Live chat with B-52 pilot turned novelist Charles Sutherland - Sep 8, 7-9PM EST

The Writer's Chatroom presents B-52 pilot turned novelist Charles "CD" Sutherland.

WHEN?
Sunday, September 8, 2013

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?
The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Sign In. No password needed.


Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Book blast tour stop for Midnight Special by Tawny Weber

Today we have romance author Tawny Weber visiting. She's doing a 2-day (today and May 9th) virtual book blast for her novel Midnight Special, a hot contemporary romance from Harlequin Blaze.

Tawny will be awarding a bookmark goodie package to one commenter at each stop (bookmark, signed cover flat, post it pad, magnet) and a grand prize of a $25 Amazon or BN (or other bookstore of the winner's choice) gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her other Book Blast on May 9th. So, to be entered for a chance to win either or both gifts, make sure to leave an e-mail address with your comment below, and at any other stops today or on May 9th.

Without further ado, here's some insight into Midnight Special by Tawny Weber.

Blurb:

Somewhere on the train is a key witness for a crime involving arson, murder and a high-profile businessman. And reporter Marni Clare will do whatever it takes to get the story—even if it means crashing in a sleeper car that’s she’s not sure she’s reserved. But when she wakes, she finds herself curled up with the man she’s seeking…and he’s hot enough to derail all her plans!

FBI special agent Hunter won’t complain about the wickedly hot blonde in his arms. And maybe it’s the medication he’s on, but he’s even agreed to share his room for the entire journey….

It’s a long trip in close quarters, and within days their berth becomes the scene of some steamy railway romps. But is Marni just having fun…or is she taking Hunter for a ride?

Excerpt:

WELL THIS WAS ONE HELL of a way to wake up.

All traces of sleep, painkillers and whiskey cleared from his head with a blink. Hunter was left with surprise and an overwhelming degree of passion.

Waking up horny was one of the perks of being a guy, like peeing standing up. But in all his years of appreciating his masculine advantages, Hunter couldn’t recall waking up quite this horny.

Then again, this was the first time he’d ever had a fantasy come to life.

As still as a cat gauging its prey, Hunter inspected the woman next to him. She looked like a cross between a porcelain doll and a sex kitten.

Flaxen blond curls waved around her face, floating to pale white shoulders. Her eyes were huge, the color of a cloudless sky and surrounded by a lush fringe of dark lashes. Heavy with passion, clouded with dazed shock, they had an intelligence in their depths that warned Hunter not to underestimate her. The rounded cheeks, flushed pink, and cupid’s bow mouth completed the picture of adorable confusion.

Figuring it was only fair since she’d taken her own visual tour, he shifted back a little to take in the rest of the view.

Damn.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tawny Weber has been writing sassy, sexy romances since her first Harlequin Blaze hit the shelves in 2007. A fan of Johnny Depp, cupcakes and color coordination, she spends a lot of her time shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking and hanging out on Facebook.

Readers can check out Tawny’s books at her website or join her Red Hot Readers Club for goodies like free reads, complete first chapter excerpts, recipes, insider story info and much more. And for a limited time, she has a few open spots on her Street Team!

Social Links:

Website – http://tawnyweber.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/TawnyWeber.RomanceAuthor

Twitter – https://twitter.com/TawnyWeber

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/tawnyweber/

Midnight Special link – http://tawnyweber.com/books/midnight-special/

Purchase Links:

-   All About Romance

-   Amazon

-   Barnes and Noble

-   Books-A-Million

-   Harlequin

-   Powells

-   iTunes

Interview with YA novelist Kathryn Hewitt

My Christmas guest is YA novelist Kathryn Hewitt to tell us a bit about her novel Snow.

Bio:

Kathryn Hewitt was born and raised in the small town of Camden, South Carolina. Breaking away from becoming a teen mom statistic, she was an Honors Graduate from Camden High School and went on to study British Literature and Sociology at Charleston Southern University, inspiring to teach High School English.

Kathryn has a passion for teaching teenagers and reaching out to those who seem as though the world has closed the door. Because of her own experiences, including becoming a teenage mother at fifteen, Kathryn knows the value of life and the blessings it contains. Understanding the importance of making wise decisions, Kathryn passionately seeks to instill that wisdom into the minds of every young lady she encounters. The inspiration for Kathryn's writings comes from her own experiences, and she is never afraid to speak the truth that others refuse to acknowledge.

