, wordlessly letting him know that she wanted to get to know him better. Much better.

She could hear the roar of the crowd in the background, like a muffled noise in the distance. Briefly, she wondered if maybe she was in over her head this time. The cowboy didn’t strike her as easy to manipulate, even with great sex. Then his tongue slid along the side of hers and up the inside of her cheek. At the same time, he moved one hand to caress the side of her breast.

Oh yeah. This was going to happen.

When they finally came up for air, he stood her upright and brushed the hair off her face with a surprisingly gentle touch. Leaning in close, he lowered his voice to a sexy whisper. “Can a cowboy buy a lady a drink?”

 

Buy it from the Publisher here

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 Roosters - from www.ChangelingPress.com

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Kane lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley with a bouncy little rescue dog who’s breed defies description, a cantankerous Himalayan cat, and too many fish to count. She spent many years trying to fit in and act normal, but finally gave up the effort. She started writing romance in 2008, and she won a publishing contract with Red Sage Publishing with her first story.  Then just a month later Changeling Press accepted her first submission to them. Since then she has published more than thirty stories in a variety of sub-genres, all with a happily ever after.

Her hobbies, when she’s not playing with the characters in her head, include kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, singing and of course, reading.

You can find Anne around the web at:

Website: http://www.AnneKane.com

Blog: http://annekane.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/annekane

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anne.kane.author

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Annekane

 

Interview with Cynthia Sax and a peek at The Cyborg’s Secret Baby #cyborgs #scifi #authorinterview #romancebooks @CynthiaSax

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I have the wonderful Cynthia Sax on my blog today! Everyone say hi!! Cynthia is a truly talented author I discovered quite a while back. I fell in love with her Demon Chronicles back in the day, and now she’s writing sexy cyborgs! I’ve already pre-ordered her upcoming book, and I can’t wait to read it!

Now, let’s find out a little more about Cynthia Sax, USA Today bestselling author.

 

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Cynthia Sax: I’ve always written. From the time I could hold a crayon, I’ve been writing stories. But it took a long time for me to realize writing could be a career.

I grew up dirt poor. We worked hard, all of it backbreaking manual labor, to earn every penny. Name a dirty thankless job. I’ve likely done it.

That someone would pay me for the thoughts in my head was beyond my comprehension.

But it happened! I was first paid for writing in high school. Two newspapers, a daily and a weekly, asked me to write for them. Although they mentioned paying me, I didn’t believe it until I received that first check.

I was being paid for writing! That concept blew me away!

 

Do you have a favorite type of hero or heroine to write?

Cynthia Sax:  My favorite type of hero to read and to write is the Beast hero. I could read a book a day with the Beauty and the Beast premise.

Why do I love Beast heroes so much? They’re raw and primitive, often in pain and often misunderstood. They have dark rich histories and are often survivors. I find them extremely interesting.

 

When you’re writing, do you prefer silence or background noise?

Cynthia Sax:  I normally start with silence and then if the words aren’t flowing, I’ll try a variety of background noise or music until something works for me. Every scene, every story is different and requires different things. Sound is one more tool in a writer’s toolbox.

 

What is the scariest thing you face as a writer? How do you handle it?

Cynthia Sax: The thing I fear most as a writer is disappointing readers. I fear this so much I often have trouble writing the next story.

How I work around this is ensuring I have the next story already written before the current story releases. There’s always one story between the most recent story, the one I’m currently receiving reader feedback on, and the story I’m currently writing. That distance allows the words to flow.

 

As a writer, I’m sure you also love reading. Do you have a favorite book and what do you love about it?

Cynthia Sax: Loretta Chase’s Lord Of Scoundrels is my benchmark book. It is the book I re-read when I’m getting lazy with my own stories. That book has so many layers. Every line means multiple things. That depth is what I aspire to achieve with my stories.

 

I know most authors have a love/hate relationship with it. Have you found that to be true, and do you have any recommendations for new or aspiring authors?

Cynthia Sax: (grins) Yes, I don’t know many writers who LOVE the marketing parts of our wonderful jobs.

I have a huge issue with self-promotion, I think many of us do.

I remind myself that while talking about my stories might seem like self-promotion, it truly isn’t. I have a team behind me – an awesome cover artist, a wonderful editor, a savvy formatter.

I’m merely the face of this team and, as its face, it is my responsibility to talk about the stories. No one will see my cover artist’s beautiful covers if I don’t show them to people. No one will see my editor’s incorporated insights or my formatter’s easy-to-use table of contents if I don’t put my stories in the hands of readers.

I have to promote my stories. I can’t let down the team.

 

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The Cyborg’s Secret Baby

 A fierce cyborg warrior and his curvy human female share a no-longer-so-little secret.

Stealth, a K Model cyborg, knows his passion for Zebrina, the commander’s human daughter, is forbidden, yet he can’t resist the curvy female. He craves her touch, cherishes her sounds of pleasure, would do anything to keep her safe.

When he’s faced with the choice of protecting his fragile human or living to see the next sunrise, he chooses her, always her, sending Zebrina halfway across the universe to safety. He doesn’t realize their stolen moments had consequences neither of them believed possible.

After hearing her warrior died in battle, Zebrina focuses on the last gift he gave her. Doing what is right for their child is her sole priority. She will put their son’s happiness first, even if that means choosing another male over the love of her life.

 

The Cyborg’s Secret Baby is a STAND-ALONE story loosely connected to the Cyborg Sizzle series.

It is also a Second Chance Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, often-violent universe.

Pre-Order for September 25, 2018:

Amazon US

 Amazon UK

 Apple/iTunes

 B&N

 Kobo

 Smashwords

 

Check out more of Cynthia’s books by visiting her website: http://cynthiasax.com/