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Warnings… if you weren’t curious about Choices Meant for Gods or Sandy Lender before this interview you’re going to be chomping at the bit to get this book to devour! Mwuahaha…

1. How did the idea for Choices Meant for Gods first come to you?

Sandy Lender: Way back when I was in junior high or early high school, the evil bad guy, Jamieson Drake, showed me Amanda Chariss. She was standing on a balcony, holding back the curtains as if embracing the morning sunrise and she was beautiful. I fell in love with her instantly. I got her name wrong at first…and I wasn’t sure how she met Nigel Taiman at first…but I always knew she’d been running (with her wizard guardian) from this nasty old sorcerer Drake since she was a child.

I’ve got a notebook somewhere with a scene of Chariss and Hrazon meeting up with Nigel in the forest before they get to the Taiman estate. The names are all wrong but the camaraderie between Chariss and Hrazon is amazing. It shows Nigel instantly falling in love with this young lady, which I think is way too obvious, of course!

2. I’m pretty curious about Chariss. Why is she a heroine readers can get behind?

Sandy Lender: On one hand, Chariss is this amazing, kick-butt, no-holds-barred gal who possesses a well-controlled form of magic (the geasa) through years of training and self-sacrifice. On the other hand, she’s just a 20-year-old girl who’s been running from a madman since age four when the guy killed her whole family in front of her. She’s sympathetic that way. She doesn’t think of herself as any great shakes. She’s done all this training so she can protect herself; not to impress anyone. She doesn’t believe she can do anything great (flaw #1); she can’t cook (funny flaw). She loves her guardian wizard like a father and would lay down her life to save his. She’s kind to everyone because she just feels that’s the right way to be. When she finds a fledgling dragon, she’s excited and wants to feed it. She’s just approachable and fun, strong and fabulous. There are reviewers on Amazon who state it more succinctly than I can because I’m too close to her. I’ve had her in my head for 25 years or so.

Oh. And then there’s this amethyst on her cheekbone, high up near the corner of her right eye that she was born with. It’s a “birthmark” of sorts that seals her fate…

3. What are some of the overarching themes that will drive your Choices trilogy?

Tolerance

Love

Spirituality

4. What are some of the difficulties in world-building?

Sandy Lender: Tracking those darn moons. I have a big ol’ desk calendar, though, that I’ve plotted the moon patterns on so I know when the two moons in the world of Onweald are both full, both waning, etc. I need that information…

Another difficulty was measurements when I’ve got a flooding river in the mix. I have the evil bad guy in cahoots with an evil bad goddess (because one evil bad guy isn’t enough, you know?) and they’ve got an evil bad army marching toward Chariss’s latest refuge. Well, I’ve got to measure out how long that’s going to take so everyone converges on the same place at the same time in Book III. So far, I think I have it timed just so…

5. Of course world-building isn’t all work-a lot of it is fun. What’s your favorite fantasy element you’ve incorporated into your world?

Sandy Lender: This is a really great question, Keira! There are a few elements I love…like Malachi, the dragon. I can’t go into “why” because I would be giving away a bit of a mystery that the reader is supposed to solve before the end of Choices Meant for Gods. Chariss doesn’t solve it (silly girl), but the reader figures it out. Mwuahahahaha.

I will pick: the geasa. I’m one of those funky Southern Baptists (even though I write bizarre fantasy about polytheistic societies - go figure) that believes sorcery and magic are things you best be pretty darn careful about. So, in my fantasy novels, I didn’t want to confuse any impressionable minds (teens, etc.) who would be reading by having my “good guys” using sorcery or magic. So I made up a form of magic that comes from the good side of nature in my world. Now, you can argue that we’re still using magic, and I agree, but, hey, it’s my fantasy world and I’ll cheat if I want to. So I made up the geasa as a god-breathed form of power that some people get while they’re forming in the womb and some people don’t. It’s not necessarily hereditary, but many frightened bigots in the world of Onweald fear that it is, and many families have been murdered for producing Geasa’n children. That’s where the theme of tolerance comes into play in the series. People who are intolerant and bigoted don’t fare so well in my novels…

6. When it comes to the written word and real life, how do you define love?

Sandy Lender: I’ve just gone through a 17-month divorce, after a 13-year marriage that was mostly devoid of love, so I might not be the right person to ask. He he he. In fact, not long before I filed, my ex-husband informed me that he’d spent most of the marriage resenting me. Nice. So…I think I’ll say that love would be NOT resenting the other person.

To be very serious, though, I would define love as mutual affection, respect, and, in romantic love, passion. Isn’t it Eleanor in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility who throws “esteem” into the mix? I agree with the concept. Even for romantic love, the friendship qualities have to be in there or your characters are just having a fling.

In Choices Meant for Gods, when Nigel and Chariss first see each other, Chariss is so distressed over a plot development that’s happening that she doesn’t really notice too much about him. But Nigel is instantly enamored. He wants to come to her rescue. A friendship builds between the two before Nigel ever announces his intentions. Chariss wouldn’t have had it any other way.

7. How did ArcheBooks first hear of Choices Meant for Gods?

Sandy Lender: I had a pitch session with the publisher, Bob Gelinas, at a writer’s conference in Southwest Florida. He took my proposal, synopsis, marketing plan, first three chapters, and then requested the full manuscript a few days later. Woo-hoo! That was probably the most stressful interview of my whole life. Bob was a kind person, rather informal, just havin’ a conversation about my book, but he probably doesn’t realize I was on the verge of cardiac arrest the whole time.

8. Fill in the blank: If you’re not writing, you are irritable.

9. What do you hope readers will gain from Choices Meant for Gods and the rest of your trilogy?

Sandy Lender: Even though life isn’t always fair, even though we don’t always get what we want, there are amazing people we meet during our journeys who lift us up. Without these people, the journey wouldn’t be worth much.

10. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Sandy Lender: This might seem a wee bit odd, but in addition to my Choices Meant for Gods, I would encourage folks also to read Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. This novel is one of the best ever written. It’s my favorite of all time. There are elements in Jane Eyre that influence my writing on a conscious and subconscious level, and folks who have already read the book will probably pick out a few of those elements in Choices Meant for Gods.

Also, thank you so much for hosting me! And thank you to all the visitors who’ve stopped in to read our interview today. It’s been a fun exercise.

Thank you so much Sandy for sitting down and doing this interview with me! I’m so excited about this book and I hope everyone else is too.

If you’re interested in WINNING an autographed, hard cover, first edition of Choices Meant for Gods leave a COMMENT on today’s post AND tomorrow’s post because at the end of each week one commenter (from all the blogs in the tour that week) will be randomly drawn and awarded. It might be you!

Buy: Choices Meant for Gods

To learn more about Sandy and Choices Meant for Gods check out the rest of her blog tour:

Hello and welcome to another get into bed author interview here at Love Romance Passion. Today’s pillow talk is with author Judi Fennell. Please join me in welcoming her to the blog.

Last time Judi was with us she discussed her chatty characters and we held a book giveaway for her latest release, In Over Her Head. The winner was drawn and the lucky commentator is… #4: Kat Sheridan! Congratulations Kat!

Now onto the interview!

For me In Over Her Head is like The Little Mermaid in reverse. Was that the inspiration for the book or was it something else?

That was it. Just a “how can I twist The Little Mermaid?” I had entered the story in the First Chapters Romance contest on Gather.com in August of 2007, where 250 of us posted our first chapter for the online community’s review. The first person to comment on the fact that it was like The Little Mermaid was one reader’s 12 year old son. I found that interesting. Then everyone else started chiming in.

I did tell the mom that she might not want her son to read past chapter 2.

If you only had a sentence, how would you sum up In Over Her Head?

He’s a merman and she’s terrified of the ocean.

Fisher, Reel, Rod, Chumley–how in the Zeus did you decide on these names?!

They all started with Reel’s. When I set out to write this story, I was working on a series of fairy tale twists. Cinda Bella, Beauty and The Best, Fairest of Them All… I wanted to write a twist on The Little Mermaid. So, I decided to make him the Mer. Erica’s name was easy because the prince in The Little Mermaid is named Eric, but how do you spin Ariel? I came up with Riel, but figured everyone would pronounce it Ree- el. And then I realized what a pun it’d be to name him Reel.

Chumley, aka Chum, opened his mouth and his name popped out. Same thing with Rod - when Erica was smart-mouthing off to Reel she just asked, “You got a friend Rod around here anywhere?” to which Reel shot back, “He’s my brother. He lives in the South Atlantic .” Until that point, I had no idea Reel had a brother, let alone he was a twin or that the twin’s name was Rod.

In order for their punny names to be believable, I had to name Fisher Fisher. Their mom, Kai’s name means “sea” in Hawaiian. Then, of course, there were the sisters’ names and those are explained in the story.

In your book, In Over Her Head, you’ve created a whole world under the sea. Everything from restructuring common phrases to talking fish to mythology is present. What was the hardest part of world building for you? The most fun?