Kathryn married in 2005 and is a stay at home mom with her four sons. She and her family currently live in the same town she grew up.

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

Snow is a fiction novel based on a true story about the consequences of making detrimental mistakes. This novel isn't just another story of teenagers succumbing to their sexual desires. It is, rather, a realistic portrayal of how teenage relationships can quickly turn violent. Ruth is the kind of sweet, young girl that mothers hope for in their daughters. Soaked in innocence, she is easily persuaded into a relationship she knows isn't good for her. The consequences of that relationship force her into a life she could have never imagined for herself. You'll find yourself rooting for Ruth to make the right choice when she's face to face with a life or death decision. This novel brings to light the raw emotions of the decision process many women face each and every day, but offers perspectives from both ends of the spectrum. Snow brings a message of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. Because of some graphic descriptions and the topics discussed in this novel, I do not recommend it for anyone under the age of 13 or 7th grade unless a parent has read it first.

What inspired you to write this book?

When I was fifteen I found myself suddenly drowning in the most difficult circumstances I have ever been in. Had it not been for the grace of God and the prayers of my family and friends, my situation could have ended in a horrific way. I decided then I needed to share my story; that there may be a young girl or woman out there that I could help by being bold and speaking out. I began writing Snow seven years later. It took a total of five years to complete, but doing so helped me to overcome many things I'd held onto from my past. Most importantly I learned to forgive. While this novel is based on a true story, I can neither confirm nor deny which parts are derived directly from my own situation; although, I will say that the ending of this novel is 100% truth. It still baffles me today!

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have several projects that I am currently working on. I am completing an adult fiction novel that delves into the dark and unforgiving world of adultery. The characters in this novel could be any family, in any home, in any town. What happens when communication between spouses ceases to exist and speculations began to fly? Will the truth be revealed before the unimaginable happens?

I am also working on a novel that deals with the topic of child molestation and a novel about the lives of law enforcement officers. All of my novels are realistic stories, drawn from true stories that bring a message of hope.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Mostly I still don't. To me, I'm just a SAHM (stay at home mom) that happens to have something to share. Being a "writer" seems very daunting. I rather consider myself the author of a story; whether it is just this one story or (hopefully) the author of many more.

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?

People ask me this all the time, especially when they find out I have 4 children. I fit writing in whenever I can. My husband is a police officer, so on his days off I get to hide in my closet for a few hours and get some writing done. When I have a deadline, my husband will hold down the home front while I go away for a few days of uninterrupted writing. But most of my writing gets done at night when he is working night shift. I climb in my bed with my laptop and usually don't stop until the wee hours of the morning. When I'm not writing I am home schooling my seventh grader, helping my Kindergartener with homework, and teaching my two younger ones ABC's, 123's, and household chores. We sit down every single night, together as a family, for dinner and pray together.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I write best at night when I am eating chocolate. I also think up my stories in the oddest of places, like the shower or when I'm doing yard work. The busier my hands are the harder my brain works!

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

I wanted to be a teacher. In ninth grade I shifted my studies to meteorology and did a short internship with the local weather station. I planned to become a storm chaser; however, after having my first child in high school I knew I wouldn't be able to chase storms with a toddler in tow, so I went on to college and studied British Literature and Sociology in preparation to teach High School English III.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I am only a writer because God gives me a message to share readers. There will always be some sort of difficult circumstance in everyone's life and I want to deliver the message that even in the midst of the most hopeless situations God is there; listening and loving. Even when the circumstance doesn't end the way we may have wanted, there is still hope.

Thanks, Kathryn. Merry Christmas!

Readers, here are some ways to find out more about Kathryn and her writing:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Virtual Excerpt Tour Stop for Over the Mountain and Back by Marie Astor

Today is a virtual book excerpt stop for Marie Astor and her novel Over the Mountain and Back. Marie is going to be giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commentor during the tour, so make sure to comment below (and leave an email address if you'd like to be entered to win.)

For more chances to win, you can visit other stops and comment there as well.

