Interview with romance writer Nora LeDuc

Novelist Nora LeDuc helps me kick off a new week and round out the month by chatting with me about her new contemporary romance novella, Beach Kisses & Sunset Wishes within The Last Chance Beach: Summer Ends boxset.

During her virtual book tour, Nora will be giving away a $25 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.

Bio:

Nora grew up in rural New England where she currently lives with her family. She enjoys visiting and spending time with her friends, the Winettes, in Florida, where she continues to write. Her current book, Beach Kisses, Sunset Wishes is her seventeenth. In October, Christmas at the Easy Breezy will be released. You can find Nora on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook and her website: Noraleduc.com. She also contributes to the Romance Gems’ Blog every month.

Please share a little bit about your current release

I’d been longing for a while to create a novella with a focus on a contemporary romance. My most recent books have fallen into the romantic suspense category and none are short. Could I write one?

Thanks to the fabulous writing group that I belong to, the Romance Gems, I was given the opportunity to answer this question. I volunteered to contribute to our first box set Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End. I was excited and nervous but told myself to go for it.

My first job was to establish my daily word count and plan my story. I knew both my characters had suffered disastrous relationships. As a result, they handled their dating lives in different ways. My heroine wanted a fling. My hero wanted to find a woman for a lifetime commitment.

Each day I thought about my protagonists and my plot and then sat and wrote. On my screen, the tale came alive, and the story grew. Finally, they reached the end of their journey, now titled Beach Kisses & Sunset Wishes.

What inspired you to write this book?

I had many inspirations. The Gems read the history or Legend of Last Chance Beach. This sparked a lot of ideas about people living in paradise and a land where wishes come true. Another author created a map, giving us a visual of where our characters were located. Others carried on online discussions of life on our island.

For the island settings, I used my memories from vacations. Since I’d cruised to Bermuda twice, I pictured Last Chance Beach with the same pastel-colored concrete buildings. I imagined the picturesque town square where my cruise ship docked as the center of our isle.

My muse tapped into my time spent on the seashores in Florida and walking their beautiful wooded rail trails. This provided me with mental images of the plants, trees, and the sea. Finally, my writings sprang from the characters’ situations. She works at the Sands Hotel Gift Shop and dreams of owning her own brick & mortar store. He’s staying at the same resort while running his Yelp-like business. Both have sworn off adventures in dating until they meet each other. Neither could resist the other.

Excerpt from Beach Kisses & Sunset Wishes:

Frankie spotted him across the café patio. She’d never seen him here before.

He sat alone, wearing khaki shorts and a pale blue shirt, open at the collar. Dense black hair spilled over his forehead, and bristles shadowed his strong jaw. He looked to be in his early thirties. Dark-framed sunglasses were perched on his straight nose as he read something on his phone resting beside his plate of eggs and hash browns. He took off his shades, rubbed his chin, and raised his gaze. Their glances collided.

His brows shot up with interest. His lips parted slightly. Blue eyes that matched the sea drew Frankie to him and caused a sensation of dizziness to dance in her head. She was aware she was staring, but she couldn’t stop.

The squawk of a bird broke through the scrape of forks against the dishes and the murmur of voices. The noises faded away. Even the thud of her heart seemed to pause when he nodded to her.

“Attention, everyone.” A server standing nearby with a carafe of coffee interrupted

Frankie’s moment. “MacDyver has been sighted.”

“Quick the food.” Tikki covered their meals with napkins.

Silverware clinked as diners dropped their utensils and popped up their overhead covers–– their futile attempt at protection. As Frankie shoved her chair back to open their umbrella, she peeked at the man.

He picked up his toast and held it for a second. The seagull struck. With one swoop, MacDyver grabbed the bread from his fingertips. A hush settled over the throng, and the bird soared heavenward with a snide cackle out the side of his beak and disappeared.

All gazes fell on the stranger MacDyver had robbed as he rose to his six-foot-plus height.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Currently, I’m whipping my holiday novel, Christmas at the Easy Breezy, into shape for an October release. The setting is the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The story centers on a young woman finding love and family in an unexpected place. Our hero is the gruff, handsome owner of the local diner stuck in the past until the night a pretty, bubbly woman crashes into a snowbank and into his life.

