Interview with sci-fi romance novelist Linda Nightingale

Novelist Linda Nightingale is in the hot seat today, and she’s chatting with me about her new sci-fi romance, Life for Sale.

During her virtual book tour, Linda will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a luck randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

After 14 years in Texas, Linda returned home to her roots in South Carolina. She has 8 published novels, four of which are available from Audible.com in audio. For many years, she bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses. So, she’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers’ Magnolia Award for Excellence, the Raven Award in Anthologies, and the SARA Merritt. Sinners’ Opera is a finalist in the 2020 Raven Awards. She loves horses, sports cars, music, reading, writing, and piano—oh, and dressing up and hosting formal dinner parties.

Welcome, Linda. Please share a little bit about your current release.

Life for Sale is a sci-fi romance that probably leans more to the sci-fi than the romance. The book is Book II in the Tomorrow’s Angels’ series. The first is Love for Sale, which begins the journey of the main characters, Christian, a sentient android, and March, a human and a dreamer. It is, as one review said, a ‘study of a chaotic mind, albeit lab created’. Christian and March race to stop an insane killer—one of his kind—trapped on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic.

What inspired you to write this book?

Four years after Love for Sale was released, I came to feel Christian’s and March’s story wasn’t told, wasn’t complete, that there was something else I needed to say. Christian was telling me the story, but I needed a villain. Kind of a requirement! One day as I was rereading what I’d written, a what if moment struck me. What would happen if one of the almost invulnerable androids malfunctioned? I had four suspects. Not Daniel, he had a story coming. Not Trevor because I hardly knew him. Monica II was perfect. The sexy android hadn’t found anyone to love her, and she wanted someone badly enough to kill anyone who had him. Long answer to short question. The long and short of it is, Love for Sale inspired this story.


Excerpt from Life for Sale:

“Why are you here? To spout more nonsense?” Spitting mad, Monica reared up in her enemy’s face.

“Not at all.” March’s hand flashed, almost too rapidly for Monica to see, and came down hard below her nose in a Judo-like attack.

Shocked and in pain, she stumbled back, switching modes as she pushed off the bed. “That’s it, whore. You’re a dead woman.”

“I don’t think so,” her rival gritted out, hands braced on her hips, her expression as cold and hard as her mediocre brown eyes. She shook her head. “Look, Monica, I know you’re aware of your actions. I’m going to give you a chance. You must deactivate until we can safely transport you to Dr. Cross for testing. Surely, you know something is wrong.”

“As they say in the films, you and whose army?” She squared her shoulders, preparing to strike without notice. “I didn’t do anything to that bloody dog. I didn’t do anything to you, fool.”

 “You didn’t mention Anne.” The other woman seized Monica’s arm. “What did you do to Anne?”

Claws out, Monica lunged. March darted beneath her guard, stabbing at a spot beneath her left earlobe. Monica shoved her back. “Looking for my off switch, fool? It’s well hidden, like where Ms. Goodie Two Shoes wouldn’t even think about going.”

Her insane human rival stood at the locked door, her stance as much as saying to leave Monica would have to get past her. No prob. She stalked toward her rival, murder in her eyes. March didn’t move. When Monica threw a punch at her eye, she moved by the gods.

The American whore lurched back, crossing her arms across her face, anticipating Monica’s next attack. Forearm struck forearm. A human bone should break, but March stood her ground, her limb intact. She recovered too quickly, dealing Monica a hard blow beneath her cheekbone, barely missing her eye, slamming her back against the wall.

“I don’t know what you are, March Morgan,” she sneered. “But it’s not going to save your butt.”

“No, but I am.” Looking like an avenging angel, Christian—in a Houston t-shirt and khaki shorts, his long hair disheveled—had somehow appeared behind March without either of them hearing.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m actually trying to choose between two. My contemporary western must come first. I have an approval in hand. Afterwards. I can work on the sequel to Sinners’ Opera, a vampire paranormal, titled Sinners’ Obsession. If not Sinners’ Obsession, then my centaur book where the hero is a golden palomino centaur who dazzles a Dystopian girl when she discovers a time portal from a ruined Earth to his idyllic home.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I got a high grade on a story I’d written instead of a book report in 9^th grade. The rest of the world wasn’t as sure.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I do write full-time, but I can only write well when I’m in my zone. Interruptions pull me out of the story, and that’s that for the day. I know that sounds temperamental but past experience like throwing away a ton of pages has taught me it is true.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I must be totally alone to get into the space where I am transported into the story, living it with the characters, seeing what they see and hearing what they hear. It’s a wonderful place to be, but a fragile bubble that can be shattered by the ringing of the phone.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An auto mechanic. My dad was always tinkering with our cars (maybe he wanted to be an auto mechanic, too), and I was right there with him under the hood. To this day, I wish I could work on cars. For fun and profit. I love cars, particularly sports cars.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love you. I mean really. I write for you and me. You’re the biggest part of my passion for writing—to have someone appreciate my work, to enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. That’s a good feeling. Every time I get a five-star review, I happy dance. Thank you.

