Live chat/interview with women's fiction author Grace Wen

The Writer's Chatroom presents women's fiction and romance author Grace Wen.

WHEN?

Sunday, April 1, 2012

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

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WHERE?

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

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Interview with authors Danielle Hylton-Outland & April Fifer

Today's guests at Reviews and Interviews are writing duo Danielle Hylton-Outland and April Fifer. They're talking about the first book in their debut series, Flesh and Feathers. And they have several giveaways today and during their tour. Details are after the interview. Read on!

Bios:
Danielle was raised in Virginia. She grew up having a huge appetite for daydreaming; always wanting to live in the spectacular worlds she created in her mind. She now lives with her husband and dog where she is pursuing a degree in literature. Danielle is a strong animal activist. She is currently co-writing the second book in the Flesh Series, Flesh and Flames.

April grew up in a small town in Virginia, where it was common practice believing that dreams could only be found in stories. At the age of seven, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. She was told that she would struggle through life and would never pick up a book to read for pleasure. Although school was hard, she was able to find her way with the help of two teachers who taught her self-discovery. Ignoring what she was taught growing up, she turned it around and found that your dreams could become stories.

Welcome, April and Danielle. Please tell us about your current release.
Flesh and Feathers is the first book of The Flesh Series. It’s set in downtown LA and has a fast pace storyline. It’s about Azaleigh Carlton, who is very much like you and me. She’s just trying to get by in life with no hiccups along the way. Azaleigh, also known as Az, is her own worst enemy. And we can all relate to that! At the beginning of the book, she meets the man of her dreams, Kale, and instantly becomes consumed by him. But like all great things… yes, we know the answer to this one! Their relationship is tragically ended (or is it?), and Az is left with no recollection of Kale. Strange things start to happen, and everyone around her is not telling. Soon, she becomes close with her new neighbor, Gage, who is extremely HOT. Yum! The two are inseparable, well… that is until Az is nearly killed by someone or something. Secrets are revealed, and the truth is brought to light. And now Az must make a decision that will cost her everything.

What inspired you to write this book?
We had an obsession with a girl falling in love with an angel. Now, at the time, this seemed like “The Plot.” Yeah, great. How clever! This is what we said to each other. Then we realized Az had to have a personality… and a background. And what about this guy she’s in love with? Who is he? This moved on to… what do we know about angels? When it came down to it, and after researching FOR…EVER, we understood we knew absolutely nothing to begin with. The more we learned about these magnificent creatures, the more we loved them. So with every click of the mouse and every sip of coffee during our plotting time, we realized that our inspiration came from learning more. And inspiration came from our own lives as well. Plus we wanted to right about some really sexy men. Who doesn’t?

What exciting story are you working on next?
We are working on about five different books. However, one of our favorite ones we are writing is called, Love, Lies and a Bloke. The story is a short fun read.

Blurb:
Katherine Thomas is a lackluster kind of girl who refuses to bend the rules. Until one day, she loses her job and is forced to reevaluate her life. One trip to Australia changes her world forever. Katherine leaves her hometown of Fleming to find herself. However, she ends up finding love, lies and a bloke.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Danielle: I wish I could say I knew I was going to be a writer when I was four years old or something, but I can’t. I can say that I have always loved story telling. When I was young, the books that were read to me made me light up. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and Stone Soup by Ann Mcgovern were just a few of my favorites. I always appreciated the creativity behind the stories. So now when I am writing, I always try to remember that feeling and incorporate it into my work.

April: This was an on and off passion for me since I was in high school. I was always a busybody, meaning I would bite off more than I could chew. When I was in high school, I worked two jobs, and if you didn’t find me at one of those, you would find me building a house or something. (That was a little over the top, but I did work on lots of home projects.) So it was hard to sit down and apply myself to something I had to commit to fully. It wasn’t until I read a book that pushed me over the edge. I decided I wanted to read something that ended the way I thought it should… and how do you do that? Oh, yeah! Break-out my old hobby of writing and make it what I WANT IT TO! Yay! Happy ending!

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?
Danielle: I am currently working full-time at a direct-mail company. So you could say I am an estimator by day and a full-time writer by night. Oh, and I'm also a wife and full-time student.

