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Thursday, April 28, 2011

JUST FOR THE NIGHT By Tawny Weber

Tawny Weber's latest book JUST FOR THE NIGHT is hitting shelves on May 1st, but if you look hard enough, you might just find it in stores already. I did today while I was shopping at Borders. Here's a little teaser for you. Also Tawny has a really cool new "Members Only" section on her website, where she shares exclusive excerpts, free reads and members only contest. Make sure you drop in www.TawnyWeber.com and sign up.
May 2011

JUST FOR THE NIGHT
By
Tawny Weber

ISBN: 978-0373796168

Things to Do in Blackout…

Power outages happen, and you have to be prepared. After all, you could be trapped somewhere—like in an empty store—with your ex.

Who is still irresistible. And hot.

And who knows how to make the most out of a dark situation....

Checklist for: Larissa Zahn
 Food
 Water
 First aid kit (With condoms. Be prepared. Very, very prepared.)
 Someone you’re still overwhelmingly into (Jason Cantrell, I’m looking at you.)
 Plenty of time in the dark (Read: hot nookie. Lots of it.)
The ability to walk away without regrets in the morning.... (Uh oh!)

24 Hours: Blackout
No lights. No power. And no holding back…



www.TawnyWeber.com
email: Tawny@TawnyWeber.com

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Spotlight Author with Gabi Stevens

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter. Mine was fabulous! I have Gabi Stevens visiting us again here today to tell us all about the book that she has hitting the shelves as we speak! Welcome back Gabi. Tell us about your title, AS YOU WISH that is being released today.

Imagine being part of a family where everyone has a special ability except you? That’s the set up for my latest release, AS YOU WISH. Born in a magical family Regina Scott has no powers of her own. She was content to live out her life as a Groundling until she discovers that she is next in line to be a fairy godmother. Needless to say, her life becomes complicated. In the space of a few days, she has to deal with a bad guy, a curse, an all too enthusiastic mother and a new love interest.

It’s a story about looking past appearances and finding the true heart of both people and an issue. Doing the right thing is never easy, and Reggie faces many challenges before her happy ending.

What inspired you to create this three book series?

I love the Grimm Brothers’ Fairy tales. I studied them in college, in, and in German. When I knew I wanted to write a paranormal romance, I looked beyond the vampire and werewolf stories and wanted something different. Magic has always been a subject I’ve loved to read about, so witches and wizards was a natural progression. But I still wanted something more unusual. Viola. The fairy godmother.

I also like having villains in my stories and planning out a three book series with the same villain sounded challenging. Could I sustain a story arc for three books, yet still fulfill the requirements of the happy ending? AS YOU WISH is its own romance, yet the second part of a greater story. It absolutely stands alone, but also flows and continues from THE WISH LIST and continues with WISHFUL THINKING next year.


Can you tell us what you are working on now?

WISHFUL THINKING, book three, is already finished and turned in. I have a couple of proposals out with my agent, both paranormals, and many, many ideas for other books that I’m getting ready to think out (No, I don’t plot, I think).


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?

If the love scene is intrusive, than it doesn’t belong. There are so many varying degrees of heat in romance today that no author should feel forced to include more than she is comfortable with. Discomfort shows. That’s why you don’t write one if it doesn’t flow from the story. Sex for sex’s sake is pornography, not a love story.

If you had to pick a favorite character that you have created or one that you wish you had created who would it be and why?

I have two very special characters in AS YOU WISH. Tommy and Joy are Arcani, bakers, and have special needs. Tommy has Down syndrome and Joy is...well, Joy is just Joy. Reggie, the newest fairy godmother and the heroine of the novel, has set up a bakery for her friends and works beside them, taking care of the business aspects because she doesn’t bake. Tommy and Joy are very capable and talents bakers. And yes, they are realistic. I should know. My daughter was the inspiration for Joy. Give her the rules and instruct her, and my daughter can do most things. Oh, she requires supervision for her daily life, but she’s fiercely independent—heck she’s a typical teenager in more ways than not—but she makes her own lunches for school, cooks some, and makes all the brownies for the family. In AS YOU WISH, Reggie truly regards Tommy and Joy as her friends—friends who need perhaps a little more care, but friends first. In honor of Tommy and Joy—and my daughter—I have pledged ten percent from my royalties from AS YOU WISH to Best Buddies International, a group that strives to overcome the prejudices and loneliness that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face. If you want to find out more about Best Buddies™, please visit them at www.bestbuddies.org.

Give us a glimpse into your writer’s life.