Hardest part was where to put things in the North Atlantic like Reel’s lair and their traveling to Bermuda to make it believable. There is NOTHING in the North Atlantic except a few small rises in the ocean floor off the coast of NY . Thank goodness for Google Earth. I lived on that site for a long time.

Most fun? Atlantis. I took a look at a few pictures of the caves beneath Bermuda online then let my imagination swim free.

Can you tell us more about Mers? What research did you do and what parts did you make to suit your needs?

I took basic mythology and tweaked it to fit my own needs. I’ve always enjoyed mythology and like mermaids, so there wasn’t a lot I had to research. A great thing about writing paranormal is that you can make your world be anything you want it to be. We have vampires now who aren’t dead, who can be awake in the day, who don’t have to bite people… why not make my Mers do whatever I need them to.

I will say that the question I get most often surprised me. Most people ask, “how do mers have sex?” Honestly, I’m amazed at the question. I don’t write beastiality stories, so it’s really not hard to figure out. I usually say, “Think of the mythology.” If you watch The Little Mermaid, you should have some idea of what I did with the story (but no way am I spoiling it here.)

To suit my needs: I had to give my Mers the ability to breathe both water and air, and make it easy for Erica to, as well. I didn’t want to write the story about the mechanics of being able to live under the sea, so I worked it to where all he had to do was kiss the ability into her. I think I’ve covered all the reasons and wherefores in the story so readers shouldn’t have any trouble suspending disbelief.

What’s the difference between a talking animal and one that is normal or doesn’t talk?

Oh, they all talk. They just don’t talk around us. Humans are kind of the bullies in high school to animals. They put up with us, but they don’t want to be our best friends. It just so happens we’re the top of the food chain, so unless they want to be lunch, they better toe (or flipper) the line.

But they’re organized. Make no mistake about that.

Had you the option, would you choose to live under the sea or on land? Why?

Give me land. Why? Because I saw Jaws at an impressionable age and it left a huge gaping gash in my self-confidence in the ocean.

It’s a totally irrational fear. I know that. I used to LOVE the ocean. I would swim back and forth for hours beyond where the waves break. I’d read a book on a raft, getting off only to swim back up the beach after the current had carried me down. Then I saw “the movie.”

I know there are no great white sharks hanging off the coast of NJ just waiting for me to get in the water. I know that. But I make sure there are people out farther than me and on either side whenever I go in. I have a “shark meter” in my head. My tension level starts out at my ankles and the longer I’m in the water (or the better the conditions are, say, warmer water, recent sightings), the higher it goes. When it reaches my neck, I’m out of there. Sometimes it gets to that point in 10 minutes, other times it’s 45. Never longer.

How does Reel match into your idea of the perfect hero?

One of the reasons I married my husband was because he’s the nicest person I’ve ever met and he can always make me laugh.

Reel is, at heart, a nice person. And he certainly can make me laugh. ‘Nuff said.

And, no, my husband doesn’t have a tail.

How is Erica the perfect heroine for Reel and why should readers root for her?

What I love about Erica is that she’s in a situation that terrifies her and she doesn’t give up. It’d be easy to take her lumps (or shark bite, as it were) and give up. She’s figuring she’s going to die one way or the other, but she doesn’t. She struggles til the end.

Then when she wakes up under the sea, she is determined to survive it.

And then when she confronts her original nemesis towards the end, she’s a changed person. He can’t get away with what he could in the beginning because in fighting for herself, she’s become stronger.

I like when people don’t give up. I mean, it’s your life - what else are you going to do?

A lot of this attitude stems from the time I lived in Spain . I was in college and four of us were going to drive through the south of Spain for Spring Break. I picked up the rental car then went to get everyone else. That’s when I found out that no one else knew how to A) drive a stick shift, B) pack for a week at the beach in a 2 door hatchback, and C) read a map. I drove 1300 miles in 8 days, found all the hotels, navigated through all those medieval towns without an accident and got us back alive. Don’t tell me there’s something I can’t do. I guess in infusing Erica with my irrational fear, I also gave her my stubbornness–though I prefer to call it my Can-Do attitude.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I have loved every minute of writing this book. The characters were some of the chattiest I’ve ever worked with, and they just made it so much fun. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Thanks so much, Keira, for having me!

You can visit Judi at her homepage and blog for more fun and hunky Mer sightings.

Buy: In Over Her Head

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Keira: How did the ideas for An Offer You Can’t Refuse and Miranda’s Big Mistake come to you?

Jill: With Offer, I was very keen to write about a sparky bookshop manageress who loves books, and my readers seem to have appreciated this - mainly because they’re readers too! With Miranda, I wanted to set the story in a hair salon as I think they’re amazing places for eavesdropping, gossiping and fun. I don’t enjoy having my hair done, but I still love going because I know I’ll come away with enough ideas to fill ten books!

Keira: Do character names come easily for you or is there a trial and error process?

Jill: Good question. I use my books of babies’ names to find them, and sometimes they work straight away, but occasionally they don’t work out and need to be changed. A lot easier to do now, with word processors, than in the old days when you had to sit down with your 600 typed pages and a bucket of Tippex…

Keira: Do you prefer a heroine, hero, or couple over the other and why?

Jill: Sorry, I don’t understand this question. Is this an American term? I like all my main characters!

Keira: What do you think is the hardest thing for anyone to do in a relationship?

Jill: Ooh, another great question! Personally speaking, my other half is tidy and I’m not, so I have to try very hard to clean up after myself. And he has to try very hard not to mind when I fail! I suppose, in a nutshell, we’re talking about compromise.

Keira: For you, what is the appeal of contemporary romance?

Jill: It’s easy entertainment and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. We like to relax and escape from the pressures of life. I write feel-good fiction and people tell me I’ve cheered them up. For me, that’s just perfect.

Keira:Is there anything you struggle with when writing? How to do you overcome that?

Jill: At the moment I’m struggling because my heroine has taken a job working in an office. The problem is, I’ve never worked in an office so I haven’t a clue what she’s supposed to be doing all day. If it was something more specific I could look it up on Google, but I’m just having to guess! (My agent had to break it to me that secretaries don’t take shorthand any more…)

Keira: If you could be one of your characters - either book - who would you be?

Jill: Either of them, but Miranda is probably the nicer person, so I’ll go with her. And she gets to see a great tennis match on the Centre Court at Wimbledon , which would make my year!

Keira: Fill in the blank: If you’re not writing you are ______

Jill: …Feeling very naughty and guilty, as if I’ve taken a day off work when I’m not even sick. Even when I’m doing other things, I’m probably still thinking about the characters and the plot at the back of my mind. (That ‘ s my excuse, anyway.) Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny day that my daughter and I went to Bath for lunch at Jamie Oliver ‘ s restaurant. We sat on the terrace, ate wonderful food and had the best time. Then we went shopping afterwards. Today I ‘ m working extra-hard to make up for it!

Keira: What inspired you to put pen to paper as it were and write in the first place?

Jill: This sounds terrible, but I really started because I wanted to become rich! I had no money at all and saw a magazine piece about successful romance writers whose lives had been transformed. I sat down and wrote a book. And now I’ve written twenty in total. It’s been wonderful and it has completely changed my life.

Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Jill: I’d just like to say thanks, Keira, for asking to interview me. I’m so thrilled to be published in the States and everyone’s being so kind about my books. The feedback has been fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a better response. You’re all stars!

You can visit Jill at her website and follow what she’s up to by checking out her diary. In the meanwhile, you can Buy: An Offer You Can’t Refuse or Purchase: Miranda’s Big Mistake.

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Everybody say hi and welcome Cheryl Brooks, author of the Cat Star Chronicles, to Love Romance Passion. Grab a cup of something hot and let’s get down to business. Below is the interview:

Thank you so much Cheryl for sitting down to chat! How did you come up with the idea for the Cat Star Chronicles?

I’d been writing contemporary romances that utilized the boy-next-door theme and had also written a number of stories that were requested by friends, but my original intention when I began writing-about thirty years ago, now!-was to write a science fiction romance. Then I read an erotic sci-fi novel about a woman who had to pose as a slave to a dominant male, and because I’ve never been a fan of dominant alpha males, I thought it would be much more fun if the man was the slave instead of the woman! So I wrote a story about a tough, independent space trader named Jacinth in need of a man she can trust with her life to aid her in the quest to rescue her kidnapped sister. Toward that end she buys an alien slave, whom she dubs Cat, hoping to gain his loyalty by offering him freedom in exchange for his assistance. Part of the appeal of this hero was that, being a slave, he had nothing but his strength, intelligence, and sensual nature to offer a woman. It was my intention that he be the last of his kind, but to continue this as a series, I created a scenario where six Zetithian men were captured at the end of the war that destroyed their world and sold into slavery and each book in the series tells the story of how one of them found love.

Should readers start from the beginning of the series or do you feel that they can jump in any time?

I think any series works best by reading them in order, however, I’ve tried very hard to make each of my books able to stand alone, and, according to several reviews, I’ve succeeded.

What is your favorite book so far in the series? How many in total will there be?