April: I work for the same direct mail company as Danielle! I’m a project manager, and my office is right next to hers. I am the mother of three so parenting, working and writing because a delicate balance. Sleep? Is there such a thing?

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Danielle: One quirk I have is that I enjoy writing on paper. I know I can easily pull out the laptop, but at times I simply like to use a pen and paper just cause.

April: I’m a freak about formatting as I go! This is bad, bad, bad! Sometimes I can’t remember what I’m writing because my margins don’t line up properly. Wait… are we using 12 point Times New Roman right now? Sigh… this comes from my background unfortunately. For years (and even now), I worked as a Graphic Layout Artist. Basically, if you wanted letterhead or a brochure laid out, I was your girl.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Danielle: Other than wanting to be Rogue from the comic book “The X-Men," I wanted to be a veterinarian. Now, I know this is this most commonly sought out profession for a little girl, but I really did want to be involved with animals. It was and still is one of the biggest loves in my life.

April: I guess the question would be, what didn’t I want to be? I, too, wanted to be a vet, but then I realized you had to go to school… like… forever! At sixteen, that didn’t sound fun. So I changed it up and decided I wanted to be in business. I have no clue what that meant, because I wasn’t sure of what kind of business, I wanted to be in. When it came down to it, I wanted to have a desk and carry a briefcase… I didn’t realize at the time that could have been something so strange as to be Al Capone’s accountant.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
We are working on Flesh and Flames, which is the second book in The Flesh Series. And like the name… things are going to heat up. Tensions get stronger, evil gets scarier, and guys get hotter. This book gives everyone a glimpse of the characters' backgrounds and some things are sure to be a shocker. We love to hear from our readers, so we encourage anyone and everyone to stop by one of our sites and give us a shout.

And here's an excerpt:
“Aren’t you coming in?” I asked. He just stood there, not saying a word.

“Is that a, No?” I asked, not hiding my frustration.

“I have somewhere to be,” he said with that stupid matter-of-fact voice again

That’s all it took. I lost my cool… or something like that. “You know what? I don’t get you. You act like I can’t walk myself home from work because I need protecting. You take me out acting like I’m your girlfriend and the only person you can think about…. Then you come here and… do what you do–you know what I’m talking about. (I was thinking of how to say make me want to have sex with you, but that would have been blunt and pathetic). And now you act like this and like you did last night. You know what? Fine! If that’s how it’s going to be, then leave.” (I am sure that didn’t come out any better.) I followed up by slamming the door in his face.

I laid my back against the door and butted my head against it a few times. Then I thought about how that was the most ridiculous overreaction I had ever seen done by anyone.

My instinct was to look through the peephole to see if he was still there. Sure enough, he was and with the same expression on his face. I calmly opened the door, which made a creaking sound at the slow pace. Staring at the floor, I cleared my throat and began to speak. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. I was out of line and… um… I didn’t mean anything I just said… or screamed.”


Readers, the authors are giving away an autographed bookmark and $5 Amazon gift card to one commenter at every stop, and one $15 and one $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

I encourage you to follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Interview with NYT best selling writer Eldon Taylor

NYT best selling author Eldon Taylor is center stage today to talk about his newest book. Let's jump right in.


Bio:

Eldon Taylor is an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of more than 300 books, audio, and video programs. He’s the inventor of the patented InnerTalk technology and the founder and president of Progressive Awareness Research. He has been called a “master of the mind” and has appeared as an expert witness on both hypnosis and subliminal communication.

Eldon was a practicing criminalist conducting investigations and lie-detection examinations for many years. He is listed in more than a dozen Who’s Who publications, including Who’s Who of Intellectuals and Who’s Who in Science and Engineering. He is a fellow in the American Psychotherapy Association and an internationally sought-after speaker. His books and audio-video materials have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have sold millions worldwide.

Eldon is the host of the popular radio show Provocative Enlightenment. He has interviewed some of the most interesting people on the planet. His shows are thought-provoking and always fresh in both their perspective and the exchange.

Announcing I Believe, the latest release by New York Times best selling author, Eldon Taylor.

