A Short And Sweet #MFRWauthor Interview with Iris Blobel @_Iris_B

Iris Blobel talks with MFRW.
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent some time living in Scotland, London, as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper only emerged a few years back, but now her laptop is a constant companion. Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters as well as their dog. Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
Okay, tricky because I moved to Australia 18 years ago from Germany … next best country would possibly be Canada, but hey, we went to Oregon two years ago and ~ aww, beautiful place!

What song would best describe your life?
Matt Goss - It's the End of the Road

What is your secret guilty pleasure?
Spending almost $2 for a small can of Dr Pepper

If you were stranded on a tropical island, who would it be with?
James Bond

If you were on a reality show, what one would it be?
Big Bang Theory

City life or country life? 
I’m a converted country life lover

EBook or paperback?
Ack – both …. EBook to read, Paperback to show off on my shelves.

Let Me Love You

Contemporary Romance
Limitless Publishing

Oliver Dempsey, pitcher for a Melbourne baseball club, loves the women, and they love him… But he keeps them at an arm’s length, and when he meets Tamara, he’s unprepared for the attraction he feels for her.  Told by his coach that she’s off limits, only draws him in more. "Oliver Dempsey, pitcher for a Melbourne baseball club, loves the women, and they love him… But he keeps them at an arm’s length, and when he meets Tamara, he’s unprepared for the attraction he feels for her.  Told by his coach that she’s off limits, only draws him in more.

AMAZON Au   |   AMAZON Us

EXCERPT
Sweat ran down Oliver’s back soaking his shirt. He’d been on the field for a couple of hours, but frustration grew in him with every ball he missed. He placed his hands on his knees and took a deep breath, fixing his stare at the ground. For Pete’s sake, he was a pitcher, not a hitter and well known for his fastballs as well as his perfect curveballs. Alas, he had neglected his hitting. Today, his swing was at below average and unable to focus, he walked over to the bench where he spotted Coach Becker shaking his head towards him.
Pointing his finger back towards the field, the coach said, “Head right back out there, Oliver. You need to improve your hand-eye coordination. I want to see more, and better.”
Oliver cursed under his breath. “It’s not going to happen. My shoulder’s killing me. It’s been a long day.”
Coach Erik Becker rubbed his face.
“It’s not gonna happen today.” Oliver persisted.
With a grimace on his face, his coach nodded. “Righteo, call it a day. But I want you back out there again in the morning, though.”
Oliver eased off his gloves and shoved them into his back pocket, before removing his helmet.
The coach gave him a gentle slap on his back. “I need you to concentrate more tomorrow. Remember what I told you. You need to focus on your proper stance as well as swinging the bat. Keep your eye on the ball as it comes towards you. Try to connect the bat with the ball, preferably at the fat of the bat. We’re having a game coming up soon. Go and deal with the shoulder issue. Check in for a massage.”
Oliver wiped his forehead with his arm when he noticed a woman standing in the coach’s shadow. Raising his eyebrows, he nodded towards her as to ask who she was.
Erik turned slightly. “Oliver, this is my niece, Tamara. She’s moved here from Perth. Tamara, this is Oliver.”
Oliver extended his hand towards her. “Nice meeting you.”
She ignored his hand and took a step back. Taken aback by her reaction, Oliver instinctively checked his hand for dirt or sweat. Questioning, he looked at his coach.

CONNECT with Iris

My Blog: www.iris-b.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/irisblobel

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/iblobel/

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/107759085454255573026/posts

#MFRWauthor Interview: Hers To Bear @TamaraHoffa @SecretCravings

Let's talk books with MFRW Author Tamara Hoffa.
Tamara is an author, an editor, and reviews/promotions coordinator for Secret Cravings Publishing. Tamara is proof positive that it’s never too late to reach for your dreams. 

facebook  |  goodreads  |  blog  |  pinterest  |  google +

What genres do you like to read?
 I've always read primarily romance, although i do love a good mystery too. But, I am a sucker for a happy ending and a true believer in life mates and finding that ""perfect"" person for you. Even is he or she isn't always so ""perfect."" I love writing about those stories.

Do you like humor in our fiction?
As for humor in fiction I love it! My favorite novels all contain humor to lighten the mood.Why? Several reasons, I guess. My DH has a wonderful sense of humor and always makes me smile. I think life is too short not to look at the laughter whenever we can. And last but not least, laughter lifts another's day.
I'l never thought of myself as a particularly ""funny"" person. I don't tell jokes, etc. But I do find humor in quirky characters and I see irony and puns all around me!

Do you drink coffee?
Probably too much! My coffee addiction seems to find its way into every book, and lots of other small personality quirks, (I'll never tell)

Tell us about the first book you submitted.
My first submission was kind of a fluke, I was beta reading for a few author friends and reviewing for a blog site and my friends kept saying ""you should write a book". I happened upon an ad for a short story contest and I thought, ""Okay, I'll try it."" The short is called Heart of a Soldier, It's a military romance. I didn't win the contest, but I did get a contact!

What genres do you write?
I have written military, cowboy and contemporary romance, my new release is paranormal romance and I am super excited about this new series. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre to read and I love this little community I have created in Honey Corners, West Virginia.

Tell us about your newest book.
I love the story of how Hers to Bear was born, I was at a release party event (sorry, I don't remember whose) and one of the authors asked the question ""If you were to write a paraormal romance, what kind of shifter would your hero/heroine be? and how would they meet?""
Now you know what happens when you give an author a prompt? That was all it took, for a week after I played the game at the contest, the characters yelled at me to write their story, and then their friends came along and now it's a 5 book series! LOL

Hers to Bear
Animal in Me series, Book 1

Erotic Paranormal Romance
Secret Cravings Publishing

Jenna Raynes has been overlooked by men all her life. A big, beautiful, woman, she was always the friend, never the lover. At twenty-five she has never even been kissed. All that changes in a heartbeat with one word from an alpha bear… “Mine.”
Sippe Leiter, Bern Helms got more than he bargained for when he stepped into Andy’s market for a jar of honey. He found his mate! Now if he can only keep her.
HUNTS, Humans United Negation Team for Shifters is targeting children from all the shifter groups. When Bern’s mate gets caught in the backlash and kidnapped along with his niece, all bets are off. Nothing will keep a bear from his mate. The hunters are about to become the hunted… 

An erotic paranormal romance, with laughter, suspense and a ten foot grizzly bear who will steal your heart (and your honey, better watch out!)

Mating the Honey Corner’s alpha should mean hot sex and cleaning the den. Instead, Rogue wolves, kidnapping scientists, and raging sows with PMS are Hers to Bear!

BUY LINK

EXCERPT
Bern had come into the store for his daily honey fix. He admitted it, he was addicted to the stuff. He had just bought two dozen biscuits at the bakery and he was going to drown them in honey, along with a nice piece of salmon for dinner.
When he stepped through the door he stopped in his tracks. His nostrils flared and his heart began to race. What was that fabulous scent? Like honey and vanilla, but something else too. Something that was making his cock stand up and do a happy dance in his pants.
Mate. Oh my God and goddess, his mate was in this store. He couldn’t think. Instinct took over and his legs carried him to the source of the tantalizing scent that had his libido raging and his bear roaring.
He was beside her before his brain had caught up with his body. He had to touch her. She was his. His hand covered hers as she reached for a jar of honey on the shelf. “Mine,” he growled. When she looked up at him with crystal blue eyes he thought he’d fallen into them and drowned.
Flawless porcelain skin covered a face that could have been painted by Botticelli. Pale blonde lashes framed her startled eyes and her cheeks were flushed an enticing pink. She bit her bottom lip and he wanted to kiss away the sting her torment caused the luscious flesh.
“There’s more than one jar,” she said, and her voice was husky and sweet.
He released her hand and skimmed his along the velvet softness of her cheek. She shivered.
“I am Bern, and you are mine,” he said.
She took a step back and a low growl escaped his throat. His bear didn’t like their mate backing away from them.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You are mine. You are my mate.”
Fear sparked in the woman. He could scent it, but along with the fear was a slight perfume of desire too. She looked around frantically and Bern could sense she was about to flee. He placed a hand on her arm.
“Do not run from me. Please.”
“I need to sit down.” She was shaking now.
Bern put his arm around her to steady her. His bear liked that. It wanted their scent to surround her. He started to lead her out of the store.
“Where are you taking me?” She hesitated.
“There is a bench outside where we can sit. It’s not far.”
She blinked up at him like an owl. “Okay.”

