Have a cocktail with Mickey J. Corrigan

Today I have Mickey J. Corrigan on the blog. When I read Whisky Sour Noir, I knew she was going to be an auto-buy author for me. She writes gritty, edgy heroines and you know I love flawed characters, non-traditional relationships and stories that break the rules. Mickey's stories are a perfect fit. They'll make you slightly uncomfortable, but the words flow across the page so well, you can't stop reading. So now you know how I feel about her stories. 

What's amazing about today, you can discover her for yourself. Pick up a copy of Mai Tai Guy- FREE! today at the Wild Rose Press!

So now let's meet Mickey.

When did you decide to become an author?

When I was in graduate school, I worked on a project and my advisor suggested I turn it into a textbook. I had no idea what I was in for! The book took more than a year to complete, then another to publish. But I was really proud of that book and immediately wrote another, this time for mass market readers. The second book was picked up by Doubleday. Then there was no going back. I was hooked.

I switched from nonfiction to poetry, wrote some short fiction of the literary variety, then more recently began writing fiction for romance publishers, a genre new to me. I'm enjoying it. E-books are fast, the editors I've worked with are terrific, and the cover designers are amazing. And I love romance readers, they are so responsive.

When did you first, without hesitation, call yourself a writer?

I was a nutritionist and wrote about nutrition for years. After my first book came out, I still called myself a nutritionist. Once I had a job with the title of writer (at Harvard School of Public Health), I finally began to refer to myself as a writer.

What tips would you give a new writer?

            1. Start small. Write short memoir pieces, poems, flash fiction, very short stories. Do not start with a novel. You need to find your voice and sharpen your craft before you take on such an immense project. So many writers begin with a 1000-page novel, then end up dropping out. It's better for your writing ego to complete shorter work and see it published than to bury yourself in a project that overwhelms you.

            2. Join a writers group. It helps to get feedback, support and guidance.

            3. Be serious. Take time and make time. Writing has to be a priority if you are to take it seriously.

            4. When you are ready, don't be afraid to submit. Be tough. Take those rejections as badges of honor. You're a real writer now! A no is simply an encouragement to keep submitting. Eventually, you will find your audience.

What are your current projects?

The Wild Rose Press is publishing my series The Hard Stuff. Each novella in the series focuses on a tough woman in a tough situation who falls for a man—and not the best man in her current circumstances. These stories all take place in Dusky Beach, a seedy little Florida town. These are kickass women. They have spunk and sass. Their romances are unusual. These are not nice girls pursued by men with champagne love. Not at all. I would have to say The Hard Stuff is gritty romance. But funny, and very real.

The Wild Rose Press just released a Free Read for the series called Mai Tai Guy. You can grab it on the website.

Also, the delightful Australian publisher Bottom Drawer Publications is going to release my zany novella with the most insane title. F*ck Normal is the story of a marriage on the rocks, and it explores the ways a disillusioned couple delves into their private fantasies after they drift apart. It is crazy. Totally crazy.

Do you write under a pen name?

My real name is Virginia Aronson. Mickey J. Corrigan is the pen name I adopted a few years ago for my first romance novella. I think it suits me better than my real name. I'm Irish-American and more of a Mickey than a Virginia!!

Now let's find out some fun stuff.

Do you have a favorite quote?

I love quotes and I have them all over the walls of my office. This is a good one: Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.—Mike Tyson (He ought to know.)

What is your favorite drink?

Mickey's books are full of wild women drinking like madwomen. I have a low tolerance myself and stick to a glass of good red wine (I love Malbec and Syrah) or a bottle of dark beer. I'm much more wimpy than my protagonists.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Beware, contents may explode without warning (Irish temper)!

Who's more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen?

Gentlemen make wonderful husbands. Bad boys make you feel alive.

What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

            Q: Since you have been writing books for decades and have not achieved illustrious fame and massive fortune, why do you insist on writing more books?

            A: Because I love it.