Links:

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Interview with romance author Linda Nightingale

Romance author Linda Nightingale is here today to talk about writing, and her new novel, Love for Sale.

During her virtual book tour, Linda will be awarding a sterling silver and genuine turquoise earrings valued at $45 as well as author-signed swag (US/Canada ONLY, an international winner will receive a choice of one digital book of Linda's) to a lucky, randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Something of a gypsy (actually nothing quite so romantic!) born in South Carolina, Linda has lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Houston. She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.

Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, a retired legal assistant, member of the Houston Symphony League and enjoys events with her car club. Among her favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano. She loves to dress up and host formal dinner parties.

Welcome, Linda. Please tell us a little bit about this book.
Love for Sale is a sci-fi romance that began as a short story. The short story won its category in the Houston Writers Guild contest. Then languished in my computer for years before an author friend encouraged me to make it into a book.

What inspired you to write this book?

I begin any book with one character—typically the hero. He starts the story then other characters enter to tell their tale. I am definitely a punster.


Excerpt from Love for Sale:
“Inane? I find you with another woman in the bedroom, and this conversation is silly? Oh, no, Christian. Did you invite her here?” Why couldn’t she stop hurting herself and let him go, lock the door and email Mayfair for a courier pickup?

Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against the door. “She knocked. I answered and kept her outside until it started to rain. She was talking about the club and telling me, again, that I’d be a success as a male dancer. Being a success at something would be a bloody miracle. At any rate, half-jokingly, I asked her to teach me to dance. The End.”

“Not quite. Why did you slip her out behind my back?”

“I wished to avoid a scene like this.” His voice shaded deeper, darker. “And I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“There, it’s said. You can come back in now and stop pretending you’re leaving.” She waved a hand, half-heartedly beckoning. “You’ve got nowhere to go.”

He inhaled sharply as if she had punched him in the stomach. “I’m quite aware of that fact. I do not like seeing you this upset. Please call Mayfair tomorrow. I’ll voluntarily deactivate. They will dispatch a FedEx pickup for me.”

She raked a hand through her hair. “Oh, my God, what have you done and why? What have I done? Paradise Lost.”

“Why can’t you trust me?” His sad expression pierced her heart.

Nearly human. Though he didn’t have a heart, his emotions could be damaged.

“Because I don’t trust men.” An angry sob caught in her throat. When she could again speak, she croaked, “In general. Well, almost. I learned that lesson at my mother’s knee.”

“I’m not even almost any man.” He lifted his hands in a pleading gesture. “Return me to Mayfair for reprogramming. I don’t care. I only want to stay with you.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” she said in a lethal whisper, her voice then rising in outrage. “If I’d been earlier or later, would I have found you bucking in bed?”

Looking stricken, he stood silent and straight, a bare-chested god with ice blue eyes.

What exciting story are you working on next?

My next book is way out of my paranormal realm. But I raised, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years. I LOVE horses. Gambler’s Choice is about the equestrian set. A wealthy socialite goes to England in search of the perfect horse. Instead she meets the perfect man—a baron with the manor house, the title, but not the money. He is darkly handsome and mysterious, but danger surrounds him. Could Becca lose her heart as well as her life? Available soon from The Wild Rose Press.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my first book was published in 2012. Because of its controversial nature, I never expected Gemini Rising to be published.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I retired from a career as a Legal Assistant in February last year to write full-time. I write in the mornings, generally, or late at night. I’m now a Content Strategist for an advertising agency, working contract, part-time.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I write by the seat of my pants. I like to drink Pellegrino while I’m writing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. Or a brain surgeon. Maybe a rocket scientist. Hum. Maybe a street cleaner or garbage collector. Well, perhaps, a wife and mother—achieved that!!! Hum. There are so many choices. A race car driver.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I love them. Like all authors, readers are paramount. My dearest wish is to transport them, immerse them, in the worlds of my imagination. I’d like for them to love the characters chattering in my head. Am I schizophrenic? No, just a writer.

