Interview Helen Scott Taylor on the Group Blog - And Someone Wins a Book

I'm interviewing Helen Scott Taylor over on the group blog  today and I'm giving away a copy of The Phoenix Charm!! So, if you didn't win last week when she was here, head on over and leave a comment.

She was a blast to interview and I loved hearing more about her books, characters, and herself...does she like sexy hunky hero's or nerdy, but still sexy hero's??

See you there!!!

Hugs,
Vicki

Author Extraordinaire – Karin Tabke and Things You Want to Know

Have you been dying for today to get here? I know we have. Karin's in the house and she's answering our questions. So much fun!!!

Thank you, goils for having me as your guest this week!!

Vicki: How did you get started writing?

Karin: Weeeeellll, the ugly truth is, in high school I had a mad crush on rod stewart, and the only way I could have him to myself was to write our story. From that point on, the writing bug bit hard and has yet to let go.

Vicki: Okay, here’s where I’m going to ask a couple of writing as in craft related questions. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Karin: Panster. But before I begin a story I know the gmc’s of my protagonists and the bad guy.

Vicki: Do you write on a schedule as in everyday, morning or night, for a certain length of time, or when the muse is talking?

Karin: I’m a working writer, I can’t afford t wait for the muse to strike. When I sit down to write, I find that bitch, plop her ass on the keyboard and hold her at gunpoint until I say she can take a break. My best writing time is in the evening between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Vicki: During your first draft, are you more character driven or plot driven?

Karin: Character. My books are character driven to begin with so once I get them nailed the plot just comes.

Vicki: You’re not only an amazing writer, a wife, and mom (to 4), but also the CEO of your own company. How do you manage to do it all?

Karin: I have great support. I have a very competent office manger, my kids are grown (the youngest 19) and they leave me alone. Hubby gets it, and doesn’t bug me, unless he hasn’t seen me in a couple of days. :) the bottom line is, this is my job, and they get that.

Vicki: Can you tell us how you came up with the Blood Sword Legacy idea or was it originally a single book that turned into a series?

Karin: I had this guy named Rohan in my head. Finally, one day I just sat down and wrote about fifty pages. My voice just erupted on the page. It felt good. Right. I loved it. For shits and giggles I sent it to my agent. She loved it too. So did my editor. She bought two books. I knew the other knights needed their story told as well, and so the legend of the Blood Swords was born.

Vicki: What’s your favorite part of the job?

Karin: Getting to know my characters. I love my heroes. I love their passion, their bravery and their intelligence. They are the fuel to my flame. When I can’t wait to get back to them each day, I know I’m on the right track.

Vicki: With the release of Master of Craving, the third book in the Blood Sword Legacy, do have anything planned for the future of the series that you can share?

Karin: Book four, MASTER OF DECEPTION is Thorin’s story. The release date has been pushed back due to another series I have launching next year. Deets to come when I can talk about it. ;)

Vicki: Whose journey was harder to write, Stefan’s or Arian’s? Although with a hero like Stefan, he must have been hmmm…fun, interesting, and yep down right sexy to write. Heehee

Karin: Those two were pretty tricky. Stefan is the dark quiet one. He speaks only when he has something to say. He’s my still-waters-that-run-deep guy. He has a lot of feelings, a lot of bottled passion, and he is honorable, but not so honorable so as not to take what he wants by right of conquest and in the name of his king. It got a little hairy there straddling both sides of the fence. Especially since I have not, nor ever will, make excuses for my boys.

Vicki: Can you tell us a little about any upcoming releases?

Karin: I have a new romantic suspense series debuting next summer. The dirty dozen meets mission impossible. That’s about all I can say right now, except it is dark, edgy and there are no boundaries.

Vicki: Okay, now just a couple of silly fun questions. Strappy heels or flat sandals?

Karin: Heels!

Vicki: Hero’s you like to read? Sexy studs or Sexy and maybe a bit geeky?

Karin: Studs w/a razor sharp brain.

Vicki: What’s your favorite romance book of all time?

Karin: Wolf and the Dove

Vicki: Favorite word?

Karin: sonofabitch

Vicki: Least favorite word?

Karin: The girl c word

Vicki: Totally with you on that word. If you weren’t an author and could be anything you wanted to be, what would it be and why?

Karin: A rock star! Oh, if only I could sing!

Vicki: Any advice for those of us who are aspiring writers and parting words for our readers?

Karin: Screw the rules, and never lose sight of your dreams. Never.

Vicki: I love that answer! It has been such a blast having you here today.

Vicki, thank you for inviting me. You know I love you and Laurie!

We lurve you bunches too!!!

Okay everyone. It's your turn. Have a question we didn't ask? Now's the time. Make sure you questions responsibly and don't forget to let Karin know how much she ROCKS.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Shayla Black In The House

We’ve got Shayla Black in the house today. Woot!!! We are so excited to have her with us and to be giving away a copy of Tempt Me With Darkness.



