Interview with author Colleen Charles

My special feature today is an interview with author Colleen Charles about her paranormal romance novel, Talisman (Fur Magic Book 1).

During her virtual book tour, Colleen will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card 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!

The book is $.99 on Amazon; boxed set of series is $2.99.

Welcome, Colleen. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Colleen Charles is the pen name of Tami Stark, #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon.

After 26 years in Corporate leadership at a Fortune 500, I discovered people within the organization lacked integrity. I'd always known deep in my soul that I was trying to fit a square peg in to a round hole since I'm the typical creative type. I miss my staff but I don't miss the corporate world. It's been said that the Universe will let you know if something isn't right for you. The first time, it will hit you with a pebble. Then a brick. Then a boulder. Let's just say that I got flattened. When my fifteen-pound toy dog, Nigel, was threatened, I knew it was time to say goodbye.


It's sad but true.

Here's what I found within the first thirty days of being free. Writing stories from my heart that readers love means more to me than working myself in to an early grave for people who only care about their bottom line.


My heart has never been more full and my soul has never been more satisfied.

I've never worked so hard in my life but it doesn't even feel like work. It's worth it. All of it. Because it's about the joy that's found within the journey. The highs and the lows because I get to write stories for all of you.


Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, enjoying and recommending the stories that I write. When you share my work with others, nothing is more rewarding. Your word of mouth is my very best friend ... that, and your reviews. There is nothing more important to me than all of you.


Please share a little bit about your current release.
Just one kiss to break the spell...

That's all she needs.

Cursed by a jealous witch, Penelope DeLacroix's spells are all going wrong and backfiring, creating havoc in town. The vengeful witch won't quit until she has all of Penelope's powers. And all it will take is one perfect, heartfelt kiss from Penelope's one true love to put an end to all this turmoil.

The only problem? Penelope has no idea that Dr. Lucas Collier, the compassionate local veterinarian, is in love with her. Nor does he know that she's in love with him. They're both too stupid to figure it out.

But I know.

And I have to do something about it.

But what can I do?

I'm only her cat.

What?

Every witch has a cat.

I'm hers.

I'm Talisman.

And I'm going to fix this.

What inspired you to write this book?
I had an epiphany in the middle of the night that woke me out of a dead sleep. Every writer needs a smart-ass, animal narrator at some point. This one is modeled after my ragdoll cat, Bingham.


Excerpt from Talisman:
I trotted around the house as fast as I could and rang the doorbell before I realized I had forgotten an extremely important fact. The most important fact of all. When one morphs in to human form and they aren’t wearing any clothes, then they aren’t wearing any clothes. That’s right folks. Standing buck naked at the front door with Penelope three feet from swinging the door open and Amelia hot on her heels. I was just going to have to go with it. Just as Penelope flipped the dead bolt, I noticed the American flag flying proudly on the front porch.

George Washington and all our founding fathers, please forgive a desperate cat for what he’s about to do.

I ripped the flag down and off its wooden pole just in time to wrap it around my waste so Penelope wouldn’t see my, er … assets. I’d seen them before and they were spectacular. Poor Dr. Luke couldn’t possibly be as well-endowed as I was. It had to be at least five inches.

“Ami,” she said as she swung the door wide. “There’s a present on the doorstep and it’s not even Christmas.”

Ami skidded up behind her and then peered at me through the space between Pen’s arm and rib cage.

“Hmm …,” she said as her brown eyes got as wide as saucers. “It’s a great present and its wrapping is so unique, so … patriotic.”

Pen motioned for me to step over the threshold and in to the foyer as she spoke, “I think it’s time I know your name, mystery man. Also, what do you want with me and why do you keep appearing at the strangest times. Almost like you know when I need you.”

Shoot. I didn’t have an answer to that question. Because, I didn’t have an answer to anything. I blew by both of them, not only because I didn’t have the gift of speech to make small talk but because I was on a time constraint. I’d already wasted five minutes getting clad in my USA team gear and using the front door.

As I trotted in to the living room and picked up the book of love spells, I hitched the flag up around my flanks and made sure it was secure. I didn’t want to flash them a glimpse of my perfectly round behind. That view would ruin Penelope for anyone else.

I opened the book and slapped it down on the engraved coffee table. The one that Pen adored because it had been handed down for generations. Her grandma had just presented it to her for her twenty-fifth birthday. As I shuffled through the pages to find the one I wanted, the one at the beginning, Ami reached me and peered around me.

I pointed, hard until my finger was white from the effort of pressing against the page. She read it over a few times and then looked at me in confusion.

“Hot guy,” she said. “I have no idea what you’re trying to tell me.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently working on a series of novellas about an MMA fighter.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I still don’t. I consider myself an author who is also a marketer and business owner.

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?

Absolutely. I work around fourteen hours a day as an author. This isn’t a glamorous life. It’s a grind but I still love it and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I’m a creative person and this is a great fit for me. I’m often alone so the highlight of my day is my interactions with my readers and I still answer each communication personally. I love media too and have been featured in the newspaper and as a keynote speaker at expos.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My favorite place to write is in bed with my two dogs and two cats.

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

I always wanted to be an editor and never thought I would be the writer. I have a degree in English Literature. I’m also an award winning singer, Certified Life Coach and Reiki Master.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I just want to thank my readers for supporting me. Because of them, I’ve had three #1 books in the past six months, including Talisman. I hope you enjoy my book because it’s really Colleen Charles on the page. Of all my books, it’s the closest to my personality and sense of humor. I kept cracking myself up when I was writing it :).

I love to hear from my readers and answer all communications personally. You can find me here.

Links:

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