What life? I work a day job and try to get as much done in the evenings and on the weekends that I can.

What does your family think of your job?

My husband is completely supportive of me. He always has been. Even when I hadn’t yet sold and when I wasn’t making money, he always encouraged me to go to conferences, take the time to write, do what I needed to do. It helped that he’s a computer fiend and was more than willing to get me computer equipment too. The kids love that I write and am following my dreams. They’ve told me that they have made many important decisions in their lives based on that knowledge. I’m thrilled I could actually be an object of admiration to them. At least sometimes.

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

That getting published doesn’t mean you’ve “made it.” There are always roadblocks, from not getting another contract, to personal issues, to lines folding, to the big questions in publishing right now (the role of e-books, self-publishing, etc.). So much is uncertain always. The only thing you can control is your writing.


Thank you for returning to Micole Writes Romance. Tells us again where we can find out more about you and your books.

You can visit me at www.GabiStevens.com, read my blog at www.GabiStevens.blogspot.com, find me at Facebook and at Twitter.

Thanks so much for having me here, Micole. I truly enjoyed my time.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Spotlight Author with Jennifer St.Giles

Spring break has officially started here in California! My kids are doing what kids do during spring break and me, well… I’m doing the same thing I do everyday. Work, run around like crazy, work some more, run around a little more. I thought I would take a minute from all of the craziness to introduce my next guest, Jennifer St.Giles to all of you.

First I’d live to give a big shout out to Micole for taking the time and spending her energy to connect authors and readers. It is sincerely appreciated.

Thanks Jennifer. I enjoy it. It is my pleasure.

Going over your backlist, you have a long list of books, all different genres and written under three different names. How do you keep it all straight?

I love story so much that when I am writing one my mind becomes submersed in the characters , their problems, and their world. Sometimes I will be working on two books simultaneously. LOL maybe I am a bit ADD and actually like delving back and forth between genre’s and stories. I have three pen names and each genre I write has a different style or feel to them. Jennifer St. Giles started out being gothic murder mysteries and then branched into paranormal with my Shadowmen series—werewolves from the spirit world. JL Saint is for my romantic thrillers, edgier stories, still have romance but a lot of action. Jennifer Saints is for sexy contemporary romance. And yes I have even other genre stuff in the works, but my Agent has declared no more pseudonyms. Three is it. I’ve always said writers don’t develop split personalities, they develop pseudonyms….I may be in trouble now. LOL

Is there one genre that calls to you more than another?

The story of love calls to me, no matter the genre, so no to that question, although some books are easier to write than others.

Tell us a little about your latest release

Recently, Collateral Damage was released in e-book and will be out in print Nov.2011. This is the first book in my Silent Warrior Series featuring military heroes. The books currently center around a Delta team who were injured in a mission in Lebanon. In Collateral Damage Jack Hunter puts his life and his heart on the line to save Lauren Collins when they discover she and her children have been sucked into a terrorist plot that has the world on the edge of war.

Also out on April 12th is the e-book of Midnight Secrets with a totally fabulous new cover. It is a historical romantic suspense with a lot of heart. This is the first book in the Killdaren Series about two cursed brothers and a sea captain living under the shadow of murder and three sisters with paranormal gifts and a determination to the truth no matter what the cost. Book 2 in the series, Darkest Dreams, will be out in ebook in August 2011. I am so excited that this series is being given a second chances at finding love in the hearts of readers.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on Book 2 in the series, Tactical Deception where hero, Roger Weston goes beyond the call of duty to save Mari Dalton, the pregnant wife of one of his men killed in action. They foil a plot to kill the president of the United States. In the process Roger falls irrevocably in love with Mari, but knows any future they could have will be doomed when he confesses that he ordered the bomb that killed her husband.

What I plan to write this year after this book. Is book 5 in the Shadowmen Series titled Bewitching the Wolf. Book 3 in my Weldon Brother Series about sexy Southern bad boys, titled Hot Irish. Then just to let you know how crazy I am. I have a Steampunk series in the works and another contemporary romance that I want to finish. Will I get all of that done? NO, But I always say shoot for the stars and you might get the moon, but at least you won’t be stuck in the mud.


Where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere, life, songs, news, odd events. I can’t seem to find the time to write all that I want to. I wish I didn’t have to worry about finances or writing to make money but had the freedom to just focus the stories that I am bursting to tell.

If you had to pick a favorite character that you have created or one that you wish you had created who would it be and why?