In case you missed it on Monday, you can read an excerpt here. Just scroll down the page.

Before we start with the interview I must confess. I totally put the wrong information for the surprise. I was so excited (and at the day job) that I just typed and squeed (inside my head, remember day job) like a fan girl. Which I am.

Shayla is giving away one ARC of Seduce Me In Shadow (people, I don’t even have this) and one pdf of the first three chapters. OMG, does she ROCK or what!!!

Okay, now back to what you all came here to read.

Here’s Shayla (and me):

Vicki: How did you get started writing and have you always written paranormal?

Shayla: I actually started in 1999 writing historical romances as Shelley Bradley. From there, I morphed into contemporary romances. I very much enjoyed them, but then discovered erotic and paranormal romances, which I dearly love. So here I am today…

Vicki: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Shayla: Very much a plotter. In fact, I give storyboarding classes both online and in person from time to time, which allows writers to “see” the flow of their plot, sub-plots, character arc, etc. in a more visual manner than a synopsis. I wouldn’t write a book without a storyboard, particularly a suspense or one of my complex Doomsday Brethren books.

Vicki: You’re not only an amazing writer, a wife, and mom, but you also write for three lines. How do you manage to do it all?

Shayla: Thank you. I’m not sure I always manage to do it all. Currently, I’m about 6 weeks behind schedule, but everything comes down to priorities. I confess to being something of a workaholic, but I do find small pockets of time each day to take care of necessary stuff, be with family, and just relax. We’ve been spending a lot of time in the pool, playing Rock Band 2/Guitar Hero, and watching some favorite shows. I also try to read at least one book a week and am always mentoring a person or two.

My work schedule is fairly regimented: Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 6pm, then 9pm-11pm (sometimes later). During those hours, I try to write at least 10-12 pages and answer emails. The rest of the time is devoted to family. Weekends are different. I try to get pages in, but I don’t always succeed. I think the key is managing is to have goals and figure out how long it takes you to achieve those goals. Then set aside the necessary time without excuses. That may require sacrifices, but if you’re really serious, it’s worth it.

Vicki: Can you tell us how you came up with the Brethren Series idea or was it originally a single book that turned into a series?

Shayla: Vicki, RT Bookclub recently asked me that same question. I’ve written my answer, along with and excerpt of my next Doomsday Brethren release, for some exclusive bonus web content here. Please check it out. I’ve also chatted just a bit about future installments in the series.

Vicki: What’s your favorite part of the job?

Shayla: I worked in Corporate America for 18 years, so I very much appreciate my flexible schedule, the very casual dress code, and the fact everything I do contributes to a my business, and not someone else’s. But the best part of my job is creating characters and worlds to provide enjoyment for readers who want to escape or be a part of something different or identify with someone else’s situation. I love giving readers an experience. It’s not always easy. I wish words just flowed every day, but working through a book and being satisfied with the product when you type “The End” is the best feeling ever.

Vicki: With the release of Fated coming up and the novella of Seduce Me In Shadow do you have anything planned for the future of the Brethren series that you can share?

Shayla: In Fated, you’ll meet a handful of new characters, including twin wizards, who have been magickind’s playboys for decades. All that changes when one of them embraces the human barmaid he’s been lusting after. But will a family curse and danger keep them apart? You’ll also meet a wizard grieving Auropha MacKinnett, the first casualty of evil Mathias’s return in TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS. He’ll join the Doomsday Brethren in SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW. Also in the book there’s more about Lucan and Anka. Shock continues to be…well, Shock. Bram encounters an unknown danger he can’t outrun that may do him in. But the core of the book is about Lucan’s brother, Caden, and human paranormal tabloid journalist, Sydney, who knows far more about the magical war and the Doomsday Brethren than she should. When she receives the Doomsday Diary as a birthday gift, Caden finds that getting it back and shutting her up aren’t as simple as it sounds.


Vicki: Whose journey was it harder to write, Marrok’s or Olivia’s? And can I just add I love Marrok.

Shayla: Thanks! I loved Marrok, too. Sometimes uber-alpha…and sometimes adorably clueless. His journey was harder for me to write, both because he had the most to overcome and because he was such a recluse. I’m a total people person, so that level of isolation boggled my mind. Getting him to not only tolerate magickind, but agree to help them, was a feat. But getting him to fall for his enemy’s great-granddaughter and admit to her and himself that he truly loved her was altogether more challenging.

Vicki: Can you tell us a little about your upcoming release?

Shayla: Actually, there are 3! Fated and SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW, which you’ve already mentioned, plus Doomsday Brethren 3, POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT releases in November.

Here are the blurbs for both:

SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW
When a villainous wizard escapes from exile, the devastatingly sexy Doomsday Brethren must defend all magickind in the spellbinding second book in bestselling author Shayla Black’s seductive new paranormal series.