A QUICK AND QUIRKY #MFRWauthor Interview To Save a Lady @Pat_Preston

A Quick and Quirky Interview with MFRW Author Patricia Preston
Patricia writes stories that have strong characters, some humor, some romance, some adventure, and lots of emotion. She has won several awards for her fiction, and she is currently working on a series, the French Quarter Brides and a series of contemporary romances set in  Lafayette Falls, a fictional city near Nashville. She had a Western romance available from Carina Press entitled Almost an Outlaw, and two humorous short stories, “The Yard Sale” and “Laid to Rest” available on Amazon.

If money were not an object, where would you like to live?
I’d love to live in a townhouse in the French Quarters where I’d have access to Pat O’Briens and Café Du Monde on a daily basis. Gotta love them beignets and Hurricane cocktails.

If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?
I bet somebody already said ‘screwdriver’, huh?

What song best describes your life?  
“Another Day in Paradise”

Picture yourself as a store, what would be sold there?
Definitely books and music. There would be free e-readers and internet access. And there’s a music room where you can sample an entire song instead of a 30-second clip. And you can sit in massage chairs and chill with music and books. Also, there’ll be a wet bar. Yes and maybe pole-dancing classes. We’ll call the store Books, Ballads and Bottoms Up! We’ll open soon.

What is your secret guilty pleasure?
I don’t think you should attach the word guilty to pleasure. You should never feel guilty about enjoying yourself, regardless of what that involves. Just make sure you don’t electrocute yourself and remember you can take guilt-free pole dancing classes at my store.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, who would it be with?
Rick and Daryl from The Walking Dead!!! They know how to survive and plus they are sexy and Southern. That’s a plus, y’all.

What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?
Besides being born?

If you were on a reality show, which one would it be? 
Well, I don’t watch reality shows. Maybe America’s Got Talent for Writers. Everyone gets up there and reads a chapter…Naw…What about a bunch of redneck pole dancers taking classes at Bottoms Up. They are vying to a win a spotlight performance at Big Earl’s Place. You gotta let your imagination go there, people.

Tell us about your latest book.

To Save a Lady, Book One, French Quarter Brides

Mainstream (PG13) Historical  Romance

Romance & Adventure in old New Orleans. . .
A move from Paris to New Orleans brings disaster to Elise Plaisance’s predictable life as a lady’s maid. The son of her grief-stricken mistress disappears, and Elise is drawn into a web of espionage and lies as war threatens the city. Captain Jesse Cross doesn’t fancy himself as a lovelorn soldier desperate for a woman until a mysterious French spy captivates his imagination. 

Elise’s romance with the captain is a frail illusion, born in the darkness of a French Quarter courtyard and never meant to last forever. Amid war and betrayal, Elise must risk everything to rescue her mistress’s son before all is lost, and Jesse knows he has to save her even if it means sacrificing his honor and his life. 

During the War of 1812, a dauntless American captain and a desperate lady’s maid from Paris finds romance and danger in the sultry French Quarter of New Orleans.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT
December 1814
Captain Jesse Cross strode through the blanket of thick fog that rose from the banks of the Mississippi river and filled the dark streets of the French Quarter. A discarded playbill from an opera house lay in a mud puddle, and the muffled sound of piano music came from a closed theater where a musician practiced after the show.
New Orleans was on the brink of war. Nevertheless, on any given night, a man could attend an opera, a play, or a concert in this muggy city filled with wealthy residents who loved to be entertained.
Also, on any given night, a man could be robbed, shot, or stabbed to death. Crime thrived in the cultural city, which had its share of cutthroats and thieves who prowled the streets at night, looking for unwitting victims.
Jesse had no plans to become one of those victims.
The navy greatcoat he wore over his uniform brushed the tops of his riding boots and concealed the flintlock pistol he cradled against his thigh. As the moon ducked behind a cluster of heavy clouds, he listened carefully to the quiet footsteps that echoed his own. He had been followed since leaving a tavern on Rue Dauphine.
He continued at a steady pace, walking south on Rue Toulouse. Townhouses and shops jammed against sidewalks called banquettes in this city where French was the primary language.
The midnight hour approached. The houses were shuttered, and the streets deserted. There was no good reason to think the man trailing behind him was just out for a jaunt, not in the middle of a winter night.
Jesse picked up his pace as the damp, cold air breezed about him.
He longed to be elsewhere. Lying in front of a warm fireside, with a glass of good wine and a woman eager to ride him. That would be such a joy right now. When had he last known such pleasure? He would have to dig deep in his memory to answer that question.
He tightened his grip on his pistol. The sound of footsteps grew closer. Faster now in the darkness. Coming up behind him while he walked along the banquette as if he suspected nothing. He drew in a steadying breath.
There was nothing like the element of surprise.

CONNECT with Patricia Preston

Website: www.patricia-preston.com

Blog: www.patricia-preston.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/16kagF5

Twitter: http://ow.ly/E8xdW

Pinterest:   http://ow.ly/E8xD5

Goodreads: http://ow.ly/E8xY2

A Short & Sweet #MFRWauthor Interview @TheAnnaDurand

Meet Anna Durand.

I'm a writer, reader, librarian, and audiobook addict. I specialize in sexy, suspenseful paranormal romance, including the award-winning Psychic Crossroads series. In my spare time, I photograph flowers, whether they like it or not.

Why did you decide to write romance novels? I realized that what I love most in a book is the romance. If there isn't one, the story feels empty to me, because romance is about more than attraction—it's about emotion and connection. I've written other types of books, but my true love is romance.

What kind of research do you do for a book? I'm always doing research, because I love to read about science, ancient history, and mythology. All of these subjects inspire my romances. So I don't do a lot of research for a specific book, but rather keep my eyes peeled for intriguing ideas that may germinate into stories.

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre? I'm always itching to try something new. I'd love to dive into fantasy and historical romance but haven't found the time yet. I also have ideas for a mystery, but paranormal romance is still my first love and what I focus on.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why? Absolutely! Humor is a great way to deal with stress, and the characters in my books endure a lot of that. My heroines tend toward the sarcastic, but they're never mean, and my heroes have senses of humor too. They may be fighting for their lives, but they can find the humor in even the most mortal of danger.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries? I create jewelry, photograph flowers, read, and listen to audiobooks.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read? I'm a huge fan of Rachel Caine, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Kessler, Jayne Castle, Maria V. Snyder, and Christine Amsden. But I read (or listen to) tons of books by many different authors, from bestsellers to indies.

CONNECT with Anna...
http://www.annadurand.com/
http://amzn.com/author/annadurand
https://www.goodreads.com/annadurand
https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurand
http://www.pinterest.com/Anna_Durand/
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurandFiction
http://www.theromancereviews.com/AnnaDurand
https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/TheAnnaDurand

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? Reborn to Burn is the second story in a four-part series about a young woman who was resurrected from death by some shady scientists. I got the idea from reading about microscopic creatures called tardigrades, which can survive the vacuum of space, but they also can survive dehydration and spring back to life decades later, when enough water hits them. This led to the concept of a mummy being regenerated to a near life-like state. She wasn't supposed to wake up—but she did, and nobody knows why. In the second installment, things get steamy between Dawn (the ex-mummy) and her savior Jake, as they unearth a shocking secret about how she awakened and what she can do.

Reborn to Burn

Paranormal Romance
Jacobsville Books
After three thousand years as a mummy, Dawn awakened to a dangerous new reality where science and the supernatural collide. Her only ally is Jake Maxwell, a mysterious grad student with an unusual talent for evading bad guys. Dawn's resurrection spells trouble and power for the scientists responsible, and they have no intention of letting her go without a fight. But as she flees with Jake, a shocking revelation about her newfound life rocks them both. While their enemies close in, they discover a fiery passion—and a bond deeper and stronger than time itself. But can they outrun the past before their future is shattered? After 3,000 years as a mummy, Dawn was resurrected by Redeo Biotech, and now they'll stop at nothing to control her. As she flees with her only ally, Jake Maxwell, they unearth a shocking secret about her new life and discover a fiery passion. But can they outrun the past before their future is shattered?