It’s difficult to choose because though all of my heroes are irresistible Zetithians, they all have very different personalities, as do my heroines. I let my imagination run wild in Slave, but Warrior was fun because most of the secondary characters were animals with whom the heroine could communicate telepathically-and they all had plenty of pithy comments to make about humans! In Rogue, my piano-teacher heroine had two stunning Zetithian brothers to choose from and some really fun aliens as the supporting characters. Outcast, being about a man who has lost all desire for women, is more of a tear-jerker than the others, and it is also the first to be written in third person which gave me a chance to get inside the hero’s head for a change, something that I enjoyed very much. I’ve had a blast writing the last two books, Fugitive and Hero, too, so I really can’t pick one favorite.

As it now stands, there will be six in the series, and possibly a seventh.

How did Sourcebooks first hear of your book?

I first heard of Sourcebooks when the Romance Writer’s Report listed them as a newly approved publisher. They were accepting both paranormal and erotic romances, so I submitted the manuscript for my erotic sci-fi novel, and promptly forgot about it until the editor called saying she wanted to read the rest of it. She loved it, but it was too short, so I added a few new scenes and the manuscript was then accepted.

What do you think is the biggest appeal of fantasy / sci-fi romance?

For me, the appeal is that it places few limits on my imagination, and I think that probably holds true for the readers, as well, because there are endless opportunities for surprises.

I know you’re a nurse; how does that work when it comes to writing on schedule? What is your writing routine?

I work three twelve-hour night shifts a week, which varies from week to week, so there is no schedule! I’m just like anyone else: I have free time, but what I do with it is write, rather than watch television. After Slave came out, I was encouraged to try to write four books a year-and this year, there are three-but found that I simply couldn’t do it and remain sane. As long as the nursing job is the one paying the bills, the books will have to be limited to two a year.

Most of my writing is done in the evening, with blogging and emails, etc, done during the day.

What was the hardest part of writing your series?

Remembering the small details about different alien species from book to book and just where in the galaxy each planet is located. I probably need to keep a notebook of characters and species and draw a map, but I haven’t done it yet, so I have to keep copies of my books close by!

In your own words, what is love?

A deep, emotional, enduring attachment that makes you consider that person’s wishes ahead of your own.

What is your favorite aspect of writing?

The creative outlet it provides. I’d go crazy without it!

What makes a great written bedroom scene?

One that makes you tingle all over and want to read it again and again! The specific components can vary, but if it doesn’t involve the heart and soul, it’s just sex.

How do you decide character names? Who’s your favorite male and female lead so far?

My male characters have all had a connection to the “cat” theme. There was Cat in Slave, Leo in Warrior, and Tychar in Rogue, which is an alteration of the word tiger. Outcast has Lynx, and Fugitive has Manx, which are both types of cats. Trag (Hero) is short for Tragonathon, which is a combination of a friend’s name and the words tiger and dragon.

My heroine’s names are sometimes suggested by their occupation or their personality, or it can just be a name I happen to like. For the more alien names, I experiment. Sometimes I’ll take a traditional human name and change the vowels. Other times I strike random letters on the keyboard and then go back and play around with it until it sounds right. I may change the spelling several times while I’m writing before I’m happy with it.

My favorite hero will always be Cat (Slave), because he was the one who started it all, and Bonnie (Outcast) is my favorite heroine because she had the patience and kindness to turn Lynx’s life around, which I’m not sure I could have done.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

I love hearing from readers!

My email address is: cheryl.brooks52@yahoo.com

Website: cherylbrooksonline.com

I also blog on Casablanca Authors, Wickedly Romantic, and Cheryl Brooks Erotic Blogspot.

Buy: Outcast (The Cat Star Chronicles, Book 4)

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Keira: Hi Jennifer! I’m so excited to have you with us today. Loved A Hint of Wicked; what was your inspiration?

Jennifer: My husband came up with the first idea for A Hint of Wicked. We were on a long drive and stuck in traffic, and we and started tossing around book ideas. He suggested an irate husband walking in on his mourning wife with another man. The core concept has evolved since then, but I took that idea and ran with it!

Keira: Oh yes, two men! Sophie is in for a tough decision. Tell me a little about the men - what are their hero qualities?

Jennifer: Oooh! That’s a great question. You’re right—it’s an incredibly tough—and almost impossible—decision for Sophie.

Tristan is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s loyal to a fault, analytical, and completely devoted to Sophie and the family they’ve built together. He’s gone through years of grief and growth with her, so he understands how her mind works and what makes her tick. He “clicks” with Sophie—spiritually, physically, and emotionally.

Garrett is blond, blue-eyed, and powerfully built. He’s intense, emotional, and possesses a deeply ingrained sense of honor. He has suffered tremendously in the past years, and that gives him a very dark edge that comes through in his actions. He and Sophie have loved each other unconditionally since they were children.

Keira: Could she just have both? Would Garrett and Tristan do that for her? No?

Jennifer: Hehe, well, let’s just say that, as an author who feels a strong connection to all three characters, it was a strong temptation to try to push the three of them together like that.

Unfortunately, though, Garrett and Tristan would have none of it!

Keira: In one sentence how would you describe their marriages to her?

Jennifer: Her marriage to Garrett, before he left for war, was the epitome of the blush of first love—romantic, exciting, and full of discovery.

Her marriage to Tristan is a comfortable partnership during the day and fireworks-passionate at night.

Keira: Would you make the same decision Sophie did in A Hint of Wicked?

Jennifer: If I were Sophie, I would! As much as I love both heroes, however, I know they’re destined only for the heroines they end up with in their books. I couldn’t barge in and separate either couple! That would be so wrong!

Keira: What is your favorite type of hero to read/write?

Jennifer: Oh my, that’s tough. I like all kinds of heroes, but I guess my favorites are those who truly love their heroines beyond anything in the world, and will go to hell and back at hundred times to win them. The heroes with that pure, focused, unwavering love for their heroines always give me shivers.

Keira: You said both men are passionate, and we readers love that in our heroes! What makes a great (written) bedroom scene?

Jennifer: As a reader, bedroom scenes resonate for me when there is emotion involved, and when the scenes are crucial to the development of the plot of the story and the relationship between the characters. Mix that emotion and character development with big fireworks, and I’m a happy, happy reader!

Keira: What was the hardest part of writing a Hint of Wicked? The easiest?

Jennifer: I think the hardest part was straightening out the legal confusion while keeping my characters morally in the right and their children legitimate. I bought two books on the history of marriage and divorce in the UK, and wow, what a mire of legalities! The legal system in the UK at the time was extremely complicated, and this particular situation had very little precedent. The similar cases I could find were all associated with commoners, but with the aristocracy (especially dukes), things tended to be handled considerably differently. I finally consulted a legal expert who helped me straighten it out a bit. At times in the book, I found the characters beginning to talk in legal circles. In the end, I tried to keep it all as simple and clear as possible so as not to confuse the reader (or myself!).

The easiest part of A Hint of Wicked….hmmm. Well, it was probably finding the motivation to get it done! Not only was it my first contracted novel, it’s a story that’s very close to my heart. I finished it in record time!

Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Jennifer: The second book, A TOUCH OF SCANDAL, will be released in April, 2010.

My website is www.jenniferhaymore.com

Thanks!!

Keira: Thanks so much Jennifer! It’s been a real pleasure to talk with you! For more information on Jennifer Haymore and her books visit her website and check out her blog.

Buy: A Hint of Wicked

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This is part two to my Twitter query series about defining emotion and passion. Part one can be found here. This series is devoted to asking romance authors and readers to explain the driving forces behind the concepts of love and desire by sharing their opinions and stories.

What is love? How do you define it?

Sèphera Girón: Love is unconditional acceptance and nurturing protective feelings towards another human being. Romantic love would add sexual chemistry and the idea of wanting to “do anything” for your partner both in the bedroom and out.

Stephani Hecht: A few years ago my grandmother was in the hospital.  She’d had emphysema for a while and we all knew she was dying. Most of the time she was unconscious, but we still took turns being by her bedside so she wouldn’t be alone. I was taking the midnight shift when my grandfather showed up.  He came to her bedside, took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I still remember the first time I saw you,” he said, as he stoked the back of her hand with his thumb.  “I was fourteen, you were twelve and I spotted you across the school yard.  You had on this really pretty yellow dress and there was a ribbon in your hair.  As soon as I saw you I said to myself, That’s the one.  That’s my girl.”

Now that was true love. My grandmother died hours later and my grandfather has never really gotten over losing her.

What makes a great bedroom scene?

Sèphera Girón: I’m talking about one man and one woman in this one: Anticipation and tension sexually and emotionally before they hit the bedroom, leading to sensual touching and exploring, with the woman coming first at least once and usually it’s because the man has full attention on her either oral sex or fingering her. Both partners are lustily into the moment and sometimes it’s nice if both can come together for the finale. Descriptions and dialogue should be realistic and to the point, including talking during lovemaking even though it feels weird typing “oh yeah” but when you read the work outloud, it’s real. “Cute” words such as cunny, and creamy, turn me off.

