BOOK TOUR & INTERVIEW: Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard #ScienceFiction @be_the_book @pumpupyourbook

 

1,000 years after Earth has been decimated by an alien invasion, a young hero rises from the ashes and rallies the last survivors in an all-out rebellion for freedom that explodes across the continents of Earth to the cosmic sprawl of the Psychlo empire…

Title: Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000

Author: L. Ron Hubbard

Publisher: Galaxy Press

Pages: 1092

Genre: Science Fiction, sub-genre: Alien Invasion, Classic Science Fiction, Space Opera, Military Sci-Fi, Adventure Sci-FI

If you liked Dune, Atlantis Gene, Foundation, Enders Game, and Starship Troopers, you’ll love Battlefield Earth.

Sadistic Aliens…

…Man is an endangered species.

Is it the end of the world or the rebirth of a new one?

In the year A.D. 3000, Earth is a dystopian wasteland. The great cities stand crumbling as a brutal reminder of what we once were. When the Psychlos invaded, all the world’s armies mustered little resistance against the advanced alien weapons.

A young hero rises from the ashes and rallies the last survivors in an all-out rebellion for freedom that explodes across the continents of Earth to the cosmic sprawl of the Psychlo empire.

The fate of the Galaxy lies on the Battlefield of Earth.

You’ll love Battlefield Earth because of the characters you’ll love and hate and the unexpected twists that keep the pages flying.

“Over 1,000 pages of thrills, spills, vicious aliens and noble humans. I found Battlefield Earth un-put-downable.” —Neil Gaiman

“Battlefield Earth is a terrific story! The carefully underplayed comedy I found it delicious. A masterpiece.” —Robert A. Heinlein 

“Pulse-pounding mile-a-minute sci-fi action adventure that does not stop. It is a masterpiece of popular adventure science fiction.” —Brandon Sanderson

“Space opera that hits the right notes. It’s provocative, exhilarating and genuinely enjoyable.” —SCIFI.COM

“Like the Harry Potter series, its got concepts like good vs. evil, the noble
savage and the hero’s journey—and people go crazy over it!”
—Dr. David Powers, Educator

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B41I4NI/ 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/battlefield-earth-l-ron-hubbard/1100824883?ean=9781592129577 

BooksaMillion: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Battlefield-Earth/L-Ron-Hubbard/9781592129577?id=8748446917116

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/battlefield-earth-a-saga-of-the-year-3000-enlarged-expanded-l-ron-hubbard/15283828?ean=9781619865099

Interview with L. Ron Hubbard

Q: What made you return to science fiction writing after all these years?

A: There are some activities that are simply so much fun that one can’t give them up. Writing is that for me. I love every opportunity to write.

Many young writers are told to write in order to learn how to write. That is good advice. I used to find any excuse to write because I loved to do it. If I didn’t have a typewriter, I wrote in longhand.

So when my 50th anniversary as a professional writer came around, I decided to celebrate it by doing it. It was like a present to myself, so to speak.

I chose science fiction because there is great versatility in this genre. (A writer must pick his medium as carefully as a painter must pick his brush and colors.) Besides, science fiction is no longer the stepchild of literature. Star Wars created an entirely new following.…

Plus, look at the bestseller lists and you will see the pattern repeating. Science fiction and space travel is dominant.

Q: What direction do you see science fiction going now? Is the trend toward epics and battle stories such as Star Wars?

A: You must remember that science fiction is simply a method or a means of telling the story. Regardless of the genre (science fiction, western, spy, romance), you will find that people like a story that is both real and has a purpose. It has to say something or achieve something.

There is always an element that promotes your value­less or no-hope society, but compare their success with stories like Star Wars or E.T.…

Science fiction points a direction because it does advo­cate a future. It is about Man and his Future.

Q: What role did science fiction writers and their readers have in the development of space technology and travel—and public acceptance of it and its funding—in the 1950s and 1960s? What role does it play today in future commitment to space exploration, colonization, exploitation?

A: If you will go back through those old, gaudy pulp magazines that were being ridiculed and confiscated by irate teachers, you will find a lot of articles on space technology scattered amongst the fiction. That was be­cause there was no other outlet for such vision.

Some who wrote for the pulps were called “just science fiction writers.” But history has proven that they were the ones who brought about the future—not the naysayers.

