Interview with paranormal romance author Zoe Allison

Today’s special guest to kick off a new week is novelist Zoe Allison. We’re chatting about her new paranormal romance, Impervious.

During her virtual book tour, Zoe will be giving away 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:

Zoe lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband and two children. A medic by day, she started writing in her spare time as a means to counter burn out and found that this was a balm for the soul.

She is a fan of the romantic genre and its ‘happy ever after’ ethos. A sharp contrast to what she can, at times, see in her day job. Zoe is keen for the female lead in romantic fiction to disabuse stereotypes and walk on an equal footing with her male counterparts. She prefers male leads

who do not display signs of toxic masculinity and believes that positive masculinity is much more attractive to women and healthier for men.

Welcome, Zoe. Please share a little bit about your current release.
Set in a world where vampires secretly exist as a subspecies of human, The Organization are a covert league of benevolent vampires who work tirelessly to keep malevolent vampires in check. Amber Ridley is the only human on the team. She is a rare being who possesses the power of immunity to vampire attack – an ‘Impervious’. Amber is partnered with her close friend Valentino on The Organization's most vital mission to date but finds out this also means working with Hayden Knight, Valentino’s estranged friend who abandoned both Valentino and The Organization in the past.

What inspired you to write this book?

One of my main inspirations was The Vampire Diaries, I was a big fan of the T.V series and original books by L.J Smith. The vampire theme evolved from this inspiration. In terms of the other themes in the book, I had an intense desire to write about a strong female character with power in her own right, and who has integrity in both life and love. I wanted male heroes who were strong without displaying signs of toxic masculinity and who were able to show genuine brotherly love toward each other. My characters evolved from there.


Excerpt from Impervious:Amber mirrored Vale’s posture. “Why is he here then? Why come back now?”

Just then, Hayden appeared from the doorway. “You could just ask me directly, you know.”

Amber turned to Hayden. He was dressed in tight-fitting black jeans and a black T-shirt. His muscular physique was very apparent, both from the look of his arms and also the ripples under his clothing. Amber could appreciate that he was extremely handsome, but there was a hardness to him that there wasn’t with Vale, along with an iciness to his blue eyes. Hayden had focused on Amber as he spoke, then he broke eye contact to move over to the coffee pot and pour himself a cup.

Amber still couldn’t muster any sympathy for him, and his aloof behavior did nothing to help. “Fine,” she said, watching him as he prepared his drink. “Why are you back with The Organization? What’s in it for you?”

Vale interjected, a warning tone in his voice. “Amber.”

Amber ignored him. “I want to know.”

Hayden brought his coffee over, not looking at either of them, and he took a seat at the other side of the table. He took a drink before finally lifting his gaze to meet hers. “I was promised something by Mr. X.”

“What?” Amber was quick to ask before Vale could stop her.

Hayden met Vale’s eyes. “I was promised a certain target.”

Amber scrutinized them both. A knowing look passed between the two men. Vale had realized who Hayden meant. Amber suspected she could also guess.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Currently I’m working on the sequel to Impervious, I’m trying to squeeze in time to work on it whenever I can! Though I’m not planning on any more books in this series after that. I also want to return to a previous manuscript which is a contemporary romance and see if I can polish that one up. In terms of new ideas, I would like to write a time travel romance and perhaps a medical romance.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In the past I never considered myself a writer. Science was my strongest subject at school and I always had my sights set on a career in the sciences. However, I had enjoyed creative writing in the past and done well at this when younger. A few years ago, I had the desire to write after experiencing the process of creating some opinion pieces for a medical newsletter. I decided writing of a more creative nature would be a good outlet and so I started writing texts for children’s picture books, and then decided I would like to write some romance because I enjoyed reading these for the uplifting feel-good factor and I had various ideas I was keen to explore.

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?
My day job is as a doctor and it’s a very busy career, with my days being up to 12 hours long. I work four days a week on average. I use my day off and evenings for writing and it’s a challenge to fit in along with family life.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write best when I’m alone in the house so that I can concentrate. I hate it when people come into the room I’m writing in in case they read my raw, unpolished work over my shoulder so I have to close my laptop until they vacate the area again!

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My best subjects at school were the sciences. Initially I wanted to be a vet, but after doing some work experience I decided I was probably more of a people person! I wanted a scientific career that involved my favourite science – biology. I also wanted something vocational and in the caring profession, so I decided to study Medicine.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
In the past I never believed in the power of creativity because I grew up believing that there was only value in logic and science. I now know that this isn’t necessarily the case. I still know the value in academia but creative outlets are vital for mental wellbeing and enriching the human experience. Express yourself in whichever way you are driven to, whether it be art, writing, singing, playing an instrument, or another outlet, and you will be all the better for it, both psychologically and spiritually.