Stephani Hecht: If you can make the reader “feel” the character’s fears, passions and desires, then you have done your job as a writer. I want the reader to be cheering when the hero and heroine finally get together.

To read other responses to these questions, check out Love Romance Passion’s additional author interviews.

If you would like to participate officially in this series send your responses to Keira: reviewromancenovel[at]yahoo[dot]com. Additionally, you can send up to two links to connect readers to who you are and where to find you.

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Originally posted 2009-01-10 11:49:43. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Hi Robin and welcome back! I’m so excited to talk to you again. As with before, you’ve wowed me. I am really enjoying your Domestic Gods series. Loved Mike Flynn, who doesn’t? He cooks, cleans, and diagnoses!

Robin: Thanks for having me back to your wonderful blog. I love it here.

How tough was it for you to take side characters from a previous novel and flush them out to be main characters?

Robin: Not hard at all. Even my secondary characters are so real to me. They tend to try to take over the book, so taking a character and giving him or her their own book is somewhat of a relief. I can let go of the tight reign I’ve always had to use to keep my secondary characters from running away with the story.

What was some of the medical research you had to do?

Robin: I have an incredible doctor on speed dial. I schedule my appointments just before noon, and then I take him out to lunch and grill him. We had great discussions about partnerships, fellowships, and how much debt a person incurs becoming a doctor. He told me horror stories about some of the people he knew in nightmare partnerships and from our conversations; I came up with Mike’s conflict. When I’d write a scene like the interview for instance, I’d run it by him. I think that was actually during an appointment. LOL He seemed impressed that I understood both the business and the medical side on the interview.

He’s a wonderful asset and has been really great about it. He doesn’t even seem to mind that all his nurses suspect I’ve used him as the blueprint for Dr. Mike in my book. I haven’t, there’s way too much of an ick factor to do that, but I think he enjoys telling his wife I have. The only time he has a problem with helping me out is when I forget to tell him the person in need of medical care is a fictional character.

This story features some heavy emotional issues. How difficult was that to balance?

Robin: The emotional issues were a challenge. In Romeo, Romeo Annabelle wasn’t a very sympathetic character. At the time, I had no idea she’d be the heroine in the second book or I probably wouldn’t have made her so…difficult. I knew going in I had an uphill battle but even when Annabelle came to me in Romeo, Romeo I knew she had a lot of baggage. The trick was getting it out there in the very beginning without an info dump. I hope I succeeded. After that, everything seemed to flow.

What are some of the themes in your book you feel readers should know about before they start reading?

Robin: Wow, that’s a hard one. I’d love for people to open the book not knowing the theme and discover it as they read, but since I have to give you an answer, I guess the thing I discovered while writing Too Hot to Handle, is that when people grow, their definition of love changes. Annabelle loved her first fiancé, Chip, but looking back, they were both young and their love was immature. It probably would have died a natural death if Chip’s illness hadn’t made their relationship problems seem inconsequential. Two years later, when Annabelle falls in love with Mike, she’s a mature woman who lived through loss and overcame it. The love she shares with Mike is a mature love, one that will last.

In your opinion does love redeem or does it absolve and how does that idea play in Too Hot to Handle?

Robin: You really make my work sound so deep! I love it. LOL

I think love does both. It redeems and absolves. When you truly love someone you accept them, warts and all. Everyone comes into a relationship with baggage and the one thing I’ve learned is that if you love someone, you are able to see their true essence even when no one else can. From the get-go, Mike knows there’s more to Annabelle than meets the eye. He might not be exactly sure of what it is, but he sees it.

In every loving relationship each person has to learn to forgive and accept his or her lover throughout the relationship. That’s something both Mike and Annabelle learn by looking at the situation from the others point of view. I hope that answers the question. I don’t know a way to explain it better without giving the conflict away.

What do you think are Mike’s and Annabelle’s biggest flaws are as characters/people?

Robin: Mike’s biggest flaw is trying to control everything. He’s always been very responsible and tends to take responsibility for everything and everyone. In some respects it’s a quality, but every quality taken to the extreme is a flaw.

Annabelle is very closed and repressed. In a way she’s taken the easy way out, she’s just refused to deal with the hard stuff, the hurt and the loss. She’s really good at avoiding her feeling until she’s forced to when she meets Mike. She’s spent the last two years sleep-walking through life, allowing her family to push her into situations she would never have accepted if she were more in touch with her feelings.

Meeting Mike forces her to overcome the loss of her first love—two years too late. She grows up a lot during the course of the book. She learns to experience both the pleasure and the pain that love brings to a life. She also learns to stand up for herself.

In Too Hot to Handle, you’re really building the world around the characters. There are several who’ve come back to make a reappearance. Will they be in future books?

Robin: Yes, I love my secondary characters. In Too Hot to Handle, we get to see Nick and Rosalie (the hero and heroine of Romeo, Romeo) Vinny, Aunt Rose and the rest of the Ronaldi clan. They also play a part in Breakfast In Bed, my next book in the Domestic Gods series.

Speaking of future books, who’s next? Rich, Becca, Ben? Tell me Benjamin Walsh is getting his own book! I do love a marriage of convenience romance, especially when it blindsides the guy!

Robin: Breakfast in Bed is Rich Ronaldi’s book. And rest assured, Ben will get his own book too. I’m going to start working on the fourth book of the series just as soon as I finish the revisions of Breakfast in Bed. I can’t wait!

You’re telling me! Don’t forget to swing by and check out Robin Kaye’s post on the Top Ten Reasons Women Love Domestic Gods for a chance to win a copy of Too Hot to Handle!

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Have you ever wanted to get out of your current job? Anne Wyatt feels that way too. Ever want to put in less than 110% and in fact put 110% in doing the wrong thing? That’s exactly what Anne does in Fire Me! Come meet Libby Malin, the author behind this hilarious outtake of working life in corporate America.

Was Fire Me your original title for your book?

Fire Me was definitely the original title and the one I dearly loved and wanted to keep-I was very lucky to have an editor who helped retain it even as other titles were considered.

What were some of the other titles that your book went through?

At one point during my writing, I did title it Feels Like Today, from the Rascal Flatts song of the same name, since the book takes place in one day. But Fire Me kept calling out to me!

What were some difficulties that you faced when writing Fire Me?

Thinking of things for Anne to do to get her boss’ negative attention and get her name on the lay-off list was actually harder than I thought it would be!  I could think of plenty of things she could do to mess things up, but her stunts had to be attention-grabbers (her boss’ attention, that is) and they couldn’t be…cruel….or mess things up too much for those with whom she worked.

How on earth did you come up with all those crazy antics that were pulled? I was laughing my butt off throughout the whole book!

Aww….thank you! I love hearing that people laughed out loud while reading the book.  I came up with a bunch on my own, trying to think what I’d LOVE to do (like having the boss announce a cut in his own salary!). But I also surveyed friends and relatives and asked what they would do or what sorts of weird things they’d seen employees do. One friend mentioned how she’d had to wait to talk to an employee who was finishing a computer game.

How do you come up with characters (names, appearances, personalities)?

Anne’s name and appearance just came to me. I thought of her as having an impish personality, so a pixie-like look fit perfectly.  Ken I struggled with a bit, wanting to create someone who had an artistic bent (and thus a rebel kind of look) but who was also very grounded in financial issues.  For Mitch….well, there are some CEOs whose images came to mind when I was mentally drawing him.

Do you work with pictures when it comes to appearances and if so who did you base your characters Anne and Ken?

No, I can’t say I worked with any pictures other than the ones in my crazy head!

What was your inspiration for this book?

I had a dear friend who was struggling with whether to stay at her job or seek something else more fulfilling. We started joking about how she could mess things up enough that she’d be let go, and thus the torture of indecision would be lifted from her. That lit the spark of the story idea.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Yes, I do.

How do you define love?

Wow-that’s a deep question. I guess I define love as the feeling of connection and affection that transcends the mundane, a bond between two souls.

What do you think makes a good contemporary romance?

I think characters you can relate to makes for a good contemporary romance. I like characters who are finding their way, muddling through. Not perfect, in other words.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Just a big thank-you to everyone who’s read the book so far, enjoyed it, and let me know!

Visit Libby at her website.

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Boy, do I have a treat for LRP readers! I recently was able to interview Sabrina Jeffries after the RWA Conference. Amidst her busy schedule she was more than kind enough to sit down and respond in depth on the topics broached. Get a cup of tea or coffee sit back and kick up your heels as you read this author interview.

LRP: How did you find yourself writing romance? How did you become an author?

Sabrina: From age 9 on, believe it or not, I read romances, but I only wrote poetry and short stories until grad school. In college I decided I wanted to be a writer, but I thought the best route to that was to go to grad school in English, become a professor so I could have a paying job, and then try to publish stories and poetry. Somehow the academic work took over. Then while I was a visiting assistant professor of English at Tulane University, I sat down to develop a publishable academic work based on my dissertation about James Joyce and found it so boring that I started writing a novel instead. After a while, I realized I was writing a romance novel. It didn’t sell, but the next one did and I’ve been writing ever since. Ironically enough, when I was twelve I told myself that when I grew up, I would write down my romantic fantasies and sell them to people. I guess I knew my destiny deep inside. It just took me a little while to figure it out as an adult!