I’m also at work on my second novel for the Love & Lies in Paradise series set in Florida. It will be a stand-alone romantic suspense like the first book. The heroine is a minor character from Trail of Secrets. She has a less than sterling reputation and is discovered at the scene of a murder. The hero is an old friend and a private investigator. He isn’t sure how innocent she is, or if he wants to take her case. She has a lot of growing up to do. Unfortunately for her, she must find not only a killer but her true self before she can share her heart.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Well, it’s often tough to say when you pass the invisible milestone that identifies you as a writer and not someone just filling up pages to entertain yourself. For me, the big realization came when I found myself on a recommendation list with authors I admired and read. Being included with great writers was a super thrill. I kept rereading the listings and showing everyone I had made it! That was an “aha moment” for me.

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?

When I first started writing, I had a full-time job. I wrote every day after work and often on the weekends. Many people asked how I squeezed this in. Simple, creating stories was as entertaining and fun for me as watching my favorite movie or reading a great book. I wanted to do it. Now I’m not working for a guaranteed paycheck, I write in the morning. This gives me the freedom to think about my story and to revise or create scenes differently than I originally imagined them.

Other than typing away at my keyboard, I love flowers, not so much the planting part, but their growth and beauty when they bloom. I also quilt and have lots of bedspreads––you can imagine! Taking pictures wherever I am has become a hobby of mine. Through my camera’s eye, I try to capture an interesting feature or unique characteristic that makes us want to look at a mundane image in a way we never imagined.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Don’t know how quirky this is, but we have a camp up north. When we go there, my friend and I wonder about the people we’ve never seen or met who live nearby us. One time, an older gentleman moved in. He had a long white beard and never came outside. She thought of him as a generous, jolly Santa Claus. I told her he reminded me of a terrorist hiding from the FBI. Another man was always walking around talking to everyone, but we never saw his wife. I suggested she might not exist. And I can’t forget the woman who broke up with her boyfriend. Nobody knows where she’s gone. I like to think she’s at Last Chance Beach meeting her true love.

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

When I was six, I wanted to be a nun. (Yes, I went to a parochial school.) My friends and I tried to mirror the sisters’ habits. We’d walk around on the playground at recess with the back of our sweaters pulled over the top of our heads and the front buttoned up to our chin. That ended when my mother found out I was stretching out all the sweaters my grandmother knit me.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Thank you for reading my stories. It means the world to me when someone tells me they enjoyed one of my books. And please follow me on social media.

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

Thank you for having me!! It’s been fun.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Bookbub

Authors and Titles:

Hot August Night by Joan Reeves, NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Can a chef and a hot dog loving cop resist desire when they’re forced to share the same overbooked beach cottage?

Something New by Liz Flaherty, USA Today Bestselling Author

Their lives are all planned out--until they're not.

I Do…Again by Nancy Fraser, Amazon Top 100 Author

Can they re-ignite what they once had and take a last chance on love?

The Man in Gull Cottage by Caroline Clemmons, Amazon Top 100 Author

Will the solution to her dilemma drive them apart or into one another's arms?

That One Summer by Maddie James, Amazon Top 100 Author

He's the one who got away. She's the one who couldn't commit.

Romancing the Spouse by Jan Scarbrough, Amazon Bestselling Author

Can she turn back the clock to save her marriage?

Blue Sky Summer by Kathleen Lawless, Amazon Bestselling Author

Of all the beaches on the coast, who does she see again? Him!

Hangover Husband by Bonnie Edwards, Amazon Bestselling Author

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there

One Last Shot by Marcia King-Gamble, National Bestselling Author

She can run, but can she hide?  Will love still find her?

Secondhand Hearts by Kathryn Hills, Award Winning Author

Life takes you down many winding paths. Will theirs lead to love on Last Chance Beach?

Paradise Perfume by Connie Vines, Award Winning Author

Fragrance and love cannot be hidden.

Dreams of the Past by Laura Hunsaker, Award Winning Author

Can dreams of the future erase her nightmares of the past?

Beach Kisses & Sunset Wishes by Nora LeDuc

She wants someone interested in a fling. He wants someone interested in a ring.

Frankie McKinley’s last three relationships went up in flames. Her best bud insists she needs to relax, have a fling. But Frankie’s not into casual hookups. She vows to resist the lure of romantic Last Chance Beach and take a break from men. She’ll concentrate on her dream, opening a gift shop. Or so she’d promised herself until the morning her gaze locks with the handsome Sean Thomas-Michael’s sea-blue eyes.

Can't Buy Me Love by Hannah Rowan

Things aren't always what they seem.

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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:

Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon | Book Bub

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Interview with fantasy author Dimitrius Jones

Today’s special guest is fantasy author Dimitrius Jones and we’re chatting about Doorway to Scorn.

During his virtual book tour, Dimitrius will be awarding a $25 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 his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Dimitrius Jones was born and raised in West Texas, much to his eternal annoyance. Despite this, he first picked up the pen at the tender age of six. His first masterpiece was a page-turner was about dolphins that used eye lasers to kill a hurricane. From there, his life took a few twists and turns, but he always found his way back to his trusty notepad.