Eldon, why did you write I Believe?
I have spent over thirty years investigating why people self-sabotage or limit themselves, thus experiencing so much less than their highest best! What I have found is the reason rests solely in their beliefs—not their spiritual belief so much as their life beliefs. I found this to be true when I was conducting lie detection tests and discovering criminality, and equally true when I worked with elite athletes, business executives, professionals and lay people alike. The bottom line is this: What you believe always matters! It’s like a web that fastens itself to belief-anchors, causing disheartening mediocrity in place of the glorious success we all seek.

I Believe spells out the power of belief and how it influences everything from our health and longevity to our success with relationships and life. Astounding as it may seem, belief can (and has) defied our so-called laws of science and it has done so over and over again. As ordinary and trite as it may seem, belief nevertheless makes all the difference in success in all walks of life. Knowing how we acquire our beliefs, and which beliefs serve us while others sabotage us, is critical to maximizing our individual potential. I Believe: When What You Believe Matters! was written to empower you with the roadmap to decipher and re-write the programming governing your life.

Excerpt: The Mind-Body Belief System

Placebos

Research with placebos—nontherapeutic substances are commonly thought of as sugar pills—is also telling when it comes to the role of belief and the function of the mind in matters of wellness. When the faith and expectation of a subject invests in the power of the placebo, amazing things happen. What’s more, the treatment is relative to the condition, so one false pill can treat pain half as well as aspirin and half as well as morphine. Not surprisingly, telling the patient that the same tablet increases discomfort will result in just that.

Placebos don’t have to be pills; they can be creams, injections, or even surgery. Just as interesting, the effect is larger if you increase the dosage size—say a larger capsule or two of them. Further, research shows that a branded item works better than a plain one, one in a shiny box elicits greater results than one in a plain package, a capsule trumps a tablet, with an injection working even better. If you use fancy, expensive-looking, sophisticated equipment, it yields even more dramatic outcomes. The bottom line is that the greater the expectation, the greater the effect. In other words, building a strong belief creates the foundation for the result.2

There are still more revealing facts about placebos that dovetail directly into our human psychology. For example, color is often employed to evaluate mood states, as in the Lüscher Color Test. The validity of this test has been determined to be overall 81 percent in agreement with the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis.3 So how does color correlate with the placebo effect? Well, blue is more effective as a “downer,” and red is the preferred color for an “upper.” Further, as Daniel Keogh and Luke Harris point out in their very informative Internet film, studies have shown that people who take their medication on a regular basis are much less likely to die than those who don’t adhere to their drug regimen, even if they’re only taking placebos. If that’s not enough to convince you of the power of belief, then try this one. Again, the creators of the aforementioned film point out that placebos can also be addictive. In one study, 40 percent of the women who’d taken an inactive medication for five years suffered withdrawal symptoms.4

Remember that by definition, there’s no medical value to a placebo. It’s not what’s in the substance that matters but what we put in it via our belief. Clever researchers can weight our belief by feeding an already expectant psychology with the right color, shape, size, and so forth to further ensure the maximum effect!5 That’s right, a genuine medical result from a nonmedical intervention. It’s clearly our minds that have the power.

The Authority Figure

Several years ago, I conducted research that involved patients diagnosed with cancer. I used a cognitive approach by employing an audio recording (my Innertalk technology) designed to fundamentally influence what the subjects thought to be true, generating a positive outlook and confidence in the body’s ability to heal itself. In other words, the design of the study sought to measure the influence of a change in beliefs on the progression of cancer.

In short, this is what we found: First, every single patient who believed that the mind had a role in wellness, and whose physician believed this as well, was in complete remission (no evidence of cancer). By contrast, every single individual whose doctor reported that the mind had no role in wellness was dead. In a sense, it didn’t matter what the patient thought within this latter group—it all depended upon the medical authority.

Even though this was just a small test group, the results disturbed and puzzled me. That puzzlement changed recently when science learned through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that “parts of the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices, which play key roles in vigilance and skepticism when judging the truth and importance of what people say, were deactivated” in the presence of an authority. While the first study I noticed of this nature was about the clergy, other studies show that this effect includes anyone we think of as an authority.10

Similar to the power of the placebo, it appears that the health-care professional can reverse the positive by informing us that matters are out of our hands, and as with the cancer patients in the study, we’ll just surrender to their preconceptions and die.