Links:

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A special post on lifelong learning by Ava Louise

Fiction writer Ava Louise is here today to share her thoughts on "Lifelong Learning and Happiness" and talk about her Intergalactic Matchmaking Services series.

Livelong Learning and Happiness

According to Wikipedia, Lifelong Learning is defined as: the “ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated” pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. That sounds about right; if a bit dry.

For me, Lifelong Learning means doing my utmost to learn at least one new thing each day. That One New Thing doesn’t have to be something as major as how to change the oil in my car. And sure, there’s always a new gizmo waiting to be learned by the masses. Figuring out how to program my smart phone may fill me with momentary satisfaction, but that wears off fairly quickly.

I prefer to learn something that is felt inside of me. It could be about a world situation or something about another person that offers insight into them. It doesn’t have to be something monumental, just something that makes me think. Keeping the dust blown off the old grey-matter is the goal.

The One New Thing can be something as simple as learning a new (to me) inspirational saying: Walk in Your Truth; Be a Voice, Not an Echo; To Thine Own Self Be True. Absorbing a bit of inspirational/motivational text can fill me with satisfaction for a longer period.

Admittedly, some days there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to fit in one more goal; the goal of learning One New Thing. Learning the new, glitch-y software at work can make us feel we’ve stuffed enough “newness” into our day, let alone our brains.

That in-the-soul satisfaction, though; now that is something that last a long time. It can be pulled forth and examined as often as you like, as often as you need.

Happiness is learned and learning brings happiness. For me, this a circle with no end, no beginning. Instead of waiting for something to make me happy, I go in search of something to learn. That search is me being active in this huge world, searching for a way to grow as a person, searching for a way to give back to this world in which I exist.

I spent decades waiting for that elusive something to come along so I could finally be happy. In that, I guess you could say I was a slow learner! I now realize that true happiness for me comes from learning…anything!

How about you? Do you seek new knowledge on a regular basis? Or do you consider it a more passive endeavor?

About Ava’s books:

The Intergalactic Matchmaking Services series begins with Maggie’s Story, Ava Louise’s debut novel. In the series, you’ll meet characters that play a role in all of the books of the series, but this cozy Sci-Fi with romance is easily read as a series, or each book as a standalone. The characters are full-fledged and lovable!

“Maggie’s Story” -- Women Wanted: Must have a sense of adventure and be open to new experiences. Must also be willing to relocate. Please contact...Intergalactic Matchmaking Services.

Maggie Cline decides to investigate her romantic possibilities after she becomes a target when she identifies the shooter in a local murder.

Can she find a soul mate away from everything she knows and has worked hard for here on Earth? What about her loyal companion? Will she have to give up her cat, Mamzell, for a chance at love?

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (January 27, 2014)
ASIN: B00I44AGA8

“Shirley’s Story” -- Just as Shirley decides to try opening herself up to a chance at love, a stalker from her past returns. How does she move forward when her past comes knocking? What's going on with her young student, Hannah? Will her dog, Oreo, be okay with Shirley looking for love?

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (March 4, 2014)
ASIN: B00ISU9RE4

“Penny’s Story” -- Penny was supposed to be dead. At least that is what Claire has believed for ten years. Find out what happens when Claire's sister comes out of the Witness Protection Program. Penny is fighting a losing battle with cancer and needs Claire to raise Sunny, Penny's newborn daughter, once the cancer takes its final toll. Why is Penny's ex-boyfriend, Jason, telling his cronies that Penny has money and information about their illegal dealings? How does the cartel find out she has even left the Witness Protection Program? 

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services (November 30, 2014)
ASIN: B00OV8QBXC

All of the Intergalactic Matchmaking Services books are available as e-books on Amazon.

About the author:

Ava Louise was born a U.S. Army brat overseas, in France. She is the proud mom of two wonderful young men. It's taken her a while to figure out what she wanted to be "when she grows up," but Ava has finally found her niche in the writing world. Since writing came to her later in life, she likes to think she is living proof that it's never too late to reach for a dream or to achieve it. Before writing her own stories, she usually reads from a wide array of genres. She loves Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Mysteries, Thrillers, and Young Adult. 