Dear Reader,

Thank you very much for joining me for Over the Mountain and Back blog tour. The story of Over the Mountain and Back began over twenty years ago when I was fourteen years old and decided to write a novel as an anniversary gift for my parents. It was going to be a fantasy adventure about a boy named Peter and a girl named Lara set in a magical country, Transadonia. I remember writing studiously on the pages of an ornate notebook I had acquired especially for the occasion. Back then computers were not yet widely used, so I had to pay extra care to my handwriting. A year later, Over the Mountain and Back was completed, or at least I had thought so at the time. Needless to say my parents were very surprised with their anniversary gift.

Years passed; I finished high school and went on to college. Lara’s and Peter’s story faded from my mind, replaced by the hustles and bustles of everyday life. Then, one day – the day that happened to be my thirtieth birthday, my parents presented me with a gift: it was oblong in shape and wrapped in shiny paper. After I opened the wrapping, I was stunned to find the long forgotten story I had written all those years ago.

Long story short, after two years of extensive work, I rewrote and expanded Over the Mountain and Back into a novel of 95,000 words. For me it had been an exciting journey to be reunited with my old friends: Lara and Peter, Forest Witch Ramona, Chancellor Libra, Bookbrownies, and, of course, Carnelion, among the many others.

I hope that you will join Lara and Peter on their adventure in Transadonia.

If you would like to find out more about my books, please stop by my website: www.marieastor.com.

Regards,

Marie Astor

Blurb: 

With his father gone missing and his mother losing her grip on reality, Peter Bailey’s life is no picnic. Peter’s gray existence changes unexpectedly after he takes his new snowboard for a ride in the mountains of Colorado and is stunned to find himself in Transadonia – a hidden world

that coexists alongside with the Earth.

Lara Grover never listened to her elders, so warnings like “do not talk to strangers” mean nothing to her. When a boy from an unknown world saves her from an avalanche with the aid of a snow dragon, Lara is not stunned in the least. Instead, she joins Peter on his quest to help him realize the purpose behind his arrival to Transadonia.

Together, Lara and Peter embark on an adventure filled with perils, trickery, betrayals, and unexpected alliances.

Excerpt:

“Let’s see what you can do, Silverboard,” Peter whispered under his breath, gently lowering the board on the glistening white snow. A snowboard so magnificent deserved a name and he could not think of a more suitable one. It had popped into his mind the moment he saw the board’s shimmering silver surface. Even before he could grasp the rope pulley, he felt himself gliding up the mountain. Peter looked down and saw that the board was carrying him uphill. For a moment he almost panicked, uncertain of what to do next. As if in an attempt to reassure him, Silverboard flashed brightly with blue light. Gradually, Peter’s panic subsided and was replaced with curiosity. Snowboarding uphill was an entirely new sensation, and he was beginning to enjoy it as Silverboard slithered seamlessly up the mountain. In an attempt to make a turn, Peter shifted his weight as he would normally do with a regular snowboard and almost tumbled downhill. Wow, steady! Peter thought to himself and felt Silverboard grow firmer underneath him. Okay, now try going up again, to the left. Immediately, Silverboard carried Peter in the desired direction. Wow, thought Peter, I can steer it with my thoughts! This was a new sensation, and it would take some getting used to.

At the sight of the smooth, powdery snow that lay on the uppermost peaks of the mountain, Peter felt his heart race with anticipation. Up until now, these soaring cliffs had been  unreachable to him since the lifts did not go that high up the mountain, but with Silverboard he could go anywhere he wanted. From his pocket Peter took out the omniometer - his father’s last invention - that he always carried with him. He had found it in his father’s lab, in the basement of their house, shortly after his father had gone missing. The word “omniometer” was written on top of the box that contained the instrument. The device could scan a variety of objects, ranging from houses to mountains and could generate a blueprint, akin to an x-ray. Peter carried the omniometer with him to scan the mountain for the hidden ice pits or boulders that often lurked behind deceptive layers of snow.

Here we go, thought Peter, up those cliffs! Obeying his command, Silverboard soared up the mountain. Peter’s ability to steer the board grew every minute, and he could feel Silverboard quiver ever so slightly every time he was about to make a turn that concealed a rock or an iceberg as if to warn him about the obstacle. He took a moment to catch his breath and take a look around. He was standing at the very top of the mountain and could not wait to race all the way to the bottom. As if sharing Peter’s joy, Silverboard beamed a flash of blue light.