Can a mother just choose one of her kids? LOL Love them all. As for one character that I WISH I HAD created????? Easy, Harry Potter! Her genius has made her the richest writer ever!

What is the most important advice you can give to aspiring authors?

NEVER NEVER NEVER Give up on your dreams, keep writing and keep honing your craft and YOU will make it.

How long was your road to becoming a published author?

NINE YEARS

Give us a glimpse into your writer’s life.

If I only had to worry about writing, then it would be great. I’d write an hour or two then go take care of a few things then come back and write some more and repeat the process. Over the past handful of years I have had to deal with major health issues, major personal issues, major financial, issues, and have moved twice. All of which hound at your mind and make writing harder. But I don’t give up I still keep chipping away at the story and somehow make it happen despite the odds against it.

Where can we find out more about you and your books?

You can go to jenniferstgiles.com. It’s all there! And for all of my latest news you can go to betweenyoursheets.com!

Thank you so much for inviting me. I really appreciate it and hope that you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy my stories and love!

Remember Every Day to Dream, Believe, Create, Inspire, Love, and Heal

Love
Jennifer St. Giles/J.L. Saint/ Jennifer Saints.

Thank you so much for visiting Jennifer. It has been great getting to know more about you. Hope you will come back and visit. And a big thanks to all of my faithful readers.

Hugs

Micole

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Debra Salonen & Micole Black She said/she said

She said/she said--two views are better than one




Q: What is your Best and Worst writing habit?



BEST HABIT



Deb’s answer:



My best habit: I write down everything, no matter how silly or trivial.



Even the most innocent comment can lead to a fresh insight or take you someplace you didn’t even know you needed to visit. Small insights can lead to big “A-ha” moments.



For example, when my 85-year-old father-in-law was visiting last month, he and I were talking about growing old. One of the pearls of wisdom that fell from his mouth was: "I know that one day I'll wake up and I'll be dead. And I'm okay with that."



The comment made me laugh, but I also grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled it down. Later, I placed the note on my bedside table, planning to add it to a folder on my lap top. But, before I got around to that, my husband chanced to read it. The look on his face--horror, concern, fear, bemusement--when he asked me about it was truly priceless.



Naturally, his reaction went straight into my WIP. In fact, it led to a key insight of my hero’s back-story. All because I scribbled down a note that probably would have slipped away unremembered if I hadn’t taken the time.



Micole’s Answer:


My best writing habit… hmmm (she scratches her head, wink) If my daughter were here she would tell you that I make a story out of everything. Every person that I see walking down the street, sitting in their car, the kids walking up to her school, every person is my subject. I have verbally crafted some pretty interesting stories about why the guy next to me, sitting at the traffic light, is so impatient in his car. I see everything as an opportunity to make a story, because that is what life really is. It’s everyone’s story.



I think that helps me when I am writing, because if my characters are acting a certain way, (maybe sitting at a traffic light and nervous) I am able to remember just exactly what that gut looked like. It’s a memory trick for me I guess.



My kids have fun while I’m doing it too. At least someone is being entertained by my stories! ;-)



WORST HABIT



Deb’s Answer:



My worst habit? Letting go of perfectionism. I remind myself all the time that a first draft can--and probably should be--fast and loose. Some characters reveal themselves incrementally. The more I write, the more I learn. Maybe I have to earn their trust. I don’t know. But I do know that it’s easy for me to get bogged down in the early chapters, re-writing and fine-tuning scenes that might--in the final draft--not even be included.



Micole’s Answer:



My worst habit is re-writing a manuscript fifty times. But I am sure I could come up with at least ten more bad writing habits I have. ;-)





How do you handle rejection and/or extreme revisions?



Deb’s Answer:



My April and May releases, RETURN TO THE BLACK HILLS and A FATHER’S QUEST, both required extensive revisions. This is not the norm for me. In fact, I can point to several books out of the past 28 that required no changes. So, dealing with massive revisions required more than a few tourniquets applied to my ego.



Basically, a revision is a rejection (of what you initially offered) with some direction on how you can improve your story to make it acceptable. How does a writer deal with that?



Number one, you have to acknowledge that each book is unique. As romance writers we work hard to bash the widely-held belief that “all romance books are alike.” We know that’s not true. And the more books you write, the more you know that each book brings with unique obstacles you have to clear to get that story on paper. The hurdles can be as unique as the book. They can also be problems that originate in your “real” life and keep you from fully committing to your characters’ story.



