Spotlight Author with Kimberly Killion

Just when we thought Fall had begun… Central California is hit with 100 degree weather. Can you believe it? If I am not mistaken, my calendar shows Friday as being October first, yet I am still sweating like it’s the middle of summer. Oh well. What’s one more week of sweltering heat in the valley? Right? Whether you’re from Central Cali, or the East Coast, take a break and sit a minute to read and learn a little more about my Spotlight Author Kimberly Killion.

So Kimberly tell us a little bit about your up coming release HIS MAGICK TOUCH.

HIS MAGICK TOUCH is coming out January 2011 in The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance. It’s a sensual novella set on the Isle of Barra in the 16th century Scotland.
Here’s the opening:

The bastard was finally going to kill her.
Sorcha trembled inside her wool mantle as icy wind thrashed strands of brown hair over her face. The rope binding her wrists stung, and her battered legs ached where Hector had pushed her down the steps of the keep. But none of it compared to the fear clutching her insides. She craned her neck over her shoulder and gawked wide-eyed at the white waves pummeling the base of the cliff.

Read more… http://kimberlykillion.com/hmtexcerpt.asp

You are a Rita Nominee… tell us what that is like. How did you find out about it?


I was in complete denial. Kelly St. John left a message on my machine and I called her back to tell her there must have been a mistake. She laughed and assured me there was no mistake. When it actually sank in I got that feeling. You know the one you got when you were a kid and someone bigger than you picked you up and spun you around by your arms. I think I continued to pin for several days. It was an honor to be recognized and has since made me a more confident writer.


What makes your writing unique?


I really like to take a real characters from History and wrap a story around them. I did this in my first book, HER ONE DESIRE, with King Richard III and his nephews. Lorenzo the Magnificent played a character in another book I wrote, but I’m still trying to sell that one.  I also like to really pour on the drama. I give my characters a little, then take a little back, rinse, repeat… I also have been commended by readers that I don’t try to pretty up the Medieval time period in which I write. It was a barbaric era and this is woven throughout my stories. So, if you shy away from a little bloodshed, mayhap this isn’t the book for you. 
Why have you chosen to specialize in Scottish Historicals?


Ummm…because Scots are HOT. There’s nothing sexier than a braw man in a kilt. In all seriousness, I just like the time period. It is dark, passionate, and shrouded it mystery.

What's your writing schedule like?


I get up between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. It is the only time my house is perfectly quite. No phones, no emails, no kids, no husband. The world is at peace, and I am my most creative in the mornings. By 6:00 a.m. I have to get myself and my ‘offspring’ ready for work and school. I’m gone from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. to work and run errands, after which, I feed the other humans living in my house and can usually be back to writing by 6:00 pm. With my first release just around the corner, I have found myself spending close to 2-3 hours a day at promotions. I blissfully slip into bed around 10:00 p.m.

Some writers say that they have a story that has to be told other’s say that the characters come to them and demand that their story be told… how does it work for you?


They won’t leave! They tap my shoulder in the middle of the night and tell me they need to talk. I cannot tell you how many times Smitt (Secondary character in HER ONE DESIRE) has woke me up. Of course, I don’t mind because Smitt is wickedly hawt!

If you had to pick one character in your books, who would be your favorite? And why. Or if you don’t want to pick a favorite… which one do you connect with the most? And why?


Smitt, see above comment.  Actually, I loved writing Andrew in HIGHLAND DRAGON. He is the strong little boy who is determined to gain the affections of the heroine. I also loved Aunt Wanda in that book. She reminds me of my real Aunt Wanda. This is my favorite of her lines in


HIGHLAND DRAGON: Wanda filled her lungs with air, glared at Uncle Kerk, and redirected her long finger at him. “And ye. It galls me to call ye husband. Ye may as weel have branded her a whore. I’ve the mind to take a blade to your bollocks and have Mattie cook them slowly over the spit. Ye’ve nay use for them. Ye have displayed nay courage in the titles ye bear. Nay loyalty to your kinswomen.” Uncle Kerk’s adam’s apple slid up and down while his eyes rounded. “Darling, ye—” “Dinnae darling me, ye addleheaded arse. Think ye King James is a force to be reckoned with. Wait till your women hear o’ your decision.”

Now tell us a little bit about Kimberly. Who are you? What do you do when you’re not writing hunky heroes and romantic love stories?