“Where does that blue light come from?” Peter asked himself as he pointed Silverboard down the mountain. Before he could realize it, he was up against a yawning chasm with sharp, icy edges. The gap seemed to have sprung out of nowhere, and when Peter finally saw it, he was right against its edge and it was too late to stop. He struggled to make a sharp turn, but the snowboard’s edge slipped over the ice, and Peter felt himself tipping over and tumbling down the icy crevice, falling faster and faster. It was all happening so quickly that he couldn’t even think of anything to grab on to, and then before he knew it, the fall ended, and he smashed into a deep mound of snow. Shocked by the intensity of the fall, Peter lay still for several minutes, trying to gather his wits. When he got up, he saw that he was at the bottom of an ice cave that seemed to go on for miles. But how could this have happened? Peter wondered. Why didn’t I see the ravine on the omniometer, and why didn’t Silverboard warn me?

Books by Marie Astor:

For Young Adults:

Over the Mountain and Back – a fantasy adventure novel

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Mountain-Back-Adventure-ebook/dp/B008WF1Y78/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348537570&sr=1-6

Kindle link:

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Mountain-Back-Adventure-ebook/dp/B008WF1Y78/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348527276&sr=1-6

For Adults:

To Catch a Bad Guy – romantic suspense

http://www.amazon.com/To-Catch-Bad-Guy-ebook/dp/B008W1L5IA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1348537512&sr=8-5&keywords=marie+astor

This Tangled Thing Called Love – a contemporary romance about overcoming one’s inhibitions, learning to tango, and finding one’s true love match.

http://www.amazon.com/This-Tangled-Thing-Called-ebook/dp/B0078IPNCW/ref=la_B004EBDX9Q_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337972977&sr=1-3

Lucky Charm – a humorous contemporary romance about love, luck and friendship.

http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Charm-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B005BZL3L4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336842915&sr=8-1

On the Rim of Love – a contemporary romance about the unexpected power of love.

http://www.amazon.com/On-Rim-Love-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B005TOWI7K/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

A Dress in a Window – a collection of short stories about love, coincidences, and fate.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Dress-Window-ebook/dp/B004E112TO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.marieastor.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marieastorcollection

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4665230.Marie_Astor

Twitter: @marieastor

Interview with novelist Jennifer L. Fry

Today's guest is novelist Jennifer L. Fry as she makes a stop along a virtual book tour for her debut novel A Part to Play.

Jennifer will award 2 of each 8x10 autographed print of an original illustration of one of her characters to randomly drawn commenters on the tour, and a grand prize of an 11x17 autographed set of all three main characters in the book. (US/Canada only). Enter via the form below, and also comment here and at other tour stops. The more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.

Bio:

Jennifer L. Fry is a writer, artist, and teacher in Marin County, California, where she lives with her wonderful husband, two adorable dogs, and orange tabby cat. Though she has been writing since she was young, A Part to Play is her first novel.

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

A Part to Play is about fifteen-year-old actress Lucy Carter who is sent away to a prestigious performing arts boarding school to escape the complete breakdown of her family; she is lost without the support of her parents, until she meets a mysterious musician whose talent, passion and own insecurities teach her to rediscover her love of being on stage and more importantly that she holds the key to her own identity.

What inspired you to write this book?

In planning A Part to Play, I started with the emotional journey I wanted my main character to experience. I knew immediately I wanted to write a young adult story, and I wanted my story to have a strong message – that is, the importance of believing in oneself. Then, to develop my plot, I thought of my most favorite stories of all time from movies, plays, and books. One of these happens to be The Phantom of the Opera. I didn't want my book to be a retelling of that classic story, but rather I wanted it to draw inspiration from what I considered the most captivating parts. I loved the mystery and the powerful role that music played in the story; I also found the dark side of the Phantom intriguing.

Excerpt:

As Lucy sat down in the graveyard against an aging oak tree, she caught her breath and thought of all the ways Kate had helped her to be stronger. She thought of how hard her sister pushed her to go to ESPA because Kate believed in her so much. Lucy knew she'd disappointed her sister when she decided not to go to the school. She told herself it was because it was too expensive for her parents and she would miss her friends and family too much to go, but deep down, she knew it was because she was afraid that she wasn't talented enough and she would embarrass herself and her parents.

Imagining her life going forward without Kate, all she could see was a vast emptiness ahead. A throbbing pain started in her head, her stomach, everywhere all at once. Lucy hugged her knees to her chest and let the tears come as hard and fast as possible. She stamped her feet and pounded her fists into the moist dirt at the base of the tree. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair!