Ex-Marine Caden MacTavish has shunned his magical heritage all his life, but he will do anything to heal his desperately ill brother, a Doomsday Brethren warrior in mourning for his missing mate. Posing as a photographer, Caden must convince firecracker tabloid reporter Sydney Blair to reveal the source of her recent exposé on a supernatural power clash. Unfortunately, keeping his hands off the sizzling redhead proves as hard as getting them onto the potent and mystical Doomsday Diary he discovers at her bedside. A bloody rebellion led by an evil, power-hungry wizard is imminent. If Sydney divulges the book’s existence, she will jeopardize magickind’s most deeply guarded secrets and become the ruthless wizard’s number one target. Caden has never trusted magic’s cruel and dangerous powers, but he will protect Sydney with his life and magic—even if it means risking his heart.

POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT
An apocalypse approaches in the new novel from bestselling author Shayla Black’s electrifying Doomsday Brethren series, as a magical warrior and a spirited witch ignite a smoldering passion that could destroy them both.

As a mysterious dark cloud drains the life of her beloved brother, Doomsday Brethren leader Bram, Sabelle Rion can think of little else. Still, every time she meets Ice Rykard’s intense green gaze, her body aches with need for the sexy warrior. Their attraction is explosive, incredible—and forbidden. As dangerous as he is unpredictable, Ice is her brother’s sworn enemy. But as Bram weakens, a more sinister force is gaining power. Evil Mathias and his ruthless Anarki army are on a bloodthirsty hunt for the Doomsday Diary. Sabelle must guard the potent book with her life—and Ice vows to protect the beautiful witch with his. Duty demands that Sabelle deny her lover’s fiery call of possession and mate with a man who can sway the magical Council against the impending rebellion. With the fate of magickind hanging in the balance, will she forsake the burning desires she can’t ignore or turn her back on her people for the courageous man she can’t resist?

I have to say that I’m totally thrilled to advance existing storylines, introduce new ones, and share three totally different relationships with everyone. I love them all, but Sabelle and Ice have an extra special place in my heart. Ice may be my favorite hero of all I’ve ever written…

Vicki: If you weren’t an author and could be anything you wanted to be, what would it be and why?

Shayla: If a life of indolence is out of the question (LOL), I’d love to be a book editor. I love reading, and I really enjoy shaping books into the best they can be. I’ve been writing and dissecting books for so long, that it’s second nature.

Vicki: Any advice for those of us who are aspiring writers and parting words for our readers?

Shayla: Do NOT quit. It’s not always the most talented who make it, but the most dedicated. I ran across a roster from one of my chapters, dated 1992. Of the 115 people on the register, only 3 are still chapter members. I can think of a handful of people who have simply chosen not to rejoin but are still writing, but even then…10 out of 115? Some published but quit, most never published and quit. Point is, they quit. I’m too damn stubborn for that. J

Vicki: Did I say we are super excited to have you here. Okay, so I did, but really, it’s been fabulous. Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with us.

~Vicki

Shayla's Not Here Today, So How About That Surprise

Shayla is currently on her way home from vacation with her family. Most of us know this means one thing. Spotty WiFi. OMG, it's like death without access to our computers. Emails go unread and you just know that Macy's or Hot Topics (see I cover all areas) will be having the biggest sale ever and you'll miss it.

Or worse. Our author won't have access to do the interview. Yeah, I know, really a sad moment. In fact we could take a small moment of silence here as we mourn the lose of today's interview. It was a good one, full of life and upcoming release information.

Ahem!

We'll have that interview either tomorrow or Friday so no worries, the things we want to know will be here. All in good time, my pretties (she rubs her hands together and shifts her eyes...wait, wrong story).

So, how about the surprise. You've come back to check and even left comments and now it's time.

Maybe you've heard about this book Shayla has written that's yet to release. Seduce Me In Shadow? Maybe you'd like to read a quick excerpt here

Well, how would you like to win your very own PDF copy?

Okay, you'll have to quit jumping up and down the screen is getting blurry. Whoo, that's better. Yep, several of you will be randomly chosen to win. How cool is that!!!

Keep leaving those comments and now you can even add a question or two for Shayla and we'll see if she can answer them when she has her lifeline back. Yes, our Internet is part of our lifeline. The wire aren't visible, but they're there nonetheless.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Angie's in the House and We've Got A Surprise

We’ve got Angie Fox in the house today. Oh Yeah!!! I’m really excited to have her with us. And there’s a surprise. Don’t you love surprises? I do. :) I’m giving away her book, but Angie is giving away one of her extremely sought after T-shirts. I love this shirt. Angie had it on at RT and trust me the demons knew she’d kick their butts.