Reflection

It now seems obvious: What we believe predisposes our expectation and behavior. It directly influences our health, sense of well-being, and even the aging process. So what is it that you anticipate? Do you think you’ll “catch” the cold, flu or other “bug” that’s going around? Do you assume you’ll be sick for a certain amount of time? Does it seem that some illnesses are more likely at a specific age, under certain conditions, or simply because of genetics? What would happen if you changed your own beliefs about this? Is it possible that you could become healthier, avoid many of the infections that go around, and recover more quickly when you do become sick? Many people are reporting just this result.


Excerpt: Trying, Losing and Persisting

You never lose unless you quit. Vince Lombardi is often quoted as saying, “The difference between winning and losing is quitting.” There are thousands of stories about people who failed miserably time after time before finally achieving their goals. They succeeded because they never quit.

Knowing your own limitations is different from quitting, which is a mental state. You may see a ballplayer walking off the field, but long before taking this action, his mind set sail through all the possibilities, reasons, and rationalizations for giving up. He may have even rehearsed the event—to try it on, so to speak—before the actual action. So as I said, it’s first a mental action, like my son’s strikeout.

There are people I’ve worked with in the past who persist at quitting. They’re not aware that they’re giving up, per se, any more than my son was aware that he’d surrendered to striking out before the first pitch was thrown.

Becoming aware of this tendency in ourselves is the only way we can end these self-destructive, self-sabotaging patterns. Persisting should be all about allowing our efforts to become better and better. We persevere at practice—reinforcing our improvement instead of mentally rehearsing our failure expectation. As Marilyn vos Savant is credited with saying, “Being defeated is only a temporary condition; giving up is what makes it permanent.”

Winning

I believe that inside every human being is a winner. Each and every one of us possesses a unique ability—a talent, if you will—and chief among all of our abilities is the one called “Doing our very best.” I believe that this ability is what makes us champions.

I remember being confused as a young man about such statements as “All men are created equal.” It doesn’t take an Einstein to see how untrue this statement is—or is it? I tell a story on myself in my book Choices and Illusions, in which I made just this inquiry. It seems appropriate here to share what I learned.

Imagine a rocket scientist who, after much work, launches an interstellar voyager. Imagine the pride he feels in the accomplishment. Now imagine a so-called menial laborer. On his hands and knees for endless hours, he scrubs and polishes a floor. He has worked so hard and with so much pride that he has scrubbed his knuckles raw. Now he stands back and beholds his labors. The floor absolutely glistens—every square inch of it. It never looked that good even when it was new. Now . . . which man senses the most pride, the rocket scientist or the floor scrubber?²

Even at a young age, I understood that feeling. The fact is that when you do your utmost, you enjoy the same state of specialness, the same ecstatic feeling, the same sense of purpose and pleasure as anyone else, regardless of the act (launching rockets or scrubbing floors).

I believe there are no real losers because in the end, you cannot escape yourself. You—both here and in the hereafter—will learn to persevere, and in time you’ll turn the act of trying or the pattern of losing into winning because that’s who you ultimately are! You’ll acquire the habit of applying your best to all that you do, and as the rocket scientist–floor scrubber story illustrates, that means you’ll always come out ahead. You were created a winner, and a winner you were meant to be. Believing in yourself makes winning happen, so the only question is what you’re going to do to reinforce a strong, vital faith in yourself—for what you believe always matters!

Always remember the following analogy from Alfred Adler. It’s one of my favorites, and it will help you remember to believe in yourself along the way, even when you feel you’re drowning.

What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning—and some of them many times over—what do you find? That you can swim? Well—life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!³

Reflection

The only way you lose is by quitting. Failure becomes permanent only when you give up. When you visualize quitting, you’re rehearsing the event. Can you think of examples from your own life when you were so convinced you’d be unsuccessful that you never even tried? Isn’t this often the most basic frustration that people have during a midlife crisis? Do you dare to look again at those dreams you once had and discarded—and to try again, this time with persistence, determination, and tenacity?