You can find Mickey--

On her website -- www.mickeyjcorrigan.com

On Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828647.Mickey_J_Corrigan

Don't forget to grab Mai Tai Guy FREE!!

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=180&products_id=5696

A.D. Ellis is here For Nicky

Today I have A.D. Ellis here on the blog. FOR NICKY is available today!

A.D.
Have you ever cried while writing a book?

I cried during a couple scenes in FOR NICKY. I cried the most when I was revising and did a reread on the epilogue.

Does working to deadline inspire or annoy you?
I despise putting things off, so deadlines are always met. However, I get really anxious over deadlines because it makes me nervous when life gets in the way and takes me away from writing. So, I do best when deadlines are far off or don’t exist.

How much of the book is realistic?
This book is very realistic. I came up with the idea after watching a brother take care of his special needs sibling during church. I wondered at that relationship. Nicky doesn’t have nearly the challenges as the sibling I observed at church, but he still faces a lot in life. The characters and setting and plot in FOR NICKY are extremely realistic. In some ways, it makes me sad that it’s so realistic because that means the bullying that goes on in this story exists in real life.

I love when a story creates a deep emotional connection. It sounds like For Nicky does just that.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
THANK YOU! I’m so amazed and in awe of the support that my readers have given me. I am so grateful for those who take a risk on my book(s), write reviews, and share my book. I am thrilled when my readers are touched by my story and when they love (or hate!) my characters as much as I do!

Would you like to be friends with the main character?

YES! If Nate weren’t totally in love with Libby, I’d be chasing that man for sure! Oh, and if I weren’t happily married. But, Libby is way too sweet and good and I’d never want to break those two up. I’m sure that everyone would love to be friends with Nicky, he’s kind, caring, fun, and completely honest. 

Follow up question - What is something you can picture the two of you doing together?
I think that taking Nicky out to an amusement park or go-carting with Nate and Libby would be a lot of fun. I think doing anything with Nicky and seeing his excitement would be touching.

Do you write under a pen name?
Yes. I decided that I didn’t want my students to be able to search my real name and find books that I’ve written, so I created a pen name.

Now lets have a little fun and get up close and personal

Do you have a favorite quote?
Right now I’m really in love with George R.R. Martin’s “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” I’m thinking of adding a tattoo to the two I already have and working that quote in somehow.

Do you enjoy giving interviews?
I do. I especially like interviews that ask different questions rather than the same old questions over and over. I like doing interviews because it gives my readers a chance to get to know more about me and connect on a more personal level.

Do you laugh at your own jokes?
I do. I have a pretty warped sense of humor and I think things are funny a lot of the time. I tend to take innocent remarks and situations and turn them dirty in my head; I make these comments out loud in front of friends who know me well.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?
Probably not. I am a bit of a control freak and I like to stick to a schedule usually. At amusement parks I want to plan and route the best paths to everything to get the most of our time there. However, at the beach, I can just laze and walk and relax for hours with no schedule at all. But, I’m guessing most people wouldn’t want to go on vacation with me unless they also like a schedule and a plan.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
WARNING: This person gets very bitchy when hungry or hot. If either of these things happens, watch out. She may also get extremely crabby when things don’t go according to her plans. In order to prevent these mishaps it is advised that you keep her out of hot, humid temperatures, keep her fed, and be sure that everything goes her way. 

Find out more about A.D. Ellis
on the web www.adellisauthor.webs.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/adellisauthor

Follow on Twitter: @ADEllisAuthor

and Goodreads www.goodreads.com/adellisauthor

Amazon US  http://tinyurl.com/nx7x6ux

Amazon CAN  http://tinyurl.com/kxcf7cw

Amazon UK  http://tinyurl.com/nxp2hp6

Amazon AU  http://tinyurl.com/k5wl7gt

Kobo http://tinyurl.com/mmk7gnk

Barnes and Noble http://tinyurl.com/oc2wm6w
iBooks http://tinyurl.com/l7qm8c2

Elizabeth Decker views herself as shy, totally average, and pretty much insignificant. She’s nothing special, at least not compared to her little sister, Audrey. Elizabeth is content with her plain and lonely future; she’s too insecure to contemplate a relationship thanks to her sister. Audrey is a bombshell and uses this to get what she wants. She’s a girl who will stop at nothing to control anyone and everything around her. She craves power and doesn’t care if she has to hurt Elizabeth to get it.

