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Writer Wednesday: Meet Susan Ann Wall!

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Margaret — No Comments ↓

Welcome to Writer Wednesday! It’s September 21st – the first day of FALL! I am so excited, as this is my favorite time of year (now if only it’d cool down in Virginia enough to match the season).

I’m ALSO super excited to have with us today the delightful, funny Susan Ann Wall, author of racy, rule-breaking romance and women’s fiction. I met Susan when she and fellow romance author Cheri Allan invited me to participate in a Facebook party with them. They both are such a hoot, and I’m just thrilled to have Susan here today, sharing a bit about herself and her latest release, The Perfect Pairing.

So read on, friends, and then leave Susan some love in the comments section! <3

What inspires you to write?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had voices in my head. Walking home from school, I would have complete conversations going on in there. Sometimes the conversations were with real people, other times it was soap opera characters (as I’m rushing home to watch General Hospital), and others it was make believe people who seemed to have a story to tell. I didn’t figure out how to do anything with those conversations until about seven years ago when I reconnected with someone I’d grown up with and found out she was a romance writer. She introduced me to RWA and NHRWA, and the rest is history.

Which type of romance do you love most, and why?

I’m a sucker for a fun contemporary romance. I love stories that I can relate to, that give you hope, and make your heart beat a little faster.

Name one interesting thing you learned in researching/writing your last book:

The last book I finished is Mistletoe Marathon, the story of a woman who is training for a marathon to try and win the attention of the man who tops her “perfect husband material” list, but who ends up falling for her trainer instead. I’m not a runner…honestly, if you see me running, it is because I’m being chased by zombies. So I reached out to my runner friends for input on training for a marathon. The most interesting thing I learned (outside of smelly shoes and protein bars) is that your miles are supposed to get faster as you progress in the marathon, so your first mile is your slowest and your last mile is your fastest. Seems like quite a challenge.

Name two things people don’t know about you:

I’m an open book, so there aren’t many things people don’t know about me, but I’ll share a couple lesser known things that maybe I haven’t shared on a blog before.

My very first job was delivering newspapers to homes around my town. Lots of walking and bike riding, giving me plenty of time to let those voices in my head chatter away.

2. Zombies FREAK ME OUT. I can’t watch anything on TV that has Zombies in it. Hero Husband loves The Walking Dead, so if he watches that while I’m writing, I have to lift the computer up to block the TV screen during the Zombie scenes.

What’s your favorite romance novel of all time, and why?

Waiting on You by Kristan Higgins.

Colleen O’Rourke is a fun heroine and I love stories about second chance at love.

A Bit About The Perfect Pairing, available in the Romancing the Wine set:

She thought she landed the perfect job, but what her sexy new boss offers is the perfect pairing.

Courtney Daniels thought she landed the perfect job, but instead of being the marketing specialist at a local winery, she’s hired by the cocky and cute owner as the front desk receptionist. Courtney’s determined to make an impression on Aiden Black and slide into the marketing role, but her attraction to her new boss sends her down a slippery slope. When Aiden kisses her, and kisses her again, and insists he take Courtney on a date, she breaks all the rules she’s lived by since her teenage years, knowing it is going to burn her in the end. With Aiden’s promise that he won’t fire her when their relationship goes south, Courtney finds the attraction growing into something she isn’t ready for but can’t live without, just like the foster dog who keeps humping Aiden’s leg.

After his father’s death, Aiden returns home to rescue his family’s winery from financial disaster. He needs to run things his way, and on his own to prove to his mother he is capable of keeping the winery afloat. His attraction to Courtney complicates matters, especially when her ideas and marketing savvy set the winery on a path to success. Aiden finds putting his ego aside to do what’s best for his business, and his heart, is a bigger challenge than getting the winery in the black, but he’ll do anything to prove to Courtney they are the perfect pairing.

Find The Perfect Pairing on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JVAZFZY

A Bit About Susan:

Big dreamer and certifiable overachiever Susan Ann Wall embraces life at full speed and volume. She’s a beer and tea snob, can be bribed with dark chocolate, and the #1 thing on her bucket list is to be the center of a Bon Jovi flash mob.

Susan is a national bestselling, multi-genre author of racy, rule-breaking romance and women’s fiction. Her bragging rights include the Fighting Back for Love series, Puget Sound ~ Alive With Love series, Superstitious Brides Romance series, Sunset Valley Women’s Fiction series, and Devon Taggart Suspense series. She also likes to boast about her three perfect children, two amazing rescue dogs, and a happily ever after that started while serving in the U.S. Army and has spanned two decades (which is crazy since she’s not a day over 29).