Her life came down to a before and after. Before accident, the bright world full of laughter, and after accident, the muted world through fogged up glass. Just when the glass started to clear up, something reminded her of all that she'd lost.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I'm working on several ideas at the moment, but nothing concrete enough to share just yet. I am playing with the idea of writing a book that follows the male lead character in A Part to Play because I feel his story isn't over yet.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

According to my parents, I've been telling stories since I was old enough to talk, and writing stories since I learned to put pencil to paper. Writing is very much a part of who I am and how I experience the world, so I would say I have always had an innate passion for writing.

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 don't write full-time, and I'm not sure that I ever will because life is full of so many interesting things to do and experience. My other passions are art and teaching, both of which I do professionally. Most recently, my husband and I started our own business teaching after school and summer digital media arts classes, so that keeps me really busy. Finding time to write is a challenge, especially while promoting my current book. There are just not enough hours in the day. What I try to do is set aside time to write in the morning before anything else gets in the way. I set a goal for each writing session; anything from writing a specific number of words to completing a certain scene. And I eliminate distractions by turning off my phone and closing my email – it's just me and my imagination. 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I hate sitting at my desk to write. It makes it feel like work. Instead, I prefer to find a comfortable place to sit such as the big leather chair in my library with a laptop and a cup of tea. That makes writing feel more like something I do for enjoyment rather than a chore. I also need complete silence when I write, which means no music; I find that a little quirky since music plays an incredibly important role in my current book, and in my life in general. But any outside sounds distract me from getting inside of the story, which is where I need to be in order to write at my best.

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

I was sick pretty often as a child so I was determined to become a pediatrician. I wanted to find new ways to perform uncomfortable medical tests so kids wouldn't have to be afraid to go to the doctor's office. But my talent and passion for writing presented itself early on, and there was a time when I couldn't imagine doing anything else. All of my high school friends expected me to become a professional writer. I found I didn't have an interest in journalistic writing, so when it came time to pick a college major, I decided to pursue graphic design, which was another interest of mine. I never expected to be an art major because I had a negative experience in a junior high art class that had me convinced I had no artistic ability, but that just wasn't true. I even put my writing aside for many years while I trained as a designer, and then as an art teacher. And now, I'm back to writing, where I've always felt completely at home.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Many people don't know that I designed my own book cover for A Part to Play. As a professional graphic designer, I had a very specific idea of how I wanted the cover to look, and what I wanted it to symbolize, so I worked hard to make that happen. In the same vein, I created my own book trailer with the help of my husband, who is a professional 3D computer graphics artist. Art and design are as much a part of me as writing is – all just forms of creative self expression.

Author links:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page | Author Website

Buy the print book from publisher

Buy the ebook from publisher

Kindle version | Nook version 

Audible | iTunes | Book video

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Interview with debut novelist Kalen Cap

I'm happy to introduce another debut novelist. Today's guest, Kalen Cap, is here to talk about his novel Tangled Ties to a Manatee and how his interest in the environment makes its way into his writing.

Kalen will award a $25 Green Gift Card from http://green.icardgiftcard.com/ -- redeemable for gift cards from hundreds of your favorite merchants to one randomly drawn commenter during his virtual book tour. If you'd like to be entered, please leave your e-mail address along with your comment below. You can also visit other tour stops and leave a comment to increase your odds of winning.

Bio:

Kalen Cap is a writer living in Columbus, Ohio. Active in environmental and other causes, he often brings such concerns into his fiction writing. Tangled Ties to a Manatee is his debut novel.

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

Tangled Ties to a Manatee is a humorous crime thriller with environmental themes. It is a great story with interesting characters. The storyline's threads progress and interweave to a denouement connecting all involved.

The following is the novel’s description:

A pregnant manatee is rare at any zoo, and a first for the Grove City Zoo in Ohio. Ankh is a delight to zoo patrons, a concern to its staff, and the unintentional victim of two con men. She has no idea how many human relationships, problems, and dreams tangle around her.

Jerry is a young developmentally disabled man who happily follows Ankh's pregnancy on the zoo's webcam. He has a shy crush on Janelle, a pretty college student who volunteers for his group home’s outings to the zoo.