We knew then that Man would travel to the stars and we know it still.

There are still those who cannot create a vision for the future and they, as before, still click their tongues to make a living and they will, again, be forgotten simply because they cannot create—they can only criticize.

Q: How would you assess the broader audience science fiction has today? Years ago, science fiction was consid­ered as something for children which was not “serious” literature. Its popularity today knows no age boundaries. Is this indicative of an escapist attitude by readers? Or a look to the future and what we could be?

A: The future is the only frontier without limit and the frontier that we will all enter and cross no matter what we do.

Science fiction is and always has been the literature about the frontier. Science fiction appeals to every age group because it is about the future and the human potential.

Q: How do you draw from your past track in creating character and plot? Is this the place from which science fiction comes in general, whether the writers know it or not?

A: Experience helps any writer or anyone who wants to write.

I traveled through the Far East and sailed the high seas and did a few loops in some bi-winged planes and gliders in my day and drew upon these for stories. I also did a lot of research for other stories.

But what is more important is the ability to see what is in front of you. Plus you have to have the ability to assume the viewpoint of your reader.

For example, in Battlefield Earth, the reader looks through the eyes of the hero and through the eyes of the alien. This is done by describing how each person would describe the scene and objects. It gives the reader a feeling of what it would be like to assume that viewpoint. The reader at first does not recognize the object either but should be able to do so as the description continues. But, in the process, the reader can experience the same mystery as the character in the story.

That is the ability to see what is in front of you and the ability to assume another viewpoint.

It is a good exercise for writers.

So experience is helpful but you need much more.

Q: What does science fiction writing do for L. Ron Hubbard personally?

A: I can answer that better if you don’t restrict it to just one genre.

Writing offers creation, expression and the ultimate ability to communicate, whether you write poetry or a novel.

Science fiction is just one means or method of doing that.

With writing, you must take an idea and turn it into little black marks on a sheet of white paper so that someone will look at it and lift those little black marks off the page and form the idea of the author.

In short, it boils down to communication.

Q: How would L. Ron Hubbard describe himself as a writer?

A: I don’t know if I can take it any further than that.

I’ve always had the ability to put an idea down on the page. I don’t really outline. I just write.

I think if I wanted to be characterized in a certain way as a writer, I would ask that it be that I am a writer who loves to write.

That is not as axiomatic as it may sound. There are a lot of writers who don’t like to write and some who even hate it but are still called “writers” because they make a living at it—the 9 to 5 type, so to speak.

But it has never been that way with me. I don’t watch the clock when I write. In fact, I’ve gone days without sleep just because I was enjoying myself so much I just plain forgot.

How could one forget to sleep?

Well, just imagine doing something that is more exciting than anything you have ever done and see if you worry or think about a “coffee break” or what time, it is.

That’s what I mean by my being a writer who loves to write.

There’s really no other way to say it.

Q: How do you work? Do you dictate or pound your fiction out on your old typewriter? Do you keep any set schedule when doing a book? Do you work from detailed character sketches and plot outlines or do you wing it? Have your working methods changed over the years?

A: My goodness, but that covers a lot!

What I write determines how I do it. Sometimes I type, sometimes I write longhand and sometimes I dictate.

Battlefield Earth was typed on a manual. The length was about 3,000 pages.

Each day before I went to bed I would sketch out the plot that I would cover the next day. Plus I would list out anything else that I wanted to accomplish.

I do set and follow a schedule when I want to get certain things done in a day—like exercise, if only a walk.

So I generally lay out what I want to accomplish for the day, the week, the month and then I do it. I would say this is perhaps my primary development since those early days in getting organized. It has allowed me to get more accomplished to lay out a schedule and then do it.

Q: What do you think about writers who take years to write a single book?

A: I really don’t think many do. They might research something for years, but I can’t figure out how somebody could keep a plot in his head that long.

Some people try to equate quality with slowness. If an athlete did that he would lose every game.

Q: What advice do you have for budding writers?

A: Write and write and write and write. And then when you finish, write some more.

It may not be original advice, but it is still quite true. You learn to write by writing.

Don’t try to learn how to write in order to write. I’ve seen a lot of great writers killed off when they decided they wanted to learn how to write.

