Interview with romance novelist Joy Frawley

Today’s spotlight shines on novelist Joy Frawley. She’s doing a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for her time travel romance novel, Two Worlds, Two Men.

During her tour, Joy will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a lucky 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:
Joy Frawley is an author and writer of the upcoming romance novella; Two Worlds, Two Men published by Resplendence Publishing. Joy lives in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan relishing in living the life of the classic “townie” with her two dogs Piggs and Diggs. You can reach her at joyfrawley@gmail.com or joyfrawley.com.

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

Two Worlds, Two Men is a time travel romance. Jocelyn Stewart goes on holiday to Edinburgh, Scotland and has a passionate romance bloom with her innkeeper, Neely. While sightseeing in town, Jocelyn begins to go back into time to her medieval lover Sir Colin Campbell whom she had no recollection of having been his mistress. Both men own a piece of Jocelyn’s heart and as the story unfolds she must choose which life and which man she wants to be with.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was basically enlightened with the storyline and characters one afternoon out of nowhere! It was quite amazing and not wanting to forget all the details I began writing immediately.

Excerpt:

Jocelyn looked around for the driver who was supposed to be waiting for her arrival with a sign. She had hired someone to pick her up because, as an American and first-time visitor to Scotland, she had figured it would be less stressful.

She didn’t see the driver anywhere; then, just as she started feeling nervous, she saw a man holding a sign with her name on it. And what a man he was! He was broad shouldered, strong and had dark brown hair with reddish tints. He exuded masculinity like some cologne, and even across the airport, she thought she could smell it. Smoothing her unruly hair, she started to walk over to him.

The man, seeing her approach him, took a step toward her. “Are you, Jocelyn?”

When he spoke her name, she found herself frozen in place unable to respond. She’d heard this voice before; she knew this voice. This man spoke her name exactly like the dream she had had all those years ago! She had been stirred awake in bed by a voice of a man, who spoke her name with a Scottish accent. His voice was gentle and low; as if he wanted to gain her attention, but not cause her alarm. Jocelyn had clutched the sheets to her chest and stared out into the darkness of her bedroom almost feeling his intimate presence beside her. She lifted her hand up to her ear having sworn his warm breath had brushed her skin. Jocelyn remembered she had turned her head, anxiously, toward the pillow next to her and almost thought she would be looking into the eyes of a stranger; yet she had not been frightened. This man, his voice, somehow comforted her.

Now, she stood in the airport and caught her breath as she faced the man before her. Her eyes searched his face for something; though what it was she wasn’t sure. Jocelyn felt her heart beating so fast she was certain the man could hear it as memories flooded her mind of that night so long ago when he or someone spoke her name in the darkness. Was that the reason for her vacation to Scotland? Was she unconsciously trying to find the man?

What exciting story are you working on next?
I am currently working on a non-fiction book about how to overcome self-defeating thoughts and pursue your passions. I had no background in writing when I started this book and no one, including myself, had much faith initially that I would ever become published. But I pursued it anyways and achieved positive results by changing my attitude and thought process. I want to encourage other aspiring writers, and anyone else, to feel that satisfaction in their own life. I recently did a speaking engagement to aspiring writers and shared several of the points from my next book and it was rewarding to hear their feedback.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I considered myself a writer when I began submitting my work to writing competitions. At that point I was pretty much only writing with myself as an audience. However, once I started sending my work to romance competitions it dawned on me that I was beginning to take writing seriously and that I was thinking further ahead than just this one book.

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 was, up to recently, working almost 50 hour workweeks. However, I am now writing full time. I have been blessed to have an incredible man in my life that helps me manage this and is immensely supportive. Once Two Worlds Two Men got released my writing work load got very demanding as far as my time and accessibility. I have had several articles, podcasts and other marketing opportunities arise the past couple months and I do not envy authors who have to juggle it all with working full time. I admire their endurance because my accessibility has been a very big bonus to me for the initial book release and all its marketing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

If I get stressed while working on a project I will whip up some nachos to help me regain my focus. If I was stranded on a desert island and could only pick one food to eat the rest of my days it would be nachos. I am not certain the nachos actually help me regain focus, but I am sticking to that story.