Nathaniel Morgan has spent his whole life fighting for his twin brother, Nicholas. Somewhere along the way, he lost himself. Now he’s just getting by. He’s devoted to his family, but emotionally detached from the women he burns through like wildfire. He has no plans of getting into something as complicated and committed as a “relationship”.

Nicholas Morgan has placed the new librarian, Miss Elizabeth, on a pedestal and is begging her to meet his twin brother, Nathaniel. Elizabeth and Nathaniel agree to meet, for Nicky. Both are caught off-guard when unexpected sparks fly between them. This was not in their plans. Will Nathaniel and Elizabeth be able to escape a past that still plagues them? Or, will the past, suspicions, and insecurities come between them one too many times?

Anonymous by Dani-Lyn Alexander

Today we have author Dani-Lyn Alexander on the blog. She has a new book out from Harper Impulse.

Dani-Lyn thank you so much for stopping by.

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?
First I very carefully plot my story. Then I begin to write, and the characters take on a life of their own. Unfortunately, they usually take the story a completely different direction than I had planned.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?
I have a very hard time saying goodbye to my characters. Whenever possible, I prefer to write a series.

Do you research your action/fight scenes?
I do research my action/fight scenes, especially if weapons are involved. I like to make sure everything makes sense while it’s happening. I’d never want a reader to be pulled out of a suspenseful action scene by a fight that didn’t work.

Do you have set times during the day that you write?
I like to write at night. I curl up in bed with my three year old. He plays on his ipad, and I write on my laptop. It’s one of my favorite times of the day.

What tips would you give a new writer?
The best advice anyone ever gave me about writing was, sit down and write your book. Don’t think about anything else, don’t worry about anything else, just write. I would definitely pass that advice on. I would also say, keep an open mind. Every editor who reads your story is going to want some kind of changes. Be open to their suggestions, nine times out of ten they will only improve your story.

Now for a little fun about you.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a dance teacher, a choreographer and an author. I have been fortunate enough to have accomplished all three.

Do you have a favorite quote?
My high school yearbook quote is still my favorite quote:
If you can imagine it,
You can achieve it.
If you can dream it,
You can become it.
                 --William Arthur Ward

What is your favorite comfort food?
I have two favorite comfort foods. The first is beef stew, which was my favorite meal when I was a kid and still reminds me of home. And the second is chocolate, because…well, because it’s chocolate. :)

What is your favorite time of year and why?
My favorite time of year is fall. Everything feels so crisp and clean. I love the colors of the leaves. Every year my family drives out east on the north shore of Long Island. We pick pumpkins and gourds, have apple cider and roasted corn and the kids play.

I love fall too.

Have you ever found true love?
I have found true love. I met my husband in high school and fell head over heels. It doesn’t mean we’ve had an easy life, but we’ve always worked out our problems together. We’ll be married twenty-seven years this month, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it.

To find out more about Dani-Lyn visit http://www.danilynalexander.com
Find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/danilyn.alexander.1
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaniLynAlexande

Find her books on Amazon

Buy Anonymous Now on Amazon 

An ancient war...and author Kat de Falla

Just check out the cover and you know this is an intense story. Today we have Kat de Falla on the blog. This talented writer also has a sound tract available at no charge to those who pick up The Seer's Lover. 

I have to say I haven't read the book but I am so excited to. Here is the blurb. Best of all, you can pick up the book FREE today on Amazon! Click here to download


For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from people, making her believe she is different. Pulled into an ancient war raging for centuries between demon hunters and seers, she's about to
find out she's right. 