Links:

Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | MyBook | Kobo | Totally Bound

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

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Interview with novelist Ben Gartner

Today’s special guest is author Ben Gartner. We’re chatting about his new middle grade novel The Eye of RA. It has a mix of time travel, historical fiction, and action adventure.

During his virtual book tour, Ben will be giving away a $30 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:

Ben Gartner is the author of adventure books for middle graders and thrillers for adults. His writing for both audiences shares an ability to grab readers by their neurons for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something in the meantime. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.

Please share a little bit about your current release.

The Eye of RA is a time travel adventure about a brother and sister who are transported to ancient Egypt. They must overcome many challenges and work together…or be stuck in time forever.

What inspired you to write this book?
The Eye of RA was a collaboration between my two sons and me, dreaming up an adventure novel akin to the Magic Tree House series but for a slightly older audience (one Goodreads reviewer said, “…feels like a mature and better-researched Magic Treehouse. It is more sophisticated than that series...”). Working together with my kids through the fun of concepting a novel was the motivation – together time. But it grew and grew and we shared it with people who loved it and encouraged us to put it into the world.

Excerpt from The Eye of RA:

“Sarah, where are we?” John asked, frozen in place despite the heat. In front of them was a vast ocean of sand as far as the eye could see. It rolled in carved waves, dunes that sparkled in the low-slanting rays of the sun.

Dunes? John thought.

Sarah staggered forward, shielding her eyes from the glare. “I—I—”

It was rare for her to be speechless. And it was kind of spooky, her not saying anything and stepping forward with the jerky movements of a zombie.

“Are you okay?” John followed his sister out into the sand, suddenly very afraid to be even a foot away from her.

“Woo-hoo!” she shouted, jumping into the air in her signature move, arms shooting up in a V shape.

“You’re excited about this?” John snapped. “Sarah, how are we in a desert all of a sudden? Where’s the mountain? The cave?” The incredible moment tickled at his brain, and he couldn’t put two and two together. “Am I dreaming?”

“Yeah,” Sarah said. “Dreaming. We must be dreaming. Together.” She knelt into the sand, picked up a handful, and let it drain out of her fist. “This feels pretty real to me.” She turned around to John as she said it, so he could see the roll of her eyes.

“How could we be in the mountains in one moment and then . . .” He trailed off, watching Sarah’s eyes go up and her head tilt back, taking in something very large behind him. John wasn’t sure he wanted to turn around.

Sarah laughed, her face turned toward the sky, her hand covering her mouth. “So.” She took a full breath. “Cool!”

The curiosity got the better of him. John held his breath and rotated on his heels in the sand. He’d been stunned by the vast golden dunes, but what he saw now made him squeak out a chortle of disbelief.

“What—? How—? Is that—?” John stammered. His finger reached out, pointing to the scene as if maybe he could poke it, like it was a postcard of a giant pyramid and not a real one.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Well, this novel kind of snuck its way into my life. I was nearing the end of a draft of a thriller for adults when I took a hiatus from that project to work on The Eye of RA. So for the sake of completion, I’d like to finish that one. But the reception to RA has been so flatteringly positive that we do have some ideas for a #2 brewing… ;)

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Around the same time I could read. The two went hand in hand for me then, and still do today. I can’t have only one. I have to read and I have to write.

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 wish! I have a day job, so I write on nights and weekends and occasionally I’ll use a vacation day to log some real word count. It’s definitely tough to find time and I’m sure I could pump out a lot more if I could focus on it. It can be tiring trying to fit it all in, but it’s one of those FUN invigorating exercises that I can’t imagine my life without.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I need absolute quiet. Some people listen to music or can write on the train. Not me. I need to completely immerse my brain into the world I’m crafting to watch it unfold. Just getting to that spot of total envelopment can take 30 minutes, so my preferred block of time to write is a minimum of two hours.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A creator. Several careers that touched on that general theme, but the one I got most serious about was to be a movie director. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were my heroes.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Third through fifth grade were such a pivotal time in my personal life. And I think, for many people, it’s the era for which we really first start to retain memories. It’s also a time of profound brain development and the perfect season of our lives for imagination to push our own boundaries of perception. I hope my books stir creativity in young minds.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Ebook buy page | Indiebound | BookBub | Amazon | Nook

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

Thank you for having me! The Eye of RA is on sale now wherever books are sold!

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Interview with international thriller author Ed Mitchell

I’m ending the week with author Ed Mitchell, as we chat about his Gold Lust Series 3-in-1 bundle of books which are action-adventure international thrillers: Gold Lust, Gold Raid, and Gold Fire.