LRP: What is your favorite type of romance to read? Is it the same as what you write?

Sabrina: For the most part, I do prefer historical romance to any other kind of book, romance or otherwise, and yes, I like sex in the books a lot! I read other things, too, though. I’m not that fond of Westerns or medievals, and I do prefer British or foreign settings, but otherwise I’m not that picky. I also read a little nonfiction, the occasional mystery or science fiction novel, and a lot of suspense, though I don’t get nearly as much time to read as I’d like.

LRP: How do you decide character names?

Sabrina: I have a book (now OOP) called The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names. I thumb through that until I find one that appeals to me that is also period-correct.

LRP: What are some challenges in writing romance? Any particular genre of romance more difficult to pull off?

Sabrina: Finding new and different ways to explore relationships is always challenging, too. As for difficult genres, I actually find historicals harder to write, because of having to remember all the period constraints. The other day I caught myself before I could write, “She blindsided him.” Since that started in reference to football in the 60’s, it’s definitely not Regency. J

LRP: What kind of research do you do, if any?

Sabrina: I still have to do research related to everyday life in the period, depending on what will be covered in my book. I research the main events of the year of my setting. I pore over maps of the area and try to find out information about the flora and fauna. I also regularly use a Regency thesaurus. For book-specific stuff, I tap my hundred or so research books and my library of clippings from various sources, as well as Google Books, which is a fabulous resource, because you can find books contemporary to the period. I do most of my research WHILE I’m writing the book. I wait until I need to know something to research it, since I never know when I’m going to need to know something.

LRP: Is there anything you wish you’ve seen in a romance novel — and are you writing it for us?

Sabrina: I can honestly say that I never feel a lack in any of the books I read. If I did, I’d write it. I’m just always pleased when I can be surprised by a book. But do I ever say, “Wow, I wish someone would write about Regency female doctors”? No, not really.

LRP: What advice do you have for others who are interested in writing?

Sabrina: Perseverance is the key. You must keep writing, keep putting your work out there, and keep learning before AND after you get published. Never think you’ve come too far to learn. Even after having written 29 novels, I’m still learning about writing.

LRP: Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it? What do you find difficult, if anything, about writing? And what do you like the best?

Sabrina: I don’t really get writer’s block. I do, however, get stuck on a particular scene or plot or character. When that happens, I try to take some time to relax and just let my thoughts meander. I read another author’s book or watch a movie to get the gearshift unstuck, so to speak. I’m also quite fond of hot showers, long walks, and jigsaw puzzles as ways to lull my conscious mind into letting my subconscious come up with answers I need. And if I’m REALLY desperate, I call my critique partners and bounce ideas off of them until I find a solution.

What I find most difficult about writing is trying to make it interesting time after time. Also, it’s hard to follow your own vision without imposing it on the characters. They become their own people in the course of the novel (if you’re any good, that is), and you have to respect that without letting them take over the book. You have to strike a balance, and that isn’t easy.

LRP: Was it difficult to get published? How did you find your agent? What’s the strategy behind the use of plural author names?

Sabrina: Yes, but not as hard as it is these days. In one respect I got lucky—I happened to join an RWA chapter that had as a member an agent just starting out in her career. That was especially lucky since all the agents I’d queried weren’t interested. I’m still with Pam Ahearn of The Ahearn Agency after nearly 20 years.

But even after landing an agent, I had 10 rejections on the first book she represented (the second book I’d written) before Leisure bought it. Over the years, I’ve received a number of rejections for a number of my books. Pirate Lord was rejected by five publishers, and that was after I’d already had 11 books published as Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas! I sold the 12th book I wrote, and then my publisher at the time gave it back to me—it’s still unpublished, mostly because it needs work and I don’t have time for it.

About the pseudonym thing, I wrote as Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas because my respective publishers didn’t want my growing career at one publishing house to be affected adversely by my numbers at the other house, and since I was an unknown author at the time, they weren’t taking any chances, so they insisted on my having two different pseudonyms. Then when I decided to write a completely different kind of historical, my new publisher wanted me to take a new name to reflect the new style and voice. By that point, I was an experienced writer, and I realized that I’d be better off choosing something catchy rather than something close to my real name.

Incidentally, that would be my advice to any new genre author—if you have a catchy real name, use it. If you don’t, choose something interesting and unique as a pseudonym because your name is part of the marketing package. And unfortunately, marketing is everything in today’s publishing world. Taking a pseudonym the third time around was the best thing that ever happened to me—but I did lose most of my old readers because they couldn’t find me. Sometimes, however, booksellers are more eager to take a chance on a debut author than an established one with lackluster sales, so you have to weigh whether to take a pseudonym in terms of marketing.

LRP: Do you work on deadlines now? How long does it usually take you to write a book? Have you written a book that seemed to write itself or a book that you had to drag out kicking and screaming?

Sabrina: Yes, I still work on deadlines. The shortest time I’ve ever written a book in is 4 and a half months (Night Vision). The longest is about 9 months, but I always aim for 6. Right now, I’m writing the book that is seeming to write itself, but I think that it’s because I know Charlotte and Cousin Michael so well that they’re just writing the book for me. To Pleasure a Prince was also easier to write, as was Beware a Scot’s Revenge, but NONE of them are easy. The hardest one was probably Let Sleeping Rogues Lie. I had a lot of issues to deal with and juggling them all was difficult.

LRP: What about bedroom scenes? What makes a good one?

Sabrina: Good ones are those that are so inextricably entwined with the story and the characters that they compel the reader to read them. It’s the people and their concerns that make love scenes interesting. Plus, I tap into every fantasy I’ve ever had. Fortunately, I’ve always had an active fantasy life where sex is concerned, and I haven’t even come NEAR to touching on all my fantasies.

Although honestly, I could spend hours on this subject. I do a whole workshop on it.

LRP: How do you define love?

Sabrina: Geez, you don’t ask the easy questions, do you? I couldn’t begin to define love. I just know what it is when I feel it. Plus, there are so many different kinds, aren’t there?

LRP: What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?

Sabrina: Joy and a release from the everyday troubles of life. I write to entertain, and if I succeed at that, then I feel I’ve done my job.

LRP: What do you do to relax and get away from writing? Is there something that really gets you away from it all?

Sabrina: I enjoy making jewelry, gourmet cooking, and reading (of course), but I also like to watch movies and listen to CDs a lot. I’m addicted to spider solitaire, so I have to watch how much I play it. And nothing relaxes me more than a good jigsaw puzzle, believe it or not. My idea of heaven is being able to do nothing but puzzles for a couple of days.

LRP: Could you provide a picture of your workspace? We’d love to see how and where you write!

Sabrina: This one is where I do the actual writing (it also doubles as a guest bedroom). I don’t have a nice bright window like this anywhere else upstairs, and I prefer to look out a window while I write, so this was the only option:

BUT, my official office is what the former owners used as a bonus room (across the hall from this room). Since my dh has knee trouble, he doesn’t climb the stairs, so we can’t use that room as a bonus room, which is why I took it for my office. It’s FABULOUS. It’s just too dark for me to stand to write in. But I’m doing this at it right now. I do all my business stuff in it, plus some reading. I took 3 pics of IT.

The first pic is of the part of the room (there when we bought it) that has a “stage.” Apparently, the former owners had 3 teens who played in a band. My desk now sits on the stage in front of the built-in bookshelves.

Here’s the rest of the office, the part not on the “stage.” I know, most people would kill for an office this big. I love it. Just can’t write my books in it. *G*

And…

LRP: Oh! How wonderful! Thanks for sharing your space with us. What are your hopes for the future?

Sabrina: I just hope to be able to keep writing books for years to come!

LRP: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? When can we expect your next book?

Sabrina: A reissue of my first Sabrina Jeffries book, The Pirate Lord, will be released August 26, 2008. Then, on October 28, 2008, comes Snowy Night with a Stranger, a Christmas-themed anthology with stories by Jane Feather, Julia London, and me. The heroine of my story is Elinor Bancroft from Let Sleeping Rogues Lie. Then, in July 2009, will come the fifth novel of the series, about Lucy Seton from Let Sleeping Rogues Lie. It will be followed by Charlotte and Cousin Michael’s romance in August 2009. No titles for these yet, but all will be revealed in that final book, so keep an eye out for both books in the summer of 2009!

LRP: Thanks so much for answering all these questions Sabrina! Good luck and many happy sales!

Got a burning question to ask Sabrina? Leave a comment!

Want to discuss this interview with others? Check out LRP’s shiny new forum!

Visit Sabrina’s blog and website for more information about Sabrina and her work!

See you here again on Monday! Have a great weekend!

Originally posted 2008-09-05 05:32:37. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Keira: I noticed that the title What Would Jane Austen Do? appeared a few times in the book. Was this your original title? If not, what was it? What were some other titles that were possibilities?