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT

Headlights popped on close behind. She threw up a hand to shield her eyes. What was this idiot doing? He must've driven with his lights off until he got within yards of their SUV.
Her pulse raced. No one would do that unless—
Shit.
Jake lurched forward, grimacing as he twisted his body to squint at the back window. ""It's them.""
""Why don't they kill us and get it over with?""
""They need your brain undamaged. An auto accident would be…messy.""
""Charming. But a few hours ago, you said they'd kill me simply for being alive.""
""That's when Saxon was in control. He's gone.""
A chill shimmied through her. Saxon was gone because she'd killed him, to save Jake. Her finger had pulled the trigger, and a part of her wondered whether she'd swapped his life for her own.
""Trust me,"" Jake said, ""the other scientists at Redeo understand the importance of examining an intact, resurrected brain.""
""Great, I feel much better."" She pushed the SUV harder. The other car, its shape invisible behind the glare of the headlights, receded in the mirror.
""It won't be that easy.""
""I know,"" she snapped. Redeo Biotech had created her, in a way, and they despised giving up anything they owned. ""What would you like me to do?""
""Drive faster.""
""You said that wouldn't help.""
""No, I said it wouldn't be that easy."" When she opened her mouth to protest, he laid a hand on her shoulder. ""Use your knowledge. Most of us born into this world don't know it as well as you do. Tap into what you learned during your soul journeys."" He gave her shoulder a light squeeze. ""And drive faster. It'll buy us a little time.""
She rammed her foot down on the accelerator. The car shot forward, pinning her to the seat. The steering wheel shimmied, and she gripped it tighter. The headlights of the other vehicle shrank in the mirror. She released the breath trapped in her lungs.
Headlights surged closer. A powerful engine snarled behind them.
Electric ice zapped through her, clenching her hands and quickening her breaths. So much for buying time.
She stomped her foot on the accelerator.
The other vehicle snarled, revving its engine.
Blood thundered in her ears. Every muscle in her body went rigid.
The other car slammed into them with an explosive crunch. The concussion flung her forward. She clung to the wheel as it jerked in her hands. Christ, no. The seatbelt gouged into her, radiating pains through her chest. She gasped, gritted her teeth, and held on.
An object thunked in the center console. Her gaze flicked to the cup holder, and Jake's gun stashed there.
The attacker barreled his car into them a second time. Their SUV fishtailed. She fought to control the wheel, but the SUV fishtailed again. Skidded sideways. Thwacked over a bump.
And spun out into the night.

What's #MFRWauthor @LaurenLinwood 's Guilty Pleasure?

Meet MFRW Author Lauren Linwood.
Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.

Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest and House Hunters addicts.

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE would best describe my life. I'm at an age where I'm comfortable with myself and like who I am and where I am on this journey in life.

My guilty pleasure is dark chocolate. My trick to not gobbling it down is to put the individually wrapped Dove chocolates in my freezer. I'll take one out to nibble on, and then I get the taste I crave by the time it's finished--and can stop at the one piece.

The funniest thing that ever happened was when I came in from a bonfire in college, flipped on my radio, and heard, ""Be the 10th caller for concert tickets."" I never ever won anything, so I dialed--and I got through! I was the winner! The only trouble was I hadn't heard the firsts part of the DJ's pitch. Since Halloween was the next day, I had to howl at the money. I tried talking myself out of it, but he wasn't having any of that, so I sucked it up and bellowed out a howl. For the next week as I crossed campus, I was stopped a zillion times by people who'd heard me on the radio. A little embarrassing, but pretty darn funny!

The scariest thing was losing my 2-year-old daughter at a water park. We were in the children's play area, going in and out of water tunnels, popping out and saying ""Boo!"" to each other. She went around a corner and then didn't jump back out at me. I frantically raced through the tunnels, came to the outside, and saw dozens of children--but not mine. She turned up a few minutes later, but I was scared to death that she'd been taken or she'd drown.

I would love to go on THE AMAZING RACE so I could travel to all the incredible, exotic places . . . for free!

Though I think zebras are adorable, there's just something steadfast and yet mystical about an elephant. They're playful but seem to be an old soul at the same time.

I wish an interviewer would ask how long I plan to keep writing. BTW - forever!

Lauren's latest book is A Bit of Heaven on Earth, a Mainstream Medieval Historical Romance, with Soul Mate Publishing.
When Gavin of Ashgrove is captured in battle, his father refuses to pay his son’s ransom, leaving him to rot in a French prison. Gavin escapes and returns to England, only to find he is proclaimed a bastard and disinherited. With nowhere to turn, he journeys to the estate of Lord Aldred, the famed warrior he fostered with as a boy. Gavin falls in love with Elizabeth, the old warrior’s much younger wife, as a dying Aldred plots Elizabeth’s future with King Edward. Gavin loses his good name, lands, possessions--and his heart--to  famed beauty Elizabeth of Kentwood. Will the king allow a penniless knight to marry a wealthy widow?

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

       Elizabeth watched as Gavin built a fire. She moved close to it, resting her hands against the stone as she leaned into the heat.
“You shake still.” He moved behind her and placed his hands upon her shoulders. His fingers held such heat. Indeed, his very closeness seemed a stronger fire than that in the grate before her. She leaned into him, absorbing the warmth that he possessed, even in his wet tunic.
Then his arms slid round her waist, drawing her closer. Her breath caught in her throat at his very nearness. His fingers locked, trapping her in the circle of his arms.
“Gavin?” she asked, afraid to move, afraid to break the magic spell. She’d longed to be right where she now stood. Her pounding heart betrayed her fear at their situation.
His response was wordless. He bent and kissed her ear, his breath sending shivers down her spine. His lips moved to her neck, scorching a path there, before they touched her cheek.
One arm held her tightly against him as his other palm moved to caress her breast. Elizabeth moaned. Her knees turned liquid. If Gavin had not held her, she would have puddled on the floor.
Suddenly, he spun her in his arms. She clung to him wildly. His hands splayed along her back. His mouth was everywhere, in her hair, on her eyelids, her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her mouth.
His kisses overwhelmed her. She couldn’t breathe. And yet they continued, his mouth insistent on hers. Her lips parted, allowing his tongue entrance, and she welcomed it. He stroked her with it, a constant, dizzying motion that kept her head spinning. Her senses filled with him, his scent, his touch, his taste. Tears began to flow.
Gavin lifted his mouth. “Elizabeth?” he asked. “Have I hurt you?” He held her at arm’s length and studied her.
The concern in his eyes touched her very core. “No,” she whispered. “’Twas just so beautiful . . . I . . . had to cry.”
He smiled, a heartbreaking smile, and caught her up in his arms again. “No, my love, you are the beautiful one.” He kissed her gently, tenderly. The passion was still there, but it was more controlled now.
Gavin swept her up into his arms. Hers went round his neck and she kissed him for the first time, making her own bold move. His growl let her know he approved. He broke the kiss and looked around the room.
“I see no bed, my lady. The straw on the floor ‘twill have to suffice. But,” he said, his eyes glowing at her, “I guarantee you won’t notice the difference.”
He carried her to the corner of the room. As he placed her on the straw, she raised a hand to his chest. His heart beat as fast as hers did. Oh, God in Heaven, she wanted this man!
A voice from outside invaded her thoughts.
“Elizabeth? Gavin? Are you there?”

CONNECT with Lauren
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.com
Blog: http://laurenlinwood.wordpress.com/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091840.Lauren_Linwood?from_search=true
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwood

Meet #MFRWauthor @AlisonMcMahan & The Saffron Crocus

Meet Alison McMahan.
Alison chased footage for her documentaries through jungles in Honduras and Cambodia, favelas in Brazil and racetracks in the U.S. She brings the same sense of adventure to her award-winning books of mystery and romantic adventure for teens and adults.

"My life experience is an indirect influence on my writing. I don't put people I know in my books. Instead I write about things that matter to me, and I let the characters tell me who they are. In this story, I originally didn't think the two main characters would fall in love. Instead, Isabella was going to love the wealthy merchant Domenico, who loves her the way he loves a good ship full of pricey merchandise. But Isabella and Rafaele had their own ideas, and fell in love. Who am I to argue with teenage hormones?

"Once I start writing a book I write from 5 am to 9 am. Then my husband gets up and we have breakfast and exercise and I go back to writing the rest of the day. Except lately I spend my afternoons marketing more than I do writing. I cannot write if my environment is noisy or if anyone interrupts me, which is why I write early in the morning. No one else is awake then. I do a lot of research for each book, but I try to save that for the afternoon. The morning is sacred writing time."