In her next life, Susan plans to be a 5 foot 10, size 8 rock star married to a chiropractor and will not be terrified of large bridges, spiders, or quiet people (shiver).

Want to connect further with Susan? Find her here!:

Website: www.authorsusanannwall.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/susanannwall.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@susanannwall

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/susanannwall

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Susan-Ann-Wall/e/B007NZU7X0

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/susanannwall

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/nQ7wH

Thanks so much for being here, Susan! It was grand!

Writer Wednesday: Meet Michele Stegman!

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Margaret — 2 Comments ↓

Welcome, welcome to #WriterWednesday, that wonderful day of the week in which I host a fellow author for a brief interview – the perfect bite-sized break to go along with that Kit Kat you’re thinking about (or is that just me?).

This week I’m honored to have Michele Stegman, author of warm, sensuous romance, with us. So I’ll duck out of the way while she tells us a bit about herself and her latest work…

What inspires you to write?

Pure and simple, I love to tell stories.

At a party the other day, a friend complimented my necklace. Instead of just saying thank you, I started telling her about the lapis in it, how it came from the misty mountains of Afghanistan, and about Michelangelo grinding up lapis to make ultramarine blue, etc, until I suddenly realized I was telling my friends a lot more than they ever wanted to know about my necklace. They were fascinated, but still, I really need to confine my storytelling to my books!

Which type of romance do you love most, and why?

Historical romance, of course! There is just something about the clothes and the horses and the heroes that attract me. When I visited Williamsburg, VA, they were making a film and I couldn’t take my eyes off the dashing man in 18^th century clothes riding a horse.

I have always, even as a child, loved reading about history, learning how things were made, and how food was cooked and preserved. So now, I am a hand spinner and weaver and live in an 1840’s log cabin surrounded by antiques.

What fellow romance author do you recommend reading, and why?

Please, please can I recommend more than one?

Jo Beverley is a real favorite of mine. Not only are her stories riveting, but her knowledge of history and of the English upper class is spot on.

Madeline Hunter is another I would recommend for historical accuracy. Sometimes I think she cheats and uses a time machine because her descriptions are so real. How could she know all this stuff unless she has been there?

And one more, Roberta Gellis, because I have learned so much history from her books. Yet she works it in without one boring sentence.

What’s your favorite romance novel of all time, and why?

That would have to be Kathleen Woodiwiss’s A Rose in Winter. I like everything about that book, but maybe my main reason is that it is a “beauty and the beast” story, which was my all-time favorite fairy tale as a child.

A Bit About Conquest of the Heart:

In 1067 England, Madeline, a Norman, wants a big, brash, never-defeated-in-battle, Norman knight. What she gets, by order of the king, is a wiry Saxon who once studied for the priesthood instead of warfare. But is this gentle man she is falling in love with entangled in the rebellion now sweeping the land?

Ranulf wants to marry the girl next door. What he gets, by order of the king, is a lush, strong Norman woman who just might be a spy reporting his every move. He wants her in every way a man can possibly want a woman. But can he trust his heart to a woman might have been sent to root out the struggle for freedom his people are engaged in? How can the overcome the distrust they feel to find love?

Find Conquest of the Heart here:

Amazon (ebook) | Amazon (paperback) | Barnes and Noble | Mythical Press (paperback) | Smashwords

A Bit About Michele:

Michele Stegman has always loved history and majored in it in college. As a graduate student, she decided that history papers would be more fun to read if they were about people and their relationships. So she added some romance and started writing historical romance.

She lives with her husband, Ron, and two cats at the end of a dead-end road on 46 acres surrounded by wildlife.

Want to connect further with Michele? Find her on her website or on Facebook!

Thanks so much for being here, Michele! It was delightful to host you.

Writer Wednesday (er, Monday?): Meet Sharleen Scott

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Margaret — 2 Comments ↓

Welcome to Writer Wednesday!

What’s that you say? It’s Monday? Oops. Yup. My bad.

See, much of last week I was at the hospital with a loved one, and, well, I forgot to post dear romantic suspense author Sharleen Scott‘s interview.

I apologize to her (and to you), but am so pleased to share more about Ms. Scott now.

What inspires you to write?

I enjoying sharing my stories. I’m inspired to write romance, specifically, because I love the romance journey. It’s great fun to create characters, conflicts, and plot twists, and tie it all up with a happily-ever-after ending.

Which type of romance do you love the most, and why?