Here's the front:



And here's the back:



So, instead of choosing the winner today, I’m going to extend it through Sunday. That’s right. Sunday a winner will be randomly chosen to win a copy of the book (OMG, you’re going to love it), and a T-shirt. Yay!!!

Now for the interview.

Needless to say I was having serious demon slayer withdrawals waiting for The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers (again, you can read the excerpt by clicking the link).

Okay, if you’re ready, here goes:

Me: How did you get started writing?

Angie: I got started writing because I love reading. I think if you read a lot of books, somewhere along the line you get this feeling like, “I could do that.” I acted on it and voila – eight years and three unpublished manuscripts later – my first book sold.

Me: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Angie: Just call me a plantser. I like to know where the story is going, but not too much because when I’m having fun, that’s when the story itself takes on a lot more energy.

With The Accidental Demon Slayer, I started with a kernel of an idea that amused me. What if a straight laced preschool teacher suddenly learns she’s a demon slayer? And what if she has to learn about her powers on the run from a fifth level demon? Ohhh and wouldn’t it be fun if she’s running with her long-lost Grandma’s gang of geriatric biker witches?

With The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, I started with an offhand joke I made at the end of The Accidental Demon Slayer. Lizzie is just about to kiss her man when she’s interrupted and told she and the gang have to head to Las Vegas to save her long lost uncle from marrying a succubus. When I went to write the next book, I thought – why not?

I find if I start with an interesting conflict and let the story evolve based on the characters, things will start to roll in the right direction. And I know the story was working when I can’t wait to get back to the keyboard every day.


Me: You’re an amazing writer, but I do have a couple of burning must know questions. Do you have pets? And do they talk to you?

Angie: Pirate the dog is based on my experiences with a poodle named Beau. He’s gone now, and I haven’t been able to bring myself to get another dog yet, but Beau had this way of talking without saying a word. I knew what he was thinking. And he was quite a smart aleck.


Me: Okay, I know in the first book Lizzie is a pre-school teacher who has no idea she’s a demon slayer until her grandmother rides up on a Harley. Did you have to do a lot of research for the biker witches?

Angie: Loads, actually. First off, the biker witches ride Harleys, and I’d never been on a motorcycle before. Second, I had to figure out how to get Pirate the dog onto a bike.

I went online and learned about the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club, made up exclusively of Harley riders and their dogs. I ended up meeting some of them, along with a few other bikers along the way. These bikers were so great to me. They hoisted me onto the back of their Harleys (with dogs in tow). They took me to biker rallies (note to self: don’t wear pink). And they laughed at me when I tried to put my helmet on backwards (I still say I was distracted by the Pomeranian wearing a tiny pair of motorcycle glasses). After a few outings with my new biker friends, I was able to make my geriatric biker witch characters a lot more realistic. And I took home some great pictures, too.


Me: What’s your favorite part of the job?

Angie: Meeting the authors who have been on my keeper shelves for years. I’ve always been an avid reader and it’s just such a kick to sit on panels with authors I admire. I do tend to turn into a fan girl – Laurell K Hamilton probably thinks I’m a bit off – but I’m just thrilled to meet her and others like her.


Me: With the release of your second book have you found it easier or harder when you sit in front of the computer? What has changed for you now that you are under actual deadlines from an editor?

Angie: It was harder to write The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers because I had to get over the idea that people were actually going to read it. When I wrote The Accidental Demon Slayer, I wanted to have it published, but I didn’t know if anyone would buy it. Then suddenly, less than a year later, that book was a New York Times bestseller.

It was a complete shift for me to think that not only would some people read that next book, a lot of people might. I had to force myself to get over it by telling myself that I could toss any draft at the end of the day. No guilt. Just toss. Knowing that, I was able to relax, have fun and tell the story.


Me: Are you planning on more books for this series? Please say yes (picture Vicki begging here).

Angie: Yes, there will be five books total in this series. Right now, I’m writing book 3, which is tentatively titled A Tale of Two Demon Slayers. In it, Lizzie and the gang travel to Greece where they learn more about Dimitri’s past and a threat that could destroy them all. I’m having a ball with it because it’s so much fun to explore Dimitri’s home, his family - and who knew he had such a juicy past? I’m also working on a voodoo novella for an anthology with Katie MacAlister.

Me: 5 Books. I am so happy. Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

Angie: In this latest book, Lizzie is determined, once and for all, to master her powers. In fact, she’s going to write the book on demon slaying. So she begins a journal, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, where she records what she’s learning, starting with newfound discoveries about demons, gargoyles and a particularly mischievous live spell named Beanie who likes to fill Lizzie’s boots with pumpkin spice latte.

Things get dicey when the demons get their hooks in Dimitri. He’s much darker and sexier in this book. And we introduce a new character, Max, who is half demon and 100% yummy.


Me: If you weren’t an author and could be anything you wanted to be, what would it be and why?

