Welcome Cornelia Amiri

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

I wrote as a child and always wanted to be an author but strange as it seems, the Celtic Warrior Queen, Boudica is the reason I began writing seriously, with intent to submit to publishers. I love history, and in reading a book about the dark ages, I came across Boudica. She inspired me so, I jotted down notes, but they were fiction (it-must-have-happened-like-this type). Before I knew it, I had written a novel. I thought, gosh I can really do this. So after accidentally writing that novel, I wrote one on purpose, which was my first published book, The Fox Prince.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

As a reader and a writer, strong characterizations are most important to me. Also, both as a writer and a reader, I like interesting settings and unusual periods or events in history.

Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?

I fill out character charts for my heroes and heroines, which includes their deepest fears, biggest dreams, family history, and everything else you need to know to bring someone alive for the reader. It’s hard to say who I most enjoyed writing about but Margaid from A Fine Cauldron of Fish remains one of my favorites as she is patterned after my good friend Helgie. So I had a lot of fun writing about her. I would say my most challenging was Mocha Mong Ruad in Queen of Kings. I usually only use real historical persons as secondary characters but my heroine in Queen Of Kings is based on the real bronze age queen, the only woman listed as a high king of Ireland. She was challenging to write about as I wanted to keep her legendary, bigger than life qualities and make her real and fleshed out at the same time. Adding romance and giving her someone to love enabled me to do that.

Have you ever found that you didn’t like your Hero or your Heroine? If so, what did you do to change that?

I have never found that I disliked any of my heroes or heroines, but when writing dialogue for Druid Bride, my hero and heroine’s genuine disregard for Romans with no regrets in killing them in battle, surprised me.  Then I looked at the characters I had created and I realized their attitude made sense as they both grew up as children of war. My heroine, Tanwen had not only her family but her entire tribe exterminated by the Romans and the same thing had happed to her mother’s tribe. And my hero Brude grew up as the son of a chief who was the second generation watching the travesties Rome inflicted on Britannia, including the destruction of the Druid center of Learning, their religious school, destroyed twice. I understood that the reaction was correct to the personal history and times they had experienced and I accepted their viewpoint as accurate to the characters I had developed. 

Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?

I always wanted to write something set in the late 60’s or early 70’s so I chose the prime setting for that period, the Woodstock Art and Music festival of 1969. Jodi’s life is changed forever by the magic of music and romance during the summer of 69.  Jodi thumbs her way to Woodstock to groove on peace, love, and music, but even in her wildest dreams she never expects to find anyone like Blue the moment Blue spots Jodi strutting toward him barefoot in the rain, he's overcome with déjà vu. She doesn’t believe his tale that they’ve were lovers in a previous life and thinks he must be half crazy. But amid the music and freedom of Woodstock the fiery passion she feels for him is unleashed.

What do you do to unwind and relax?  

I love to watch movies and I also love playing with my cat and my four year old granddaughter. And I love to read in the bathtub

Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future?

I’ve written short stories in straight non- romance horror, mystery, and fantasy. In romance, I mainly write Celtic and Steampunk romances but I have written contemporary romance and a romance set in ancient Mesopotamia. I have not interest at the moment to pursue any other genres but you never know when the muse calls, I have to follow.

Tell us about your favorite restaurant. 

That would be any restaurant where at a candlelight dinner I’m supping on delicious food and sipping rich wine as I dine with a passionate heroic type gentleman, who is charismatic, charming, and honorable and cares about, protects, and helps others.

Do you listen to music when writing? Do you feel like some stories write themselves a soundtrack with specific music? If so, what book and what kind of music influenced it?