Alison McMahan's latest release is The Saffron Crocus, a Young Adult Historical Mystery, with Black Opal Books.

BUY LINK

Venice, 1643. Isabella, fifteen, longs to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir, but only boys (and castrati) can
do that. Her singing teacher, Margherita, introduces her to a new wonder: opera! Then Isabella finds Margherita murdered. Now people keep trying to kill Margherita’s handsome rogue of a son, Rafaele.

Was Margherita killed so someone could steal her saffron business? Or was it a disgruntled lover, as Margherita—unbeknownst to Isabella—was one of Venice’s wealthiest courtesans?
Or will Isabella and Rafaele find the answer deep in Margherita's past, buried in the Jewish Ghetto?

Isabella has to solve the mystery of the Saffron Crocus before Rafaele hangs for a murder he didn’t commit, though she fears the truth will drive her and the man she loves irrevocably apart.

Murder, Mystery & Mayhem in 17th Century Venice...  Amazon BUY LINK

REVIEW
I adored this beautifully written, passionate book. The Saffron Crocus is a glittering, thrilling opera of a novel that plucked my heartstrings and kept me reading at fever pitch. Brava, Alison McMahan! Encore! 
~ Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Wicked Saga

WINNER: 2014 Rosemary Award for Best Historical for Young Adults

EXCERPT

Who knew a singing career would be this much trou-ble?
“Rafaele!” She flew into the garret. “Piero, it was so wonderful, wait until I tell you!”
The stool next to the bed was knocked over. The tray with the genepy bottle was on the floor, one of the cups broken. The fat candle that had been burning next to Ra-faele’s bed had been flung to the other side of the room. Canvases were strewn all over the floor, some of them slashed, and many of Master Strozzi’s jars of paint ele-ments were broken.
Did Piero and Rafaele have a fight? She quickly suppressed the thought. Who would get into a fight with a man who was already injured?
Something else must have happened.
She walked across the garret. “Piero? Rafaele, are you here?”
Rafaele was not in the bed. The sheets and blankets she had piled on top of him were strewn everywhere. Blood-stained sheets spilled over the edge of the pallet. There was a pile of clothes on the floor.
She walked around to get a closer look.
Not clothes. It was Piero. Face down, one arm stretched out before him, as if in supplication.
A puddle of blood under him.
Dead.

She loves hearing from readers. 
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http://www.AlisonMcMahan.com

Meet #MFRWauthor @JessicaCale!

Meet MFRW Author Jessica Cale.
Jessica Cale is a historical romance author and journalist based in North Carolina. Originally from Minnesota, she lived in Wales for several years where she earned a BA in History and an MFA in Creative Writing while climbing castles and photographing mines for history magazines. She kidnapped (“married”) her very own British prince (close enough) and is enjoying her happily ever after with him in a place where no one understands his accent. You can visit her at www.authorjessicacale.com.

1. Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I have wanted to write romance novels from a very early age. I loved reading them for the history, characters, adventures, and the love story, of course. I love to really get sucked into a book, and a great one can make your day (or week) at the same time as it keeps you up too late reading. A good book can improve even the worst day -- I wanted to do that for someone else; to give them an escapist, satisfying adventure that would hopefully make their day a little bit better.

2. How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
A lot! I try to write stories that I would be interested in reading, so I touch on a lot of my favorite subjects and places from history. With historical fiction, I think it's important to make it feel accessible, so readers can relate to it even if the setting and details are totally unfamiliar. I try to draw on some of my own experiences to do this; for example, a few scenes in Tyburn take place in a fictional pub called the Rose and Crown. During University, I worked in several pubs including a seventeenth-century coach house, and drew on this experience for the atmosphere. Sure, they didn't serve pints of Fosters back in 1671, but the bar scenes have a fairly timeless feel and that's why.

3. What kind of research do you do for a book?
I have a huge collection of history books. I read, keep notes, fact-check details, and then I look up the minor (but important!) details. For example, the time the sun rises and sets on that date in that location: Britain is on a totally different latitude and the sun can rise as early as 4am in the summer, and stay up until 10pm. This is very different from North America! I also check how long it takes to walk from Point A to Point B, I made a chart of currency and prices for common things in 1671, and I'm very careful with names: almost all of the names I use (first and last) were in the top 50 for England during the seventeenth century. Last but not least, I ask my husband to read it. He has a doctorate in Early Modern History, so I want his seal of approval before I show it to anyone else!

4. Where did the idea come from?
I have always been fascinated with sex in history, and the way prostitutes have been treated and viewed (hated/revered) over time. There were thousands of prostitutes in London during this period (and any other), and Sally could have been any one of them. That's where she came from. The story itself came from a dream I had about a black horse on its way to a hanging. It was one of the most vivid and terrifying dreams I've ever had, and not much happened, it was just this intense feeling of tragedy. I had to do something with it.

5. Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?
Extremely - and in mine, especially! Tyburn is very dark. The characters struggle through adversity, poverty, and tragedy, but I tried to temper this with quite a lot of humor. I think this adds to the authenticity in any piece of writing, as well. Even when things are very bleak, you find these bright moments here and there.

6. What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
My family is wonderful. It can be difficult to find time to write, but my husband is very supportive and gives me the space (and quiet!) that I need. My cat does like to try to sit on the keyboard, though!

7. What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I bake macarons once a week. They're very difficult to make and the whole process can take a few hours, but I put on my music and dance around the kitchen, and it always cheers me up -- especially when they turn out!

8. Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
I love Julie Anne Long, Maggie Robinson, Jude Deveraux, Judith Merkle Riley, and too many others to mention!

9. Tell us about your latest book.
Tyburn is the story of Sally Green, a young French woman who arrives in London in 1668. Like many girls at the time, she was taken in by a brothel, where she was forced into prostitution. When the book starts in 1671, she is in a very bad place. Her friends are dead, she can't see a way out of her predicament, and she is convinced that Death is a person who is following her. On the other side of London, Nick Virtue is an underpaid tutor who moonlights as a highwayman to keep himself from starving to death. When they meet, it starts a series of life-changing events, and both hold keys to secrets in the other's life. Tyburn is a story of redemption, revenge, and love in spite of very unfortunate circumstances.

Tyburn (The Southwark Saga, Book 1)

Historical Romantic Suspense
Liquid Silver Books

Sally Green is about to die.

She sees Death in the streets. She can taste it in her gin. She can feel it in the very walls of the ramshackle brothel where she is kept to satisfy the perversions of the wealthy. She had come to London in search of her Cavalier father. Instead, she found Wrath, a sadistic nobleman determined to use her to fulfill a sinister ambition. As her friends are murdered one by one, survival hinges on escape.

Nick Virtue is a tutor with a secret. By night he operates as a highwayman, and any day that doesn’t end in a noose is a good one. Saving Sally means risking his reputation, and may end up costing him his life.

When a brutal attack throws them together, Sally must choose between the tutor and the highwayman; between new love and an old need for revenge.

Amazon BUY LINK

EXCERPT

Darkness had fully settled over the forest and he was in no danger of being seen as they headed for the city. There were no new street lamps so far out of town, and as often as she glanced at his face, all she could see was the outline of his profile by the light of the moon. He moved soundlessly through the night as criminals must, the warmth of his hand in hers the only reassurance she had that he was still beside her.
They reached the edge of Hyde Park and Sally felt Tyburn looming near before she saw it, the residual tragedy of the gallows rippling along the field in a mournful, near perceptible howl. Because she could not look away, she turned toward the evil and saw the fearful silhouette of the triple tree dark against the violet sky.
This is your future, they seemed to whisper.
In her heart, she answered, I know.
She heard the brutal crack of Claude’s strong, young neck reverberate through the darkest corners of her memory, felt his cold lips against hers once more in a terrible promise, and in her bones she felt the stillness of one who is certain they are about to die. She was immediately aware of the unique texture of every breath she drew, the sweet sigh of the breeze whispering through her hair, and the dirt, the calluses, the very fingerprints of the hand in hers.
So little of Sally’s life had been left up to her.
She might have days, hours, mere moments left, but she would be damned if she wasted them.