His next few projects include a self-help book for those who suffer from low self-esteem as well as a full-length fantasy/romance novel to be released sometime in the future. Dimitrius has always, perhaps unsurprisingly, been inspired by the mystery, tragedy, and wonder of fairy tales.

His goal in life is to constantly inspire, amuse, and shed light into the corners of life we didn't know were right in front of us.

Welcome, Dimitrius. Please tell us a little bit about this book.

I have always been fascinated with the world of JRPGs. As a kid, I wanted to know more about the myths and history beats in the game. I wasn’t as concerned with the actual gameplay, which was a little strange. You typically buy video games to play them.

I noticed a lack of African-American characters in this particular genre and wanted to create a story that featured characters similar to myself. Thus, one night after beating Grandia once again, the idea for Doorway to Scorn took root.

Do you have a favorite scene? If so, what was it?

There’s a particular scene where one of the main characters gains magical powers, but they’re not the ones they wanted. This scene is important to me because it showcases that sometimes we don’t get the opportunities we think we should get. Instead, we get the opportunities that will allow us to grow as individuals and stretch our limited worldview.

Any challenges in writing this book?

The biggest challenge for me was not giving too much away with this first installment. There are still so many things yet to be uncovered regarding the characters, overall plot, and the world of Austyria. I want so badly for my readers to be as excited as I am about what’s to come, but I have to be patient. We’ll get there!

I will definitely say that if people enjoy this book they can expect several more sequels. We have a lot of ground to cover.

Excerpt from Doorway to Scorn:

“Lex. You need to run.”

Bibi’s voice is low, just above a whisper. She flips her daggers in her hands until they’re pointing away from her body, something I’ve never seen done before. They’re normally used for stabbing – usually in the most treacherous manner possible – and held with the blade facing up, not down.

“I’m not leaving you here to fight that alone.”

“Then you’re a fool. You can’t help me here, and that cursed weapon you have won’t save you. I don’t even know why you’re still holding onto it.”

“I have potions. If you get hurt, I can at least heal you.”

Bibi doesn’t respond, but I can see the muscles in her shoulders and arms tensing as the shadow man regains his composure and goes completely still. She doesn’t sound like herself. It’s as if she’s a completely different person.

The shadow man points his blade high into the sky, and a strange, smoke-like energy begins to wisp around him. Soon, he is joined by two identical shadow men, each taking a battle stance with swords of their own.

“This is not a fight I plan to win,” Bibi says, and that’s when it dawns on me. She’s trying to buy everyone else time to escape from these things.

“Lex. You need to run.”

Bibi’s voice is low, just above a whisper. She flips her daggers in her hands until they’re pointing away from her body, something I’ve never seen done before. They’re normally used for stabbing – usually in the most treacherous manner possible – and held with the blade facing up, not down.

“I’m not leaving you here to fight that alone.”

“Then you’re a fool. You can’t help me here, and that cursed weapon you have won’t save you. I don’t even know why you’re still holding onto it.”

“I have potions. If you get hurt, I can at least heal you.”

Bibi doesn’t respond, but I can see the muscles in her shoulders and arms tensing as the shadow man regains his composure and goes completely still. She doesn’t sound like herself. It’s as if she’s a completely different person.

The shadow man points his blade high into the sky, and a strange, smoke-like energy begins to wisp around him. Soon, he is joined by two identical shadow men, each taking a battle stance with swords of their own.

“This is not a fight I plan to win,” Bibi says, and that’s when it dawns on me. She’s trying to buy everyone else time to escape from these things.

Do you have a favorite writing environment?

Before COVID, I had a specific coffee shop I’d haunt nearly every day. Yes, I’m that cliché author who writes their novels in coffee shops, and it works for me! I get distracted when I work from home. I’m too tempted to start cooking, folding laundry, or take a nap instead of writing. I really, really love naps. They’re my weakness.

Do you have a favorite genre you like to read (other than the ones you write in)?

I love to read horror. Reading scary stories is way more effective than watching horror films. Your imagination can create something much worse than a movie can.

I’m also addicted to finding new creepypastas to devour. I read scary stories in the dark, and I love freaking myself out at midnight alone in my room. I’m weird like that, but it’s so much fun! Some get their thrills from rollercoasters. I get mine from reading horror in the dark. Everyone has their vice.

How long have you been a writer?