I like Celtic music a great deal and folk and rock but for whatever reason, I write best while listening to anything from Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen. Sometimes in my writing I hear the characters sing rather than speak, in Danger Is Sweet I wrote lyrics for a song the hero sings to the heroine and I wrote lyrics for a song about Boudica’s bravery sung by druids in two of my books, Druid Quest and Druid Bride.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

I’m a bit in between a plotter and a panster. Once I have my idea (my premise), I pick a plot to go with it. Then I work up character charts on the hero and heroine, which include information on their family history and their likes and dislikes. Then, with a fairly good idea about the beginning and ending in my head, I begin the rough draft.

What is your favorite meal?

Since I was six years old my favorite meal has been spaghetti and meat balls and it remains so to this day.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

I find love scenes difficult, after ten years of writing romance books, I feel I write better love scenes now then in my first books but they have never gotten easier for me. I have heard people say they have decided to write a book and even though they don’t read romances they want to write one as they think they are the easiest to write and consider them to only have loves scenes in them. For many reasons, those statements puzzle me, the main reason is I have met few authors who found writing love scenes easy, for the large majority they are the hardest scenes to write. People may be surprised to learn, for several reasons the romance genre is one of the hardest to write, the love scenes are one of those reasons. When I read other genres, if they have love scenes in them they always disappoint me as they are so short and involve more telling than showing. I am use to the wonderful romance love scenes that are showing and beyond, filled with fire and emotion. Even a typical love scene in a romance novel is infused with an author’s expert knowledge of the craft of writing. But readers don’t need to know that, those scenes are meant for enjoyment, and to bring the readers closer to the characters, and of course to move the plot forward. 

What do you have coming up next for you? Care to share any details with us?

I will soon place three of my early books directly on kindle, beginning with a revised version of Danger Is Sweet, now titled The Scottish Selkie. Also I have submitted To Love A London Ghost, a Steampunk/romance and I’m waiting to hear from the publisher on it. It’s set in Victorian London at a match factory and includes a mad scientist type villain with strange machines. The hero is a rather grumpy ghost hunter and the heroine is the ghost of an ancient Celtic warrior woman. He’s haunted by her beauty and she burns with deep desire for him, but their love is forbidden as the dead and the living dwell in separate realms. I am also working on As Timeless As Magic, a sequel to my Steampunk/ Romance, As Timeless As Stone. The book blends Steampunk technology and Egyptian magic. One of my favorite scenes in it is set at a Victorian mummy unwrapping party.

Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader?

My absolute favorite is Celtic/historical/paranormal novels like the ones written by Morgan Llewellyn, Jules Watson, Manda Scott, Sharon Kay Penman , and Marion Zimmer Bradley. And in steampunk, I like George Mann and Tim Powers. Some of the books on my shelves and in my Sony e-reader are The Greener Shore by Morgan Llewellyn, Priestess of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Dreaming the Hound by Manda Scott, Pillar of the Sky by Cecelia Holland, The White Mare by Jules Watson, Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman, Anubis Gates by Tim Powers and The Osiris Ritual by George Mann.

If you could be any character of any book or movie, who would, you be?

Sulwen from Druid Quest. Because she is a druid who works with Boudica during the revolt and the warrior queen is my all time favorite historical figure. I find Boudica so inspiring I would have liked to have been there when she fought the Romans. Also Sulwen has such a purpose to her life, fighting for freedom and her beliefs through spiritual means. And Sulwen is such a strong woman, she takes horribly traumatic things that have happened to her and turns them into positives.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Please visit me at my website http://CelticRomanceQueen.com, http://www.facebook.com/CelticRomanceQueen#!/CorneliaAmiri, http://www.facebook.com/#!/CelticRomanceQueen, http://twitter.com/#!/CelticRomanzqEn

Check out Peace Love Music by Cornelia Amiri

Coming May 7th from Eternal Press

Jodi's birthday breaks her free of the foster care scene and launches her on a journey of self discovery. She thumbs her way to Woodstock to groove on peace, love, and music. The moment Blue spots Jodi strutting toward him barefoot in the rain, he's overcome with déjà vu. She doesn't share his feeling that they were lovers in a previous life, thinking it's half crazy, still she feels she's meant to be with the irresistible hippie.