Romantic suspense. I tried writing contemporary romance but my characters’ worlds always seem to contain mysteries and murders. I enjoy building the suspense.

Name one interesting thing you learned in researching/writing your last book.

The hero in Caught in the Spin is a retired champion bull rider and my heroine is a big rodeo fan, so I spent a lot of time reading about bull riding. I discovered that rodeo teams are huge at some colleges, which opened up some interesting backstory for my character. Tom Black was a college rodeo champion while pursuing degrees in business and psychology. Both degrees helped him in my story where he owns a ranch post pro-rodeo career and runs up against a psychotic killer.

Name two things people don’t know about you:

1. I always include plants in my garden to feed the birds when the snow flies. This year I planted broomcorn as well as sunflowers.

2. I’m a genealogy nut. I can spend hours on it.

What’s your favorite romance novel of all time?

There are actually two. First is Nora Roberts’ Irish Trilogy. Three books, I know, but they go together and all are excellent. The other is Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. Jamie and Claire. Need I say more?

A Bit About Caught in the Spin:

When Tallie Peters lands the job of assistant to Nashville’s’ premier music manager she’s sure things are finally looking up for her and her son. Meeting gorgeous former bull rider Tom Black confirms it. But Tallie’s new life dives into a chaotic spiral with the premature release of her brutal ex-husband from prison. He wants his son and will stop at nothing to take him. Tom offers Tallie and her son refuge behind the gates of the Masterson-Black ranch but soon finds that the best security measures are no match for a determined ex-con with nothing to lose.

Find Caught In the Spin on Amazon!

A Bit About Sharleen:

Sharleen Scott is the author of the romantic suspense Caught series and Tangles, a novel about a family dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently writing the third book in the Caught series.

Want to connect further with Sharleen? Find her here:

Amazon | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks so much for being here, Sharleen! It was a delight to host you.

Writer Wednesday: Meet Catherine Chant!

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Margaret — 5 Comments ↓

Welcome to Writer Wednesday!

Today we’ve got Catherine Chant rockin’ the house – which is especially apt, considering she writes rock ‘n’ roll romantic fiction and stories with paranormal twists for young adults. How cool is THAT?

Read on to learn more about Catherine and her latest work – and I hope you’ll leave some love in the comments. Because authors need groupies, too! 🙂

Red heart shapes on a handwritten old journal.

What inspires you to write?

I think I’m going to be in the minority when I say I’m not the type of writer who feels she has to write (like that I’ll die if I couldn’t). I’m creative in so many different ways that if writing were no longer an option, I’d find another outlet and be okay with that.

So why do I write if I don’t have to? I write because I enjoy it. It’s that simple. I like telling stories. I like starting on a path and seeing what’s around the corner. I enjoy discovering the unexpected, and I would love for readers to come along for the ride. I’m constantly inspired by the question of “What if…?”

[ML: So glad I’m not the only one who feels that way – though if I did, I think I’d get a lot more written.]

Close up of fountain pen on old letter

What one piece of advice do you wish you’d had when first starting out?

When I was in elementary school, the teachers would tell my mother that my assignments were sometimes late because I spent too much time looking around the room to see what other kids were doing.

I made that same mistake when I started writing. Sometimes it’s disguised as learning from others, which is fine, but if you pay too much attention to what other writers are doing, it’s easy to forget to work on your own stuff. Write for yourself first and don’t worry so much what everyone else is doing.

What’s your favorite romance novel of all time, and why?

This is a hard choice. I’ve read and loved a lot of books. But I’d have to say that the romance that stands out the most in my mind after all these years is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I read it when it was first published back in 1991 and it just struck a chord with me. The history, the emotions, the romance. It has it all. That book made me fall in love with the whole time travel genre and inspired me to write my own. Before that moment, I’d mostly read gothic romances.

chef at work

Name two things people don’t know about you.

1. I always say I’m a horrible cook (it’s been a running joke in my family since I was a kid–I was majorly inept in Home Ec class), but I’m actually not that bad. I don’t much like cooking, though, so I’m happy to have everyone believe I’m horrible at it and that’s why I don’t cook more.

2. Before I got into writing, I was an artist. I drew and painted pictures all the time. Looking back, I probably should have gone to art school and become a graphic designer, but my parents wanted me to have a “practical” career, so I went to a traditional four-year college and studied math and held a technology job for 15 years. Now I’m back in the arts, so I got here eventually.

A Bit About Nothing Stays the Same (young adult time travel romance)

How far would you go to save someone’s life? Leah and Brennan are going all the way back to 1973.

