Diane Burton: Short & Sweet #MFRWauthor INTERVIEW @dmburton72

We asked. Diane answered.
MFRW Author Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense. She is also a contributor to the anthology How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in Michigan. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I write romance novels because I love to read them. My favorite romance sub-genres to read and write are science fiction romance and romantic suspense.

What kind of research do you do for a book?
Research: for romantic suspense, I visit, use maps, tourist info, search online about weapons, etc. For sci-fi rom, I have to use the internet, but I wish I could visit other worlds.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I began writing seriously (for publication) when my children were preparing for college--empty nest. After years of putting them first, I wanted to do something for me so I began writing. That was 20+ years ago. First manuscript was a romance with a mystery. Rejected. Won't see the light of day. LOL

What genre is your newest book?
My latest book is a sci-fi romance about a woman who isn't what she seems. Total ditz covers up a brilliant mind. I love the dichotomy. People aren't always as they appear. I just took it to an extreme.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?
Humor is extremely important. It gives us (readers) a break from intense situations.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
My family is extremely supportive. Since my husband and I are retired, I have the freedom to write when I want. He is very respectful of my writing time.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
One thing that makes me relax is a visit from my grandkiddies (ages 4 & 6). They are so much fun. They love to write stories with me--they tell me the story and I type it. After we print it out, they illustrate their story. Good division of labor. LOL Another way I relax and recharge is to watch movies. Love action/adventure, romantic comedy, sci-fi. Oh heck, I love all movies except horror and intense drama. And, of course, I read.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
Favorite authors. There are so many. Earlier favs include Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, Daphne DuMaurier, Mary Stewart. More recent: Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle, Linnea Sinclair, Janet Evanovich, Ann Aguirre, Kristen Hannah.

Diane released The Chameleon (An Outer Rim Novel: Book 2), a Sci-fi/Futuristic Story, in May 2014.

Legally Blond meets Mata Hari...

Socialite Jileena Winslott appears to be the spoiled, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s her father's smart, savvy aide, who yearns to run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. But he insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

Adventure and Romance in another world.

Buy Link

Connect with Diane Burton...
website  |  blog  |  twitter  |  facebook  |  goodreads  |  pinterest

The Write & Long Of It: #mfrwAUTHOR INTERVIEW @AshleyLadd

Ashley Ladd talks about writing, her influences, the books she loves and her newest sexy release.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Two – three months for a 60,000 word book

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I try to write a couple hours every evening after I get home from work and finish making dinner for my family. I also try to write a few hours on Saturday and Sunday as I can squeeze in the time.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre.
“Business or Pleasure” is a contemporary male-male erotic romance.

Business or Pleasure, an Erotic Contemporary GLBT Romance with Totally Bound...
Guy Rogers is extremely attracted to his new realtor, Tom Boudreaux. As a passionate vegetarian and animal activist, he’s ecstatic that Tom is a kindred soul. Unfortunately, Tommy isn’t really a vegetarian or an animal activist. In fact, Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue restaurant in town. 

When Guy finds out that Tommy eats meat and his family owns a restaurant that’s a monument to eating meat, he’s livid and doesn’t know if he wants anything else to do with Tommy. 

But then Guy’s life gets crazy—his dad’s paranoia blossoms into violent dementia, he gets arrested for picketing a doggy mill, then he winds up in even more legal trouble. When Tommy sticks by him through all his trouble and does everything he can to help him, Guy wonders if he’s been too militant and narrow-minded. Perhaps he can learn to live with people who have opposite views. 

Tommy Boudreaux is extremely attracted to Guy Rogers even though he’s a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist and Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue joint in town.

BUY LINK

Does it cross over to other genres?
No, not this one.

How do you come up with story ideas?
Ideas come from everywhere. TV shows. People watching. Dreams. The six o’clock news. Sometimes I brainstorm for ideas and sometimes they just come to me.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
I like them hot and spicy – usually. The love scene heat level depends upon the story. Some stories call for hot love scenes and other require very mild/sweet ones or none at all. Lately, I’ve been writing very hot ones.

What does your husband/wife think of your writing?
Unfortunately, he thinks I’m wasting my time and will until he sees a big royalty check. I don’t pay attention to him about my writing.

Do you ever ask him/her for advice?
Hell no! He’s not interested anyway.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Other writers such as Stephen King, Stephen White, Sherryl Woods, Tina Wainscott. My (ex) critique partners (still friends) Sher Hames Torres and Kim Cox.

What can we expect from you in the future?
A lot more books! I have books contracted to be released in September and October too: “Her Men” and “Spooky Sojourn”. Both are erotic romance. “Her Men” is a contemporary male-female-male ménage romance about a college reunion. “Spooky Sojourn” is a contemporary paranormal suspense male-female erotic romance about a haunted hotel. A third book is about to be contracted. All I will say is that it is set in a hotel

How do we find out about you and your books?
At my blog and my publishers and Amazon...
AMAZON  |  WEBSITE  |  Totally Bound 

How can readers/fans contact you?
FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS

Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Of course! I take them all very seriously.

You heard that, readers, let Ashley know what you think... about her books, her writing, or about what she has coming soon!

#MFRWauthor BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Shadow's Moon @JamiGrayAuthor

MFRW Author Jami Gray released Shadow's Moon (Bk 3 of the Kyn Kronicles), a Paranormal Romance, with Black Opal Books on May 10, 2014.

