Spotlight Author with Candace Havens

Happy belated Mother’s Day to everyone. For all of my readers who are mothers I hope your day was special. Today I have Candace Havens visiting the blog.

Candace tell us about your latest/upcoming release.

She Who Dares, Wins came out in late March. It’s about a private investigator and bodyguard, who protects a professor when his life is threatened. Truth and Dare is my late April release about a forensic anthropologist who is involved in solving a crime and falls in love with a handsome rancher. Both books are fun, have a mystery element to them and they are sexy.

Besides writing, you are also very busy teaching workshops on writing. What sort of workshops do you have to offer?

I offer a variety of craft and career workshops on the Write_Workshop yahoogroup. You can get to that through my website. I teach classes and I bring in other authors, agents and editors for classes. We teach everything from the basics of writing to how to promote yourself as a writer. I also teach paid classes that are really intense workshops where I work one-on-one with the writers.

Every author that I have spoken to has their own writing process. Some spend weeks working on character building charts. Some use post it notes to plot their entire book. Other’s pull pictures from magazines and make a story board of sorts. What is your writing process and how long would you say it takes you when a new idea is sparked from sketching out the details to getting to THE END?

For the most part I’m a pantser. I just sit down and write. But my new editor likes to have some kind of a synopsis so I have something to work from if I get stuck. I’ve occasionally used the arch Jim Butcher talks about in his writing process where you hit the major story points and small scenes in between. But every book I write I do it differently. It depends on my mood and the type of book it is. Sometimes I write the end first. Sometimes I do a hodge podge of scenes and throw them together. Sometimes I write chronologically.

What is the hardest part about your job?

Time. I’m an author but I’m a TV and Film critic with weekly deadlines. And I’m going to graduate school to get an MH in Humanities. But it’s good because I can tell my students, if I can find the time, you can.

What is your best advice for aspiring authors?

Just sit down and write. Study your craft and take as many GOOD classes as you can. Spend your money wisely and invest in yourself.

You write several different genres, do you have a favorite genre out of the ones that you write? Maybe one that comes a little easier to you than others? Or do you love them all the same?

If I didn’t love everything I do, I wouldn’t do it. A year ago I had no idea it would be easier for me to write in my hero’s head, which has really surprised me. I’d pretty much done first person up until the first Blaze book, Take Me If You Dare. Now I love writing third person too. I love that we evolve and change as writers. I think that’s a good thing.

If you could pick one character that you wished you created from a movie, book or TV show who would it be and why?

Hands down it would be Selene from Underworld. When Kate Beckinsale came on the screen crouching down in that leather, I was sold. Love those movies, even when they are bad and she’s one of my favorites. Oh, and Mary Poppins but that’s a long story for another day.

Give us a glimpse into your writers life.

I’m not sure what you mean by this. But pretty much my dogs wake me up at 7:30 and I usually go until about 1 a.m. I sometimes have to write 18 hours day to keep up with everything I do. That’s why it’s important I love it. (Smile)

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

http://www.candaceahavens.com/

Readers thank you for stopping in and Candace, thank you for being a guest on my blog.

See you next week.

Hugs

Micole

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

BREAKING THE RULES with Tawny Weber

Are you hunting for a H.O.T. Valentines read, to get you geared up for the big day? Or maybe you’re just looking for a good, little on the naughty side read. Don’t be shy… ;-) Tawny Weber is your girl. Her latest Harlequin Blaze title, BREAKING THE RULES has already hit shelves. If just looking at the cover doesn’t make you drool, you may need to seek medical attention!!! Just kidding, but judging this book by the cover you are in for a HOT read. And I know, because Tawny made sure I had a copy of BREAKING THE RULES of my very own to read. If all of my jabbering about it hasn’t convinced you, take a little sneak peak at it for yourself.



What do you get when you mix a military hero on a mission with an independent artist hell-bent on proving something? A battle that can only be won between the sheets.

Sophia Castillo is finally calling the shots in her life, and she’s determined to stay in charge. The last thing she needs is a babysitter. Not even a babysitter as sexy as US Army Sergeant First Class and EOD Squad Leader, Maximillian St. James. But when someone is sabotaging her art gallery, she turns to Max for help. When he proves to be a challenge to her independence, she lays down their relationship rules. Hot sex, good times and a lot of laughs are all good. Anything involving their hearts is strictly off limits. Before they catch the vandal, Max and Sophia both have to decide just which rules they are willing to break, and how high a price they are willing to pay.


What is your favorite thing about the characters in this book?

I love Max. He’s a good guy, has great intentions and the women in his life are seriously stressing him out But he’s determined to do the right thing, to keep his promise and to stay true to the rules of conduct he considers important. Sophia is so great for him. Because she’s been hurt badly in the past, she doesn’t fall for the same things many girls do – which makes Max have to work a little harder. But she’s so true to her beliefs and ideals, making her a fabulous match for Max.


Where did you come up with the idea?

It all started with a four foot penis. Really! I had this image in my mind of an art gallery, and two women trying to move this huge statue. Just as they, you know, get a hold of it, the sexiest guy in the world walks in. The scene pretty well wrote itself after that LOL. And from there, the rest of the story took shape. I’ve always wanted to write a military hero, as a sort of ode to my husband, so this was a great adventure for me.


What are you working on now?

I’m working on the second story in my Undercover Ops series right now. The first is titled SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE and is out in December, and story I’m working on now is titled SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT, due out in January 11. The third book in the series is SEX, LIES AND VALENTINES and will follow in February. These are all about a con-artist family and the FBI, are very fun and very sexy. I’m having a lot of fun working on them.

I know you’ve been a busy girl. What do Tawny Weber fans have to look forward to in 2011?

In 2011 I have my current release, BREAKING THE RULES out this month. In May I’ll have a story that I loved writing so much that its currently my favorite ever *g* It’s called JUST FOR THE NIGHT and kicks off Blaze’s 24 Hour Blackout series, and in December my Undercover Ops will launch with SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE. I’m really excited about all of these stories and hope readers will be, too.


How do we find you and your books?

I’m so easy to find  My website is www.tawnyweber.com and I’m also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TawnyWeber.RomanceAuthor . BREAKING THE RULES is currently available in stores and online, and all of my books can be found on my site at www.tawnyweber.com/books with purchasing links.

Thanks again for coming back to Micole Writes Romance.

Micole, you rock  It’s always fabulous to visit with you! Thank you so much for having me.

And I always love having you here. Thanks for stopping in friends. See you back here on Tuesday, with author Paula Quinn!!!

hugs

Micole