Laurie: Yes, that was the original title. I don’t think any others were considered.

Keira: What was your inspiration for WWJAD?

Laurie: I was having coffee with several writer friends when the topic of conversation turned to “If time travel were possible, would you go?” I really had to think about that. Aside from missing my family and friends, there are so many things not available in the Regency that I consider absolute necessities. Although tempted, I realized I’m a modern woman through and through. I’d like to go for short time, like going on a camping trip, but for the rest of my life? I don’t know. And so the idea of a heroine who loves Jane Austen’s books and the fashions of the Regency gets a chance to go back in time where (among other things which I hadn’t figured out at the time) she has to come to term with her modern-ness.

Keira: How did you come up with the names for your characters?

Laurie: Characters names seem to pop into my head in all different sorts of ways. Sometimes, I can see them, or hear them and their name seems obvious. If not, I have a number of name books that I flip through until the right name jumps out at me. I wanted the heroine in WWJAD to feel a bond to JA, so I named her Eleanor after Elinor Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility. I changed the spelling in case I wanted to use a quote from Elinor later in the book.

Keira: Speaking of characters, did you draw their appearances based on anybody in particular and do you have pictures?

Laurie: I don’t have pictures of them except in my head, and I don’t consciously model them after anyone in particular. Though I admit that occasionally there must be a subconscious association. My hero in Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake looked suspiciously like Hugh Jackman in a high crowned hat, snowy cravat, buff riding breeches, and tall Hessian boots.

Keira: When you started writing WWJAD did you know anything about the JAFF (Jane Austen Fanfiction) community? How do you think the community will receive your offshoot?

Laurie: Actually I didn’t know much about it. After I sold the book I got an inkling of the enormity of the fan base and the variety of fiction that is out there, but by then I couldn’t read any of it for fear that someone else’s vision might color mine. I’ve added a few titles to my TBR pile but I haven’t had much reading time lately.

I sincerely hope the members of the community will enjoy reading my story even though it’s not technically fan fiction. None of JA’s famous characters are characters in the book. It’s more fiction that incorporates a real life person into the story. The heroine recalls bits of her favorite JA stories to help her survive culture shock when she travels back in time to 1814. And she gets to meet Jane Austen in person.

Keira: What are some challenges in writing Austen based romance?

Laurie: When Eleanor meets the real Jane Austen, I had to be careful to remain true to historical fact. For instance, my description of JA’s dress is based on her own words when she describes her dress in a letter to her sister Cassandra. When JA mentions having been in Bath the previous April, she really was in Bath then.

In 1814, Jane Austen was nearing forty, had had two books published, and another soon to be released. My heroine wants to ask her where she got the inspiration for Mr. Darcy, hoping he was based on a real person, and that she will get to meet him at the ball. But because JA had not publicly admitted she was the author, Eleanor had to be circumspect in her questioning, and I had to be very careful constructing that scene.

Keira: What’s one of your favorite Jane Austen inspired novels?

Laurie: I have Pemberley Manor and The Darcys & the Bingleys in my TBR pile. I’m looking forward to the Sept. release of Marilyn Brant’s According To Jane.

Keira: Who are your favorite authors besides Jane Austen?

Laurie: I’m going to take a pass on that question because I’d like to list all my friends who are writers. And if I missed one I’d never forgive myself.

Keira: How do you define love?

Laurie: Love is being the wind beneath each other’s wings.

Keira: What makes a great (written) bedroom scene?

Laurie: I personally like the characters to have some doubts going into the situation. Not necessarily performance issues but questions about the wisdom of continuing. I like female characters with some doubts about their bodies/attractiveness when naked, male characters who second guess their decision/motivation. I’d like the characters to know beforehand that making love will change the relationship, then make the decision to go ahead anyway. I want them to be swept away physically and emotionally like never before. Along the way I like a bit of humor here and there. When it’s over, I want to see that making love has changed everything.

I just reread that paragraph and it sounds rather dry. Maybe I should have just said, I want a love scene to make me smile and leave me breathless.

Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Laurie: Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to tell you about my new book. It’s been fun.  One last plug: What Would Jane Austen Do? May 2009. Hope you enjoy reading it.

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I sent out a query on Twitter to romance authors and readers if they’d be interested in answering two quick questions. These two questions are ones that I personally love to ask romance authors when I interview them because the answers are always different and unique even though both deal with emotion and passion. It’s inspiring really to see how they can be defined. Below are the questions and their responses; how would you answer them?

How do you define love?

Leigh Ellwood: I see love as the feeling in your heart, somewhere between softening and swelling, you experience when you are near your partner. No matter how they look, what they are wearing, or how long you’ve been together - you still get that tingle when you kiss and that itching desire to grab ‘em!

Carolyn Jewel: A deep and abiding respect and admiration (since I can’t use the word “love”). Two people who are aware of each other’s flaws and find it makes little to no difference.

Rai-mon Nemar: Love is - Thinking to yourself “if you just act on your dreams you’ll rule the world”, and yet you’re actions are consistently made with someone else’s well being in mind.

Love is - When you feel as though your personal and professional pursuits wouldn’t have had as much meaning without that someone who’s traveled the journey with you. They might even be worthless.

Love is - Not an emotion! It is a choice you make daily to stay the course and live your life with someone and know you’ll be better for it.

What makes a great bedroom scene?

Leigh Ellwood: I like a slow build-up, a painfully teasing undress and kisses that explore the skin like a roadmap. I like dialogue, too. Sex doesn’t have to be a mute activity. Where there is communication, it only ramps up the sex appeal.

Carolyn Jewel: There must be something at risk, something changed between them afterward. If your characters aren’t risking anything emotionally through their intimacy, then it’s just boring.  Every bedroom scene has to change the relationship between the characters. This can include making things seem even worse, by the way. Intimacy does not always equal happy ever after, especially early on in a relationship. It’s not only about who’s touching who where. The best bedroom scenes never, ever lose focus on the emotion, even when one of the characters thinks there isn’t any.

Rai-mon Nemar: I’d say it’s like it real life. It’s all about the foreplay and more importantly the anticipation. Then “learning” how the person reacts to the certain things you do. Kissed this (nothing), touched that (nothing) bit her fat (she sucked her teeth for almost a minute like bacon sizzling) hopefully you know what I mean.

To read other responses to these questions, check out Love Romance Passion’s additional author interviews.

If you are the owner of a review blog or are a romance author and are interested in participating in this survey please send your responses (and links) to Keira: reviewromancenovel at yahoo dot com.

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Originally posted 2008-12-30 05:01:50. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Hi and welcome to another fun and fabulous interview at Love Romance Passion! Today I have the opportunity to introduce readers to Amelia Grey, a multiple award winning romance author. Her latest book is A Duke to Die For and the subject of this interview.

How do you create the back stories of your characters and create their foibles?

AG:  I have a very simple way of creating either back story or present story: I always start each book with the phase “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if?” For instance, after I knew that Blake would be a carefree duke who lacked discipline in his life, I said, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I gave this duke who didn’t want any responsibility, a basketful of it in the form a beautiful, tempting ward to safeguard who was organized and disciplined, the kind of young lady he usually seduced, not protected.”

Most heroes are flawed by characters such as arrogance or physically by being blind, which is why I thought it was quite endearing to have the Blake be afraid of heights or more specifically balloon flights.

AG: While doing research on balloons for A Duke To Die For, I read where many people actually experience the feeling that they are falling when they go up in a balloon.  People have actually crawled out of balloons and plunged to their deaths from this very real fear.  Of course, I couldn’t let Blake do that!  But it does make characters come alive when we give them human faults and fears.

A Duke to Die For reminds me a bit of Georgette Heyer’s Regency Buck with wills directing the heroines into the charge of the son instead of the father. I guess what I am asking is what inspired Blake and Henrietta’s tale?

AG:  You know I haven’t read Regency Buck but I would love to.  A Duke To Die For is my first book using the guardian/ward plotline, and I thought it would be fun to give Henrietta several guardians, all who had died, except of course, my hero Blake!   I’ve created heroes as protectors and bodyguards, but I loved the idea of finally writing a book where the hero was also the guardian.

This book is just the first of a trilogy. Can you tell readers more about the upcoming books in Rogues’ Dynasty and what to expect?

AG:  A Marquis to Marry October 2009

Based on true events regarding an infamous five-strands of pearls’ necklace, A Marquis To Marry is the story of Lord Raceworth, a man determined to find the thief who stole his grandmother’s pearls.  The trail leads him to Susannah Brookfield who is searching for the pearls as well.  She swears the elusive necklace belongs to her family, not his.   Intrigue lurks around every corner as they join forces to find the thief.  But after a night of unexpected passion, Susannah wonders if the real danger lies with the thief, or in the arms of Lord Raceworth.