Jerry's Aunt Vera also loves nature and runs an environmental retreat center. But all is not well, with Vera or the center. The center needs money and is under investigation as a cult.

Amid their college studies, Janelle and her friend Cecily try to help. Instead, Janelle re-awakens an old obsession in Vera when an innocent tarot reading hints at how the center might be saved.

Two bumbling con men are attempting to sabotage the region’s electrical grid as part of a lucrative scheme. But, Jerry accidentally gets in their way and becomes their captive.

When the con men surprisingly succeed in bringing the grid down, it spells danger for Ankh, her unborn pup, and the many people tied to them both. With investigations of their own, Cecily and Janelle try to untangle it all to find Jerry, save a manatee’s life, and rescue Vera from herself.

Excerpt: Stan

“What we gonna do with him?” Craig asked.

Stan held the door open, motioning for Craig to carry their intruder inside. I’m glad we’re at this site.

Another retired hub station was a few miles away. That station’s maintenance was scheduled for Monday and Thursday, and Stan originally planned to use that location. But, with the forecasted weather, the current station, with its maintenance on Wednesday and Friday, was proving the better choice. Particularly now, since it had a second building where they could stow their intruder. The retired grid hub station was used for remote relayed processing, so there wouldn’t likely be any surprise visits by the electric company before Wednesday. Stan figured they’d be long gone by then.

Craig took the load inside and turned back to Stan.

“We’ll put him in the basement,” Stan said.

“There’s a basement?”

“No, I’m going to dig one while you hold him. Of course, there’s a basement.” Stan flipped the light switch and led the way down the steps inside. The basement had a storage area and what had been a break room, complete with a cot, and adjoining bathroom. Craig followed him into the break room, and Stan motioned to the cot. Craig let the guy fall there with a thump.

“Easy! Let’s get the sack off him,” Stan said. The two men pulled the burlap off their surprise guest. They both leaned over, peering at him.

“I know him,“ Craig said.

“You think you know everybody.”

“No, really. Can’t remember where I saw him, though.”

Stan handed his partner a couple lengths of cord. Craig set the intruder upright and proceeded to bind his hands and feet.

What inspired you to write this book?

I’m inspired creatively by many things, particularly art, music, and people volunteering to do extraordinary things to help others. Particular circumstances also inspired me for this specific novel.

After getting a sense of audience response as a local playwright, I wanted to explore some themes and storytelling methods more in-depth. I was told I had a knack for group dialogue, and revealing a threaded story with multiple points of view appealed to me. Dramatic events in real life are likely to involve more than one person’s experience and I wanted to mirror that in a story with entangled relationships.

I also had a good deal of personal experience with nonprofits and college-aged folks. Generally, nonprofits are underrepresented in fiction, but the environmental and animal protection movements are populated largely via these nonprofits. Other than stories emphasizing partying or romance, college-aged protagonists are also underrepresented in fiction. So, I found an opportunity in combining these elements to provide something unique in a novel.

I’ve found people like my light humor. So, when the storyline for a humorous crime thriller came to me, I jumped into the story. With developmentally disabled characters, another concern addressed by nonprofits with limited fictional exploration, the storyline with two core threads came together for the novel’s structure and I developed it from there.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m writing another crime thriller with the working title, “The Peace Cipher.”  While it also emphasizes college-aged protagonists, it is rather different from Tangled Ties to a Manatee. The main setting is in Ottawa County, Ohio, and includes a fictional Sandusky Bay Community College. Artifacts are stolen from a museum exhibit, and the protagonists find themselves in the midst of competing parties vying for them.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

While I had a few things published before then, I truly felt like a writer when I had plays produced. I could hear and see the audience’s response to the work more than I had in previous publications of mine. So, the audience response is really what clinched it 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?

No, my full time job is in retail. While writing the novel, I often had two part-time jobs simultaneously. Like many, I fit the writing in around my work schedule. I do tend to have time off the hourly job while others are working. That limits distractions so it is easier to focus on the writing. Also, being part of a local writer’s group that meets regularly helps me maintain that accountability for keeping at it.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know how unusual it is, but I find when I’m writing fiction, I tend to read more nonfiction. When I’m writing nonfiction, as I do with newsletter articles for nonprofits, I tend to read more fiction.