Her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer of angels and demons who walk the earth shrouded from normal human eyes. He's hidden his gift for years and refuses to endanger Calise by sharing it with her. 

In the sultry Costa Rican Jungles, their worlds collide. As their passion and desire ignite, so does the ancient war between demons and seers. Will their combined efforts be enough to save themselves and the entire human world, or will their new found love be their downfall?

Now we get to talk to Kat and learn more about her as a writer and her new novel.

Hi Kat,

Do you research your action/fight scenes?

I don’t research them – I act them out! My husband has three black belts and I run scenarios by him and he shows me what will and won’t work. It’s fun and I actually had a Vietnam vet who read The Seer’s Lover tell me that my fight scenes were excellent thanks to my husband's reality combat training! So I am proud.

How much time do you spend writing every day?

Not enough! Never enough! When can this be my day job??

It's an intriguing title. How did you come up with it?

Initially it was titled, “Who Walks Among Us” – because I wanted a strong link to the fact that angels and demons walk among us in this series. But as the story developed, I realized the story revolves mostly around the main character, Calise Rowe who falls in love with a seer of the angels and demons that walk among us, and the title got changed to...THE SEER’S LOVER.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

This is a great question! I recently spoke with a writer’s group in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin and someone there asked me the same question. The message of the whole book is, you never know who you are talking to, so be kind to everyone. As a pharmacist, I know that sometimes, I am the only person my patients will talk to all day. My conversations with them are very important. Also, there have been a few patients where I was the last person to speak with them…ever. So I am very conscientious of the interactions I have with people. You never know what has happened to them before that moment, and for all you know, it might be the last conversation they ever have. So I guess the point of my book is: you never know who you're talking to. 

Do you write under a pen name?

I do! I also write as Kat Green with my writing bestie, the extremely talented, Rachel Green. Our co-authored novel, First Contact, is due out later this year from Crescent Moon Press.

Congrats on the upcoming release! Now lets get personal.

Do you have a favorite quote? 

“If music be the food of love, play on.” William Shakespeare

What is your favorite drink? 

An icy cold Budweiser Beer with my husband.

Do you laugh at your own jokes? 

Of course! I’m quite funny in my own head. Until I met my soulmate and married him, I didn’t always reveal my inner thoughts. Now I have someone to share them with and it’s awesome!

Have you ever found true love? 

Yes. And life will never be the same.

What is your favorite comfort food? 

Phil’s Pizza from Watertown, Wisconsin!

What is your favorite time of year and why? 

I have to say, I am NOT happy with winter this year. I saw a great quote on Twitter from Mermaid Musings that said, “Dear Winter, I’m breaking up with you. I think it’s time I start seeing other seasons. Summer is hotter than you.”

I love that and I feel the same! Thank you so much for stopping by the blog.

To learn more about Kat...

Find her on the web http://www.katdefalla.com 

On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/authorkatdefalla

On Twitter @katdefalla

And on http://www.romanceflash.com 

Click HERE to purchase The Seer's Lover  

Get the soundtrack HERE!


Excerpt:

She traced a circle in the sand with her finger.

Why would she disclose her whole existence to someone she’d just met? Someone who talked so little about himself that she found herself talking to fill the void. Saying things she could barely admit in her own head.

His hand covered hers. “I’m lonely, too. Getting to know you this week has been the brightest point in my life and I don’t want you to leave, but I know the only place you’ll be safe is far away from me.”

She swallowed. He had read her mind.

He lay down on his back and closed his eyes. “Cali, you know when you hear a song for the first time and you kind of ingest it? You can’t possibly know right away that it will be one of your favorite songs for the rest of your life. A classic.”

“Yeah.” She hoped he was going somewhere good with this.

“That first listen,” he continued, “you pick up a little of the melody and some lyrics that catch you. But when the song ends, you have to hear it again because you want to memorize all the words and sing along. After you hear it a few times and learn the words inside and out, then you begin to let the melody seep inside you. Next thing you know, you’ve completely digested the song and find yourself humming it while you are doing nothing, like shaving or driving your car. Finally, the song becomes so ingrained it becomes a part of you. Forever. You can recall it and it’s with you whenever you need it. Am I making any sense?”