An Earl to Enchant   April 2010

In An Earl to Enchant, Arianna Sweet has a secret.  Her recently deceased father discovered a formula which could be the fabled fountain of youth.  But because of suspicious circumstances surrounding her father’s death, Arianna is certain whoever killed her father is after her too. For help, she turns to Lord Morgandale, the rake of London Society.  After years of living on the edge of London’s underground intrigues, Lord Morgandale wants only to accept his title and live a quiet life at his country estate.  But once Miss Sweet arrives, the notorious bad boy finds himself in the unaccustomed position of having to keep the enchanting innocent out of harm’s way.

What do you find is the hardest aspect in writing a trilogy?

AG: My editor will tell you it’s remembering the correct color the characters’ eyes!  Yes, I do keep a chart with that kind of detail on it, but I get to writing and forget to look at the chart, thinking I know what all the characters look like-I created them.  But unfortunately my memory fails me and sometimes grayish-green eyes become brownish-green or dark auburn hair is suddenly light auburn hair.

What is your favorite type of hero to write? Heroine too!

AG: Oh that is a difficult question.  I think I probably love them all!  I mean who doesn’t dream about ‘the man from the past who got away, but he’s back.”  And who can resist “the dangerous stranger?”  And having just written ‘the tempting guardian’ I simply can’t choose a favorite.  And as for heroines I like for mine to be sensible, sensitive and sexy! I do not like what I call the Scarlett O’Hara heroine.  By that I mean stories where the heroine pines for a lesser man all through the book and only at the end does she realize she actually loves the hero.  For a smart woman, it took Scarlett way too long to get over Ashley!

How do you define love?

AG:  Love is living and I love life.

In your opinion, what makes a great written bedroom scene?

AG:  I like to know what the heroine and hero are feeling and thinking as they explore, take delight in and revere each other’s bodies.

What type of romances do you like to read?

AG: Historicals are my favorites, and I love Westerns almost as much as Regencies. But I read contemporaries and paranormals, too. In fact I read nonfiction, inspirational, absolutely all kinds of books except horror.  I just don’t like to be frightened!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

AG: I love to write and I write what I love; romance books. I have an incredible excitement about my work.  I look forward to going to the computer each morning and letting my imagination take flight with characters, conflicts, and emotional drama. I feel truly blessed I can do what I love. And the reason I can is because of my readers.  Every time someone reads one of my books, I consider they have given me a gift.

Thanks for joining me Amelia! Check out Amelia Grey’s website for more information on her published and upcoming books.

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Hey there! Look who’s here! Meet Mary Margret Daughtridge! Mary Margret is a romance author who’s current SEALed Series about “Hard men…soft hearts” is making a splash. She’s joined us today for an author interview and I couldn’t be happier to have her. To keep things easy Mary Margret Daughtridge will henceforth be referred to as MMD!

Keira: It’s obvious that the hunky men who comprise the Navy SEALs inspired SEALed with a Promise, but why focus on SEALs versus say men from other armed forces?

MMD: Honest and truly, the choice of SEALs was serendipitous. I didn’t know at the time that I was starting a series-if I had I might have chosen a group which would be a little easier to research-like Green Berets who train at Ft. Bragg, only ninety miles from here.  I just needed someone in the military whose job made extreme demands on his time. That would be a SEAL. Everything about them is extreme.

Keira: I read in the back of the book the acknowledgment blurb and it talked about several of the people who let you pick their brains in the name of research. How does one go about finding and then approaching these people for assistance?

MMD: Years ago when I worked as a family advocate, I used to brag I could find out the answer to any question in six phone calls or less. The same principle applies. I just go in a direction that seems promising and keep asking people who do they know who would know. SEALs are a relatively small group. One can lead to another, especially since I have demonstrated that I’m not a groupie, I don’t want to know any secrets, I’m not nuts-okay, not dangerously nuts-and I won’t misuse their time.

Keira: What was the hardest part of writing SEALed with a Promise?

MMD: The fact that Caleb had chosen such a hard path. I understand that a desire for revenge can be a healthy response to powerlessness, but I don’t really like revenge plots, and I resisted writing it. Still, I loved Caleb. The fact that his great strength had made him so vulnerable grabbed my heart. It was often emotionally difficult to let the story unfold because I wanted to protect him from himself.

The above makes it sound like the book is heavy or dark. It isn’t, but SEALed With A Promise was emotional for me to write. I cried. A lot.

Keira: Caleb and his Brad Pitt lips - is there an inspirational photo to go along with this fabulous hero? I would love to see! How about Emmie?

MMD: LOL. Caleb looks a little like Matthew McConaughey, and radiates the same laidback charm, but a little rougher and a little colder, at least on the surface. Try this one:

Emmie? I don’t know. It’s more a look of intelligent innocence than any particular features. A young Teri Garr would come closest I think. Traylor Howard, who plays Natalie Teeger on Monk, has some of the same look.

Keira: What do you think makes Caleb a heroic character and hero to swoon over?

MMD: I hate to admit this, but…I don’t know. LOL. All I know is, I write characters I love, and to me that means writing characters-both men and women-who are full of heart. I think there is no sanity without humor, so they have a sense of humor and the ability to laugh at themselves. They need generosity and the capacity to put another’s needs before their own. Finally they need to be human. That means they get it wrong sometimes. They mess up. They have blind spots. And sometimes they are led astray, not by their faults, but by their virtues.

Keira: How do you define love?

MMD: The definition I’m always working from as I craft the relationships between hero and heroine is I love the person I am when I’m with you. I believe love heals and allows us to show ourselves, and others, our best, while making space for the fact that we are human.

While I enjoy a fantasy fairytale romance, I have a strong resistance to writing them myself. My intention is to craft a relationship which really would work. And that means neither party gets “fixed” by the relationship, and yet the relationship creates a safe space in which each can grow.

I don’t think any intelligent reader believes Caleb and Emmie will live happily ever after, but I do hope readers will see that a good strong foundation of respect, appreciation, and fun has been established from which Caleb and Emmie can continue to grow in love.

Keira: How do you decide on the character names (for Caleb and Emmie especially)?

Names are important. They summarize a character’s history. Caleb’s nickname, Do-Lord, popped into my mind the same instant he did, and I knew that it was given to him at the start of his SEAL career-a mark of his acceptance into a special group, but also a name he hid much his true self behind.

But I didn’t know what his real name was for quite a while. I thought he needed a Biblical name and played around with Jesse, but it just didn’t’ work. One day another writer mentioned Caleb. I looked up the Biblical story and realized Caleb was an Israelite spy sent by Moses to spy on the Promised Land to determine if it could be captured.

It was perfect because Caleb was determined to use his covert skills to spy on Senator Calhoun, and Caleb’s mother (who named him) would have considered Calhoun’s life to be the Promised Land.

The Biblical Caleb is often designated as “the spy who told the truth,” which adds a layer of irony to my Caleb right up to the moment when he decides to tell the truth, knowing the truth will destroy his relationship with Emmie.

Emmie needed a name that put her solidly outside the mainstream. Her full name is Emelina Theodora. Her missionary parents had waited for children so long that they considered her birth a miracle. They named her for a grandmother, Emelina, and added Theodora which means “gift of God.”

But despite her brains, she needed a name that showed that those who knew her best valued her and held her in affection. Thus the pet name of Emmie.

Keira: Why did you decide to write romance or “mush” as some people are inclined to think (wink)?

MMD: I believe in the message of romance. Oh not happily ever after-that isn’t possible, of course. But the structure of romance always carries the message that good people working together can overcome adversity, and find valuable qualities in themselves and others. I happen to believe that this message is true, and we need stories that keep us going in the dark times.

Another reason is that romance of all the genres is the most psychological. In the romance genre I have the freedom to explore character at some depth.

Your wink is referring to some of the SEALs who have helped me in my research. They tease me about writing mush. I teased them back by having Caleb, a voracious reader, read romance novels while in Afghanistan-because he’s already read all the techno-thrillers, and the romance novels are all that are left.

SEALed With a Kiss garnered a lot of praise, but the praise that meant the most to me was “Mary Margret understands the human condition-and makes you feel good about it.” That was written by a retired SEAL who has become a dear friend, JC Roat.

Keira: What do you think is the greatest creative risk you’ve taken?

MMD: Deciding to cast a SEAL as a feel-good-romance hero. Until my books, the SEALs were always the leads in romantic suspense-a subgenre I thoroughly enjoy in the hands of Suzanne Brockmann and others, but I didn’t want to write it. I knew my books would confound some people’s expectations.

There are people who don’t get it. Occasionally, I’m criticized for not idealizing my characters, especially the SEALs-the suggestion being that I am disrespecting them. The truth is, I respect them too much to portray them as little tin gods, shiny but hollow. SEALs’ extraordinary qualities seem more amazing to me because they exist in thoroughly human, fallible, vulnerable creatures-not Superman.

I’m very fortunate that Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks was willing to take a chance on a “novel” concept. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun.)

Keira: What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?

MMD: First of all, I write entertainment fiction, and make no apology for it. Making people happy for a few hours and leaving them feeling good is honorable work. Anytime I’ve done that, I’m happy.