Connect with Jessica
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicacale
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaCale
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JessicaCaleWrites
Tumblr: http://authorjessicacale.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rainbowcarnage
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Cale/e/B00PVDV9EW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9819997.Jessica_Cale

#MFRWauthor ERIKA KELLY Rocks Romance @ErikaKellyBooks

Meet MFRW Author Erika Kelly.
Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life—she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she’s lived in two countries and seven states, but give her pen and paper, a stack of good books, and a steaming mug of vanilla chai latte and she can make her home anywhere.

http://erikakellybooks.com/  |  https://www.facebook.com/erikakellybooks

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
As far back as I can remember, I put myself to sleep at night telling romantic stories. I was one of those unusual kids who couldn't wait to go to bed--just so I could get back to where I'd left off. I didn't have a mom or grandma who read romance, so I didn't know it was actually a thing. It wasn't until my mid-30s when an editor wrote on my manuscript, Does this author know she writes romance? that I discovered those stories in my head made up an entire section of the book store!

What genre do you write?
I write contemporary romance. Which means in every book I write I get to relive that heart-pounding rush of meeting The One.  Honestly, there's nothing like that build up to the first kiss, the first time they make love after fighting their intense attraction for so long. I love writing about passion.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?
After college, a friend and I would take long hikes on the weekends. We'd see weird things along the way and make up stories about them. One day she said, You should write a book. Something deep inside me clicked. It would take me years to connect the stories I told myself at night to the words I put down on the page, but that friend set me on the path. To be honest, I really only submitted that first book because I got sick of people referring to my writing as a hobby. It felt so dismissive for something that required such intense work.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I start imagining the next story at the tail end of the book I'm working on at the moment. Scenes start playing in my head, and I write them all down so I don't forget them. Only when I've finished the current book do I start on the next. I don't plot or outline, but I do work out my character arcs and plot points. I won't start a book until I have a clear map and some strong feelings for the chemistry between my characters. Then, I write a very messy, ugly draft--forcing myself to keep going forward. I write every day, and my most productive time is first thing in the morning. Well, after breakfast and a clean kitchen!

What about your family? Do they know not to bother you when you're writing?
I seriously can't work when people are in the house. No matter what, someone will call for me. To me, family is more important than anything, so when my husband asks if I want to get a coffee with him or my daughter wants to know what's for dinner, I'll stop what I'm doing. I know I can't get that time back with them, and I never want to look back and regret not being with them when I had the chance. So, I write when they're at work, at school, or otherwise engaged.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I read. Sometimes the business side of writing overwhelms me. Or sometimes my brain can't function anymore--writing is hard! But I know I can pick up a book, get lost for a good amount of time, and then come back with renewed energy.

Tell us about your latest book:
I'm having a lot of fun with a New Adult series about the 3 O'Donnell siblings.

Nicole’s story, Mine for Now (formerly called Too Good to Be True) won the 2014 Golden Heart for Contemporary Romance. It’s about moving away from home for the first time and reinventing yourself. Between an alcoholic mom and a troubled boyfriend, Nicole wants a drama-free freshman year. So, out of all the guys on campus to fall for, of course she chooses the one whose mom took a housemate’s car on a joyride. Mine for The Week is about the oldest son, Golden Boy Ryan, a senior in college, and that scary time just before you push off into the unknown. Two months from signing with a major league team, Ryan heads to a resort for a much-needed break but finds the wildly sexy Sophie Valentine instead. Worst timing ever to meet the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Mine Forever is about the hard-partying middle son, Brandon, whose community service project is manning the camera of a student’s documentary. The topic? An expose on the hookup culture of this generation. The student? Just happens to be the woman whose virginity Brandon took while drunk at a frat party.

You Really Got Me

Book One, Rock Star Romance Series

Erotic Contemporary Romance

Berkley

From award-winning author Erika Kelly comes the first in a hot new series about a rock star on his way up—and the woman he wants to take all the way…

Emmie Valencia has what it takes to be the music industry’s hottest band manager. She just needs to prove it. Determined to discover a killer new band, Emmie is ready to make her move. First stop: Austin, Texas.

As a sizzling hot lead singer, Slater Vaughn has no trouble raising heart rates—but his band’s been flat-lining for years. When Emmie, his bandmate’s sister, crashes with them in exchange for some free management, her industry know-how lands them a spot in the biggest music festival in Texas. But it isn’t just her business acumen that catches Slater’s attention. Emmie is sexy and warm, and—for the first time in his life—he wants more.

But as irresistible as Slater is, Emmie is done with musicians. In her experience, a man can’t be a rock star and someone to trust with your heart—but Slater is determined to show her he’s both." Deliciously sexy romance between a band manager who's been burned one too many times by selfish musicians and a groupie-bait rock star who's so much more than he seems.

AMAZON BUY LINK

"Lovable characters and pulse-pounding chemistry make this one of my favorite reads of the year!"
--NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Laura Kaye

EXCERPT

Slater drew her up hard against him, held her to his damp chest. For a long moment he looked into her eyes. Her blood heated from the look she saw there. She couldn’t believe he was looking at her like that.
With her hands pressed to his chest, she could feel the moment the tension left his muscles.
He tipped his forehead to hers. “Enough, all right?”
What did that mean? The moment was so strange and confusing, she didn’t say anything. A tremor shuddered through her. Her heart pounded. She should probably walk way, let him go back to his flock of girls, but she really needed him to hold her. She wasn’t ready for him to let go.
They stood in the middle of the dance floor, holding each other, and she wanted to sink into him. It felt so good. Yes, it felt exciting to be in his arms, to not have him resisting or taunting or teasing, but it also felt so…peaceful. So right.
She didn’t want him to get all weirded out, so she started to pull away. But the moment she relaxed her hold on him, he tightened his. “Dance with me.”
Emmie looked up, overwhelmed by the emotion pouring off him. For her. He wanted to be with her. Without thinking, she let her head fall to his chest and just…surrendered.
He reached for her hands, brought them to his chest and held them there tightly. She could feel his heart pounding, feel the heat pouring off him.  His feet shuffled closer to her, his chin lowered to her shoulder, his nose nuzzling into her neck. She thought he’d possibly inhaled.
Sensation bloomed on her skin.They barely moved, just held each other, as though slow dancing at the prom. The frenetic beat of the music, the flashing strobe lights, the thrashing bodies all around them made no sense against the slow roar of blood in her veins, the thick swirl of desire churning deep inside of her.
She let out a sigh of relief, pulling her hands out of his grip and wrapping them around his neck. Slowly, she moved closer to him, their hips connecting, bound like magnets, moving together in a slow, gentle sway. His arms came around her, pulling tighter, until their dance turned more into an embrace. Was this happening? This sweet, intimate moment with him? He was allowing himself to get close to her? His gentleness stole the breath from her lungs.
When his hands flattened on her back, when his hips surged into her, when she felt the shock of his hardness against her stomach, she pulled away from him. What…what was that?
She fled into the crowd, not even knowing if he followed. Why had he done that? That deliberate gesture, announcing his interest in wanting to have sex with her? After sharing an intimate moment, he’d turned to sex. No, no, it hadn’t been intimacy at all. It had been the precursor to sex.
Because that was all he knew. God, she was so stupid. Thinking he wanted something different from her. That somehow she was special. She pushed her way off the dance floor.
God, she was only human. She couldn’t take much more of this…this teasing from him.
He shouldn’t treat her like all the other girls he could screw and discard, pressing his boner into her like it was hers for the taking.
She hurried into the bathroom, locked herself in a stall and just stood there, unable to catch her breath, calm down her jittery nerves.
Hers for the taking. He had been. He’d made that perfectly clear. She closed her eyes, the feel of his erection igniting a flash flood of desire.
She wanted him between her legs, pushing inside of her. She’d never wanted a man so desperately before. Had never felt it between her legs, the throbbing, the pulsing, the need.
She’d never felt things like this. And she loved it. She did. It didn’t make her feel slutty or depraved or anything. It made her feel sexy.
She loved the way it made her feel.
She loved the way Slater made her feel. But not for one night. God, no. That just wasn’t her at all.

#MFRWauthor INTERVIEW: L.A. Remenicky with Ragan's Song @Remenickywrites

MFRW Author L.A. Remenicky talks with MFRW.
L.A. Remenicky is a 40-something wife and mother to 3 furkids. She writes Love Stories With A Twist. Writing wasn’t even on her radar until a friend introduced her to NaNoWriMo in 2012. She signed up, wrote 50,000 words that November, and she hasn’t looked back.