Angie: I’d love to own a bookstore. I have this fantasy of being paid to read all day. Real bookstore owners assure me that they actually have to do inventory, clean the store, etc., but in my fantasy I have shirtless men handling all of that.

Me: Any advice for those of us who are aspiring writers and parting words for our readers?

Angie: I think you need to give yourself the permission and the freedom to make the story as big as you can. I had a lot of trouble with this one initially, because I didn’t know what it meant. I had to push my writing to a level I had never gone to before. My characters had to take bigger chances, have more to risk and lose. It’s easy to say, but a hard thing for a writer to do. It’s a vulnerable, risky place to be. I knew my story was big enough to sell when instead of ending my writing sessions thinking, “I hope that’s good enough to impress an editor.” I ended them thinking, “No. I didn’t not just write that. I did not just make my character defend herself with a toilet brush and a can of Purple Prairie Clover air freshener.”

Me: It has been fabulous having you here, but then you know I’m a huge fan. Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with us.

Okay everyone, it’s your turn. Any questions for Angie? Leave your comments and/or questions to be included in the drawing for this week’s theme.


WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Elissa Wilds - X-Posted

We’ve got Elissa Wilds in the house today. Woot!!! I’m really excited to have her with us and to be giving away Between Light and Dark (you can read the excerpt on the link) as this months must read.

Waiting for the book to release seemed like forever, and then once I had it in my hot little hands I couldn’t put it down. :)

Needless to say I’m chomping at the bit for Darkness Rising (again, you can read the excerpt by clicking the link).

Okay, if you’re ready, here goes:

Me: How did you get started writing and have you always written paranormal?

Elissa: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved to read. The library was my favorite place. (now it’s a toss up between the library and bookstores!) I always had my nose in a book. When I was around eight or nine, I started to think about how I would change a particular story I read. Or how I would continue the story if I were the author. So, I began to write stories of my own. When I was a teenager, I penned ongoing sagas with my friends as the main characters. Each week, they’d get another installment and I knew better than to be late, or they’d be very angry with me! Of course, in addition to traveling to exotic locales, meeting famous people, and buying cool stuff, my fictional friends also got to date different guys. I had a ball pairing them up with the hottest guy in school, or making them get back together with their (real life) exes, or even better – hooking them up with the geekiest guy in class. So, romance was part of my writing early on.

And as for paranormal, the first couple books I wrote (now gathering dust under my bed) were not paranormal but straight contemporary romance. It wasn’t until I began to work on my third book that – duh – it occurred to me that what was missing was something magickal. After all, I spent my free time reading either romance or metaphysical non-fiction books. It suddenly dawned on me to combine the two. And now, I don’t have any desire to write anything that doesn’t have a magickal slant!

Me: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Elissa: I’m more of a plotter. First, I decide the theme of the book. In the Hidden Circle Coven books the theme is a tried and true: good vs. evil – in this case, witches (on Earth) and gods (in the Light Realm) working together to save both mankind and the gods. There is also an ongoing secondary theme having to do with the balance between the light and dark in all living things. Sort of the ying/yang theory. Once I have a theme down, I decide the overarching plot – who are the bad guys, what is their motivation, who are the good guys, their motivation, why are my hero and heroine integral to the fight, what do they bring to the table, etc. I then determine the hero and heroine’s own personal growth arc – what are their strengths, weaknesses, and how are they going to grow as people through the battle - and most importantly, through their relationship with each other. I then determine the major plot points – you know, the inciting incident, the black moment, etc. Now, when your publisher asks for a synopsis, you do have to fill in the blanks a bit more than that. So, I do come up with some ideas for how to get from point a to point b while working the synopsis. However, my final product, aside from the major plot points, does often evolve a bit by the end of the book. I enjoy seeing what happens in each scene, and how my characters reveal themselves to me as I go. I have a general idea of who my characters are when I begin, but their quirks, their personal style and such appear as I write them. For example, in Darkness Rising, I didn’t plan for Aurora to have artistic talent, but she does.

I hear of writers who sell based on an idea alone. In theory, I would love that because it would mean I could already be under contract when I start writing the book, rather than having to go through the proposal process. (My time is limited and I’d much rather be writing under contract always!) However, being forced to pen those first few chapters and a synopsis from the get go has made it easier for me to jump right in to the book and make it happen once I’m on a deadline.

To finish reading the interview click here. This is one interview you don't want to miss a single word of.

I know I've already thanked you Elissa, but thanks again and I can't wait for the next release.

Leave your comments and/or questions over on the other blog post for Elissa. And if you come back and leave a comment here as well there's a little surprise for someone. :) heehee

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Karen Rose - She's In The House

I’m so excited to have Karen Rose in the house today. Not only is she an amazing writer, who weaves a world you’ll still have you with long after reading the end, but she’s one of the coolest people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for the past several years.