One Choice Changes Everything…

In 1973, The Beat Detectors are the hottest TV pop band to hit the airwaves since The Monkees, thanks to the appealing vocals of rising teen idol Ronnie Basford. But behind the scenes, not everything is rainbows and unicorns. Ronnie realizes much too late that one bad decision can ruin your whole life.

Forty years later, Ronnie is dead from an apparent suicide and his sixteen-year-old son Brennan wants answers. He needs to understand how it all went so wrong. When he finds himself dropped back in time, to the set of his father’s TV show, he’s determined to redirect the course of his father’s life and create the happy ending Ronnie deserved.

Soccer star Leah Reinard has been crushing on Brennan Basford for ages. When they end up at the same summer job, she thinks the fates have finally aligned in her favor. That is, until Brennan suddenly disappears from existence. One day he’s there, the next day, he’s gone. And no one but Leah even remembers him. Can Leah find Brennan in time to stop him from ruining both their futures?

Available from Amazon.com: https://amzn.com/B01IASDPV4

A Bit About Catherine:

Catherine Chant is an active member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a Golden Heart® finalist. She writes rock ‘n’ roll romantic fiction and stories with paranormal twists for young adults. Catherine is currently working on a new young adult suspense novel, and the next book in her Soul Mates series.

You can connect with Catherine at her website CatherineChant.com, on Twitter @Catherine_Chant, on Facebook CatherineChantNovels, or on Instagram Catherine_Chant

Thanks so much for being here, Catherine – I’m thrilled you chose to be a guest. 🙂

Writer Wednesday: Meet G.E. Taylor!

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Margaret — No Comments ↓

Welcome back to Writer Wednesday!

Today we have romance author G.E. Taylor with us, and I’m so delighted she’s here to answer a few short questions and tell us a bit about her latest work.

So grab that tall, cool glass of lemonade (well, it’s what I’m craving right now, at least), and settle in for a cool slice of this author’s life in the middle of this hot August (at least it’s boiling here in Virginia).

What inspires you to write?

First, I love reading. After I discovered the romance books published by Mills & Boon, I read all that I could find. I fell in love with the heroes and admired the heroines. Those stories inspired me. When I write my stories, I try to build a plot and characters the reader can sink into.

Which type of romance do you love most, and why?

The genre romance that I’m most comfortable writing is contemporary. It lends itself to the time I’m living in. Dress, language, and the setting for my characters I handle through research on the internet.

What fellow romance author do you recommend reading, and why?

Without a doubt, Sandra Brown. She is a marvelous storyteller. She has a special way of writing that I’m able to get into right away. Her stories are reflective of issues happening in real life.

A Bit About Surrender My Heart:

“Jesus Chr—!” David mutters in disbelief, while swerving to avoid hitting the dog that dashed in front of his truck and the young boy who chased after him. He hears a thump, feels it, and he prays to God it isn’t the child he’d hit. The dog he can fix; he’s a veterinarian. The child was a different story. Kneeling beside the boy and his pet, David breathes a sigh of relief. The child is all right. He turns his focus on the mother, and he knew this encounter would not be his last. Her fiery tongue leaves him with no doubt that he would be held responsible for the accident, and if he’d hurt her son, there’d be no place he would be safe from her wrath. But like a moth, he was drawn to the flame.

Priscilla Bradford has one goal—to build a successful psychotherapy private practice in a short time. There is no room in her life for a relationship. She doesn’t want it. She wants no distractions and no complications. Maintaining an aloof persona, she keeps off would-be admirers. Then she runs into David Alexander, a man she cannot ignore. Despite her best efforts to stay fully committed to her goal, she is drawn to him in a way she cannot explain. That did not sit well with her, being a person who likes to be in control and in charge.

A Bit About G.E.:

I became hooked on reading romance novels during my teen years and my attempt at writing began in high school. All of my manuscripts were mailed under my bed. Eventually, I threw out most of them. That was painful especially since I’d written them by longhand first, then typed them on my old, dependable typewriter.

In college I majored in English but ended up with a Master in Social Work from Rutgers University and a Master in Education from Seton Hall University. Though I had these different career paths, I never gave up my passion for writing or my need to read. Now I’m more committed to my writing.

I live in New Jersey with my family; enjoy soul music, like dancing and the occasional glass of wine.

Books I have published include: The Lady Mentor, Desperate Decision and Surrender My Heart.

Find Desperate Decision here: Amazon | Barnes & Nobl e | Createspace

Find Surrender My Heart here: Amazon