As an adult now Jodi's free to be naughty rather than nice and he's the man who can make her wildest dreams, the sensual ones, come true. Is she headed for a love-in at his tepee?

Sneak Peek into Day 94 by D. M. Slate

Day 94
D. M. Slate
Science Fiction/Horror
Buy E-book HERE
Buy Print Book HERE

Want to find out more about D. M. Slate's work? Check out the website HERE

The aftermath of a meteor impact visits havoc and horror on a young family.

 In the wake of a large meteor collision, a ghastly epidemic is unleashed upon rural Colorado. Joslin, Grant and their two young children barricade themselves in their home in the quarantined city. Their fight for survival begins; battling airborne disease, lack of electricity and running water, starvation, brutal Colorado winter and worst of all, the morphs. The violent morphs, both victims and carriers of the disease, soon become more numerous and aggressive. Joslin and Grant risk all to protect their children.

PG Excerpt:

I sit awake in the solitude of my basement, next to the wavering light of our last candle.  The windows have been boarded tightly shut, blocking any trace of light.  The small fire is our only source of heat.  My children are asleep several feet away; it’s comforting knowing they’re safe, for now.  In the silence of the night it’s easy to reminisce about the life we lived, not-so-long ago.  Things changed so rapidly.  It feels like an eternity that we’ve been barricaded inside our house. 

I close my eyes to welcome sleep, but visions of the past three months play in my head like a marathon of madness.  I open my eyes and glance down at the journal in my lap.  To me it means the world; it’s our story of survival.  The notebook’s open, and I stare down at the blank page.  The only writing is the heading at the top – Day 94.  My heart aches as I wonder how many more entries I’ll be able to make. I frown as I flip back to page one and reminisce about the day of impact. 

August 2       Day 1

          I decided to keep a journal of this epic event because nothing ever happens in Greeley.  I’m sure my grandkids will need this information for a high school history report some day, so here goes.  It’s been half a day since the meteor plummeted to earth and crashed into a cornfield fifteen miles east of our house.  I was at work taking out the mail as the rock tore through the sky; it looked like a huge ball of fire with a long, billowing smoky tail.  The sky was illuminated with hues of red, orange and yellow.  I know it was moving fast, but it took forever to arch across the sky. 

The air temperature increased rapidly and almost took my breath away; it was like being in a sauna.  When it hit the ground there was a monstrous rumble.  I was awe-struck and unsure what to do at first, and there was a several second delay before massive tremors shook underfoot.  A wall of dust and dirt exploded into the air, and suddenly day became night.  Large gusts of wind blew the dirt towards town, and it was like watching an approaching wave.  Within a split-second the sky was completely black.  I ran inside and called the babysitter to let her know I was coming for the kids, and all businesses in the city closed immediately. 

Roads were congested with people and cars; none obeying the law.  I had the windshield wipers on full speed to clear dirt off my windshield.   People were panicked and acting irrationally, myself included.  Cell phones didn’t work and chaos overtook the town; it was like Armageddon!   

    

    

Guest Author Day with Maggie Dove

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?

Hi Dawn, thanks for having me here today. I want to tell you about my just released historical romance/romantic suspense novel that was just released by Eternal Press. It is called Call Me Duchess and it is my second novel and the prequel to Angel of Windword. It is also part of a trilogy. I am now working on my third book, The English Marquesa, which will take place in Spain.

What makes a book great in your eyes?

When I just can’t put it down and I start to resent all my little chores, which keep me away from it. I like romance and suspense. There is nothing better than to be enraptured in a good book, where the characters come alive and become endearing.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Frozen Margaritas and a weekly manicure. I have gotten spoiled. 

How much of the book is realistic?

Well, I write fiction…but I have to get the historical aspect right. Also, some of my characters’ traits are taken from people that I know.

What is the hardest scene you have had to write (published or not)? Why?