I wear many hats. I’m a mother of two, wife of one, teacher of many. I instruct Graphic/Web design at a college in St. Louis. Aside from that, I also have my own freelance business: www.HotDamnDesigns.com Oh, and I’m the President of the Missouri RWA…I think that’s it. 


Wow you do wear many hats. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do an interview, Kimberly. It has been great having you here at Micole Writes Romance. Where can our guests find out more information about you and your books?




And thank you for having me.


Kimberly

www.kimberlykillion.com.








Well friends, it’s been great having you here for another awesome guest and interview. Thanks to all of my readers. See you next week.

Hugs

Micole

Spotlight Author with Brenda Novak

Here in Central California, the weather is starting to cool off. Whew! I guess I can’t really complain. We have had a very mild summer. Just the same I am looking forward to cuddling up in my jammies with my favorite blanky and a good book! Speaking of good books… Brenda Novak here on my blog today. It is a great honor to have her here! She has three amazing new titles, WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT, AND KILLER HEAT. So take a few minutes to kick back and learn about her and her three hot new titles!

Tell us a little bit about your latest release/s…

I have a new trilogy out now--WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT and KILLER HEAT. Each book stands alone but they all revolve around a private security company called Department 6 and the retired special forces, private investigators and police officers who make their living working as “hired guns.” These men and women face some diverse and unusual circumstances—and some very frightening challenges. So get ready to head to the beach, sit back and enjoy the ride.

In WHITE HEAT, Nate Ferrentino and Rachel Jessop, two members of Department 6, are hired to infiltrate a dangerous cult that has recently settled in the former ghost town of Paradise, Arizona. Members of this cult worship at the feet—and in the bed--of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff. But with one woman claiming to have been stoned, and another missing, Wycliff might be more of a devil than the prophet he claims to be…. In BODY HEAT, Police Chief Sophia St. Claire finds herself out of her investigative league when someone starts shooting people at pointblank range and leaving them to rot in the desert sun just outside her small town. Help arrives in the form of California’s Department 6 Roderick Guerrero. But as the half-breed bastard of a wealthy local rancher, he has a history he can’t get past--a history that includes Sophia St. Claire. In KILLER HEAT, the remains of seven women have been discovered in Skull Valley, Arizona. It’s up to Jonah Young, from Department 6, to assist the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department in solving these murders. But he doesn’t anticipate the complications that arise when he’s forced to work with an old flame. Then everything grows more complicated—and far too personal. They quickly zero in on the most likely suspect, but betting on the wrong man might be the last thing they ever do….
What are you working on now?

I’m working on three new romantic suspense titles that will be out next summer/fall—July, September and October. They’re called INSIDE, IN SECONDS and IN CLOSE. I’ve finished Book 1 and am now in the middle of Book 2.
What makes your writing unique?

The believability of the characters and the level of emotion, at least that’s what I’m told. It’s tough to judge myself objectively. LOL

What is your writing process? Plotter or Panster?

I’m definitely a pantser. I can’t plot out my stories beforehand or I grow bored with them. I have to be surprised right along with the reader or the tension that makes a good page-turner just seeps right out of the story.
What is the hardest part about your job?

I love being a writer. That makes coming to work each day a joy and a blessing, but finding time to get fit everything in is very tough. There’s so much more to being an author than just writing. You have to get out and promote, which typically means you accept speaking invitations and travel. You maintain a web site. You plan promotional campaigns and write articles, etc. It’s a lot of work and can be very rewarding, but the juggling act itself is a challenge.
How many books do you have under your writing belt?

Believe it or not, I always lose track of this. I had to go in and count what’s on my bookshelf (I have a bookshelf where I keep one copy of each book as a milestone marker). I’m currently at 35, including the Christmas novella that will come out in November. J Can you give us an idea of how long a completed manuscript takes you from start to finish? I have three big books and one novella due each year. That means I have to write a 450 page (average) manuscript in four months.

Do you have any advice on writing, getting published, or finding an agent?

My best advice is to join a good writing organization like Romance Writers of America. They have so much to offer an aspiring writer—access to agents and editors, market information, a monthly magazine with craft tips and other information, an annual conference, national contest, etc. I believe finding RWA shortened the time it took me to get published by several years.

Give us a glimpse into a writer’s life.