Just take an idea and go with it. You may find a story that pulls you along. The story takes off on its own. It sounds silly but it happens. You have this character walking down the street and you are all ready for him to get into a taxi but he walks right on and turns into a movie theatre. Whoa! What is this? Well, follow him and see what happens.

The main thing is to write and learn the business of writing—that tough market you have to live with.

Book Excerpt  

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About the Author

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and ’40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.

Website: https://battlefieldearth.com/battlefield-earth/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/be_the_book

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be_the_book

13 chapter download (eBook): https://dl.bookfunnel.com/y2zuqaj7yi

1 hour download (audio): https://dl.bookfunnel.com/243bnk6m09

Discussion Guide: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/y84enq7cje

Bloghttps://battlefieldearth.com/blog

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GalaxyPress/playlists

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29532708-battlefield-earth

Other books by L. Ron Hubbard: https://galaxypress.com/l-ron-hubbard-books/

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/JRbxWRwMI5w

Making of the Audiobook video: https://youtu.be/wABlKjhRDkQ

Brandon Sanderson’s Review video: https://youtu.be/S-80Tx1olgc

Short trailer: https://youtu.be/sU_V3O5Gemk

Sponsored By:

BOOK TOUR: Nova’s Blade by Will Scifi #YoungAdult #ScienceFiction @willscifi @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

Nova'sBlade copy

Welcome to the book tour for YA sci-fi, Nova’s Blade by Will Scifi! Read on for more details!

Ebook

Nova’s Blade

Publication Date: February 1st, 2022

Genre: YA Dystopian/ Science Fiction

THIRTY-TWO WOMEN. ONE ARENA. A BATTLE TO THE DEATH.

After a long war, corporations have replaced countries. Sports are fought to the death. The most popular game is Last Valkyrie, a live tournament where women kill each other for marriage into a powerful family.

For Nova, living in poverty with her mother and sister is a harsh reality that she cannot escape. But when she is kidnapped and forced to fight on the show, her world changes. If she refuses to fight, the bomb in her head goes off. Now winning means her freedom.

With death lurking at every moment, Nova has no idea if her next fight will be her last. But one thing she knows for certain: only one is making it out alive.

Perfect for fans of Hunger Games, The Selection, and The Princess Trials. You won’t want to put down this exciting page-turner!

Available on Amazon

Author Interview

BCH: Thanks so much for joining us on the blog today! I love your book cover. Can you tell us who designed it?

Will:  An artist on fiverr. She designed many of my covers in the past, and she is a great artist.

BCH: So, with a pen name like Will Scifi, it’s no wonder you enjoy writing Science Fiction. What prompted your writing journey?

Will: Back in high school, I switched my calculus class for creative writing since I was finishing high school. They had us write short stories, and when I wrote one, I loved it. From there, I wrote more short stories outside of class just for fun. One day my dad suggested I write a book since a lot of movies came from books. He said that when I suggested an idea for a movie.

BCH: I see you enjoy video games. Do you have a favorite?

Will:  Mass Effect 2 is my favorite video game. It’s at least among my favorite. I love the science fiction of the game as well as the role playing aspect of it.

BCH: Has gaming ever sparked an idea for a story?

Will: That’s a good question, but no never.

BCH: What made you take that first leap into becoming a published author?

Will: Back in 2015 senior year, I had an idea for a movie, and I decided to write it as a book. I would say it came from wanting to see the ideas in my head on the big screen. I believe books are the first step in doing so.

BCH: If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?

Will: Pray, and do market research. Find out what is trending and what people want to read, then write it. Only after you’ve written as much as you want, writing all the things you want. After that, then it would be time to respond to the market, and give the people what they want, if you haven’t already.

About the Author

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Will Scifi is a pen name for an author from and based in California. He loves writing mainly science fiction that touches on themes surrounding modern day culture and society. Outside of writing, he loves going to the gym, theater, watching tv, reading comics and books, and playing video games. He thanks all of his fans for their support and highly encourages anyone who has read his work to always leave a review. Reviews go a long way in helping the author!