The love scenes. By love scenes, I don’t mean the sex scenes. Those are easy to write. I mean when the hero tells the heroine that he loves her because I want him to be sexy and romantic, but I want my hero to be manly, too.

If you had a reporter follow you around for the day, what would the readers get to see in your daily schedule?

Everyday, I go and walk one hour at a mall. It makes me feel great and I don’t get bored. I plot my next scenes. Afterwards, I go to Brookstone and sit in a massage chair and get a massage. I highly recommend this!

When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?

I go with the flow. I have a basic idea of what the plot is going to be, but once I start the book, the characters take on a life of their own and I just go with the flow.

Is it hard coming up with titles or characters names?

No, not hard at all. I love coming up with them. 

Are you the type of individual who gets weepy at the end of a good movie, or a sad movie, or do you just stay neutral through it all?

Definitely weepy. 

Is there any books coming that you are itching to read (either electronic or print) from your favorite authors?

Ginger Simpson has a few good ones out recently that I want to read.

If you were to replenish your cabinets with one junk food, what would it be?

Marshmallows. I love to melt them!

What is one thing scientists should invent?

Delicious food that tastes fattening but makes you thin.

Are you a morning person or a night person?

A morning person when it comes to writing. If I do not start a scene in the morning, it simply won’t get done, but I’m definitely a night person. I love to stay up late.

Do you like thunderstorms?

Only when I’m in bed and safe under my covers.

Where can readers find you on the ‘Net?

www.maggiedove.net

 Sneak Peek into Call Me Duchess

Available at Eternal Press

Buy it HERE

A rapist is loose in London…and he has plans for Marguerite Wiggins.

Grippingly suspenseful and romantic, CALL ME DUCHESS is one young woman’s stunning journey to find love in 1870s London while a dashingly handsome chaperone, a heinous villain, and her own lofty aspirations stand in her way.

Left penniless by their father, Marguerite Wiggins and her sisters must find husbands during the London season or find work as governesses by season’s end. Determined to become the next Duchess of Wallingford, Marguerite must make the difficult decision between following her heart or attaining her lifelong dreams and ambitions as a depraved rapist seeks to make her his next victim.

Excerpt:

Ah, the London Season—how glamorous, how debauch!

Staring at his image in the gilded mirror on top of the marbled staircase, the nobleman adjusted his black mask over his eyes and smiled with approval while surveying the fine-looking picture he presented. As usual, his appearance was faultless. There was not a hair out of place. It was time to make his grand entrance, but he couldn’t help but linger a while longer as he looked over the banister at the massive ballroom below.

The magnificent Bentley House boasted the most exquisite of ballrooms, and tonight the festooned and tinseled room did not disappoint. What would the London Season be without the Dowager Duchess of Wallingford’s annual masquerade ball, held every year at the commencement of the Season? He had looked forward to it for months.

His heart pounded with anticipation as he slowly descended the staircase, his keen eyes surveying the magical grandeur before him.

There she was now—the bejeweled and crusty dowager, dressed in black silk and lace, smiling at her doting son, the Duke of Wallingford. The duke’s escort, Lady Lorena Bonner, giggled and blushed while speaking to Lord Christopher Jackman, who looked more enamored by her than ever.

Entering the room, the nobleman recognized Lord and Lady Hardwood and their delectable daughter, Samantha, from last year’s Season. He accepted a flute of champagne from one of the numerous silver trays being passed around by uniformed waiters. He glanced at the dance floor and noticed the Countess of Salesbury waltzing with a young dandy while her aged husband watched silently. And was that not the exquisite Marchioness of Albester in lively conversation with the Earl of Deville? Where were their other halves? No doubt enjoying a lovers’ rendezvous in the terrace while their spouses conversed for all to witness. The nobleman smirked, remembering how the four had scandalized the ton with their blatant behavior last summer. But that was last year’s gossip. He wondered what tidbit this year would bring.