That’s what happened with me. Not surprising given the emotional duress I’d been under in my real life--first, losing my mother, then a year later, helping my beloved sister fight a losing battle with lung cancer. As my editor said, "I hit a wall." But a contract is a contract.



My advice is to read your rejection or revision letter thoroughly. Use a highlighter to mark the key points. Then set it aside for a day or two to let the comments and concerns gel. When you sit down to start work, break the issues into a bite-size increments. Focus on one piece at a time. One scene. One character flaw. One hole in the plot. And keep at it until you’ve reached “The End.”



I just saw the RT review for the May book. Four stars! That helped assuage any leftover agony of those painful revisions.



Micole’s Answer:



Well let’s see. I have only been rejected once, not because I am just that good, but because I have only turned my manuscript in to one editor. My initial reaction was tears, then it turned into anger (at myself), then of course denial. I ran the gamut of emotions.



Now I look back and am so happy I was rejected, because I know I wasn’t ready to be published.




What is your best advice for aspiring authors?



Deb’s Answer:



Read what you want to write.


If you're an eclectic reader, you probably think that means you're an eclectic writer. Maybe you are, but that is not what your potential editor wants to see. She wants to know that you are well-versed in the line she publishes. She isn’t going to care that you read mysteries and vampire books unless she publishes mysteries and vampire books.



I speak from experience. I love historicals. I used to read tons of them. But I lack the conviction to do the necessary research to write one. I love mysteries and true-crime stories. But I have no desire to write either of those. I love all kinds of romance, but it wasn’t until I narrowed my focus to one line--Superromance--and immersed myself in the most current titles available, that I began to understand the focus, hear the unwritten rhythm and could feel the invisible fabric of the line.



Quite simply: read to write.



Micole’s Answer:



Write, write, write and write some more. The more you write the better you will be and the more confident you will be.



Deb, thank you so much for doing this interview with me. It was a lot of fun. It is my first interview (blushing)



Now here is a sneak peak at Deb’s new books that will be hitting shelves this month and next month. Deb has also offered to do a giveaway to two lucky commenters to win a book off of her backlist! Thanks Deb!


RETURN TO THE BLACK HILLS, 4.5 stars!


Back cover copy:



A risky attraction!



What do a South Dakota rancher and a Hollywood stuntwoman have in common--outside their landlord-tenant relationship? Not much. But from the moment Cade Garrity meets Jessie Bouchard, he's captivated. Although he knows a woman who is paid to take risks is the wrong role model for his impressionable daughter, he can't keep away.



From the start, Jessie is very clear that her stay is temporary. Can Cade be content to let her leave when the time comes? The more he knows about the woman behind the stunts, the more he's sure that she's the one for him. So now he has to convince her to take that big leap into commitment...without a safety net.




A Father’s Quest


April 2011



Is he ready for what he might find?


Jonas Galloway wouldn’t show up on Remy Bouchard’s doorstep without an excellent


reason. Not after a secret destroyed what was so good between them. In this case, though, locating his daughter trumps unfinished business. He hopes he can persuade Remy to see it the same way.



Working with his high school sweetheart makes Jonas want to pick up where they left off. Especially because Remy is more tempting than ever. But he is a father and his little girl has to be his priority. Then an exposed lie hands him and Remy a possible future. And he can’t leave Louisiana without finding out if second chances are all they’re cracked up to be.








Debra Salonen


www.debrasalonen.com


www.superromanceauthors.blogspot.com


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Spotlight Author with Linda Wisdom

In Central California, where I live, spring can’t decide whether to stay or go. That’s good and bad for me. I love the winter as well as the spring, but know the longer this weather holds out the worse my chances are of having a nice long spring, with coastal breezy days. Last week it hailed in my neighborhood for thirty minutes. By the time the storm had passed it looked as if it had snowed. It was super cold too. Two days later the sun is shining and I am planting flowers in my yard! Next week it will be hotter than heck and I will be dying to turn the air conditioner on. ;-) Go figure!

Speaking of hotter then heck, my guest Linda Wisdom has witchy books that are just that. She has dropped into my blog today to tell us all about what she has stewing.

Linda, you have written for a couple of different lines, with different genre’s. Is it hard for you to shift from one to the other?

In some ways it is, Micole, but in other ways it’s not. I think my brain is set up in compartments that allow me to shift. Plus, it’s a nice way to write something very different.

Tell us about, DEMONS ARE A GIRLS BEST FRIEND.