Will Scifi | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Book Tour Organized By:

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R&R Book Tours

BOOK TOUR & INTERVIEW: Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding by Cynthia Fridsma #urbanfantasy #thriller #authorinterview @cynthia_fridsma

 

Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding

Cynthia Fridsma
 
Genre: horror/thriller/urban fantasy
Publisher: CynhiaFridsma.COM
Date of Publication: November 24, 2021
ISBN Paperback: 979-8773139225
ISBN Hardcover: 979-8779427166 
ISBN Audiobook: 978-1669614173
ASIN: B09MJXPCMY
Number of pages: 280
Word Count: 67,415
Cover Artist: Cynthia Fridsma
 
Tagline: Since the pandemic, she stayed home. Then they kidnapped her friend.
 
Book Description:
 
Since the pandemic, Sybil Crewes hasn’t left home. She stopped her duties as an ATU agent (Anti-Terrorism Unit). But then, she got a disturbing phone call. Her friend, Harry Brown, has been kidnapped, and this forces Sybil out of her house.
 
While doing so, she uncovers an illegal lab where they created a deadly COVID-19 variant that turns its victims into skinned zombies. She contacts the ATU to resume her duties as an ATU agent to stop the new threat and save the world from its undoing.
 
Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding is a fast-paced modern horror/thriller novel, and partly based on true events.
 
 
 Amazon      Kobo      Google
Scribd     BingeBooks      AudioBooks
Libro     NookAudio
 

Excerpt

The cold air was refreshing as she sprinted to her Ford Mustang in the parking lot. After she sat down in the driver’s seat, she opened Windows Maps on her cell phone to search for the address her evil handler had texted. Since Microsoft stopped
supporting Windows Phone, she couldn’t use her voice to enter the address in
the navigation app of her cell phone. It felt weird to go unarmed, on a mission unknown, while the navigation calculated the best route from her current location. Whoever captured Harry held all the cards. At the moment, she had no other choice but to follow up on their instructions. She started the car and drove off. Luckily, there wasn’t much traffic on her way to the mansion.

Since the pandemic, life was slow. People had more time on their hands, working from home, distracted by their kids and spouse. Eating more comfort food—watching TV all day, or in Sybil’s case, spending time with her pet rabbit, Max, and trying to avoid the news. She didn’t have a TV. Well, she did, but she used her 70-inch display as a monitor. It was connected to a Windows 10 laptop with an external soundcard attached to a Dolby digital surround set. Felicity installed the equipment and showed Sybil how to use her dinosaur cell phone as a remote control for the
laptop.

The laptop offered her a safe window to the world. She had online meetings once a week, on Sunday night at eight, and sometimes she watched the news on CNN. Most of the time, she used the laptop to binge-watch streaming media. Prime video, Netflix, Disney Plus, and reruns of her favorite TV shows: Body of Proof, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and she loved movies starring Denzel Washington. My life during the pandemic.

She wanted to floor the gas pedal, but then she noticed a police car and she slowed down considerably. The police vehicle turned left at the intersection. She glanced over her shoulder. A truck came into sight, and a few more cars appeared on the street ahead of her. Morning rush hour was about to begin, even though she hadn’t
expected it.

Sybil reached her destination in twenty-six minutes after she floored the gas pedal when she reached the outskirts of Boston. She had some time to kill, but she didn’t want to waste it by sitting in her car. So, she explored the area. The mansion
didn’t stand out by itself. It was a wooden, two-story building, Victorian architecture style, late 1800s, set in a rural landscape outside Boston, normally a thirty-five-minute drive if she hadn’t gone way above all posted speed limits. Its shingles used to be white at some point.

She exhaled and contacted Vanessa Dogscape—an ATU data analyst, and currently married to her friend and coworker Felicity Walker. Perhaps Vanessa could help her—off the record. She didn’t want to involve the ATU. It took a while before Vanessa answered the phone.

“Sybil. You know what time it is?”

“I’m aware of what time it is. Look, I need your help. Harry’s been kidnapped by—I don’t know who. Anyway, they want me to do some errands.”

“My God!” Vanessa replied in a worried voice.

“I need you on this. But please, keep it off the record. I don’t want to endanger Harry’s life.”

“Sure. How can I help?”

“Perhaps you can pinpoint them somehow and get their location so I can kick some ass?”

“I need more intel before I can do anything,” Vanessa said.

“They contacted me via my cell phone and sent me a text message. Oh, and a picture of Harry’s battered face.” She gritted her teeth at the thought.