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Romance has always been one of my favorite genres to read so it was only natural that I would write romance.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I thought about it for years but never actually did it until a friend introduced me to NaNoWriMo in 2012. I signed up, wrote 50,000 words, and now I can't stop.

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
Yes, I would love to write a time travel romance. I will be trying to write a Fantasy/Sci-Fi romance for NaNo this year.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
Since I work a full-time job in the ""real world"" my writing routine is a couple of hours each night after dinner at my laptop.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
My husband leaves me alone but my furkids are another story. I have a 160# Mastiff who loves to bother me while I'm writing.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries? I usually take a walk, read a book, or watch a movie. Anything to get me thinking about something other than my current story.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read? Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, Nora Roberts (& her alter-ego J.D. Robb), the list is endless.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story?
Adam and Ragan first showed up in Saving Cassie and when Ragan left with no explanation, I knew there was a story there.

Ragan's Song ~ Fairfield Corners Book 2

Mainstream Contemporary/ light Paranormal

Amazon BUY LINK

It only took one look into his eyes for her to know she was in trouble.

Adam Bricklin has heard the melody in his head for years, the melody that told him if a decision was right or wrong. When he met Ragan Newlin the song told him she was the one. He was devastated when circumstances tore them apart. It has taken three years for Adam to finally move past the heartbreak he suffered when Ragan left town in the middle of the night. No note, no email, no text. She was just gone. Until the day Ragan returned to Fairfield Corners.

Ragan came home to celebrate her parent’s anniversary. When she discovered that Adam was still living in Fairfield Corners she hoped her secrets were safe; secrets that drove her away three years ago, secrets that could change their lives forever.

Excerpt

Adam crouched down and reached between the front bucket seats to place his hand on her shoulder. “Shhh, he’s okay. He’s up the hill, inside my truck. He’s safe,” he said as he started cutting the seatbelt with his pocket knife. “Let’s get you out of this seatbelt. Then I’ll get you up to him in no time.”
“Adam?”
His heart stuttered in his chest when he heard her voice.
“Ragan? What the hell are you doing here?” Adam asked as he continued sawing at the seatbelt. Blood ran down her face and dripped into the water, making his heart race with fear. “Hold onto me. I’ll get you out of here,” he said, trying to maintain a calm voice.
He sawed harder at the seatbelt with his pocket knife as he tried to hold her out of the water as much as possible. Her lips were blue and she had stopped shivering, the cold water was taking its toll. She grabbed at his shoulders, trying to keep her face above water level.
The water continued to rise, forcing Ragan to turn her head towards Adam to keep her mouth out of the water. The car lurched, sliding farther into the river.
“Oh God, Adam. Hurry,” she screamed as the water inched up, her arms tightening around his neck. She spit out river water, gasping in air, afraid the water would soon cover her mouth and nose completely.
Adam dropped his pocket knife and wrapped his arms around her. That’s when he felt the seatbelt finally break. His heartbeat roared in his ears as he grabbed her with both hands and pulled her into the back seat, making sure her face was out of the water.
“C’mon Ragan, stay with me for a little longer, baby,” he said, his voice wavering with fear. “I need you to hold yourself up for just a minute until I can pull you out.”
She grabbed the back of the passenger seat and held on as Adam pulled himself out of the car. He reached back through the open car door and pulled her out, grunting with the effort. Her lips were blue as he wrapped the blanket around her; he knew he had to get her warmed up fast.
The feeling of her in his arms made his heart beat faster and his hands began to shake. He stopped for a moment… holding her, pushing the memories back before he raised her into his arms and started up the hill. It was difficult carrying her while using the rope to pull them up the muddy hillside. Maintaining traction wasn’t easy and they fell a few times.
When Ragan’s eyes started to roll back and her arm across his shoulders went limp, he gripped her tighter.
“Hold on, Ragan, we’re almost there.” Adrenaline coursed through his body as he climbed the hill, his one objective to get Ragan to safety.
Adam lowered her onto the back seat of his truck beside Skylar and brushed the hair out of her face.
 “Dammit, why did you have to come back into my life?” he asked, as the elusive tune he’d been trying to get on paper for years started playing in his head. He thought it was gone for good when she had left three years ago. Was it a coincidence? She had come home to Fairfield Corners, and it was back.

Connect with LA Remenicky
Blog: www.laremenicky.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laremenicky
Google: www.google.com/+LARemenickyauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/remenickywrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191202.L_A_Remenicky
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/indianagizmo/
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/laremenicky
Street Team ~ Remenicky’s Remenions: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1425708337682216/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/remenicky

#MFRWauthor Interview: Helen Henderson

An Interview with Helen B. Henderson

A published author, feature-story writer and correspondent, Henderson has also written fiction as long as she could remember. The descendent of a coal-miner's daughter and an aviation flight engineer, her heritage reflects the contrasts of her Gemini sign. This dichotomy shows in her writing which crosses genres from historical adventures and westerns to science fiction and fantasy. In the realm of fantasy, she is the author of two fantasy series: the Windmaster novels and the Dragshi Chronicles.

Why did you decide to write romance novels? 
Actually I never planned to write romance. Historical westerns and science fiction or fantasy were the genres I expected to be published in. Working with multi-published author, Carol McPhee, romance learned to take its place alongside action.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? 
I like to think that I would live and act much the same way of my heroines.

What kind of research do you do for a book? 
Research can vary from intensive delving into weapons and the appropriate tactics of their use to attending reenactments.

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre? 
When I don’t fly amongst the stars or wander worlds of imagination, I ride the old West. Although not published in that genre in full-length, a short story has been published under the penname of my ancestress, Jesse Treon.

Tell us about your latest book.
Two releases within two months makes for an exciting time. Magic and Steel - Mt’wan Comraich is a novella which recounts a legend from the world of the Dragshi. Hatchlings Curse continues the tale of the trader girl Anastasia and Lord Branin Llewlyn that began in the romance fantasy novel, Dragon Destiny, the first book in the Dragshi Chronicles.

What motivated the story?
When it was originally written Dragon Destiny was short story written to help a family member recover from a coma. It morphed into a novel. The characters refused to leave and the original novel turned into a four book series. When typing “the end” I realized that there were untold stories from the dragshi, humans who could take on dragon form. Within each of the chronicles, the ceoltiers, the keepers of the past and teachers of the present, recount some legend. As with all such tales, some contain larger than life deeds. Others are the simple story of a man or woman doing what must be done, regardless of the cost. Sometimes embellished, the ceoltiers use the stories of times and actions past to educate and inspire. Magic and Steel is just one of the legends.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I admit to being a plotter. A storyboard form is slowly filled out, scene by scene. Some scenes may be a bullet list or a single line. As the story progresses and the characters become real, the form may be complete with dialog. By the time the storyboard is completed, so is a first draft of the book.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
While Anne McCaffrey and Louis Lamour have always been my go to authors, the romantic suspense of Carol McPhee and the science fiction of Judy Griffith Gill have found places on my shelves.

Magic and Steel - Mt'wan Comraich

The Lady Mairin Alidryer of the Dragshi searched the world for the one man who would be her mate. Like the true dragons, once their intended mate was found, the dragon shifters mated for life in this world and the one beyond. However, the man she left behind when she gained the freedom of flight refused to accept the truth—that she did not love him. Now the head of a band of raiders, he swore to have Mairin on her knees in front of him.

All that stands between his plans is the true human, Kedar.

Bodyguard to the Lady Mairin, Kedar dared not fail in his duty—or more dangerous—love her.