The marchioness called him over, but he could not go and speak to her now. He pretended not to notice, for he had more pressing matters at hand. The nobleman was not interested in the guests he recognized. He was more fascinated by the guests he had yet to meet.

Looking to his side, he observed a large group of young ladies standing by the north wall. So many of them! Giggling and hoping they’d be noticed. This year’s pretty pickings—such beautiful, dainty flowers just waiting to be plucked. Where would he start? Knocking back the champagne with one quick gulp, he headed toward them.

The London Season—how glamorous, how debauch, indeed! The time of year when the upper crust departed from their country manors and brought their young daughters to London to partake in the marriage mart, all anxiously hoping the young debutantes would meet eligible bachelors from good families such as theirs.

He wondered which one he would rape tonight.

Getting to know Marva Dasef/CONTEST

CONTEST: One person will win a e-book FROM Marva Dasef. Make sure to leave a way to contact you in the comments and contest ends Dec. 7th, 2010.

(Q) Thank you for joining us today. Why don't you tell everyone a bit about your book?

(A) ULTIMATE DUTY is space opera with a bit of romance. From the cover:

Remy Belieux, a woman born into a life of servitude on a repressive factory planet, is desperate for a different life. When she's accepted into the Space Service Academy, run by the organization that enslaves her planet, she discovers the truth behind generations of rebellion. Now, she must decide what to believe, where her ultimate duty lies, and fight for more than her life against impossible odds.

(Q) Where did the concept for the book come about?

(A) I wrote a short story titled "Pressure Drill" years ago. I got a good response from my critique group, but back then, submitting was entirely by snail mail. I didn't pursue publication. When I retired from real work, I hauled out the story, along with a few others and gave them a fresh look and rewrite. That first story, plus one more with the same main character were published. From that I expanded the story and it eventually became a novel.

(Q) How long did it take you to finish, from concept to final product?

(A) Only thirty years in the making, but I was busy doing other things most of those years.

(Q) Are there any authors that have influenced your own writing?

Mark Twain, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov. Plain, simple stories well told. 

(Q) Do you have any favourite place where you feel your Muse is more apt to come and play while you write? Or perhaps you listen to music? If so, what do you listen to?

(A) I always write at home. I have a great setup in the family room, right next to the kitchen for quick snacking. I'm one of the few non-listeners. When I write, I find any music distracting. I've become used to the sound of the dishwasher, hubs running power equipment, and my cat vocally worrying about what's going on outside.

(Q) As a writer, what is your greatest fear?

That I actually suck, and I'm wasting my time.

(Q) What normally occupies your desk while writing?

(A) A stack of scratch paper, two pens, a ruler, a calendar, a calculator, my cell phone, stack files...Okay, this is boring. Just the usual desk stuff.

(Q) Do you have any new projects that you are working on? If so, what are they?

(A) Mostly, I'm wrapping up a lot of projects. I have a mystery/suspense, "Missing, Assumed Dead," coming out in July 2011 from MuseItUp, a tween fantasy titled "Bad Spelling" scheduled for October 2011. I'm also waiting on a response from MuseItUp to the two sequels of "Bad Spelling." I sure hope they take the whole series. Having books 2 and 3 without a publisher is worrisome. I'm in the note-taking stage of a sequel to Ultimate Duty.

(Q) What tip would you offer to a new writer who is just beginning their submission journey?

(A) Get your web presence set up RIGHT AWAY. Start with a blog, but I strongly encourage you to snag a website with your name as soon as possible. Get on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, but don't make enemies by expressing strong political or religious views. If you want to do that, use a pseudonym. You want to be prepared to jump out of the gate running when you sell your work.

I spent a twenty-five year dryspell without writing fiction. Since I wrote technical documentation for a living, I could hardly face a computer after work. But I'm sorry that I let it go for so long. Don't wait to write!

(Q) Please tell our readers where they can find you.

(A) All over creation and beyond.