I think every writer’s life is different because every creative process is different, but I run the work aspect of my life like any other business. I get my kids off to school, and then I head to the computer. I spend several hours following up on fan mail, blog posts, interviews, promotion ideas, updating my Facebook/MySpace and Web site pages, going over back cover copy with my editor, turning in art fact sheets for cover design, doing revisions on manuscripts that have already been turned in to my publisher, etc. Then I settle in to write ten pages per day on my current work-in-progress. I rarely get that many finished, but that’s my goal. Once my kids get out of school, I’m a regular mom, unless they’re at other activities, and then I return to the computer to try and get more done. I don’t stay up late and write because that would only wipe out the next day. LOL
There is an organization that is close to your heart. Can you tell us about it… what you do to help out and why you spend so much of your time donating to it?

Each year, during the entire month of May, I run an annual online auction for diabetes research at my web site (www.brendanovak.com). In the six years I’ve been doing this, we’ve managed to raise almost $1.1 million. My youngest son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (insulin-dependent) when he was just five. Now he’s thirteen, and I’m determined to do all I can to help find a cure for this terrible disease. It affects SO many people, and it’s not a mystery. I believe, with enough focus and resources, we can beat it. Many of the items offered in the auction are exciting to readers and writers. Many big name authors, such as Catherine Coulter, Diana Gabaldon and Barry Eisler donate their time to have lunch with an auction winner. Others donate other items they put on the auction block. Nora Roberts donates a stay in her Bed & Breakfast, Cherry Adair donates a week-long stay in her fabulous guest house, Sandra Brown always donates a big basket of goodies. Many authors donate Advanced Reading Copies of a new release so that those who bid can have the chance to be the first to read it. On the writer side, we have many, many opportunities to get in front of those agents and editors who are most influential. There’s even promotional opportunities for published authors. Besides the reader/writer stuff, we have jewelry, trips & stays, celebrity items, antique jewelry and so much more. Last year we had 2,400 items!

Thank you, Brenda for stopping by my blog. This has been a wonderful opportunity. Where can we find out more about you and your books?

www.brendanovak.com Or you can follow my fan page on Facebook by “liking”:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Author-Brenda-Novak/120794854630624?ref=ts

Thank you friends for stopping by. See you next week.

Hugs

Micole

Spotlight Author with Diane Gaston

Here in Central California it's Fair time!!! You know what that means... Yep!! You guessed it. My skinny jeans will fit no more! They have the best cinnamon buns in the world at our fair. Lucky for me, I will be there all week long. ;-) My daughter is showing a dairy heifer this year for the first time. It has been an awesome experience for all of us. There's only one problem... the week has only just begun and I am pooped! It's been past my nap time for about three days now! But I am here and I have another awesome interview to share with you. Diane Gaston is here to share a little bit about herself and her books. Enjoy!

Tell us a little bit about your latest release CHIVALROUS CAPTAIN, REBEL MISTRESS.

My latest release is Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress, Book 2 in my Three Soldiers Series (Book 1 was Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady). After the siege of Badajoz, three soldiers witness a ghastly event that affects the rest of their lives. Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress is Allan Landon’s story. Landon rescues Marian Pallant during the battle of Waterloo and the dangers they encounter in Belgium forge a bond between them that is all but shredded by distance and deliberate deceit. When they meet again in London after the war, the passionate attraction between them is as strong as ever, but now they are on opposite sides of a new war, a social war, and neither intends to admit defeat. Not even for love.

I have to say you have been blessed with amazing book covers!;-) they are just great. Do you get a part in picking out what they will look like?

I am forced to agree with you! My covers have been terrific! All of the Harlequin Historical covers have been great. I don’t get ANY say in the covers. None of the authors do. We each fill out a form about our books and we can suggest scenes that would make a good cover, but after that it is all up to the editors and cover artists. But you can see one of my covers being created in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79j7pIopDGM

What are you working on now?

I just turned in Book 3 of the Soldiers Series, Gabriel Deane’s story. Gabriel appears in the first two books of the series and his life changes in Badajoz, but mostly because he cannot forget the beautiful widow he and the others rescue. He meets her again on the eve of Waterloo and they have a torrid affair, but she refuses to marry him. Years later, though, she seeks him out in London desperate for his help and willing to do anything if he will agree to help her. While writing Gabriel’s story, I had an idea for a Harlequin Historical Undone connected to it. Next, though, is Leo’s story. Leo was one of the brothers in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor anthology, and it will be the last of the books connected to that story.

How many books do you have under your writing belt?

Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress is my eighth book for Harlequin Historical, but I’ve also written two novellas and two short stories for them. I also wrote two Regency Historicals for Warner Forever under the name Diane Perkins, so that’s ten full length novels altogether. You can see the whole list, including the Diane Perkins books on my website.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Before my Three Soldiers Series, my inspiration often came from one of the characters in the previous book, but this series began with watching the old Gary Cooper movie, The Lives of A Bengal Lancer. The idea of three soldiers and their colonel’s son all sharing an experience during the Napoleonic war took hold.