Maggie is my kick ass witch who’s with the Hellions, the security force that protects all the supernatural creatures. Right now, she’s battling her attraction to a super sexy half fire demon named Declan and discovering that an ancient Mayan curse is meant to destroy the world. Her major headache is the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a snarky teenager. Maggie also has a diamond-encrusted tattoo of a black widow spider named Elle who’s very French and irritated that she can’t keep a boyfriend for long. Elle also helps protect Maggie and searching the World Wide Web for a spell to ensure her lovers don’t die after she has sex with them. It was a totally fun book to write.

What makes your writing unique?

I don’t know if I’d call it unique. I love writing characters that I hope my readers can identify with. Want to hang out with. I have a demented sense of humor and that tends to show up in my work. Luckily, my readers like it.

Can you tell us what you are working on now?

I finished up my next witch book, A Demon Does It Better, which will be out in January 2012 and I’m reworking a Young Adult Urban Fantasy along with a Young Adult paranormal and plotting out a new book.

What do Linda Wisdom fans have to look forward to in 2011?

Along with Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend out this April, I’ve been putting up my backlist books at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and Allromanceebooks. I’ll also be putting up an enovella starring witchy Thea.

How many books do you have published?

Close to 80.

What is your writing process? Are you a plotter or a panzter?

Definitely a pantser and sometimes that’s not good when I write myself into a corner that I wonder if I’ll get out of! Luckily, I do.

When you aren’t writing steamy romances, what do you do with your time?

I’ve got an energetic white mini Schnauzer named Barney who loves walks. He’ll be showing up in a future book. Naturally, I love reading and getting together with friends.

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

With writing, make sure your work is super clean and believe in it. Do your research, see where your work best fits and above all, be professional!

What’s the one thing you know now that you wished you would’ve known when you started your journey as a writer?

LOL! Probably a lot. There was nothing out there for writers. No Internet, no way to check on agents unless you knew someone with an agent. I flew blind for awhile and I paid for the ride. Sharing of information is very important, but you also have to follow your own instincts.

Thank you Linda, for a being a guest. Where can we find out more about you and your work?

Definitely my website www.lindawisdom.com, http://linda-wisdom.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/lindawisdom, www.twitter.com/lindawisdom

If you haven’t read Linda’s books make sure to check her out. Again thanks for stopping by y blog. See you on Thursday when my guest will be Debra Salonen. Until then…

Micole Black



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Spotlight Author with Emma Lai

Back again on this fine Thursday! Today Emma Lai is my guest. She has lots to share with us about herself and her writing.

Thanks for having me visit, Micole!

Tell us a little bit about your books.

I currently have four short stories, which vary in length from around 5K to 20K, available. His Ship, Her Fantasy (set on a spaceship) and His Hope, Her Salvation (set in Georgian England) are part of a series entitled, Mates of the Guardians. They show how Guardians, tasked with preserving their society and the time continuums on other worlds, find their mates. The stories are tied together by and ongoing intrigue. My other two stories are erotic romances. Slave to Innocence is set in Ancient Greece while Twice is Not Enough is set in Regency England.

You write two very different genres, do you find it hard to switch from one to the other?

Only when edits come in and I’m writing something of the other genre.

I have at least a dozen works-in-progress that cover a variety of genres, not just paranormal and erotic. Finding I’m more productive when I’m not forcing myself to work on a story, I generally work on whatever I’m in the mood to write. When edits come in, I have no choice but to address them, regardless of mood.

What makes your writing unique?

Tough question. I don’t confine myself to one genre, for one thing. I am a complete panster and defy defining my story and characters ahead of time. I can start with the intent of writing a straight contemporary, but I’ll end up with a time travelling dog making an appearance (though I don’t actually have a story like that in progress). I’ve also been told I have a knack for writing action scenes as well.

How long does it take you to write a manuscript?

I crank out a bare bones short story in a day. Depending on length, it will take another day to four to flesh it out and polish it. I send it out to my CPs. Make whatever revisions are necessary. And voila. The whole process takes anywhere from a week to two. Then it’s out for submission, and while edits may take only a few hours total, it may be over the course of a few months, depending on the publishing house.

It’s so simple, makes one wonder why I only have four stories out. The problem is I also have a couple of full-length books I’m working on. I’ve put about a month into each (both are +40K) and then I get distracted by ideas for other stories. Since I have no discipline, I go where the muse takes me. The result, a dozen wips.

What is the hardest part about your job?

Revisions. Edits. Finishing a story. It’s as if once I’ve got the gist of the story down, my muse looses interest. Though I will admit that lately, I’ve found a lot of satisfaction in finding just the write word/sentence/paragraph to improve a story.