Even a wild heart can be broken…

A blonde, a brunette and a monster walk into a bar and all hell breaks loose.

Tracker, Xander Cade, confronts an enraged Shifter in a crowded human nightclub, fraying the thin secrecy shielding the supernatural community from public scrutiny. Danger stalks the pack and she must protect her alpha and mate, Warrick Vidis, even if he doesn’t want it.

If they don’t find a way to trust each other and accept their rare bond they risk losing everything-their pack, their friends and each other.

Buy Links
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Black Opal Books  |  Smashwords  |   ARe  |  iTunes

Reviewers Say It All...
In Shadow’s Moon by Jami Gray, Xander Cade is the tracker for her werewolf pack in the Pacific Northwest. She is mated to the pack al- pha, but isn’t sure that she wants to be and hasn’t fully accepted the mating bond. As tracker for the pack, she is charged with discovering who is threatening both the pack and the alpha, a job that puts her own life in equal danger. I think Shadow’s Moon is an excellent addi- tion to the Kyn Kronicles series. It is nice to get reacquainted with old friends and meet new ones. Gray is really coming into her own. The book is very well written and the plot strong. I couldn’t put it down once I picked it up. It held my interest from beginning to end. – Taylor Jones, Reviewer (www.BlackOpalBooks.com)

Shadow’s Moon by Jami Gray is a fine addition to her popular Kyn Kronicles series. This book, unlike the first two, focuses on Xander Cade, rather than on Raine and Gavin. It’s nice to get an in depth view into characters like Xander and Warrick, both of whom we have met in the two previous books. Shadow’s Moon is riveting. I was caught up in it from the very first word, and I simply could not put it down. I read right through to the end, finishing at 4 in the morning. I can’t wait for the next one in the series. Gray has turned into a first class author of paranormal thrillers. – Regan Murphy, Reviewer

Excerpt

“Why are you running scared?” His question was stiff.
“Let me ask you something,” she said. When he gave a short nod, she continued. “Why did you bond us?”
“You were dying.” His voice was gruff, almost angry. “I—we need you.”
Need, not love. His choice of words scraped over her heart. “Need?” she asked around the tightness of her chest.
“If we lost you, the pack would be devastated.”
“What about you, Warrick?” she whispered.

“An alpha can’t have a weakness, Xander,” he said, searing her with the brutal truth.

“So you consider a mate a weakness?” Oh, this was just getting better and better. Why had she thought she could make this relation- ship work?
“Did you forget what happened with Chavez?” he gritted out, rubbing the heel of his hand over his chest.
His movement had her realizing she was projecting her pain through their bond. Furious with herself, and with him, she reeled in her emotions. “Chavez’s mate was crazy.”
“He covered for her because he loved her, and now his pack is in upheaval.”
She wanted to punch him. The urge was so powerful, she had to curl her hands into the leather of her bike’s seat behind her. “So it’s not a mate that you consider a weakness, but the emotion behind it?” she pushed.
“No,” he growled. “You should never give an alpha wolf someone of his own.”
Confusion momentarily overrode her anger. “Why?”
His lips thinned and his jaw tightened. “An alpha is the ultimate protector. Protection of our packs is a natural directive. We will do whatever is needed to protect what is ours. Even if they don’t want to be protected.”
“Even a mate?” She kept her tone careful as she began to get an inkling as to why he was so damned determined to keep his heart out of her reach.
“To protect a mate some would burn the world,” Warrick answered. “Even at the expense of our pack. Chavez is proof of that.”
“Warrick—” she started.
He snarled and ran a hand through his hair in obvious frustration. “My wolf recognizes you as our mate.” Possessiveness stormed down their bond confirming his words.
Mate. A deep thrill hummed through her at his claim, but her heart ached because there was more to it. Dreading his answer, she asked, “And the man?”
“Is torn.” His face was grim. “Claiming you protects and strengthens the pack, but increases the danger to you.” His and me was left unsaid.
“You think you can claim me, but keep me at arm’s length? As if that will somehow keep me safe?”
He didn’t answer, but she could feel the belief in his screwed up logic. She and her wolf took exception to his assumption, and there was no stifling her growl. “I don’t need you to keep me safe, Warrick. I need you to accept me for who I am.”
Feminine fury rose and burned against his male arrogance. Her challenge was the last straw. She practically heard his control break. Swearing, he trapped her between his body and the bike before she could blink.
Being caged brought her wolf snarling to the forefront. Claws broke through and she swiped out, leaving thin bloody lines across one cheek before he captured her hands in his. He snarled back and took her lips with savage intensity. Ravaging her mouth, he took sharp bites of her lower lip before laving the stings with his tongue.

About Jami Gray
Jami Gray is the award winning, multi-published author of the Urban Fantasy series, The Kyn Kronicles, and the Paranormal Romantic Suspense series, PSY-IV Teams.  Her latest release, SHADOW’S MOON (5/14) was a Golden Claddaugh Finalist, and the first in her newest series, HUNTED BY THE PAST, hits shelves in July 2014. She is surrounded by Star Wars obsessed males and a male lab, who masquerades as a floor rug as she plays with the voices in her head.

Website:     www.JamiGray.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jamigray.author
Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/JamiGrayUFWriter
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/JamiGrayAuthor or @JamiGrayAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/JamiGray
Google+:  https://google.com/+JamiGray
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.com/e/B006HU3HJI
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/LvoZn