What’s one thing that you know now that you wished you knew when you started your journey as a writer?

I wish I had understood marketing and promotion better. It took me a while—and some mistakes—to find a balance I’m comfortable with, one that doesn’t cost too much, but makes sure my name and my books are “out there.”

Do you have any advice on writing, getting published, or finding an agent?

On writing....Finish the book! You can’t get anywhere without finishing the book, plus you will learn so much about writing if you craft your story from beginning to end. Afterwards, don’t be afraid to revise. On getting published....The most important thing is to keep trying. Write more than one book and keep submitting. Enter contests judged by editors or agents who might be interested in your book. Get yourself known as a determined writer willing to do whatever it takes to break in. On finding an agent....Do your research! Do not settle for just any agent. A bad or ineffective agent is worse than no agent at all. Make certain you are seeking good, reputable agents who will be interested in selling your work. Look at new agents in good agencies. They will be hungry to build their client list and will have the advice and resources of more experienced agents to assist them.

Now tell us a little bit about Diane. Who are you? What do you do when you’re not writing hunky heroes and romantic love stories?

I am fortunate to be writing full-time. Before I sold my first book, I was a county mental health social worker (psychotherapist) who’d worked half of my career with children and the other half in a specialized outpatient geriatric program. I loved my career and my clients and learned a great deal about people, but I am now pursuing a life-long dream and could not be luckier. I’m married, with two grown children, and live in Northern Virginia with my husband and 4 boring cats.

Diane, thank you so much for being my guest here on Micole Writes Romance. I wish you much success on your new book CHIVALROUS CAPTAIL, REBEL MISTRESS. You can find out more about Diane Gaston and her books at http://dianegaston.com

One lucky commenter will win a copy of Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady!!!! So make sure to leave your comments or questions for us!!!! Thanks for stopping by.


Hugs

Micole

Lisa Wingate Contest Giveaway!!!!

Hello friends. I have just gotten word about an awesome contest that Lisa Wingate is a part of. (The photo on the left is a sneak peak of what you can win). Please take advantage of this opportunity and get yourself entered to win! It sounds so cool!!!! Thanks for being avid readers of my blog. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the lucky winner and it will pay off! ;-) Good luck to all!!! Here are all of the details.

What could possibly be more fun than reading a great book this summer (well, maybe not more fun, but a totally different kind of fun)?

Celebrating 2011 with national bestselling author, Lisa Wingate, in beautiful, historic, antique-filled Jefferson, Texas for the fun-filled reader event of the year, the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend 2011 book extravaganza! If you've never been to the Pulpwood Queens annual tiara-wearing, book sharing event, or even if you have, you'd be in for a treat! Head Pulpwood Queen Kathy Patrick hosts a weekend filled with books, authors, beautiful bed and breakfast hotels, antiques, a costume ball, and more fun with books than you can imagine. Kathy has over 50 authors on the slate, including Lisa Wingate. This year, the Keynote speakers are Fannie Flagg, Rick Bragg, and Pat Conroy!

The best thing about this girlfriend getaway is that the winner and companion can do as much or as little as they like. Girlfriend Weekend offers two days of amazing events, and the town of Jefferson features everything from museums and antique shopping, to quilts, history tours, and carriage rides!

The prize package does not include travel. The winner will be responsible for travel for herself/himself and guest (that's right, this package is for TWO). If you're the lucky winner, you'll get:

***TWO fully-paid admission armbands for Girlfriend Weekend 2011 (one for you and one for your best girlfriend, or your favorite Timber Guy). This includes admission to Saturday night's big-hair extravaganza, the "Great Big Ball of Hair" where you can come as you are, or arrive dressed as your favorite book character and compete in the costume contest. Who knows? You might become "Miss Hairball Queen 2011!"

***TWO nights in a room fit for a queen, amid the opulence and grace of the 1920s at the beautiful Delta Street Inn bed and breakfast in historic Jefferson, Texas. (double occupancy)

***Your very own "Insta-Queen Kit" featuring a gorgeous tiara and a smaller porta-tiara for more casual occasions (or one to keep and one to share with your best girlfriend), free autographed Lisa Wingate books, your scepter, a copy of Kathy Patrick's Tiara Wearing Book Sharing Guide to Life, your very own Pulpwood Queens T-shirt, and everything else you need to crown yourself and read like a Pulpwood Queen!