“Send the text message and the picture to me. And please activate the ATU app Felicity programmed three years ago for your Windows Phone, so I can tap into each conversation and perhaps ping their location while you talk to them. Are you sure you want me to help you off the record? It’s better to make this an official ATU investigation. At least, let me inform Jack.”

Sybil closed her eyes for a moment. If the criminals found out she had informed the ATU, it’d complicate things. Perhaps endanger Harry’s life. But then again, she sure could use all the help she could get. Otherwise, she wouldn’t bother Vanessa with it. Taking that into consideration, and the knowledge that Jack was a professional, Sybil agreed to Vanessa’s suggestion.

Despite the sun in a clear, blue sky, her body responded with a shiver that ran down her spine. She did not know what to expect as she stood near the abandoned mansion with its weather-beaten, cracked walls covered in pointless graffiti. But she knew she had to go inside as she sat down on her haunches, studying the rusty sword
lying in the mud. She took a deep breath before she carefully touched its sticky
handle. Blood! Clotted blood.

Her stomach gnawed at the sight. She smelled. It wasn’t human. She stared at the mansion as she heard a strange sound she couldn’t identify. Immediately, her old instincts kicked in—weird sounds coming from an abandoned mansion equals danger. She grabbed the sword in both hands, jumped up, kicked the battered door wide open and ran inside. It was time to act; this was no time to be cautious. Lives were at
stake.

The wooden planks creaked under her feet as she rushed into the dark hallway. The sound of rasping breathing reached her eardrums when she entered a dark room with just enough light to see the overturned furniture and the bloodstained, fractured walls …

Author Interview

What do you love most about the genre you write?

I love to combine multiple genres together as one. For instance, one of the main characters in my book: “Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding” is Sybil Crewes. A vampire who hates being a vampire (horror genre). But she’s also a part-time ATU (Anti-Terrorism Unit) agent, to keep America safe from terrorist attacks (thriller genre).

Combining these two genres makes a story more vivid. Rather than fighting monsters, Sybil also faces terrorists with the help of her friends from the ATU and from a Medical Examiner working for the coroner’s office in Boston.

Blending two genres into one makes my books unique. I don’t use classical horror themes—no religion, no vampires turning into bats, or sleeping in a coffin during the day. Sybil clips her fangs and use liquid silver (kind of like colloidal silver, but with a higher percentage of silver particles) daily to pass on for a human and eat solid food.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

I find my inspiration in the news. The news is my most important tool to blend reality with fiction. If I find an interesting article on a news website, I do a lot of background research. Like the pandemic and fake news—before I write. I love to combine reality with fiction. I also use personal elements in my story.

I see you like Edgar Allan Poe. If you had to pick one of his stories as a favorite, which would it be and why?

I grew up reading books from Edgar Allan Poe. As a kid, I enjoyed watching movies starring Vincent Price adaptations of The Pit and the Pendulum, Tales of Terror, The Raven, and The Masque of the Red Death.

The story I loved most, back in the days, is “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

It’s a story about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition. The narrator describes his experience of being tortured. What I liked about it, is that the story is effective at inspiring fear in the reader because of its heavy focus on the senses, such as sound…

Can you tell us about your furry writing companion?

Max is a three-year-old free roam small tan rabbit—our condo is bunny proof—and he loves to be petted on his head. He’s my best friend, and he asks daily for attention. I love giving him that. He follows me around like a dog when I stand up from the couch to get something from the fridge. Max doesn’t like carrots. When I try to offer him a carrot, he gives me the look. Which is a good thing because I read carrots have too much sugar in them. His favorite snack is Timothy Hay.

Before I go to bed, or when it’s 7:30 a.m., I lie down next to him and talk about anything that bothers me. He’s a great listener, and he knows how to keep a secret.

And I partly wrote my book on my cell phone while lying next to Max.

If you could give one piece of advice to anyone pursuing their dream in the creative arts, what would it be?

The best advice I can think of is this: write everything that pop-ups in your head. Don’t overthink it. Just write. Read it back the next day, scrap the parts you don’t like, rewrite some of it (don’t overdo this), and prepare yourself to send your story to a few people. Listen to what they say about your writing. And don’t be annoyed about critics.

About the Author:

 
As far back as she can remember, Cynthia Fridsma has been listening to exciting stories told by her mother. She grew up reading books by Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, and Philip K. Dick, among others. It was Cynthia’s mother who inspired her to start telling—and writing—her own stories.