My website: http://marvadasef.com/

My blog: http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/

I'm a member of SCBWI and maintain pages on Facebook, Twitter, Jacketflap, MySpace, and a variety pack of writerly websites.

Sneak peek Excerpt into Ultimate Duty
Available at Eternal Press
Buy HERE

Oath or love…What is her ultimate duty?

Remy Belieux, a woman born into a life of servitude on a repressive factory planet, is desperate for a different life. When she’s accepted into the Space Service Academy, run by the organization that enslaves her planet, she discovers the truth behind generations of rebellion. Now, she must decide what to believe, where her ultimate duty lies, and fight for more than her life against impossible odds.

Excerpt:

A tender hand with rough calluses stroked Remy’s side from shoulder to hip. Her eyes fluttered open as she rolled to face her lover. She purred deep in her throat when Kiru pulled her close and kissed her neck. She felt her carotid artery pulsing under his touch. He whispered, “The smallest pressure here, if held a few seconds, will render your opponent unconscious.”

“Yes, Sensei, but I hope that’s not your intent,” Remy replied with a wink.

He smoothed her still-damp red hair. “Not at all, chan. It is difficult to leave my teaching self outside the bedroom door.”

Remy inhaled his scent, musky with a hint of cinnamon. “My student self appreciates all the education you are willing to give.” Remy touched her forehead to his. “Whether the art be battle or love.”

Kiru enfolded Remy in his arms, pulled her close, then lifted her in one smooth motion on top of his body. He entered her, and she snapped upright, throwing her head back with a gasp. She reveled in his delicate touch, as he caressed her breasts, belly, thighs. Sighing, she leaned down to kiss him.

An hour later, Kiru kissed her nose and moved to disentangle himself from sheets and girl. “I’ll miss you, but I have taught you everything I can. It is up to you to hone your skills.”

Remy pulled him back. “Perhaps one more lesson?”

Her Sensei settled back on the bed. “I suppose there’s one more move I can teach you before we say good-bye.”

Working With Sequels by Heather Kreul

 

Working with sequels

For me, when it comes to writing nothing is worse than working on the sequel. Especially if people loved the first work that you are basing your sequel on. There is a lot of pressure, hoping that you don’t disappoint the fans you have while attracting new readers to your work. I’ve come across this several times while writing. To date I have four characters that have been blessed with sequels; Xerri, Amythist, Mika, and Sarah. Some of these sequels have been published, some haven’t. Yet, each of them had their own troubles to deal with.

Xerri was the easiest while Sarah was (and still is) the hardest. There are some rules I have learned while writing a series. These rules have been mainly for my short stories, especially those concerning Amythist and Mika, but I have found that they are useful when writing longer works.

1)      Assume the reader hasn’t read your other works. Don’t write a story that you MUST read story A before reading story B. You’ll lose readers that way.

2)      Don’t get crazy about details. Amythist lost her lover to a demon. It comes up, since most of her stories are dealing with revenge, but I don’t explain everything. If a reader wants to know how it happened, they can go to my website and look it up. Also, don’t explain everything. Does knowing exactly how Amythist lost her lover help the plot any? No. Then leave it out. I can easily say, “Memories of the past assaulted Amythist, making it hard to breath. ‘Dalli,’ she whispered. Her heart ached, but she couldn’t focus on that now. She had work to do.” See what I mean. No need to go into it. The reader knows that something in her past hurt her, but they don’t need to know exactly what.

3)      Be consistent. Make sure the same rules apply in every story. Readers will be able to tell if you change something, especially if Sarah was a werewolf in one story and a weresquirrel in another.

4)      This is the most important one. Pay close attention….

Have fun!

You just created an awesome character and a world for them to live in. Play with it. See what can happen. Nothing is off limits!

Heather Kuehl

Promises to Keep, available 3/7/10 from Eternal Press

Summary

Starlette is on a mission, and nothing will get in her way.