So, maybe I should switch to promotion because it takes so much time. Though I always love reading what others have to say. Oftentimes it’s my only contact with the outside world.

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I, of course, like knowing others are reading and hopefully enjoying the stories I write. I like the idea of putting positive thoughts and emotions out into the world.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

First, write. I’ve talked to a lot of people who say they want to be an author and have a great idea, but haven’t written one word. Without a completed product, a writer can’t get published.

Second, find someone honest and familiar with the industry to critique the work. Friends and families are great for support, but a writer needs someone who’s can tell her when something’s not working in a story, why and provide some clues on how to fix it.

Third, submit. If the story is finished and polished to a high sheen then get it out there. If it gets rejected by one publisher, move on to the next.

When you aren’t writing steaming hot romances what do you do in your spare time?

Writing steaming hot romances is what I do in my spare time. :) The rest of the time I’m a full-time mom with a very, busy 18 month old and a full-time business owner. It’s amazing I get any sleep.

Wow! Sounds like you have your work cut out for you Emma. I don’t know how you do it all! Thank you for sharing yourself with all of us. I wish you tons of success in your career!

See everyone on Tuesday when I have Linda Wisdom as my guest.

Hugs

Micole

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Spotlight Author with Barbara Silkstone

I stumbled upon Barbara’s blog space simply by accident and was so happy that I did. It is very entertaining and I think you will think the same. Today she’s here to share all of her secrets… well sort of ;-)

Barbara, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you write.

I’m a freelance writer with a quirky sense of humor. I frequently find myself in the right place at the right time. If I just stand still for five minutes… wham! Something funny and worth writing about will happen to me. I’ve accidentally sky dived, been stalked by crazies, and ran off with a real life White Rabbit.

I’m the author of The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three Quarters and the nonfiction chronicle of my adventures in to the hearts and minds of over 500 men - The Adventures of a Love Investigator, 527 Naked Men & One Woman. For six years I traveled the country interviewing men about women, love, and commitment. I nearly lost my mind. I had no idea they would talk so much.

I live on the edge in South Florida and write 8 or 9 hours a day. Yikes!


Can you give us a peak/back cover blurb of your latest release?

Written very much in the style of Janet Evanovich, but with a strong dash of the surreal, The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters is an entertaining jaunt through a mad world of Miami real estate, pill-popping neuroses, and would-be English Lotharios.


What do you think makes your writing unique?

I enjoy sharp one-liners and write as if I were creating for Sam Spade. My heroines have the ability to laugh at themselves even as they are going down for the count.


What are you working on now?

I’m launching a series of funny romantic mysteries spinning off of fables.
Wendy& the Lost Boys will be released on Kindle and Nook in June. It’s a romantic comedy with a strong influence from Peter Pan.


Where does your inspiration come from?

It comes from my ability to laugh at myself. I’ve made enough mistakes in life and yet each one reminds me of the heroine in a fairy tale. If I lost my glass slipper, it would be found by a frog with no chance of Princely redemption. Sometimes all you can do is laugh.


What do Barbara Silkstone fans have to look forward to in 2011?

Once Wendy & the Lost Boys are flying loose, I’ll begin to work on Snow White and her seven short men. I write two humorous blogs and fans are invited to take a peek. I never know what I’m going to say… so we can all be surprised together.


What is your writing process? Plotter or Panster?

I usually panster it and let my characters surprise me. But Wendy involved some plotting as there are pirates, Indians, and super-yachts. Three men madly involve with the heroine. I had to plan her future before she got in too deep.


Any advice for aspiring authors?

Just write, write, write. You get better with every page. The publishing industry has changed so radically in the last 24 months. It’s the most exciting time to be an author. Reach for the stars. They’re not that far away.


If you had to pick a character that you have created or one you wish you created, who would it be and why?

I think Wendy because she gets to rediscover her first love, pilot a super-yacht and run around with a bunch of boys. How bad is that?


What type of hero do you find irresistible?

John Cleese. He’s my hero. He is so lovable in A Fish Called Wanda. I like my men vulnerable. I love when they screw up and then rise to the challenge. That thin crust of British reserve that hides complete absurdity. Delicious!

Where can we find out more about you and your writing?

Please visit my blog:

Barb’s Wire – eBooks & More
http://barbswire-ebooksandmore.blogspot.com/


The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BIGFSE/




Thank you!
Barbara Silkstone

Make sure to stop by on Thursday when I have Emma Lai as my guest. Thanks for dropping in.

Hugs

Micole