For information on the book launch, please visit http://progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/it/12c/indexB.html


Join the launch party for I Believe: When What You Believe Matters!


Hundreds of bonus gifts will be given away to everyone who participates. Plus, enter to win grand prizes worth over $5K from personalities such as Lindsay Wagner (Bionic Woman), James Van Praagh, Bob Doyle, Hay House, InnerTalk, Norman Shealy and Caroline Sutherland. For more information, visit http://progressiveawarenesspromotions.com/it/12c/indexB.html

Interview with mystery novelist Harlow Coban

Today's guest is mystery author Harlow Coban as she does a virtual book tour for her new mystery, Life in Death.

Harlow is giving away a prize at every tour stop, which may include (but isn't limited to):

Amazon Gift Cards
Book Lover Note Cards
Journals
Kindle Cover
Book Tote
Hunger Games Trilogy

So, you'll want to enter a comment and leave you're email address in order for a chance to win something. You can also follow her the tour and comment on other blogs. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Bio:
Author Harlow Coban was born in Kansas City, MO, but grew up in Denver, CO. She relocated to North Carolina five years ago with her husband, two dogs, and 16-year old twins.

She shares a birthday with the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. In keeping with his legacy, she is currently working on taking over the world. Harlow’s positive attitude and fresh take on life are her tools and conquest is certain.

She spends her free time writing, dancing, traveling, and defending mailboxes from her 16-year-old twins’ driving.

Her debut novel, Life in Death, is a murder mystery which pulls from real-life situations from her own family history. She felt compelled to share her story with the world while offering a thrilling and entertaining escape for readers.

In keeping with her commitment to improving the lives of children, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club in her home state of North Carolina.

Welcome to Reviews and Interviews, Harlan. Please tell us about your current release, Life in Death.
When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?

What inspired you to write this book?
I looked into a personal family tragedy and learned a lot about police procedure and the case itself. I felt like I could tell a compelling story using what I learned.

What exciting story are you working on next?
The second book in this series is entitled, Apparition in Death. I’m still working on narrowing down the premise.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
About a three years ago when I started my first novel, which is still unfinished. Life in Death is technically my second novel.

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 for the government by day and write at night.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I do my best writing late night with the TV blaring in the background. Also, some of my best ideas come to me as I’m dozing off to sleep, so I’ll jump up, switch on the light, and jot down what occurred to me. This used to irk my husband to no end, but he’s gotten used to it now.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A flight attendant. I even landed a job interview with United Airlines and was flown to Chicago first class. I wasn’t selected and in hindsight, I’m very thankful. I didn’t have the temperament for that job.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Life is short. Take risks. Challenge yourself. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

Great advice. Thanks for joining my blog, Harlow!

Readers, don't forget about all the giveaways Harlow is offering. Comment for a chance to win something.

Interview with non-fiction/finance writer Nicholas Maze

Today's guest author is Nicholas L. Maze to talk about his financial help book, Exit: How to Leave Debt Forever.

And to help with finances, a lucky commentor has a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Comment below, and at any of Nicholas's other tour stops for a chance to win.

Bio:
Born in Flint, Michigan, Nicholas L. Maze attended Baker College, where he earned his degree in Business Administration with a focus in accounting and marketing. With a knack for advertising and excelling in math, Nicholas seemed destined for a productive career in business. Instead, there would be another gift that would prove to be more dominant and rewarding.

In the summer of 1999, while still in college, Nicholas found a job with a nation-wide security organization. His initial plans were to work his job, until he finished college. But it was his stint with the security organization that would lead to a rebirth of his passion for writing. As a child, being driven by a strong imagination, Nicholas would write stories to pass time. It was during his composition courses in college that Nicholas realized that his gift was still intact. His writing craft received praise from his colleagues and instructors. With substantial amount of free time on the job, Nicholas found himself writing more and more.

He started by writing poetry and composing songs, during his free time on the job. It was at this same time that Nicholas began managing a small rap group, which allowed him to hone his writing skills even more. Nicholas began composing songs for his rap group and him. In 2004, Nicholas began to write his first published work. With ample amount of time and a number of ideas, Nicholas began to write. In order to compose a successful work, Nicholas had to make himself the reader. Nicholas placed himself in the passenger seat and let his imagination go to work.