She nodded, blinking back the tears fighting to fall.


“Cali, I don’t want you to go back because you’re my favorite song.”

Author Kat de Falla was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she learned to roller skate, ride a banana seat bike, and love Shakespeare thanks to her high school English teacher.

Four years at the UW-Madison wasn’t enough, so she returned to her beloved college town for her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and is happily employed as a retail pharmacist where she fills prescriptions and chats with her patients.

She is married to her soul mate, classical guitarist, Lee de Falla and raising four kids together ala the Brady Bunch.

If love isn't worth fighting for, what is? Ask Angela Hayes

"If love isn't worth fighting for, what is?"

Today we have the talented Angela Hayes in the hot seat. She has a new novel coming out on June 23rd, but you can pick it up exclusively on Amazon today! 

Angela, 

Who is the biggest influence on your writing?

I have to say that from the beginning Nora Roberts and Julie Garwood have been the biggest influences on my writing. Their characters have always been so realistic that I felt while I was reading their stories, that I knew them. That’s how I want the readers to feel about my characters when they read their stories.

Have you ever cried while writing a book?

Of course. There is a particular scene in Love’s Battle that took a lot of emotional effort to write. I hope that when the readers come across it they have the same reaction.

When you wrote this book, did you have an idea of how it would end at the beginning?

I knew I wanted a happy ending (I’m just that kind of person) and to me all good romances end with a wedding. It fulfills the reader/character relationship giving it closure. And when I’m writing, I tend to envision the beginning and end before anything else. It’s the middle I struggle with.

I totally agree with you. I want to tumble into love right along with the hero and heroine.

Would you like to be friends with the main character? 

I would love to be friends with Love. She’s such a free spirit and the way she sees the world around her is something special. She’s currently living her eleventh life and unlike her older sister Hope, she is in no way jaded to its darker side. She thrives on the goodness she can see.

And a follow up question - What is something you can picture the two of you doing together?

As much as I would like to go shoe shopping with Love, because that’s her thing, I hate shopping. What I’d really love to do is to sit down and listen to all of the stories she could tell about her many lives over a cup of coffee.

Do you write under a pen name?

I actually chose not to write under a pen name at this time. Maybe in the future, but right now, I’m really proud of being published and wanted my name on Love’s Battle.

I think that's awesome. The cover is striking.

And Now for some fun questions.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a marine biologist, but high school science wasn’t my thing.

Do you have a favorite quote?

I came across one the other day that really struck a chord. “I write only because there is a voice within me that will not be still.”- Syliva Plath. I know that the only reason I am a writer IS because the voices in my head won’t let me not be. They constantly demand to have their voices heard.

Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript?

Not the whole thing. But he does love it when I’m through with the paper I’ve been writing notes on and I crumble it up. He gets down right rude when I don’t throw it fast enough so that he can rip it to shreds. A pug/ Boston terrior mix, Mercury loves to eat anything he can get his teeth on.

Do you laugh at your own jokes?

At least once a day! I find myself/ my thoughts to be quite funny at times, even when no one else thinks so.

I sometimes can't tell the punchline because I'm laughing too hard at a joke I'm trying to tell.

What is your favorite comfort food?

It’s a real toss up between meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, chicken dressing, and spaghetti. I could eat them each for an entire week in a row and still want more.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. 

For more information on Angela, visit her website at 

www.authorangelahayes.blogspot.com

Love's Battle

Love Howard has more than a knack for matchmaking. Born from a forbidden passion and a twelve-hundred-year-old promise, she and her sisters can literally see true love. And while Love has no problem bringing other couples together, her own romantic life could use a little help.

Danton DeAngelo has always been well grounded in reality. So it throws him for no small loop when the woman he’s fallen for believes that she’s been reincarnated eleven times and can actually see true love.