Bio:

Ed Mitchell was a foster child who later graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He went on to be an Airborne Infantry Ranger, a RAND Corporation Fellow, an aerospace systems engineer, and a community activist fighting to protect water resources in California. Along the way, Ed became a national award-winning author by weaving his real-world experiences from foxhole to space into his contemporary adventure/thrillers.

From private to Lieutenant Colonel, Ed served in Airborne, Air Cavalry, Armor, and Mechanized Infantry units, including guarding the DMZ in Korea and protecting nuclear weapons. Prior to the 1st war in Iraq, as the Space-Ground Combat Analyst for U.S. Joint Space Command, Ed fought that war in a simulator and analyzed the results for the command. Additionally, he spent years working National Missile Defense and Homeland Security research and development. Ed helped develop the prototype command launch center for the Army’s Strategic Missile Defense units in Alaska and California. Later, as a civilian Payload Integration Manager, he helped develop and test NMD kill vehicles for Lockheed Martin and Boeing. As a writer, he is proud of being a charter-founding member of the International Thriller Writers Organization.

Welcome, Ed. Please tell us about the book bundle for the Gold Lust series.

A bundle of three thrillers for the price of one, consisting of:

Gold Lust: Winner, best new fiction in the USA. Awarded by the American Self-Publishers Association.

Gold Raid: Winner, best action adventure thriller. Awarded by the San Francisco Bay Area Publishers Association

Gold Fire: As real as today’s headlines, threatening an attack on the U.S. mainland using nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.

The saga of Army hero Nolen Martin and stockbroker Maida Collins stretches from a massive gold strike, to Washington D.C. senate offices, and to terrorists threatening nuclear attack on the USA.

Nolen’s family and relationship with Maida are battered and challenged as they attempt to outwit a powerful international mining conglomerate, disloyal partners, and the Japanese Mafia. All determined to take control of their gold vein and destroy them. After the public learns of Nolen’s courage and character he is elected as an independent to the U.S. senate. There he applies his count-terrorism and financial experience to help America hunt down the son of Osama bin Laden who is threatening the world with stolen Russian nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. Senator Martin is branded a traitor for negotiating with the terrorists, while behind the scenes he causes the President to emplace a prototype missile defense to protect East Coast cities. At the same time he pressures the FBI to send agent Cholo Cantera to team with an Israeli counterterrorism unit to find the deadly weapons.

But time is running out. Not only for the country but also for Maida and Nolen’s new baby. Little Georgia is losing her battle with an unknown syndrome that doctor after doctor does not know how to cure.

What inspired you to write these books?

I’ve always been good at looking downstream and assessing possible alternative situations. It’s a good skill for a military guy. So I often consider contemporary situations and ask myself what if x, y, or z happens? For example, the idea for the Gold Lust series of thrillers about an Army counter-terrorist who resigns his commission to help his ailing foster parents, came to me while attending the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

After class one day, I was thinking how useless it was for a terrorist to blow himself up in a market and kill a few people. It dawned on me that if we ever faced a terrorist general who had the strategic, logistic, and tactical skills trained into our military, then America would experience a terrible day. I also realized a story about a mastermind turning on sleeper cells in American would be informative and interesting. That’s when I began the writing my series of thrillers.

Unfortunately while I was halfway through writing the third book in the series, the 9/11 attack on New York City happened. I stopped writing that story because I had assessed vulnerabilities in America too well. I switched to another downstream threat that I felt could possibly happen: a modern-day Pearl Harbor attack on America with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. Now, Gold Lust is as real as current headlines about North Korea threatening America with nuclear destruction.

If you want to experience the difficulty of defending American from inbound missiles, written by someone who helped develop the National Missile Defense system, then read Gold Fire.

Excerpt:

Chapter 1 — Advantage

August — Monterey, California

I hope she’s okay? Nolen Martin escaped from the noisy campaign hall into the dark, enclosed hotel veranda. He smiled spotting his wife silhouetted at the window, studying the crescent of lights sparkling along the shore and hills rising above Monterey Bay. Stepping behind her he crossed his arms around her pregnant belly. “Maida, I love you,” he whispered as he nuzzled the back of her neck, enjoying the sweet scent lingering in her brown hair. “How are you feeling?”

“Big, bloated and unattractive. But very proud of you. You’ll make a wonderful senator once the election is over in November.”

“You’re as attractive to me as the first day I saw you.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better. I was firing a shotgun at you while you ran off screaming into the woods.”

“I did not scream.”

“It sounded like screaming.”