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

A game show host. Winners seemed happy and excited to be on game shows – much different than how busy adults appeared in everyday life. Thankfully, I outgrew that notion.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Hope everyone enjoys the novel. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Goodreads are currently the best social networking sites to connect with me about Tangled Ties to a Manatee and my other writing.

Thanks, Kalen. Readers, don't forget about the gift certificate giveaway - leave a comment here and at other blog stops to be entered to win!

Interview with contemporary romance author Annette Bower

Today's guest is contemporary romance author Annette Bower who is here to talk about her new novel Moving On-A Prairie Romance.

Annette is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to a lucky commentor during the tour. Details follow the interview.

Bio:
Annette Bower lives and writes in Regina, SK Canada. She is an author of many short stories published in anthologies and magazines in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. She explores women in families, women in communities and women at the beginning and end of love and their quest for love. She pursues the writing craft in workshops, conferences, Writing with Style, Banff Centre for the Arts, Victoria School of Writing, Sage Hill Writing Experience, the Surrey International Writing Conferences and the Romance Writing of America Conferences. 

When she isn’t writing she walks or bikes around the streets and parks in her neighborhood imagining complex worlds behind seemingly ordinary events.

Her first contemporary romance, Moving On-A Prairie Romance is published by XoXo Publishing a division of Ninni Group Inc. 

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Annette. Please tell us about your current release.

Moving On-A Prairie Romance is a sweet contemporary romance novel in most ways and in others it is a relationship novel. One reader suggests that the novel explores the redemptive power of affection where Nick and Anna learn to trust and hope after their separate tragedies.

This story is set in the resort community of Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is small town in the fall, winter and spring but in the summer it grows to at least ten times the population with part time residents and visitors. Anna arrives in the spring and Nick is back in the community in the spring, the time for new growth. 

Because Anna has lived in a large city she needs to learn to live in a community where people notice where your vehicle is parked at night, what kind of bread you purchase, and when your lights turn out. Nick is familiar with the pros and cons of a small community. He left for the adventure of the armed forces but while in the war zone he remembered the deep rich earth he had left behind. With Anna he begins to dream of a life he thought he didn’t want in a small community close to the earth.

We follow Nick and Anna on their emotional journey in the town with Margaret and Herman Lamb Anna’s neighbors and Nick’s good friends.    

What inspired you to write this book?

I have been interested in the state of being a widow ever since I met my mother-in-law. She was widowed young as was her sister. I wanted to understand them so I read about the grieving process. Also when I was a nurse, I worked in rehabilitation units and with patients who lost limbs who grieved the life that changed when a prosthetic device or mobility aid was introduced into their lives.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m gathering visual clues for my next novel. I’m noticing pictures and articles. I have a real image of a limousine pulling up to the curve outside my condo building and a stiletto emerged followed by a leg covered in nylon. I stopped and waited to see who this might be. I would like to use this image in my next story.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

To be absolutely honest the first time I really considered that I was becoming a writer was when Colleen Sell from Cup of Comfort for Mother’s and Sons accepted my short story. Up until that time I had short stories published in smaller magazines and anthologies but this was a book that was going to be available on book shelves in many cities across Canada and the United States and perhaps beyond.

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?

Writing is what I do and many days it is an eight hour day. But those hours are broken up. I may write in the morning, break for appointments or lunch or a walk. Then I write in the afternoon and sometimes it is the hours after dinner that are the most productive.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When I’m beginning a story I still like to use my fountain pen and paper to do the opening page or two. I like feeling connected between my hand rhythm and the paper as my hand slides across the page. If I’m stuck, I will bring out the pen and paper again.

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

When I was in grade 3, my friends and I would go to the convent and call on our teacher after lunch. Then we’d all walk back to the school together. I remember one day my friends all seemed to be saying, “I want to be a nun when I grow up.” I thought about it for a minute and said, “I want to be a nurse, isn’t that great that they both start with ‘n’.”

I became the nurse but I also wrote. I took creative writing courses whenever I could.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Even though writing is my passion it is also hard work for me. I admire writers who make their writing look effortless because they are very good at what they do. I’m still working very hard at making my writing appear effortless but some days it is a real grind. 

I enjoy chatting with readers and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Thanks, Annette.

Readers, don't forget, Annette is awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to All Romance eBooks to one randomly drawn commentor. So leave your e-mail address with your comment if you'd like a chance to win. Also, you can follow the tour and comment on other stops to increase your chances of winning.