Now Danton is faced with the biggest decision of his life. Accept Love for who she really is, or walk away from her forever.

Excerpt:

The hand Love pressed to her brow was visibly shaking. “There’s something I need to tell you. I just need you to keep an open mind.”

            “What is it? Are you sick?” Danton asked.

            “No, I’m not sick.” Her voice trembled on a forced laugh. “It’s something else. Something I‘ve been trying to prepare you for. This would be so much easier if you believed in magic. If you could believe that what I’m about to tell you is the honest truth.”

            Turning, Love opened the iron chest, the hinges groaning with the effort as specks of rust littered the floor. From its depths she pulled out a clear plastic bag that she held tight to her chest, eyes closed, before handing it to a confused Danton.

            “This is my tartan, my plaid. Before it faded and was dinner for the moths, it was once patterned in checks of green, gray, and brown. The purple and white stripes that ran through the hem identified the wearer as part of the royal family.” Love tapped the plastic, her finger pointing out where each color should be. “It was a gift from my father. The first and only time my sister’s and I met him, he was on his deathbed, we were eighteen. A week later our mother died in the same moment he drew his last breath.” Needing the extra air Love drew a breath of her own. “That day was the thirteenth of February, eight-hundred and fifty-eight AD. My father was Cinaed mac Alpin, crowned king of the Picts and Gaels. He was Scotland’s first king.”

            “Eight- hundred and fifty-eight?” That couldn’t be right, she was only twenty-five. “Don’t you mean Nineteen-eighty-seven?”

            “No. I was born for the first time in Scotland during the middle of the ninth century.”

Angela Hayes - 

A married mother of two, I split my time between bringing characters to life by computer, and yarn to life with needle and hook. You can find me at www.authorangelahayes.blogspot.com,  or email me at author_angelahayes@yahoo.com. I’d love to hear from you.

One the edge of the seat with Mary Martinez

I have the wonderful and talented Mary Martinez with us today. Mary pens edge of your seat suspense along with contemporary romance and fiction. But it's her suspense books that fill my digital shelves. Mary is an author who gets deep into her character's head. She wants to to feel every spine tingling moment right along with her characters.

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

I’m what you would call a pantser. I have a general idea of how the story will go. I never know how it will end until I write it.

Did you have to research forensic science or criminal psychology for your latest suspense?

I have several forensic science books I’ve purchased at conferences that I use. And I rely a lot on the Internet. Heaven forbid if the government ever checks out the sites I visit. I am currently working on the fourth book of a suspense series. The forensic book is coming in handy for me to describe what the body would look like, the condition, etc. at the murder scene. Watching Dexter and reading the series helped me with death scenes also, LOL.

Do you have set times during the day that you write?

In my fantasies I do. But my time to write is whenever I can grab a minute or hour. It’s the most challenging thing about writing for me. Finding the time. Oh, and editing.

I know exactly what you mean. Even when I plan time, life seems to get in the way.

What tips would you give a new writer?

First, join a writer’s group. Even if the core of the group isn’t the genre you write. Having a group of experienced authors within reach is invaluable. Second, join a book club, one with readers not other writers. I know you’re supposed to be writing, right? Yes, but the things you learn from the readers help you to know what people want. You also read other genre’s and get a taste of different writing styles. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

Do you have to travel researching your book(s)?

With the Internet around, technically, no one needs to travel. But nothing helps a scene more than actually visiting the area your scene will take place. Yes, you can see pictures of Time Square, but to experience the energy, lights, traffic, hotdogs, sweat, perfume, that mingle together in a pot, is invaluable. You don’t get that from the Internet.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you! I love to write, but hearing how much a reader enjoyed my book is better than finding the pot at the end of a rainbow.

Now for a little fun...

If you were going to commit the perfect murder, how would you go about it?

If I say how I’d go about it, it wouldn’t be the perfect murder because it would be out there. The first step to the perfect murder is NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU PLAN. The second is NO WITNESSES.