As Nicholas was completing his book, he renewed his relationship with God and acquired a second job. Two jobs and attending college full-time, forced Nicholas to put his writing on hold. Once Nicholas completed his first degree in marketing, he was able to focus on his unfinished work and complete his book in 2007.

From there, Nicholas began to send out query letters for his book. After no success, Nicholas placed his book on the shelf and returned to school. In 2009, Nicholas received a prophecy on his writing gift and immediately began shopping his book around. “I instantly thought of my finished work and began sending out query letters. Within two months, I received a publishing deal.” Now, Nicholas is fine-tuning himself for a long, successful career as an author. His first love.

Welcome, Nicholas. Please tell us about your current release Exit: How to Leave Debt Forever.
My current release is a non-fiction/finance book. It focuses on eliminating debt and developing true wealth. Unlike the normal financial book that teaches you how to save and invest, this book goes outside the box and teaches about what debt is, what money is, and why the country is going in a downward spiral.

What inspired you to write this book?
I was led to write this book through a prophecy I received, before the release of my first book (White Collar Woman; fiction/romance). As I began to research and gather information, I was alarmed at what I was discovering and I knew that most Americans had no knowledge of this information. The prophecy combined with the alarming information was the inspiration for this book.

What exciting story are you working on next?
When I write, I follow where God wants me to go. As I previously stated, my current book was received through prophecy. My next story actually deals with religion. It will cover a number of issues that exist in churches these days. I know it seems odd to go from romance to finance to religion, but I feel a true writer should be able to compose on any platform.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
In 2004, I began to write my first book. As I continued to write, I began to take the career more seriously and considered myself to be a writer. Although I had been writing since the age of 12, I didn’t take it seriously until years down the road.

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, I do not write full-time.

I currently hold a stock keeper position, at a medical center. Finding time to write can be difficult, since I am a full-time student as well. I am currently in a creative writing master's program. Being a full-time student and working full-time, I usually find time during breaks on the job or on days I don’t have to work. Sometimes I will write even if I have to work and do schoolwork. If I have some good information to put on paper, I will make time regardless of my schedule.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I guess my interesting writing quirk is not putting everything down on paper, at once. This is something I learned after my first book. Although I may have enough information of 10 pages, I may only write 5 pages. I do this to help prevent writer’s block. By saving something for the next day, I have something to build off and continue writing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I loved anything that was business. Ultimately, I wanted to own a record label. I did pursue it, before I wrote my first book. Due to small financial backing, the label did not go far. Yet, it was still a great experience.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I just want to thank everyone for wanting to learn a little about me. I hope my words, whether in this interview or in my book(s), has provided some sort of inspiration and influence. I ask that everyone seriously consider adding my current release to your library. I believe this literature can help alter the course that our country is currently in.

Thank you for being here today, Nicholas.
Readers, if you're interested in learning more, you can visit Nicholas's other tour stops or visit his website.

Don't forget about your chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. He'll choose a lucky commentor will be chosen at the end of his tour. So follow, comment, and (hopefully) win!

Live chat/interview with C. Hope Clark.

The Writer's Chatroom presents C. Hope Clark.

WHEN?

Sunday, March 25, 2012

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

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WHERE?

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

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Interview with erotic romance author Jennifer Lynne

Today's guest author is Jennifer Lynne from Australia to tell us a bit about her book Educating Ethan.

Bio:
Jennifer Lynne is a mum of two who works by day in medical admin and at night writes sensual and erotic romance from her home in Melbourne, Australia. She lives in hope that readers will continue to enjoy her novella-length stories of love and lust!

You can find Jennifer at:
Website/blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Welcome, Jennifer! Please tell us about your current book release.
Educating Ethan is a sensual romance novella, and my first release with Breathless Press. It is an older woman/younger man love story, but I wanted to twist the classic cougar tale a little to allow other issues to come to the fore, and in the end I hope that Ida and Ethan's story becomes more about two people falling in love and trying to deal with the emotional baggage that we all bring to a new relationship. Regardless of our age.