Starlette DeFore knows that her father is alive, even though her family buried him ten years ago. When a faerie confirms this she travels to Charleston, South Carolina to hunt down Sivad Night, the only person to have ever escaped from the hands of a powerful sorceress, the Dark Lady Dreashae. With help from a witch, Stalette travels into Verella, a fantasy realm filled with centaurs, dragons and magic. She is very close to finding her father, but first must defeat Dreashae.

Will Starlette, a mere mortal, have the strength needed to finish her quest and save her father?

Excerpt

I heard Sivad scream my name as mud rose up and cut off my words. It enveloped me, filling my mouth with gritty swamp muck and submersing me. I rolled around frantically, trying to get free of the mess and gulp some air. I felt something near me in the water, and my body stilled as a voice came to my ears.

“I’ll decide when you can breathe, just as I can decide whether you will live or die.”

The voice was soft and deceptively pleasing, like a viper hiding in the grass. I struggled, my hands at my mouth trying to scoop away the muck that was choking me. The voice laughed, a tinkling of bells, and I had the image of a dark-haired woman sitting in a throne room made of onyx. Her gossamer dress clung to her, accenting all her curves. She looked like a seductive goddess, and I knew that was how she liked to be seen. Dreashae’s dark eyes burned into mine, and I wondered how I could see all this if I was under water in a swamp with mud trying to smother me. I reached up and felt my hand rise above the water, the cool night air brushing across it. Then the world went black as the ground swallowed me. I struggled and fought to get free, but my body was slow. The mud clogged my lungs as I tried to gasp for breath. Darkness opened its gates, and I gladly walked in.

www.eternalpress.ca/Kuehl.html

http://heatherkuehl.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/heatherkuehl

Meet author Rachel Brimble

What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of writing?
I find the most challenging aspect the plotting – characters come very easily to me but the plot I give them not so much.  A book very often starts with a voice I hear in my head.  Whether that be the hero or heroine, someone always comes through and starts telling me their compliant or problem or goal – usually when I’m in the bath or ironing, LOL!

 

Tell us about your latest/upcoming release. What inspired it?

The Sharp Points of a Triangle was inspired firstly by Hannah’s angry voice coming through and then the next day I came across a newspaper article about a two reunited lovers who had married six months later.  I thought the premise was great…but what could I throw in to make the reader believe there was no chance of these two particular characters re-uniting? The business competition was born!

If you came back as a spirit, what message would you have for your family, friends?

To live your life as much as possible through instinct – the older I get, the more I realize your gut is the most reliable gift you have.  That little voice warns you of the bad stuff and urges you forward with the good stuff.  Listen to it!

What character (s) in any of your books is most like you?

Lily Curtis – who is the heroine in my next book, due for release on July 23^rd by The Wild Rose Press.  She believes anything is possible, she is caring with a good heart and willing to work hard to get what she wants….but does have a tendency to lose her temper and indulge in far too much sexual fantasy!

What is the most ridiculous thing that you have thought about doing to any of your characters but never did?

I do it all, LOL!  If a ridiculous scenario pops into my head and stays there, I know I have to roll with it.  The difficulty is choosing the right character to use as the vehicle.  These usually manifest themselves in a secondary character – like Mr. Baxter in ‘Triangle’.  Believe me, read the book and this will need no further explanation.

How do you keep track of your world building?

I am an avid plotter (although I admire the ‘seats of your pants’ writers so much!) so I start each book with a five page double spaced synopsis and a chapter plan.  This gives me a framework which I go back and forth to for the entirety of the book – lots of surprises always turn up but the skeleton usually remains the same.

What do you feel are the benefits of the new electronic readers such as Kindle 2 or Sony Digital Book Reader to the environment?

Lots of benefit!  Mostly of course, the cost of paper and trees, wastage, reduction costs – there are so many benefits but I’m not entirely sure old-fashioned books will ever disappear.