Amazon BUY LINK

EXCERPT

A whistle and another mare, a big gray with a black mane and a speckled rump, was led to the paddock. Only this time, more than a groom escorted the animal. Mairin walked alongside, a hand on the mare’s halter.
“No,” Kedar whispered. He had hoped that Mairin would go with the red mare and not be around the emotion-charged atmosphere of the pairings.
Maybe this will be for the best, optimism reassured.
Or at least thaw the wall, Kedar prayed. He watched Mairin as the gray flicked her tail, flirting with two of the stallions. But what he didn’t expect was the mental link that formed between him and Mairin. From the thoughts coming through the ethereal connection, one thing was certain. Mairin did not consciously control the link.
He felt her gaze linger on his back, but forced himself not to respond.
His breath caught, not at the swirling chaos in Mairin’s mind, but a crystal clear realization she inadvertently broadcast. Kedar’s sense of honor made it impossible for him to give in to my advances.
What stunned him more was the silent addition—But he can now.
To cool the warmth creeping up his neck, Kedar concentrated on the paddock. To his surprise, the space was empty except for Trom. The stallion Mairin rode stood at the rail. Instead of one mare, a matched pair of golden mares whose brown manes and tails marked them as of the same lineage, nickered at the rail, tossing their manes and playing the coquet.
While he had been lost in Mairin’s musings, Kedar realized, the other mares had selected their mates for the night. Hastily, he looked over the record keeper’s shoulder and nodded as if approving the entries.
The two mares whuffed. In response, the seidheirn puffed out his chest, pranced two steps and leaped the fence. He trotted a wagon length down the trail and stopped, looking over his shoulder. His attitude clearly said, “Coming, my dears?”
No, it would not be fair, Mairin’s honesty countered. A dragshi cannot love a true human. Kedar is too good a man to use that way.
While the thought gave Kedar hope, the next sent his pulse racing. Mairin wondered what it would be like.
What had been a mere spark surged into flames when he caught her picturing him unbinding her hair and slipping the straps of her gown from her shoulders.

CONNECT with Helen here
WEBSITE: helenhenderson-author.webs.com;
BLOG: helenhenderson-author.blogspot.com
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/njhistorywriter/
AMAZON: http://amzn.com/e/B001HPM2XK
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/777491.Helen_Henderson

A DOWN and DIRTY #MFRWauthor Interview @ShaunaRoberts5

Shauna Roberts gets DOWN and DIRTY with MFRWorg.
Shauna Roberts (1956-) writes historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and romance. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up in nearby Beavercreek. After receiving degrees in anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) and Northwestern University (Evanston, IL), she was a science and medical writer and copyeditor until retiring in 2010. She is a 2009 graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Workshop and was the 2011 winner of the Speculative Literature Foundation's Older Writer Grant. She currently lives in southern California.

How can readers connect with you?
Website:  http://www.ShaunaRoberts.com
Blog:  http://www.ShaunaRoberts.com
Amazon:  http://smile.amazon.com/Shauna-Roberts/e/B002R89SDI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shauna-Roberts-author/194876117254102
Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/shaunasroberts/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2127144.Shauna_Roberts

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
Personally, I skim them to see whether they're relevant to the plot or to character development. If not, I skip them. Some authors do a wonderful job of using a love scene to reveal important new information; I wish all romance authors could learn to do so.

What does your husband think of your writing?
He is proud of me and will be even happier when I'm making enough money that he can retire!

What can we expect from you in the future?
I am about to start writing a romance set in Bordeaux, France, and its wine country. Also, I am researching another novel set in Mesopotamia. It will focus on one of the most influential and important women of the ancient world. Bringing her story to life and to the attention of readers will be very exciting.

Do you have a set schedule for writing?
My official schedule is to write from 9 to 3, with Sundays (and sometimes Saturdays) off. However, the real world routinely interrupts that schedule a couple of times a week with business that can only be conducted M-F, 9 to 5. So I often write in the evening to make up for missed time.

Do you have a favorite author?
My favorite author is Guy Gavriel Kay. He writes fantasies that are rooted in actual history and that have multiple main characters. I love how he weaves those characters and several complex plot threads together.

Tell us about your latest book.
CLAIMED BY THE ENEMY is historical fiction that crosses over into romance. It takes place in

ancient Mesopotamia, the most fascinating time in history, when almost everything we take for granted today was new or being invented. The heroine is a princess, and the hero came from the same city and is now a soldier—of her enemy. Both are still dealing with the destruction of their home city and the loss of their families, a theme suggested by the near-destruction of New Orleans in 2005 by the failure of the federal levees.

BLURB
Crown Princess Nindalla knows the terrifying power of Sargon of Akkad’s army: Ten years ago, it destroyed her home city and killed her parents. Now the nightmare is happening again. The Akkadians conquer her new home, Susa; make her a widow; and strip her of her rank. Nindalla vows to protect her children from her enemies by any means necessary, including marrying whoever can shield them best. With plots swirling around her, can she trust her instincts to tell friends from foes? Farm boy Ur-sag-enki was forced to become a soldier in the Akkadian army ten years ago after it destroyed his home and left him with nothing. When the Akkadians conquer Susa, he is awarded its governorship. He looks forward to settling down to the normal family life he craves. First, though, he must keep control of Susa despite enemies who exploit his inexperience, and he must gain legitimacy by persuading beautiful former princess Nindalla to marry him. But can he win her heart when it was his hand that struck down her husband? These enemies—a princess and a lowborn soldier—can trust nobody . . . but each other.

BUY LINK

#MFRWorg Interviews #MFRWauthor Reet Singh @AuthorReet

MFRWorg asked. Reet Singh answered.

MFRW author Reet Singh is a surgeon with a passion for creative writing. 'Scorched by His Fire' is her first published piece of romantic fiction, and is courtesy of Mills and Boon® India's Passions Contest which she won in 2013. 'The Cure was Love', also from Mills and Boon® India, is releasing on 1st November. Her other offering is a alien adventure book for middle graders - ‘The Zaken Takeover’ - which she co-authored along with her son (who was eleven years old at the time of writing it). It is available on Amazon, for Kindle. Her blogs, reviews and other literary activities can be found at www.reetsingh.in.

1. If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
In my own beach house, on my own beach, with my sweetheart and a coffee filter. Oh! And chocolates.

2. If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?
Break things into bits.

3. What song would best describe your life?
My Fair Lady – I could have danced all night!

4. What is your secret guilty pleasure?
An Indian sweet – kalakand. Yum! It is also called milk-cake because it involves boiling a large amount of milk to make a small amount of sweet. Thickened milk is mixed with sugar and dry fruits to create this mouthwatering, addictive delicacy.

5. Tell us about the scariest thing that ever happened to you.
The proverbial phone call – from my sons' school – saying I should come right over because the boys, and their father who had gone to drop them, had met with an accident. Cuts that needed stitches, and awful bruises and scrapes – they got off lightly, thank goodness!

6. City life or country life?
Country life, in India, but WITHOUT the power cuts and WITH high speed internet access.

7. Ebook or paperback?
Paperback once upon a time, ebook now. Easier to hold, no need to turn pages, lighter, self-illuminated – the last is a particular boon - I can read even when the sweetheart is abed and the lights are out!

8. Share your latest book.
Scorched by His Fire is a Mainstream Contemporary Romance

BUY LINK

BLURB
Mita Ramphul can't face another family set - up with a 'nice young man'. What she needs is to divert her family's attention… so introducing the devastatingly handsome Tanay Devkumar as her new boyfriend is a stroke of brilliance! Until Tanay's scorching hot kisses threaten to shatter her plans for the perfect pretend date…

He might drive her crazy, yet spending time with Tanay sparks a passion Mita never knew she had. It's only meant to be temporary, but when Tanay looks at her with that smouldering fire in his ebony eyes Mita can't help but surrender to the temptation of her fake boyfriend…!

EXCERPT

Time slowed as Tanay explored in right earnest, giving in to the lure of Mita’s tempting mouth. He had had a hard time, the last half hour, sitting with her sexy body in his arms and not being able to do anything about it.
It was payback time now. His tongue made inroads that demanded response, and Mita felt confused. She should be furious but she felt drugged and helplessly needy. She didn’t want it to end, and apparently neither did Tanay.
He was hypnotised by the fragrance of her skin, the softness of her lips, the velvet of her tongue. His hands itched to explore her satiny skin, to dispense with all clothing and really explore.But he couldn’t. This wasn’t about a woman, or about sex. This was a case; a job. This was Mita, and he had to keep a clear head because she would consume him if he let her.

A QUICK and QUIRKY #MFRWauthor Interview @KetaDiablo

MFRW Author Keta Diablo, multi-published author of erotic romance and gay fiction, talks about one of her latest books... oh yeah, and she gives us some quirky answers to some quick questions.

If money was no object, where would you travel?
Well, if money is no object, you'd find me anywhere there's year-round sunshine and something we squish between our toes...sand.

If money were no object, where would you shop?
My favorite to place to shop would have to be a room filled with handbags, candles and bath soaps. I admit, I'm an addict to all three.

If you were stranded on an island, who would you bring with you?
If I was stranded on a tropical island, I'd want to be with anyone who lived larger in life during some point of history in the great USA.