Ava Louise can be found online at:

Email: AvaLouiseAuthor@yahoo.com
Website | Blog: The Road to a Dream | Facebook | Twitter 

Interview with sci-fi romance author Jael Wye

Today's guest is doing a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. Sci-fi romance author Jael Wye is sharing a bit about her novel Ice Red.

Jael is going to be giving away a digital copy of Ice Red to a lucky commenter during her tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too.

Bio:

Jael Wye grew up on the American Great Plains, went to school in the Midwest, and now lives in beautiful New England with her family and her enormous collection of houseplants. For more of Jael’s unique blend of futurism and fairy tale, don’t miss her ongoing series Once Upon a Red World.

Welcome, Jael. Please tell us about your current release.

Ice Red is a science fiction romance based on Snow White, set on Mars 300 years in the future. Bianca Ross, the heir to the Mars space elevator, is struggling to wrest control of her family’s company from her cruel and powerful stepmother Victoria. When she encounters Cesare Chan, who has reasons of his own to fight Victoria, danger and desire chase the pair across the red planet.

What inspired you to write this book?

The inspiration for this book was a lifetime love of Disney, Star Wars, and action films of all kinds. Add to that recipe an addiction to paranormal romance novels, and the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Excerpt from Ice Red.

In one swift rush, he tackled Woods, driving him away from her. She crouched on the floor, stunned, as the two men grappled for control of the rifle. Cesare was bigger, but the Earther was as solid and hard as a boulder, his shorter limbs letting him power in close. He briefly let go of the gun with his left hand and pounded Cesare in the side with a series of vicious jabs. Cesare grunted in pain but didn’t let go. He used his superior height to jerk Woods off balance and send them careening into the rover’s cab, half falling against the consoles.

The rifle fired with a sizzling crack, the round blowing through the rover controls. Blue sparks crackled under the panels, and the sharp stink of fried comps filled the air.

“Fecking mookie!” Woods shrieked. His face was a bestial mask under the sickly, flaring light. “You’re dead! You’re dead!” With a heave of his thick shoulders, he slammed Cesare backward into the wall next to the lock door, trying to shove the rifle up against his throat.

Cesare’s lips were drawn back from his teeth in a fierce snarl, but his face was gray, his arms shaking with strain. Bianca looked around wildly for something, some way to help him. Her eyes fell on the emergency lock release on the door. She launched herself at it before the thought could even half form in her mind, darting past the two fighters to fetch up against the door. She ripped through the protective membrane and clawed the switch.

Instantly the locks burst open, the rover’s air rushing past her into the frozen world outside. She threw herself sideways, crouching next to the wall.

On the other side of the open door, Cesare’s eyes flashed toward her once, and then he jabbed his knee up into Wood’s stomach. The Earther grunted, wavering slightly, and Cesare instantly hauled him back and through the lock.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Next is the sequel to Ice Red. Ladder to the Red Star is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk set on Earth 300 years in the future, and will be released April 28. At the moment I’m working on the sequel to that novel, based on the tale of Patient Griselda.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Though I dabbled with writing most of my life, several years ago I became fascinated with the concept of retelling fairy tales in a science fiction setting. I decided that I would never have a moment’s peace until I got these stories written and published, so I set about learning my new profession. That was when I became a writer—the moment I committed myself to it fully.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I am a full time writer, but my perfectionist habits force me to work very slowly. I spend a few hours each day working on the business side of writing (marketing, accounting, etc.), a few reading the books my peers are writing, and a few thinking and staring into space. The remainder of my workday, which often goes into the night, is spent writing, erasing, and rewriting.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I tend to talk to myself. Arguing with the inner critic about plot points or trying out dialog aloud in a character’s voice can be extremely useful to a writer. However, it can also lead to funny looks, exasperated scoldings, and psychiatric analysis, so be warned.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a writer, an artist, and a geneticist. So far, I’ve fulfilled two childhood ambitions. One to go!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

All the technological marvels in Ice Red, such as the space elevator, the dome cities, and so on, are concepts that have been under serious consideration by space scientists for decades. It is entirely possible that sometime in the future the science fictional elements in my story may become reality. And who knows, maybe the romantic elements will too!

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