More details and entry form are available at www.Lisawingate.com. This is a great opportunity for readers or writers, so don't forget to spread the word to your book clubs, co-workers, family members, and girlfriends -- after all, if one of your friends wins, you can come along as the guest!


Thanks again for stopping by!

Hugs

Micole

Tawny"s Back!!!

Welcome back everyone! I am so excited to have such an awesome lady back on my blog. Tawny Weber is here to share some more about herself, her writing life, and her latest books, RIDING THE WAVES and LOVE WRITING. For those of you not familiar with Tawny here’s a little bio on her to get to know her a little better.

Tawny Weber is usually found dreaming up stories in her California home, surrounded by dogs, cats and kids. When she’s not writing hot, spicy stories for Harlequin Blaze, she’s shopping for the perfect pair of boots or drooling over Johnny Depp pictures (when her husband isn’t looking, of course). In September 2010, her eighth Blaze, RIDING THE WAVES hits the bookshelves. Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com

Doesn’t her life sound dreamy?


Since I had already interviewed Tawny once in March, we decided to things a little different this time. I do still have a few more things that I wanted to know! ;-) Yep, that’s me Nosy Rosy!;-) So you will find a couple of interview questions, as well as a teaser of her latest release RIDING THE WAVES. Enjoy!


Some writers say that they have a story that has to be told other’s say that the characters come to them and demand that their story be told… how does it work for you?

It’s actually a combination of the two. I usually start with a premise (one I dream up or my editor suggests), then the characters take over. For instance, in my current release, RIDING THE WAVES, my editor suggested I write a Forbidden Fantasy story. At that time (probably because of all the Robert Pattinson hype that was going on) the forbidden fantasy that popped into my head was Boy Toy/Younger Man. But for some heroines, that would totally NOT be forbidden, right? That’s where the characters took over. Drucilla, my heroine, started out pretty solid in my head – what her issues were, why a boy toy would be so appealing to her and what having one in reality vs fantasy would mean. From there, it was all about characters and how they’d react, how to make things harder for them, how to force them into situations that made them have to resolve their issues.


RIDING THE WAVES By Tawny Weber What happens in Mexico... doesn’t always stay there!

All uptight workaholic Drucilla Robichoux wants is to experience incredible sex, at least once in her life. So she heads off to Mexico for some sun, sand and sin. And she finds the perfect playmate in sexy surf instructor Alex. Her temporary boy toy teaches Dru to ride the waves, all right... ...right into the most intense climaxes she’s ever had! But all vacation flings must end. When Dru heads home, she buttons up tight again. Might as well keep this delicious fantasy right where it belongs... in her naughty memories. So it sure is a shock when she walks into work Monday morning and finds her secret fling is her new boss! And he’s definitely still interested in


RIDING THE WAVES Excerpt:

Reveling in the feel of the tiny grains shifting around her feet, Drucilla headed straight for the water. It wasn’t until she was halfway there that she saw him.

Her heart, and her feet, stopped.

Her mouth went as dry as the sand clinging to her ankles. She didn’t blink when the soft breeze sent tendrils of her hair into her eyes, just batted it away so it didn’t interfere with her view.

Oh. My. God.

He was incredible. Like some water god, he flew over the waves. The water glistened on his golden muscles like jewels in the fading light. Arms outstretched, biceps glinting as he balanced on the deep purple surfboard. Was he real? A figment of her lusty imagination? The manifestation of her every sexual fantasy? Dru’s breath came in long, labored bursts. Her eyes watered because she was afraid to blink, fearing he’d disappear.

Her hands itched to touch that bare chest, to run her fingers down the dusting of dark hair that perfectly highlighted his well-muscled chest. She stared as he got closer to shore, watching him shift his knees to a low crouch as he rode the wave all the way to the beach.

There was something so amazing about surfers. She’d always imagined them to be fearless. Able to embrace anything life handed them and ride it to success.

And talk about muscle control. That was the kind of guy who rock against-a-wall sex and not drop the woman as she melted in orgasmic glory all over him.

Was he real? Or had her sex-deprived imagination conjured up the perfect man to fulfill her every kinky fantasy?

About thirty feet away, she watched him walk across the sand. This close, she could see how young he was. Mid-twenties at the most. His dripping hair fell in inky black curls around his head, his beautiful face adding to the image of a Greek God come to life.