Karen it’s great to have you here. We’ve all been chomping at the bit waiting for Kill For Me and it’s out, Yay!!

Needless to say, I’m already a huge fan, although you know your books scare the willies out of me. Okay if you’re ready, here goes.

Me: How did you get started writing and have you always written romantic suspense?

Karen: I started writing when a movie-like scene began to roll through my mind, fifteen years ago now. It was new and unique – and really bugging me! It would wake me up and distract me at work. Finally, while on vacation, I thought if I just wrote the scene down, maybe it would go away. Three hours later I was still writing, that one scene having led to another, and another and I was hooked. I travelled a great deal for my job then, and I’d write in hotels and airports all over the US and the world. It was a hobby, one I enjoyed in secret. Only my husband knew I wrote for fun. Eventually, that one scene became my first, very long book!

It wasn’t suspense then – my first two stories were contemporary romances. It wasn’t until I began my third book – I still was writing in secret – that elements of suspense crept into my plot. Eventually, after five complete revisions, that book became DON’T TELL, my first release.

Me: Your now not only in the US , but in London as well, major congrats! Can you tell us about receiving ‘The Call’ and also the call for going international?

Karen: I got “The Call” for my first sale in December, 2001. I was leaving work, on my way to take two customers out to dinner. I’d never met these customers and didn’t really want to do the dinner, but duty called. So did my agent J. I was very calm at hearing the news that Warner Books had offered me a two-book contract. “Yes,” I said, “I think we should take that offer.” Then I hung up, called my husband, screaming. Then I called my best friend, screaming. Then I had to go to dinner with two customers I’d never met, all the while squirming in my chair, wishing I were home so I could call everyone I’d ever known with the news, LOL. I ended up calling everyone I’d ever known the next day.

Me: Are you a plotter or a panster?

Karen: A pantser? No, I’m a plotter, although I don’t do spreadsheets of each scene, color-coded by POV anymore. But I have to know who did it before I begin.

Me: You’re not only a fabulous writer, but you’re also a wife and mom. How do manage to do it all?

Karen: I have a great husband who is my best support and loudest cheerleader. He also cooks, cleans (kind of) and does the laundry. I’d be lost without him. My kids are older now, and more self-sufficient. They can operate the microwave, which means they can cook as well as I can.


Me: Okay, we all know there’s plenty of people who die in your books, but how do you do your research and where do you keep the bodies?

Karen: I keep the bodies in a spreadsheet (I really do). Research depends on the book. Sometimes, like with COUNT TO TEN or DIE FOR ME, it’s in-depth and varied. Other times, it may be a single question to a trusted source.

Me: What’s your favorite part of the job?

Karen: When the story starts to come together and rushes out like a river. Also when something happens, or two threads connect, that I don’t expect. And then I think, “Well, that certainly explains a lot!”

Me: Can you tell us a little about your newest release and what’s coming up next?

Karen: My newest release is KILL FOR ME – the finale to the Vartanian family trilogy and the story of ADA Susannah Vartanian and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Luke Papadopoulos. KILL FOR ME picks up where SCREAM FOR ME left off – with five dead bodies in a concrete bunker on the river. Susannah and Luke find that five teenagers have been murdered. Another five have been taken, for sale in the sex trade. One lone teenager has survived and escaped. Only she has seen her captors – and they are determined she will not live to tell the tale.

My next book, I CAN SEE YOU, will be released in August, 09. It’s the story of Eve Wilson, who was introduced in DON’T TELL and also appeared in NOTHING TO FEAR. More on this as the summer draws closer!

Me: Any advice for aspiring writers and parting words for our readers?

Karen: Write because you must, because the characters in your head will not be silenced. Don’t lose the love of writing because you’re working so hard to get published. I wrote the book I finally sold five times. Don’t ever give up.


Karen, thanks so much for stopping by, I’ve loved having you here.

Karen: Thanks for having me!

Okay, everyone it’s your turn now. Leave your comments to be included in the drawing on Friday for Karen’s newest release, Kill For Me.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Interview with Helen Scott Taylor and You Can Ask Questions Too

I’m so excited to have Helen Scott Taylor in the house today. She’s an amazing author and last year’s American Title winner with Dorchester Publishing. Her world building is great and you’re immediately pulled into Niall O’Connor and Rosenwyn Tremain’s world.

Helen it’s great to have you here. I’ve been waiting for your book to hit the shelves since the first time I read the excerpt on your website. Yes, I said first time, as I’ve re-read it several times.

Me: Needless to say, I’m already a huge fan. Can you tell us how you came up with this idea and what’s coming up next?

Helen: I initially conceived the idea for The Magic Knot to be a contemporary story of identical twin Irish brothers running a pub in Cornwall. When I changed my focus from contemporary romance to paranormal, I wanted to write something a little different from the vampire and shape-shifter stories other authors have done so well. I researched myths and folk law and decided the fairy world provided great scope to develop my own interesting characters and a world a little different to anything else that is available.