Ms. Fridsma’s writing career started after a handicap in 2014—she has a tremor in her right hand, numbness in the fingers, and pain in her wrist. She had to give up her other creative outlets, such as photography, computer programming, and gave up on juggling, so focused on what she could do rather than what she couldn’t do. Besides writing, she sometimes plays guitar—in Jimi Hendrix style.

 
Cynthia lives with her husband and pet bunny, Max, in Amsterdam.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Author Interview: Rain Carrington #LGBTQ #contemporaryromance #authorinterview

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

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

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. 

New Erotic Romance Author — Alexis Duvall

JCS: Today I have with me Alexis Duvall, a new erotic romance author.  She was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to stop in and chat for a moment.  Thank you for joining me today Alexis!

Alexis: Thank you for having me.  🙂

JCS: I understand that you’re new to erotic romance. How exactly did you get started with your writing career?

Alexis: Well, I’ve loved writing since I was a little girl. My mother still has some of the first short stories I wrote, and much to my horror she drags them out when she has company!  But I finally wrote a story I felt was worth publishing — All Tied Up.

It all started from a conversation I had with a friend who was frustrated over her latest boyfriend.  I won’t go into details to spare her any embarrassment, but it made me start thinking about all of the women out there who think they’re duds in bed.  Not because they are, but because they’ve chosen men who couldn’t care less whether or not they get any enjoyment out of sex… it’s all about them and not the women they are with.

JCS: Could you tell us a little bit about your upcoming release?

Alexis: Anna hasn’t had many serious relationships and none of them have been satisfying.  After a visit to the Crystal Palace, a place where all of your erotic desires can come true, she opens up a little more and meets an incredible man – David.  Their relationship has a really unconventional start, but as Anna begins to explore her sexuality more she becomes more open to a lasting relationship with David.

I have to warn you, it comes with an x-rating.  The sex scenes are detailed with light bondage, menage, and even some female/female sex scenes.  So it definitely isn’t a story for everyone.

JCS: It sounds like an interesting read!  When will it be available for purchase?

Alexis: It’s being released by Wild Horse Press on February 23, 2010.  But it’s available for pre-sale right now at All Romance Ebooks!

JSC: Would you feel comfortable sharing an excerpt with us?

Alexis: Absolutely!

Excerpt from All Tied Up, (c) 2009, Alexis Duvall

I’m not sure how I ended up in this predicament, and yet here I am – blindfolded and tied to a bed.  If only I hadn’t let Todd talk me into this!  As best friends went, he was the greatest… until now.

“You need to get out more, try new things,” he’d said.  “I bet you’ve never let anyone tie you down.”

Being completely naïve, I’d asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’ve never let anyone tie you to a bed, stripped naked, laying open to them.”

I’d blushed the color of a strawberry and gaped at him.  After a moment, he’d reached over and snapped my jaw shut.

“You’re catching flies,” he’d teased.

“You mean you want me to let someone tie up and have sex with me?” I’d asked in shock.

I mean sure, I’d heard of people doing that, but I’d certainly never tried it!  I wasn’t exactly sexually experienced.  I’d been with exactly three guys and all of them had been out the door the moment I’d given it up.  I was starting to think there was something wrong with me.

“Don’t be such a prude,” he’d said with a roll of his brown eyes.  “I think you’d actually enjoy it.”

“But… I don’t know anyone into that!”

He’d given me a wicked grin then. “You don’t have to.  There’s a place in town, the Crystal Palace. They specialize in just such things.”

“And how do you know of this place?”

He’d shrugged. “I heard about it at work.”

“Todd, you work in a bar.  Just because you hear about something at work, doesn’t mean you should have your best friend go out and try it.”

Against my better judgment, I’d allowed him to talk me into it.  So now I found myself in the Crystal Palace, devoid of clothing, blindfolded with a black satin cloth, and tied to the bed.

JCS: Wow, that was some excerpt!  Thanks for stopping in and sharing a little about yourself and All Tied Up!  I think I need to unsteam the windows now.  I can’t wait to see how that scene ends!

Alexis: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure!

JCS: If you’d like to visit Alexis and keep up to date on her future releases, you can visit her at her website.

Author Interview with Jenna Petersen

Ms. Peterson kindly consented to an interview.  I hope that you will find it entertaining and informative.  Be sure to check out her newest release, Red Hot Valentine’s Day, which released today!