If readers gain an appreciation of the fact that people-even wonderful people-aren’t perfect, and that very often their greatest strengths are also their greatest shortcomings, then maybe they will have more compassion for others. And for themselves.

Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

MMD: Just my thanks. You offered some great, insightful questions which I thoroughly enjoyed discussing.

I love hearing from readers. They can contact me through my website http://marymargretdaughtridge.com.

Well you heard Mary Margret! Go visit her site! Thanks for joining us today it’s been a blast! Don’t miss SEALed with a Kiss.

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Q - I had so much fun reading Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark; what was your inspiration for the book? Do you have any photos you worked from for the imposing castle and grounds?

A - Thank you, Keira… I appreciate the kind words! I am a rational person, and so is Lady Anne. When she hears a werewolf has been spotted, she thinks, ‘big dog on the loose’. Once I saw that, and put it together with the Georgian era, when there was a lot of superstition (not that there isn’t that now!) the rest flowed from there. As for photos of the castle… what actually inspired Darkefell Castle is a pen, ink and watercolor picture I bought at a rummage sale; it is of an old castle with a modern (Georgian modern, probably mid-1700s) addition, and it is exactly Darkefell Castle! I’ve searched and searched online, but I can’t find the original that the artist worked from.

Q - What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Thinking up the plot.

Writing it.

Editing final drafts.

Depends upon what stage I’m at working, what I would answer to that question. Right now I would say, final editing is agonizing, because you know that after it’s gone, sent off to your editor, you will likely not have any opportunity to substantially change the course of the book again. You have to be sure of it!

Q - How did Sourcebooks find out about your novel?

I have a great agent with his nose to the ground, looking for intriguing new opportunities. When we were looking about for a publisher for the Lady Anne series, he included Sourcebooks Casablanca among the recipients, as he found their recent acquisitions interesting. We took it from there, sending it to the acquisitions editor, Deb Werksman, and she like it!

Q - How much time do you spend writing each day (or each week, if you prefer)?

It depends on a) what I’m writing and b) what else is on my plate. If I have a book due, it’s full-time days writing. If I have a book being released, then promotion takes over. But most days, overall, I tend to write about five hours a day.

Q - What do you think is the greatest creative risk you’ve taken?

Blending mystery and romance so thoroughly in the Lady Anne series. I adore romances with mystery elements and love mysteries with a strong thread of romance, and I hope readers do, too. I mean, both romance and mystery are parts of life, why can’t they co-exist in a novel genre?

Q - What are some plot devices you like? Can’t stand?

I don’t know so much if they are plot devices, but I despise emotionally manipulative writers, the ones who set you up to have certain expectations, then dash them. I think they believe that it’s more ‘literary’ to put characters (and readers) through pain than to give them a happy ending. Not necessarily.

Also, I hatehatehate (I feel so strongly about this I had to repeat it three times!) writers who aren’t true to their characters. When I close a book, I want to know, even if the end is sad, that it makes sense, that how the characters acted was true to their soul as the writer created them, and not some behavior that feels superimposed by the author because he or she had a certain ending in mind.

As for plot devices I like, all I ask of a writer is that they are true to their characters, and I’ll go with almost anything!

Q - Could you provide a picture of your bookshelf?

I don’t have just one bookshelf! They’re kind of scattered all over the house!

Q - Share some of your favorite books!

Favorite books… ah, the list is endless! A Flaw in the Blood, by Stephanie Barron blew me away… such a great writer. People know her from her fabulous Jane Austen as a detective series, but she’s good at everything she writes. I like classics, of course. Who hasn’t been inspired by Pride & Prejudice? But for day-to-day reading, I love mystery novels! Anne Perry, Victoria Thompson, many others!

Q - What do you do to relax and get away from writing? Is there something that really gets you away from it all?

Mostly, just ordinary stuff. I love to read; I can’t imagine there’s an author alive who wouldn’t say that! Reading is such a great escape, and that’s what I try to write for my readers, a great escape from care and worry. I do have a few hobbies - including karaoke - and hanging out with friends on the weekend. That is about it. I’m a very simple gal. A good book on the patio and a glass of wine or cup of tea is about the perfect end of a day.

Q - I have a spoiler question… Will there be a sequel so that Darkefell can win over Lady Anne? Oh please say yes!

Okay, I’m not one to release spoilers, but I will say this much, in Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge (August 2009) things heat up considerably between Darkefell and Anne, and in Lady Anne and the Gypsy Curse (November 2009) the passion reaches bonfire proportions on the heat scale! Some do like it hot!

Q - How do you define love?

Love: wow, definitions are tough, but my idea of love is caring so much about another person, that you put them first in your thoughts. You know their faults and don’t give a damn. You would make any sacrifice to make them happy.

Q - Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

I had a great time with these characters; they often did quite unexpected things! And I hope readers enjoy them as much as I did writing about their adventures.

Visit me at http://www.donnaleasimpson.com for more information on the Lady Anne series, and if you’d like to learn more about the Georgian era, in which they are set!

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Today I have the pleasure of introducing to readers Kathryn Nelson, the author of Pemberley Manor, by interviewing her (asking nosy questions.) Grin. Please join me in welcoming her warmly and enthusiastically to Love Romance Passion.

Keira: Why were you drawn to write in Austen’s world?

Kathy: It was a case of being possessed. I really had no lifelong romance with Austen. The 1995 BBC/A&E miniseries of Pride and Prejudice captivated me and led me down the road of reading and watching everything Austen I could get my hands on. Out of the reading came a craving to try her style and delve deeper into the unexplained reaches of her characters.

Keira: Who are your favorite authors besides Jane Austen?

Kathy: John Gardner (not the detective novelist) is hands down my favorite wordsmith next to Jane Austen, but I read everyone. At this moment I’m loving Anne Fadiman, and I’ve spent a lot of time with V.S. Naipaul, John Irving, Lorna Landvik and Toni Morrison. It’s hard to stop…

Keira: What was the hardest part of writing your book, Pemberley Manor?

Kathy: The writing was purely joyful, although I think I strained relationships with family and friends for a couple of years as I was always in a hurry to get back to my story. My business partner (my brother) was especially patient on those days when I just had to pick it up in the middle of the day.

Keira: I noticed the themes of pride and prejudice continued in your novel. Could you expand for readers a little on how you used them to influence Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s actions?

Kathy: I see Darcy and Elizabeth both as fully formed, flawed humans, and I start from the assumption that getting over the hurdle of the wedding is not going to significantly change their basic characters. Both were guilty of rapid and inaccurate judgments and they were equally stubborn about giving up a hastily-formed opinion. I’m a bit like that myself, so it was easy to envision how that might get in the way of marital bliss.

Keira: Do you consider yourself to be a plotter (knows every detail before writing) or pantser (make it up almost completely as you go along)?

Kathy: Oh, pantser all the way. I had no idea where I was heading with this story when I started.

Keira: Oh goody there’s another one! I’m a panster myself. If you could be one of your characters - who would you be?

Kathy: That’s a great question. As I scan through the list, I realize that I’m really all of them in one way or another. Maybe that’s why I was so drawn to Austen’s characters in the first place - they have such recognizable human traits. I’d love to be as optimistic as Elizabeth, and sometimes I am, but I can find a little snarky Caroline Bingley in my tone of voice at times.

Keira: What do you think is the greatest creative risk you’ve taken?

Kathy: Admitting that I’d actually written a sequel to Pride and Prejudice would top the list. It has literally taken me years to come out of that closet, especially at a Jane Austen Society meeting. If it weren’t for the company and encouragement of delightful authors like Jane Odiwe and Diana Birchall, I would still have the manuscript hidden under my bed.

Keira: How do you define love?

Kathy: I’ve been married for thirty-three years, so my perspective is all about the long haul. It was so easy to be passionately attracted, and so difficult to sustain that through the inevitable rollercoaster ride. The kind of feeling of wholeness, one-ness with another person, an ability to share even the most horrible flaws of our character - that is, to me, the fullness of  love.

Keira: What are some challenges in writing Austen based romance?

Kathy: Oh, the delicious difficulty of learning a new (old) language, trying to get it just right. Then the awful responsibility to not mess up her characters. I was terrified of hearing that Austen fans would find me lacking or disrespectful in either sense.

Keira: Got any pet peeves when it comes to reading or writing romance?

Kathy: For those who’ve read Pemberley Manor you might guess that explicit sex scenes are not my thing. I am much more stimulated by the suggestion of great sex than I am by a blow-by-blow that leaves me with nothing to imagine.

Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Kathy: I want to thank you for inviting me to your site. Until recently, the world of blogs was a complete mystery to me, and I’m having a wonderful time romping around these days. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve repeated the phrase “Who knew?” in the last few years. It started with the revelation, after I’d finished my book, that there were not only other sequel writers, there were dozens of them! Now it applies to the amazing network of readers and writers that gather day after day to share stories and opinions. What a hoot!

Thanks, Kathy

Keira: Thank you Kathy for joining me and talking shop! I am wishing many happy sales coming your way. You can learn more about Pemberley Manor at Kathy’s website or by checking out LRP’s review.

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