I have two male secondary characters that play sizeable roles in The Magic Knot. Michael is the hero’s brother, and Nightshade is a winged vampiric fairy who can’t decide if he is their ally or enemy. I’m hard at work on the sequel due out in December. The Phoenix Charm features Michael as the hero, and the next book I have planned is Nightshade’s story.

Me: You won the American Title with Dorchester. What was the call like? How did you celebrate?

Helen: The day after voting closed, I had an email from the Romantic Times editor who was coordinating the contest to tell me I’d won. By the final round we were down to two entries, so I knew I had a 50:50 chance of winning. But I was still disbelieving when I received the email with the good news. My family took me out for a celebratory dinner, and we had to take a photograph of us celebrating to appear in Romantic Times!

Me: With the release of The Magic Knot and working on the next book, have you found it easier or harder when you sit in front the computer? What has changed for you now that you have deadlines?

Helen: I’ve read other newly published authors say that the first book they wrote after being published was the hardest, because they have greater expectations of themselves. I’m definitely finding this is true. The first hurdle was having my second book accepted for publication, then the worry over whether it is as good as the first book. I’ve not written a sequel before, so I’m learning how to write a stand-alone book that is also a continuation from the first. I’m sure there will be new challenges at every stage in this business. All I can say is getting a book published is most certainly the beginning of the work and not the end.

Me: You run your own business, write, and have kids. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Helen: I don’t have a lot of spare time. I try to have a walk most days, but I’m a fair-weather walker and don’t go out in the cold and rain. Unfortunately, we’ve had our coldest winter for twenty years in the UK. I would like to read more but rarely get time these days. When I have to choose between reading and writing, writing usually wins.

One thing I do enjoy is visiting historic houses. The British National Trust historic houses are open from Easter to October. I like to make time to visit some every year, especially while I’m researching a book. I like to use historic houses as settings in my novels, even though my fantasy worlds are contemporary set. In The Magic Knot, I used a Palladian mansion called Powerscourt, near Enniskerry in Ireland, as the inspiration for the Irish fairy queen’s home. In The Phoenix Charm, much of the action takes place in a medieval castle situated on an island in the middle of a lake in Wales.

Me: Whose journey was harder to write, Niall’s or Rosenwvn? And can I just add I love the line Niall’s soft Irish brogue.

Helen: Niall’s was more difficult. I found him a challenging character to write, as he is so proud and private. He didn’t want anyone poking their nose in his business, not the heroine, or me! Rose was much easier as she is very down to earth and practical.

Me: Did you do your research for Ireland online or have you visited the beautiful land of green?

Helen: I took a special trip to Ireland to research The Magic Knot. My husband and I spent four days visiting the area of the Wicklow Mountains where the Irish fairy troop lives. The weather was bad most of the time. When we drove over the Wicklow Mountains, which is more rightly just an area of high moorland, all we could see was mist. We enjoyed visiting the Palladian mansion, Powerscourt. The gardens and the waterfall in the middle of the lake were beautiful.

Me: Was The Magic Knot your first book, or do you like most of us and have the manuscript graveyard with the dust bunnies?

Helen: The Magic Knot was the third book I wrote. The first was a short contemporary, which helped me learn how to write, but also taught me short contemporary was not my genre. The second ms was a paranormal romance, Passion Beyond Reason, about a parallel world inhabited by demons. This story did very well in contests, winning as many as The Magic Knot. In fact in once contest where both my paranormals finaled, Passion won and beat The Magic Knot into second place. I intend to revise that story and submit it sometime.

Me: For those of us in the pre-published stage, what advice and motivation would give us?

Helen: I don’t think there is any magic formula to getting published. Success is down to hard work and persistence. I took lots of online classes and read many craft books. My husband jokes that I must have put myself through the equivalent of a degree in creative writing. My advice is to learn the craft, write stories, enter contests, and submit your work. It might take one book, or twenty before one is accepted, but eventually it will happen if you persevere. There is an element of luck involved—your story being the right genre on the right editor’s desk at the right time. But if you write enough and send out enough that will eventually be your story.

Me: Did I say I'm so excited you're here??? Cause I am :)Thank you for sharing your a little of your world and your characters world with us. And isn't the cover amazing.


Okay, everyone, now it’s your turn. Leave your questions in the comment section and Helen will be back through out the day to answer them.

Angie Fox on the Romance Bandits

If you didn't win Angie's book here and you haven't read it yet, then check out the Romance Bandits today. Angie is doing an interview complete with her call story, which is amazing. And she's giving away a copy of The Accidental Demon Slayer and a couple of other goodies.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Kathy Carmichael's In the House

Welcome Kathy to Writing With Vicki. I'm delighted to have you here and to find out the answers to some major burning questions.