What first interested you in writing?

I always loved writing and wanted to be a writer for a living for as long as I can remember, really. As for romance writing, I have to say I was one of those horrible people who thought it would be “easy” to write one of “those books”. I learned quickly that “those books” were often wonderfully engaging and well-written and really DIFFICULT to write and sell. But I kept at it and here we are.

How many novels do you currently have published? What genre are they? Where are they published?

As of tomorrow, January 6, I will have 11 books published. Under my Jess Michaels name, which is erotic romance, they are:

A RED HOT VALENTINE’S DAY (Anthology), January 6, 2009 – Avon Red
SOMETHING RECKLESS, May 2008 – Avon Red
EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN, November 2007 – Avon Red
PARLOR GAMES (Anthology), June 2006 – Avon Red (Line Launch book)
SECRETS, Volume 12 (Anthology), July 2005 – Red Sage Publishing
SECRETS, Volume 11 (Anthology), December 2004 – Red Sage Publishing

And I have another one out this year called TABOO, which comes out in May 2009.

Under my Jenna Petersen name, which is historical romance, they are:

LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN, July 2008 — Avon
SEDUCTION IS FOREVER (Lady Spies Book 3), October 2007 — Avon
DESIRE NEVER DIES (Lady Spies Book 2), January 2007 — Avon
FROM LONDON WITH LOVE (Lady Spies Book 1), August 2006 — Avon
SCANDALOUS, October 2005 – Avon

I also have a new book coming out in April called HER NOTORIOUS VISCOUNT.

All my books are widely available in stores and online retailers everywhere.

Do you write full-time or do you have another job as well?

I write full-time and have since I started 10 years ago. I’ve been lucky enough to have a financially as well as spiritually and emotionally supportive husband who believed in my wacky dream.

Where do you see yourself, as far as writing goes, in five years?

I hope I’ll still be an actively publishing author. I really love historical romance and erotic historical romance, so I’m sure I’ll still be writing them.

What goals or dreams do you have for your writing career?

I think I have the same dreams most writers do. I want to keep selling books and growing my readership. Of course I’d love to rise up to USAToday and ultimately NYTimes Bestseller status. But those things are really out of my control in a lot of ways. So my biggest hope is to keep writing and improving my craft and hope that the readers keep coming and multiplying.

What is your favorite genre to read?

I love to read what I write, which is historical romance. I also read outside of the romance genre when I have time (which seems like never right now LOL).

Do you have any favorite authors? What do you like about them?

I really enjoy the sensual storytelling of Lisa Kleypas. I like the sparkling wit of Julia Quinn. I like the emotional rawness of Kathryn Smith. I adore the magical quality of Jacquie D’Alessandro.

How hard was it to become a published author?

Hard. I actually have a diary of my journey from 2001 until… well, this morning, up at my site for writers, The Passionate Pen. http://www.passionatepen.com I think it gives a pretty accurate view of the wonderful highs and pretty crushing lows of five years and over probably… 15ish books or so before I published.

Do you have any suggestions for writers who wish to be published?

I think my best suggestions for writers are at the same site. The Passionate Pen is ten years old this year and we’re having a huge celebration! All kinds of prizes for writers, interviews with top editors and agents, big fun. But the site is, at its core, a site for aspiring romance authors. You’ll find a list of romance publishers there, one for agents, articles I’ve written for writers, links, and of course that famous diary I talked about above. http://www.passionatepen.com

Do you recommend using more than one publisher?

I think it really depends on the writer, what genres they are writing, how quickly they can write and if they have a strong agent. There aren’t really great answers to these kinds of questions because of so many variables. Writing for multiple publishers can give you some level of job security, an increased income and a broader promotional plan. It can also make things complicated and occasionally double your work. So it all depends.

How do you typically promote your books?

I have a website, http://www.jennapetersen.com , as well as a Facebook and a MySpace account (http://www.myspace.com/jennawrites). I do a lot of online promotion, as well as drive-by signings of stock, interviews and whatever my publisher sets up for me.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

I write sexy, emotional romances whether they’re erotic like my Jess Michaels books or highly sensual like my Jenna Petersen books. I write in the Regency period. If that appeals to you, I’m your girl! 🙂