What impact do electronic readers create on the bottom line for authors in the end? Do you feel they have a negative impact or positive, or no impact at all that you can see?

As I only write for small press right now, I don’t feel the impact too much.  Electronic downloads of my novels far outweigh the paperback copies right now so I can only assume most of my readers favor the convenience.  If I’m selling, the impact is good – believe me!

How well do you get along with your muse? If we asked it to name three things about you, what do you think they would say?

Very well (most of the time!) – it would say I am impatient, easily distracted but have great tenacity

Which authors works do you enjoy reading and do you have any other authors that you bounce ideas of?

Far too many to count! Nora Roberts, Jodi Picoult, Marian Keyes, Philippa Gregory, Charlaine Harris, the list goes on.  I read right across the genres.

Is there a movie you seen recently that was great or just plain sucked? (Can be in theaters or DVD)

Totally harrowing and depressing but the movie I saw recently that affected me more than a movie has for a long time was The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.  See it, remember it, think of it.

Where can readers find you on the 'net?

www.rachelbrimble.com/www.rachelbrimble.blogspot.com

Sneak Peek into The Sharp Points of a Triangle:

Buy at Eternal Press-Click HERE

“I can’t see our names anywhere,” I say.

“Oh, we’re sure to be here somewhere, dear,” Mr. Baxter murmurs.

And then my stomach tightens and my heart thumps hard inside my chest when I see Jamie standing not five feet away from me. Yep, God must love getting a kick out of watching me squirm. He is standing by one of the tables, his hand on the back of a chair talking to a sickeningly gorgeous blonde. Her size six figure is sheathed in a pale pink dress that glides over her body like a second skin, and falls to her ankles in soft delicate folds.

“Condom in heels,” I mutter.

“Did you say something, dear?” asks Mr. Baxter.

“No, no. I’ll bet twenty pounds this will be us,” I say, approaching the table.

I walk closer to Jamie and his companion and peer at the name cards, purposely turning my back to them in an ardent display of disinterest.  But then Mr. Baxter comes bouncing up beside me like a God damn jack in the box.

“Jamie! What a coincidence you should be seated between Hannah and me,” he gushes. “And who is this stunning, young lady? Your wife?”

Nausea rises bitter and unwelcome in my throat as my breath catches.  Time stands still. I wait for his answer. Bastard. Why didn’t I consider the fact he could be married? Bastard. Who the hell does he think he is, running his eyes over me like a bloody Casanova ready to pounce when he’s got a wife who looks like that? He gives a deep throaty laugh which immediately warms my body in places that have no right to be warm.

“No, no, I’m not married, Reginald,” he says, with a laugh. “Let me introduce Andrea Kingsley. She’s one of Lloyds’ top performing advisers.”

I sniff. Yeah, I bet. Performing is right―most likely on her back. But my relief rushes out on a breath.  I move to sit down but realise the chair on which Jamie is resting his hand is mine. Damn it. When I look up, he’s watching me. In fact, all three of them are.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I extend my hand to Condom. “Hannah Boyd.  Pleased to meet you.”

She gives me a pinched smile and takes my hand. Her eyes linger on mine for a moment too long. “Pleased to meet you too, Hannah.”

I smile back and hope it doesn’t look as overdone as it feels. There’s a long silence and I wonder which one of us is going to fill it. But we are saved by the bell, literally. The Master of Ceremonies asks that we be seated, and when I move to pull out my chair, Jamie gets there first.  My eyes meet his and he winks.

My heart gives a hard kick, but I manage to gracefully sit down. Opening my menu, I promptly hide behind it.

 How did this happen? How could I work so damn hard to pass exams and prove myself competent as an adviser, only to find myself sitting next to the one person I was always so bloody hot for. I’d even had to demand he shove his respectful restraint up his arse, in order to lose my virginity with him, for crying out loud!

This is bad, really bad―I can feel an eruption of volcanic proportions brewing.