I’ve been a writer since I knew how to spell, if we’re being honest. I was always attracted to finding an old notepad lying around and either drawing pictures or attempting to write my next masterpiece. I can’t say why it always seemed to fascinate me, but it certainly hasn’t gotten boring yet!

What is your favorite time of day, and why?

My favorite time of day is just before the sun comes up, especially in the summertime. There’s something about how quiet it is, even in the big city, that calms me. It’s as though you get a chance to take a deep breath before everyone else gets up and starts making noise.

I also adore being active just before midnight on weekdays. It’s when my creative juices are at their most potent, and I’m able to utilize them to their full potential.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon

Thank you for being here today!

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Interview with novelist J. A. Boulet

Author J. A. Boulet is helping me kick off a new week by chatting about her coming of age novel, The Strong Amongst Us (Book One of The Olason Chronicles).

During her virtual book tour, J. A. will be awarding a $15 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!

Bio:

J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of The Olason Chronicles, a historical saga of immigration, love and perseverance. The Strong Amongst Us Book 1 was released on Amazon in April 2020. She was born and raised in Western Canada as a first generation Canadian from European descent. Her parents landed in St. John’s, NFLD as refugees in 1956, a direct result of the Hungarian Revolution. J. A. Boulet was born many years later, raised in a strong Hungarian culture and proudly calls Canada home to this day. She started writing poetry at the age of five and progressed to short stories and novels. She has a keen interest in history, healing, family bonds and embracing the unknown. J. A Boulet writes with a spine-tingling realism like none other, grabbing your emotions and refusing to let go. The Strong Within Us Book 2 is scheduled to be released on November 11, 2020.

She currently lives in Canada with her two teenaged sons and a crested gecko named Mossio.

What inspired you to write this book?

I came across the immigration story at my cottage near Gimli, Manitoba. I was literally flabbergasted when I learned of the hardships the Icelanders and Natives endured at the hand of the natural environment and the political landscape in 1875. It truly is a story of perseverance beyond anything we’ve experienced in today’s North American world.

A Chapter One preview (excerpt) from The Strong Amongst Us can be found on my website at: https://jaboulet.ca/page/chapter-1-preview-book-one

And

Excerpt from The Strong Amongst Us:
He stared at the beautiful sun, peering over the horizon of gentle waves. The coldness stung, but he embraced it. The lake was much calmer today. He loved it actually; luck was on his side. They would most likely be able to send the funds request of the remaining five-thousand-dollar loan to the Dominion today by boat.

A movement caught his eye. Someone was pulling in a larger boat. He stood and used his hand to shelter from the sun. He squinted into the bright rays. It was just one person, pulling in the boat. He strapped his boots on and scurried over to the dock.

“Hey, do you need a hand?” Nathanael shouted as he approached.

A woman’s voice lilted into the air, gentle but full of strength. “No, I am okay.”

“No, I must! Let me help you,” Nathan insisted.

She looked at him stubbornly, shook her head and relented. “If you must.”

Nath grabbed the rope and helped pull in the boat, anchoring it along the sand. “Is this the boat that will be taking the letter to the Dominion for us today?”

“It is, yes,” she replied. “Sorry for my English. I am still learning.”

“You are native to this land?” Nath asked. “How long have you lived here?”

“Forever,” she laughed. “Ma and Pa were born here, so was I.”

“Interesting,” Nath said. “It is a beautiful land. And a beautiful lake.”

“Yes, Nath, it is,” she replied.

“You remembered my name?”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am currently finishing the final touches on Book Two of The Olason Chronicles: The Strong Within Us. It is the highly anticipated sequel to Book One.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was five years old, I realized that I had a gift of poetry and literary art. I wrote a poem in Hungarian, my mother language, and was astonished that I received a standing ovation at the local Hungarian Hall. I thought everyone was nuts, lol. I had no idea how I touched people’s hearts.

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 began writing full-time in March 2020, focusing on completing Book One. I succeeded and published The Strong Amongst Us on April 29, 2020. I have been writing full-time since. My work day has honestly been chaotic. It is not your regular 9-5 job. There are many times I am awake until 2 am editing or working with my cover artists on technical issues. I am currently working one day per week in legal/accounting to counteract the imbalance of routine in my life.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

For some reason, unbeknownst to me, I write from a male POV and my main character is always male. I am female, lol.

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

Simple, a fiction novelist. I always knew this was my passion and I will continue until my death. There is no other way for me to experience fulfillment, balance and joy in my life.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I truly appreciate all my readers and try to talk to as many readers as I can on Twitter, Reddit or Instagram. All my social media links are available in the upper right-hand corner of my website.