He stopped at the brightly decorated surf shop bungalow, and she watched him key in a code, then open the door and store his board. His familiarity made it obvious he wasn’t a guest. Did he work at the hotel?

Whatever he did, he was obviously out of her league. Not that it mattered. It wasn’t like a sweet young thing like him would have any interest in an almost thirty-year-old scientist with social anxieties and repressed sexual needs.

Needs she’d been perfectly fine ignoring until Nikki had gotten her all riled up over her crazy ideas. Insane ideas. Dru had no idea how to flirt, how to attract a man’s attention. Especially not a man like that. No matter what Nikki had suggested, Dru wasn’t here for a fling.

Except here he was. The most incredible man she’d ever seen. A man who would definitely not stop mid-thrust, but know how to bring a woman to a screaming orgasm, then make her writhe and beg for more.

And then he turned. Their eyes met. Dru’s breath lodged somewhere between her aching nipples and her suddenly dry mouth. His gaze holding her captive from twenty feet away, one corner of his mouth quirked in a charmingly adorable little boy grin.

And he walked toward her. Frozen in the sand, Drucilla didn’t know if she should pull back her shoulders, stick out her chest and smile beguilingly. Or turn on her bare heel and run like hell.

Coming September 2010
By Tawny Weber
www.tawnyweber.com


I’ve already got my copy!!! Can’t wait to read it! Just a few more questions for you Tawny.


Often time’s writers describe writing a love scene like being an intruder in something so very personal. Do you feel this way and how do you get through the dreaded love scene?


LOL, Luckily I don’t dread those love scenes! Because I never write a love scene until I know the characters really well, it has less a voyeuristic feeling and is just a simple extension of telling their story. Sex is an integral part of the stories I tell, and of my character’s growth and connection with each other. And the sex always has to intensify their conflict. I actually would consider poking into their psyches and exploiting their deepest fears and issues to be more personal, I think. Yet that’s what we have to do as writers – bare our characters in a multitude of ways.


What are you reading right now? If nothing at the moment then what do you like to read when you have time?


Because I’m in the middle of writing a new story, I’m not reading any fiction at the moment. I tend to binge on fiction between deadlines, though. After I turned in my last book, I spent a week re-reading the first 15 Stephanie Plum books so I could then read the 16th with them all fresh in my head  As for non-fiction, right now I have Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar on my nightstand, along with Warrior Writer by Bob Mayer.


What’s one thing that you know now that you wished you knew when you started your journey as a writer?


That it never really ‘gets easier’. The challenges change and shift, but there are always challenges to face and struggles to overcome. Oh –and I really wish I’d known that I’d have to learn marketing! I’d have started trying to figure that out a LOT sooner *g*

Any favorite books on craft?


The War of Art is one of my absolute favorite books, although calling it a craft book might be debatable. But it’s definitely my go-to when I’m feeling stressed with the writing and trying to stay motivated. For craft specific books, there is so much out there that is wonderful. I recently contributed to a book titled Love Writing (http://blog.tawnyweber.com/books/love-writing) that I think covers a huge range of craft topics.


Give us a glimpse into a writer’s life.


Hmm, how to put neurosis into words... :-D Just kidding. I don’t know about other writers, but I do love my writing life. Because my days are usually busy, I use those little in between moments to answer email, write blog posts, respond to the Facebook and Twitter stuff going on, etc. In presenting a workshop with one of the blogs I regularly contribute to, Healthy Writer, I discovered that the amount of time we writers spend sitting can cause serious health issues. So my awesome husband recently created a Tread-Desk for me so I can do all of that from my treadmill while walking at a very VERY sedate pace. The actual writing of my stories takes place at night when the family gets quiet. I tend to write from 9pm till 2 or 3am. After I turn a book in, I usually have revisions back within a month, and then go through two rounds of edits before the book is released. Since I always start a new story within a week or so of turning one in, I’m usually juggling at least two books at a time – one in process, another in edits. In between all that day-to-day is the promotion of books, RWA meetings and writing events, and staying in touch with other writers to keep myself grounded in the writing world and up-to-date with what’s going on in our industry.


Tell us where we can find your books and more info about you!


My current release, RIDING THE WAVES, should be in stores everywhere right about now. Bookstores and grocery stores, Target and Walmart, and anywhere in between that sells Harlequin books. Online purchase links are available on my website, too: http://www.tawnyweber.com/


Thanks again Tawny for coming back to Micole Writes Romance.


Micole, thanks so much for having me! I love visiting your blog 