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

Anything but an author! I thought writers were old men who had white messy hair, glasses, wore outdated vests and smelled like mothballs. I am not quite sure where that concept came from, but I do recall having that opinion of authors when I was a little girl. I am glad to say I have since lifted that belief which is good considering I am absolutely nothing like that description.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Two Worlds, Two Men is a fun read that I hope brings entertainment and a few chuckles to readers. Even if it doesn’t bring world peace or cure global warming I believe romance books are popular for a reason. They bring us what we all occasionally crave which is an escape. An escape to a world different than our own. Two Worlds Two Men offers that escape to not one, but two, worlds and I hope you enjoy it!

Website | Amazon | Resplendence Publishing

Thanks, Joy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with paranormal romance author Minnette Meador

Today is a virtual book tour blog stop with paranormal romance author Minnette Meador. She's touring her new book, A Ghost of a Chance, with Goddess Fish Promotions.

Minnette will be giving away a Kindle and a $100 Amazon gift certificate to a lucky commentor. See details below.

Bio:
Somewhere between thirty and dust...red hair, blue eyes...six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time... wanttabe hippy... wanttheirmoney yuppie... pro musician and actress for 30 years... native Oregonian... lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

Her works include: Starsight, Starsight II, The Centurion & The Queen, The Edge of Honor, A Boy and His Wizard (w/a M.A. Smith), A Ghost of a Chance, The Gladiator Prince (August 2011), and The Bell Stalker (October 2011). She has also contributed to the award winning Cup of Comfort Series and 150 Oregon Stories celebrating Oregon’s Sesquicentennial. For more information on her books and excerpts, visit her website.

Welcome, Minnette. Please tell us about your current release.
A Ghost of a Chance is a paranormal romantic comedy that released June 22 from Resplendence Publishing.

Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer. Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation precarious yet manageable — until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the scene and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon, the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive — or with heart intact.

"Hysterical and very original!" 2-Time Rita Winner Wendy Warren

What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write about ghosts, having been a big fan of all things ghostly for most of my life, plus some real hair raising experiences of my own. I asked myself: What if someone saw hundreds of ghosts floating around him, in fact he talked to them? What would his life be like? How would he function in the “normal” world? What would his love life be like? What would the ghosts be like?

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently working on the third book in the Centurion Series, The Gladiator Prince, which hits the stands on August 17th. Set in ancient Roman Britannia and Rome, it is a standalone book in the series featuring the last royal of the Briton Trinovantes Tribe, the spoiled daughter of his owner, a dashing ancient pirate, and the search for the gladiator’s two daughters who have been taken to Rome as slaves.

Excerpt:
Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver's raid, Thane escapes, forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I penned my first Star Trek script at the age of 8. It wasn’t very good, but, oh, what fun it was to pretend!

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 have to work full time like most writers, but I do set aside time on the weekends and evenings to write. I also try to get away for small retreats to write, which really helps. Most of my hobbies get put aside when I’m on deadline, but I try to take a long break during the year to recharge for the next book.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Believe it or not, I like to listen to funky music when I write. Don’t know why, but I tried classical and other mellow types of music, but for some reason a funky female vocal about her bad boyfriend seems to do the trick! ~teehee~

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a singer and actress more than anything when I was a kid. I got the opportunity when I was 13 to sing at a night club in downtown Portland and never looked back. I’m retired from singing and acting now, but I spent a good 30 years doing what I really loved.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Just want them to know that if they want a chance to win lots more prizes, visit http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com for a complete list of where I’ll be this month. The more blogs you visit and comment on, the more chances you’ll have of winning Amazon gift certificates, totes full of goodies, jewelry, make-up, and even two drawings to win a Kindle, loaded with great books (even some of your choice!), plus lots of surprise contests.

Here's the buy link for A Ghost of a Chance.

Thanks so much, Lisa, for inviting me to your amazing blog. I really had a blast! Minnette :o)

My pleasure, Minnette. It's been fun getting to know a bit about you and your writing. Best of luck with the rest of the tour!