What is your favorite drink?

Easy: Morning—Coffee, Evening—Wine. And a few margarita’s in between!

Do you ever wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?

Well you’ve just described my day job! Office work. I wish I could write all day.

Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript?

No, but the floppy disk (long time ago) my Watching Jenny (then Peek A Boo, I See You manuscript) was on was burned when I set it down too close to the candle I burn when I write. I had to take it to a guy to retrieve the information, he was able to save about 75%. That was a hard lesson to learn.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

Hello!

Mary is definitely a lady who loves to travel. I have her to thank for my research on Wanderlust!

Visit Mary at http://www.marymartinez.com 

On facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Martinez/169373246496620

and follow her on Twitter: @marylmartinez 

Mary is a blogger. Find her at...

Mary’s Garden Blog: http://marysbooksblogger.blogspot.com/

The After Work Cook: http://theafterworkcook.blogspot.com/

Current release: Three Brides and a Dress
To Purchase

Getting Personal with Debra St. John

Today we have the talented Debra St. John on the blog. I want to thank her for stopping by and sharing her time with us.

Hi Debra,

Are your characters based on real people?

My main characters never are, but in Wild Wedding Weekend, the hero's brothers and sisters are all based on my friends and their families. Which was really, really fun to do. And they all got a kick out of seeing themselves in print.

I love the title Wild Wedding Weekend . sounds like my kind of story.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

Absolutely. Which is why This Feels Like Home is the third in a series.  In each of the three books in The Corral Series, the secondary characters interact and are involved in the main characters' lives. In each subsequent book, we get a little peek into what happens after the HEA for the previous heroes and heroines. And even thought Home is the last full-length in the series, I know in my heart I'm not ready to let it totally end, so I'm planning some spin-off shorts for the future.

Do you research your action/fight scenes?

I don't know if technically they are action scenes, but I spent a lot of time researching the bull riding scenes for This Feels Like Home. My hero Jake is a bull rider, and his profession is a huge part of the story/conflict. I wanted to make sure I got everything exactly right to be as accurate and authentic as possible, so I attended rodeos, took pictures, perused the PBR site over and over, and spent hours watching bull riding on tv: all the while taking copious notes.

 

Does working to deadline inspire or annoy you?

I love working on a deadline. I am much more deadline oriented than day-to-day goal oriented. If I set a deadline for myself, though, I have to have a logical reason for choosing it. Just picking a random date and aiming for it doesn't work for me.

What did you edit out of this book?

My heroine originally started off being a big city divorce lawyer. That particular occupation wasn't really working for my editor. She said it didn't fit the personality of the character I'd created, so anything referencing her job had to be edited and rewritten to fit her new occupation: an accessibility consultant.

Now for some personal questions. 

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

I like to think yes, but I guess you'd have to ask those traveling with me to know for sure! Most times I'm the vacation planner, so I try to find fun and historical places to explore and visit. Vacations with me aren't always relaxing, but they are guaranteed to have new things to experience and learn about along the way.

Do you have any hobbies?

In the summer I like to play in my garden. Taking annual trips with family and friends is a big part of my life. After we return, I make scrapbooks to highlight all of the fun things we did. 

I used to love to scrapbook. I still can't help picking up great paper or pens even though I don't spend much time doing it any more.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate, what else? Dark chocolate is my favorite. I keep an emergency stash in my desk at work, in the pantry, and in the fridge ('cause some kinds just need to be chilled).

What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

What was it like to meet Prince William and Duchess Catherine?

Me: It was such an honor and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They were so gracious and kind and really friendly and down to earth. I was thrilled when I found out how much Kate enjoys reading my books.

Who's more fun, bad boys or perfect gentlemen?

Definitely, definitely the bad boys. Because when they're bad, they are oh so good.

You can learn more about Debra and her books at www.debrastjohnromance.com
 

Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.s.john.1

And read her latest This Feels Like Home

Buy links: Amazon, The Wild Rose Press