“I was hollering at Digger to start the pickup. And I meant afterward when I first spoke with you at your cabin. I’ll never forget how those leotards molded to you.”

“Wrong day to try on a new mail order outfit a size too small. I would have blushed at the way you ogled me if I had not been so angry at you.”

“You forced me to look up at you standing on the porch. I couldn’t avoid noticing a beautiful shape and a face I wished I could wake up with every day.”

“You stared.”

“Gave you back the gold we pulled from your stream and answered all the questions you growled at me. That’s all. Nothing more.”

Maida turned to face him. “I liked how you stared.”

Nolen leaned down and kissed her lips until she slipped away. “I can’t wait to have this baby,” she sighed. “Eight weeks after that and I can return to jogging. I want to be able to look down and see my feet again.”

“I guess it’s time to tell you. Plus-size women turn me on.”

Maida softly punched Nolen’s bicep. “You’re wicked.” She cuddled her cheek against his shoulder “Most of all I want the waves of nausea to stop. Every time they return I worry I’m going to lose the baby.” She twisted a strand of her shoulder-length hair around her finger.

“Let’s go inside.” Nolen answered. “I’ll say goodnight to the crowd and we’ll slip upstairs to our room. You can rest while I massage your back.”

“No. Stay and network with the locals. You need their votes. But I appreciate how you always reassure me that I’m not ugly.”

“Votes are not as important as doing what the doctor ordered since you’ve been sick so often. Anyway, running for senator is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. I can’t spell diplomatic and I’m not a good horse trader.”

“You mean you won’t sell your vote. That’s why I encouraged you to run for office.”

Maida stopped speaking when the ceiling lights brightened. Turning toward the doorway the couple saw Shirley May Hobalero. Tall, thin and sparkling from numerous diamond rings, bracelets and dangling earrings, she glided toward them in a shimmering white gown, disclosing the tantalizing contours of her mature curves.

Maida kissed Nolen on the cheek. “I knew it wouldn’t last. The world of politics has tracked us down again.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

The fourth book in my series is scheduled for release December 1^st. It is another international thriller. Hank Cameron, cousin to a U.S. Senator, is the most hated and most hunted man in the Middle East. Framed for stealing a religious relic that could enflame or end religious warfare around the world, he is isolated in Jordan. A dead or alive bounty has been issued for his capture. Agents of the Vatican, the Israeli Mossad, and Muslim terrorists all want what he has. Where to hide? Who to trust? Can he survive? Can the world?

To add to reader enjoyment with this book, I’m asking readers to take five minutes to preview the book as if THEY are the publisher’s trusted editor. Sitting in the editor’s inbox is the next book in my series. Their task is to select one of the author’s recommended titles and assess how it and the synopsis, and first grab, or turn off, the reader. Then pass their comments to the publisher and author, while realizing they are betting their company’s time, money, and future success on approving what’s submitted … or recommending changes or … recommend killing the project. I’m eager to hear from readers. Please click this link and begin previewing: https://booksbyedmitchell.com/category/preview-next-book/

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Fourteen years after I wrote the first word, sentence, and paragraph of my first thriller I saw it on a shelf in a bookstore. Six months later, in San Francisco I received the Best Fiction award from the American Self-Publishers Association. But it wasn’t until I started hearing from satisfied readers that I could call myself a writer. It made me smile when Carol D. said: “It’s your fault I have a sunburn. I couldn’t put the last three chapters down and stayed in the sun too long.”

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?

My series is my time mistress. When my wife was alive and I had a full-time day job I would steal away to a room to write late at night. Now, I work every day on the book, and much of that effort is NOT writing. It includes doing a publishing task, such as converting a manuscript into an eBook. Or doing a marketing task such as interacting with book reviewers or improving my author website or getting a blurb from an expert to add to the back cover of the book. Time is also eaten when I prepare to write by conducting research on a technical aspect that will appear in the next thriller. Far more enjoyable is interacting with fans and readers on social media or those who provide comments at my website.

But the fun begins after I stop myself from doing everything else to write and edit a chapter.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I can confidently say that the only quirky thing about my writing is the hero is devilishly handsome, like me. More seriously, this is a hard question to answer. I’m not sure readers will consider the following two habits quirky. First, to quiet and focus my mind, I always turn on symphony or elevator music. Second, after I’ve drafted a chapter I slowly read it out loud. This helps we read the actual words and not what I planned to write. This editing technique helps me find and eliminate errors.

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

A good guy. A soldier.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Most of my readers are surprised by the surprising twists in my stories. I hope you are too. Please verify my claim by reading the first chapter of any one of my thrillers on my website.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Ebooks | Autographed books

Thanks for joining me today, Ed.