Interview with novelist Greg Messel

Today's guest is novelist Greg Messel to tell us a bit about his newest novel and his writing life.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Greg. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’ve written three novels and three unpublished memoirs. I’m working on a fourth and fifth novel as well.

I’ve spent much of my life in the Pacific Northwest living in Portland, Oregon and in the Seattle area since 2008. I’ve been married to my wife, Carol, for 40 years. We were high school sweethearts just like the couple in my second novel, Expiation. I’ve lived in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, and Wyoming and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, graduating from high school there. I attended a year of junior college, then went to Brigham Young University. I began a newspaper career in the rough and tumble Wyoming town of Rock Springs. We have three married children and ten grandchildren.

I worked as the news editor and sports editors of the Daily Rocket-Miner newspaper, winning a Wyoming Press Association award for my column. I also have published articles in various sports magazines. I left the newspaper business in 1981 and began a 27 year career with Pacific Power. After retiring in 2008, I moved to Seattle.

It was there that I returned to my first love--writing. My first novel, Sunbreaks, was published with Trafford in September 2009. The second novel Expiation was published in the spring of 2010 with Trafford.

The third novel, The Illusion of Certainty was published by Yorkshire Publishing in September of 2011.

We live on the Puget Sound in Edmonds, Washington, a ferryboat town, just north of downtown Seattle. I also enjoy running and have been in several races and half marathons.

That's a lot already. Please tell us about your newest book.
The Illusion of Certainty follows two parallel story lines. Marc is a successful businessman who seems to have everything—a great job, a beautiful wife, a house in an upscale neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, and two great kids who are preparing for college. But something is not right. Marc is unsettled by the sudden change in his wife, Aimee, who seems distant and unhappy. What is going on with her?

The second storyline involves a successful young attorney, Alexandra Mattson. Alex, as she is called by her friends, meets a handsome young cop, Sean, during an unexpected crisis in her neighborhood. Sean and Alex seem made for each other and begin to merge their futures in a world of uncertainty.

The only certainty in life is that we will face uncertainty. Despite all of the technology and controls available in the modern world, sometimes the only comfort comes from the human touch.

What inspired you to write this book?
There are so many unexpected events that impact our life. I began thinking about this when the economy suddenly collapsed in 2008. I was also diagnosed with cancer about a year and a half ago. Fortunately, my treatments have been successful and I am for the time being in good health. These events and watching similar occurrences in other people’s lives, made me ponder the sudden turnarounds we can experience. We think we are in control of our lives but it is only an “illusion of certainty.”

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am currently working on the first in a mystery series featuring private investigator, Sam Slater. The name of the book is “The Last of the Seals.” Sam is a longtime baseball player with the minor league San Francisco Seals. Sam’s career is coming to an end and the Seals are being displaced by the move of the Giants from New York to San Francisco. Sam is joining his old Army buddy in his private investigation business.

Sam also meets a dazzling, Elvis-obsessed TWA stewardess named Amelia. When his friend is suddenly slain, Sam and Amelia find themselves thrown into a tense struggle to find the murderer before he finds them. I’m really excited about the new book and I hope to have it published by the beginning of the summer of 2012.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I began writing when I was a child. I have an old canvas bag with crayon writing on it. It was my newspaper bag. I wrote the “paper” and then delivered it to neighbors and friends. I found the canvas bag in some things at my grandmother’s house after she died. I supported myself through high school and college being a stringer for local newspapers. Then, after college, I had a career as a sports writer, columnist and news editor. I finally got to try writing novels and published my first one in 2009.

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 do write full time now after retiring from the corporate world. I usually write for a few hours each afternoon. I have fallen into a pattern of thinking about and outlining my book during the summer months. Then when rainy weather returns to Seattle in the fall, it’s a good time to stay inside and start to write.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know why, but I have to go back and add contractions to my dialogue. I don’t talk that way, but I seem to write that way. I’m always correcting that in my writing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to write for a newspaper and to write books. I’m pretty lucky that I got the chance to do what I’ve always wanted to do.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I hope you try The Illusion of Certainty. I think it is both a business fable and a romance. It speaks to the struggles that many people face in the early 21st Century. I was glad to see reviewers saying that the story appeals to the romantic hopeful in all of us.

Thanks for your time today, Greg. Keep on writing!