Without my amazing readers, my job as a writer is incomplete. Thank you so much for reading my powerful saga of hope and resilience. I hope it changes you as it changed me.

Links:
Website | Amazon US | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Reddit | Chapters Indigo | Kobo ($.99 during tour)

Thanks for being a guest today!

My humble thanks to Lisa Haselton for hosting me on your blog. You are an angel!

You’re very welcome.

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Interview with novelist Melissa Riddell

Novelist Melissa Riddell joins me today to chat about her new sci-fi post-apocalyptic romance, The Descendant.

During her virtual book tour, Melissa will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card, a signed copy of The Descendant (book 1), OR an ARC of the second book in the series to lucky randomly drawn winners. 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:
Melissa Riddell is from a small, West Texas town in which she still lives with her husband. Her writing career started as a hobby when she was a teenager, writing poems and short stories. Eventually, she branched out and began constructing novels. When not contemplating new story ideas, she can be found traipsing around Texas State Parks, herding her cats, or reading a book.

Please share a little bit about your current release.

The Descendant is the first book of the Baltin Trilogy. It puts the reader in Tilly Morgan’s shoes, a tough little scrapper with a potty mouth. The story shows her journey through Texas to find her older sister. Tilly is one of the few humans to have survived an alien invasion. The unseen visitors released an electromagnetic pulse and destroyed all electronics and then wiped out most of humanity with a killer virus. As a lonely survivor, she navigates the new, savage world and clings to the hope her sister is also immune and alive. Unfortunately, her sister lives in Florida, hence the journey across Texas.

Along the way, she befriends Kodiak, a funny, lovable dog who becomes her best friend. A few weeks later, she’s rescued by a cocky, handsome stranger named Jareth, who’s intent on tagging along, whether she wants him or not. It follows their relationship as they travel and touches upon truth, trust, and forgiveness. It has a few twists and turns, too.

What inspired you to write this book?
At the time the idea started, I worked on an Air Force base and would daydream of secret aliens and government conspiracies. Plus, I was playing Fallout 4 and loved how the main character and Dogmeat form their bond. So, after turning part of the idea into a short story, I decided I wanted to flesh it out into a full-length novel.

Excerpt from The Descendant:
Jareth clears his throat. “I know it’s not much, but I like the way it feels—the earthy smell, the chalky texture. Plus, it gets cooler back in the tunnels, which makes for great food storage.” His voice bounces from the walls, projecting the sound all around me.

Shadows cast by the edge of the distant firelight flicker across his face, revealing the hollow of a small dimple in his cheek. It’s a face that’s near perfection. Too bad he had to open his mouth and ruin it.

“Like what you see, Red?”

Oh, my God. I’m going to kill this man. Blood rushes to my face, but I’m not sure if it’s from embarrassment or anger.

Pressing my lips together, I try to focus on anything that’s not him. The earthen smell he mentioned isn’t unpleasant. It reminds me of mom’s garden; digging our hands into the dark, moist soil to plant seedlings for the summer season. It’s a satisfying, honest scent.

But I’m not about to let him know that. “Kind of smells like bat crap in here.”

Hazarding a glance at his face, he nods his head, the small smile still playing about his lips. “Oh, that’s what the smell is? I thought it was body odor and dog fur.”

I will kill the jerk in his sleep tonight.

Pivoting on the balls of my feet, I stalk back to Kodiak.

Dreadful. Hateful. Spiteful man. “I hope a stalactite falls on your head.”


What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently writing the prequel to The Descendant. It will follow Tilly for the two years between the electromagnetic pulse and the release of the virus that killed most humans. It’s a survival story and shows how she and her parents weathered those two years in their little Texas town, along with the community.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I didn’t consider myself a writer until this book was published. It’s funny, because I never, in a million years, would’ve guessed this would be a career for me. Now, I can’t stop the stories. My brain is like Pandora’s Box!

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 work full-time as a contractor for the military, but at night, I write for several hours every evening. The hubby knows how obsessive I am about things, so he doesn’t bother me while I shut myself in my office for months on end, cranking out one story after the other. I’m quite an introvert, though most people would never guess it after meeting me, but I love the solitude of being a writer.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Goodness, I don’t know. Wait, yes I do. I broke my laptop by hitting it against a door (I’m a klutz), but it still works. I can’t write on any other computer or laptop because I’m afraid it’ll mess with my creative mojo. So, I use this poor, beat-up thing (it won’t even shut) to write my stories. And there’s no way I’m taking it in to be repaired because then I’ll be without it for who knows how long and unable to write.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A singer in a rock and roll band, then it changed to a police officer, then a teacher… you get the picture.

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