Country or City?
Country life over city life in a heartbeat. Moooo. Moooo

What advice do you have for new writers?
The answer is simple and very brief. Write. More. Books.

Do you have a writing schedule?
I don't have a writing schedule per se. I do, however, plant my butt in a chair every day and write something. Anything. Writing is a lonely life and one must also be committed to sectioning off time every day to fulfill writing goals (whatever they are).

What is your favorite book?
The Windflower, Laura London (husband and wife team authors)
Second Favorites: To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone With the Wind, Sweet Savage Love (Rosemary Rogers), Spymaster Series (Joanna Bourne)

Tell us about writing Chasin the Dead.
I loved writing Chasing the Dead, Book 1 in the Bannister Brothers' Series. The Old West and Native
American history are two of my faves - not only do I love to write about them but the research is fascinating. Once in a while a toss in a paranormal element, which I did in Chasing the Dead. The Apache (all Native Americans) were very superstitious about the afterlife and ghosts. I hope I delivered something about the Natives you didn't know before.  And I hope I scared you too! The dead spirit in Chasing the Dead is no ordinary ghost - he's a ghoul bent on revenge!

Chasin the Dead, an Erotic Western Paranormal Romantic Suspense 

BUY LINK

We're running for our lives from Uday, the vaporous ghoul tracking us. He lusts after Sacheen, the beautiful maiden banished from the Apache village who travels with us. The warrior killed her father when Sacheen refused to marry him, and then Sacheen's brother killed Uday. The ghost's powers grow stronger every minute on our journey back to El Vaquero...and so does my love for Deacon.  ~ Madrid Arrende ~

EXCERPT

A shadow hovered near the fires, ducking in between stalks of cacti and other scrub brush. Maddie drew a deep breath and ambled forward with Elan beside her. Amid the dissonant chants and prayers, warriors brandishing spears and shields hollered into the gray mist. Maddie squinted, hoping to catch sight of the ghoul the others couldn't see. Only powerful shamans and spirit chasers had trained themselves to look upon the face of a dead spirit. A ripple of fear spread through her limbs and shivered down her spine when la fantasma appeared before her. A mass of black patterns and swirls marred his enraged face. His eyes were hollow and black until a den of serpents slithered from the sockets–a deception the spirit had learned in his brief time in the underworld.Maddie swallowed hard and sneaked a glance at Elan. Standing tall and looking formidable, she had to admire the man's courage. ""It is you he seeks to destroy, Elan, to forge a path to Sacheen. I will go forth on my own now.""Elan shook his head, his expression one of disbelief. ""Why would you put yourself in such danger? We wait and see what the dead man will do.""""No. It is what he wants, for all in the village to fear him. Only then does his true power unfold. I will meet his challenge; let him know I am here to banish him back to the dead."" ""Although I cannot"", she whispered under her breath.The ghost twisted and turned, retreating back from the fire, only to appear seconds later at another location in camp. He screamed and howled, the otherworldly sounds rumbling through the village like a murderous dust storm. Maddie shrugged aside Elan's grip on her elbow and walked forward. ""Madre, be with me,"" she said to the ground. The moon had not shown its face this night but a smattering of a million stars gave enough light for Maddie to focus on the grim outline of the wretch. ""Lift up your eyes dead spirit and hear my words.""An inhuman screech sent a blast of wind in her direction. It lashed her face and whipped her long hair into a frenzy.""You are small and weak. I do not fear you!"" she screamed, bewildered by the words spewing from her mouth. ""The wolf has sung your passing and the bear has grumbled low. Sing your death song and return to the underworld.""The wailing chants of the shamans echoed behind her. Ignoring her warning, Elan suddenly appeared beside her, only to be struck to the ground when the ghoul unleashed a stream of lightning spikes from the sky. Elan moaned, clutched his broken arm and attempted to rise.""Stay down!"" Maddie ground out between clenched teeth.Her mother's voice rode the crest of her fear. Be strong, Madrid, try again.Her knees shook and her spine curled, but she took another step forward. ""Your breath has moved to another world. You must remain with it. Do you hear me, dead spirit? You are no longer welcome here. Your relatives have said farewell and so must you, never to return.""A refrain from the Apache against her back bolstered her courage—a roar of cheers and the synchronized trampling of moccasins beating the ground.  Torrents of rain fell from the sky, pounding Maddie into the earth beneath her feet. Wet dirt spiraled up her nose and debilitating pain wracked her body. A hand clamped over her arm. When Maddie realized it belonged to Elan, a sigh of relief mingled with the cold blast of air surrounding them. Sacheen's brother pulled her against his wet body and crawled toward camp, dragging her with him.A triumphant scream from the ghost rent the air, pitching the warriors into a cowering retreat. The cold, gray dawn swept over camp. Shivering with despair, Maddie turned to Elan. ""His power is great.""Out of breath and still clutching his arm, he nodded.""Maddie raised a fist to the sky. ""We have failed this night, dead spirit, but we will not the next time we meet.""

#MFRWauthor Interview @REMullins

MFRW Author R.E. Mullins talks about her latest book.

R. E. Mullins was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri. She has also lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, Springfield, Missouri and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Though she has loved each area, the Ozarks hold a special place in her heart. That is why she set her fictional town of Amber Heights there.

She worked as a Phlebotomist for ten years and assisted in a Continuing Education Course in Phlebotomy. Now she is concentrating on writing. Connect with her on her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/REMullinsauthor.

Why do you write romance novels?
I want to write the types of things I like to read. Fantasy, romance—these are the things that interest me.

What kind of research do you do for a book? 
I do tons of research. Mainly because I get caught up in it and continue long past the point needed. Very little of it actually gets incorporated into my manuscripts.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Quite a bit. The disastrous blind date in my second novel actually happened to me, I was a phlebotomist, and the setting is quite similar to where I live. That said—I must add a disclaimer. I might have borrowed from real life for my books but my characters are imaginary.

Would you like to write a different genre?
After I finish my vampire series (4 books) I believe I might try my hand at contemporary. I’d like to have my characters enjoying a good meal once in a while instead of always drinking bloodwine.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction?
Yes. Absolutely. Life is funny. I continue to try to incorporate more and more humor in my writing.

Tell us about your latest book.
Vampire In The Scrying Glass is the second novel in my vampire series: The Blautsaugers of Amber Heights. Though it continues the family saga, it focuses on a different couple. This is Morgan and Rafe’s story. Don’t worry, though, you’ll hear from the characters in the first book.

Vampire In The Scrying Glass, The Wild Rose Press

Rafe Blautsauger, vampire and enforcer, must put his feelings for the mortal Morgan Maguire aside. The Nosferatu council who employs Rafe strictly forbids their love. But he can't stay away from the beautiful woman who causes his blood to beat with new life.Yet, she hides a secret, one he must expose in order to protect her.
                             
Morgan keeps her unique gift of magic under wraps due to a spell gone horribly wrong when she was young.  She is haunted by a nightmare where two malevolent glowing red eyes stalk her. Can she trust the arrogant but oh-so-handsome Rafe with her secret as well as her heart? Can he help her regain her power in time to save the world of the living and the undead?

There's a vampire in her scrying glass... BUY LINK

EXCERPT

Morgan quickly lunged forward, and pressed the stake firmly over his heart. “You are despicable.”
“Necessary. Especially for someone as puny as you.” With ease Rafe flipped the piece of sharpened wood out of her fingers, twirled it around a couple of times, and then handed it back with a small flourish.
This time reprisal came more quickly as a spell came to her. She hoped that one day it would come automatically. “Let this man feel my slap. Not to harm, just a tap. Let him feel a touch of fear, to know he cannot domineer.”
For a second the words hung in the air and then Rafe’s eyes widened as his head jerked to the side. The faint lines of a palm print reddened his left cheek.
“You little devil,” he rubbed the side of his face before pushing her on the shoulder with the flat of his hand. He shoved hard enough to force her back a step. “If you’re going to slap at me, by god, you better have the balls to come at me personally.”
“Oh, yeah?” Morgan thrust both hands against his chest and shoved with all her might. It shook her when he didn’t budge an inch, but she managed to keep up her air of bravado. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like the fact I’m not weak and powerless?” Tossing back her head, she challenged, “I don’t need magic to take you on, but it would be wise for you to remember it’s always there.”
He thwarted any chance of escape or the ability to get in the last word by twisting his hand into her hair. He pulled hard enough she gasped.
“So take me on,” he dared."