Everyone, I hope you enjoy the interview and if there's something I missed or you have your own burning question, then leave it in the comments section. :)

Kathy: Thank you so much for inviting me, Vicki. I always have fun chatting with readers and other writers!

Vicki: You're welcome. I'm glad you're here, too, because I have some questions for you.

Kathy: Fire away!

Vicki: We've all heard you're an award winning author, but I've done a little research and found out some interesting tidbits about you.

Kathy: Uch oh.

Vicki: There's nothing like going to the source to find out the facts. Is it true that you're part Leprechaun?

Kathy: As I informed that pesky reporter who said she was with The National Enquirer, that's just a nasty rumor. (Kathy mumbles: Wish everyone would stay away from my pot of gold.)

Vicki: I see. This is apparently a rather a sore subject with you. Perhaps you'll be more willing to answer questions about one of your hobbies.

Kathy: (who just broke out in a sweat) Which hobby are you referring to?

Vicki: I see that you're an avid ghost hunter.

Kathy: Oh, that subject. Yes. Definitely. All of my hobbies have generally been book or writing related and I wanted to find something that interested me outside the literary world. Since I became an avid fan of the TV show GHOST HUNTERS, it was natural that my attention would veer in that direction. I'm a member of several ghost hunting organizations and have done some investigations on my own. I find it lots of fun.

Vicki: Regarding your writing, I see that you've won several writing awards and that you also do a lot of writing seminars. You even make your seminar notes available on your website.

Kathy: I'm happy to share what I've learned with other writers. When I began writing, it was pre-Internet and I had difficulty, outside of books on writing, finding out information about the craft and business of writing. It was very lonely. Of course, with the advent of the Internet, all of that has changed. There's so much information out there now!

But when I started writing, all of the books I read suggested finding a critique group. I went around to all of the bookstores and libraries in my area and asked if anyone knew of any critique groups. The answer was always the same: No. You can imagine my excitement when I found a course on writing in my community college's catalog of courses -- and it specifically mentioned critiquing as part of the class. Historical Romance author, Libby Sydes, conducted the class and I learned a tremendous amount from her. She invited me to join her critique group outside the class and the rest, as they say, is history.

So I make my writing seminars available to others in the hope they won't find this such a long and lonely journey.

Vicki: Can you tell us a little about your newest release, HOT FLASH?

Kathy: I'm really excited this book is now in print. I had so much fun writing it and I hope that comes through in the story.

When I started the book, my husband was between jobs and my oldest son was going through the process of applying for college. The concept of how we'd pay for it gave me hives. I was also experiencing the symptoms of early-onset menopause and, let me tell you, at that time my life wasn't pretty. If it weren't for my friends allowing me to vent, I'm certain there would be a full-wing at the local mental hospital with my name on it. Writing this book also helped!

Lots of the scenes in the book are based on things that actually happened to me. I'm happy to say, though, that although my two sons don't tell me everything, they do speak to me sometimes and never, ever, in French slang.

HOT FLASH is the story of a woman who is worried about how she will send her son to college. Her father had promised to pay for it, but now he's in prison for a white-collar crime. Her ex-husband spent his savings on a surgical procedure, so he's no help. And the college professor she was dating, who would have been able to handle her son's tuition through his employment, just dumped her for a woman half her age. She's at wit's end. Even worse, she has little in savings and lives hand to mouth on her income as a sous chef for a Las Vegas Casino Hotel -- and there's no chance for advancement. She realizes she needs a husband and pronto, to help with living expenses and to send her son to college. But she doesn't want to marry just any man. She wants to be happily married and in love. So she sends out surveys to happily married women to find out what the recipe is for marital happiness. And the book details her struggle with reentering the dating scene in her search for love.

I had so much joy writing Jill's story.

Vicki: It sounds like it. I can't wait to read it!

Kathy: If anyone would like to find out more about the book or my writing articles, they can visit my website. Sometime soon, there will be a marriage survey up on my site, featuring questions from Jill's marriage survey and I'd love for visitors to take it. Then perhaps we'll learn whether Jill's conclusion was correct or if there's some other secret to marital bliss! Once you take the survey, you'll be able to see the responses. I think it's going to be fun.

I'm so sorry to tell you this, Vicki, but I'll be back to your blog a lot this week. If people would like to ask questions, about my book or about writing, I'll be happy to answer to the best of my ability! And thanks again, for inviting me, Vicki!

Okay guys, you know the deal. Leave your comments and/or questions. Kathy will be stopping by again to answer them. Yay!! And for an extra surprise, click here and leave a comment on my group blog, come back and leave a comment here as well, and one person will win a copy today! The on Friday a winner will be chosen from this blog. How cool is that. Two chances to win. :)

WW's and PD's,
Vicki