Here is the book blurb: Ida Deloraine intends to build herself a new life and a catering career, after a painful divorce. When the much younger Ethan Holt moves in across the street, an innocent flirtation quickly becomes serious when the two realise their age difference is no barrier to all-consuming passion. But Ethan is the exact opposite of what Ida is looking for in a sexual partner. In her eyes he is young and vibrant, with his life and his dreams still ahead of him, whereas hers are all in the past. Can Ethan, who is fighting his own demons in the form of a car accident, failed marriage and forced career change, convince Ida to overcome the past and live for the moment? And just who is educating who in this cougar encounter?

What inspired you to write this book?
I'm a woman in my forties, and in the past couple of years I've read a spate of romances that contain a young heroine and an older man. While most of these have been extremely well-written and enjoyable, I haven't necessarily connected with them on a personal level, and the last two stories I've written have been about a slightly older heroine – first Jeannie and her husband Jake in Platinum Passion (a ménage romance in which a Greek god visits a long-married couple to reignite the passion in their relationship) and now Educating Ethan, in which an older woman has a second chance at happiness with a much younger man.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I'm currently working on Books 2 and 3 in the Gods of Love series that began with Platinum Passion. This series, about the Greek gods of love known as the erotes, is more erotic in tone than Educating Ethan, but I try and balance an emotional connection with the physical one no matter what heat level I write, so the end result is still a romance and not erotica. Book 2 – Aphrodite Calling – is about Himeros (god of sexual desire) and his interactions with a career woman in modern-day Melbourne, Australia. Book 3 is about Anteros (god of requited/unrequited love) and is tentatively titled, Sex Club Secrets.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I've always written, ever since I was little, but it wasn't until I was at university and someone dared me to write a "Mills & Boon" that I began to look at writing more seriously. I took the dare and wrote/submitted my first manuscript. Of course it was rejected, but with very positive feedback about my unique writing voice. I joined the then fledgling organisation Romance Writers of Australia and devoured their newsletter every month, but really just dabbled in writing as a hobby until after my divorce. At that time I was finally in a mindset where I felt it might be possible to reach for my dreams, so I rewrote an erotic romance called Seducing Serena and submitted it to Red Sage. They bought it for their Secrets anthology (Volume 28), and it was when I got that trade paperback copy of Volume 28 in my hand that I finally felt like a "real" writer.

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 would love to write full-time, but it is not financially viable at this stage. Up until recently I was a single working mum, so most of my time was spent either in my part-time day job in medical admin, or running my teenage girls around to their various school, part-time work, social and exercise activities. It is exhausting being a parent of teenagers! I also ran an internet costume business on the side, and my writing was mostly done between midnight and 1am. I kid you not! A year ago we moved in with my partner and his son, and these days, even though life seems just as busy, it is much nicer with someone to share the decision-making and driving! The costume business is history now, too, so there is definitely more writing time these days.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don't know if I have an interesting writing quirk. I just write. Um, well…I know a lot of writers like to listen to music to evoke a particular mood when they write, but I love to hear the ticking of our clock in the kitchen – it is loud and everyone else in the house hates it! – but if I can hear the clock I know the house is most probably empty for a little while, and that means I have some peace and quiet in which to write. I love peace and quiet – it is so rare in a house full of teenagers. Does that count as a quirk? (yes, it does!)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Well, let's see, at first I wanted to be just like Nadia Comăneci (remember the Romanian gymnast with the perfect 10 score?), then a famous and glamorous tennis player (Chris Evert was at her prime around then!). I graduated to wanting to be a vet, then for a short while in my teens I wanted to be a private secretary so I could marry a millionaire boss like they did in the romance novels I was reading at the time! Impressionable, much? I'm blushing right now! When I finally grew up, I decided I wanted to be either an artist, or a journalist and work in PR. The writing won over the art, and I worked in PR and marketing for many years, before moving into admin and working as an author in my spare time.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I do love to hear from my readers, so please feel free to contact me via my website, or friend me on Facebook or Twitter.

Thank you again for having me here today. All comments on my interview here at Lisa's blog will go in the draw to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Winner will be announced at the end of my blog tour on Mar 30th.

If you'd like to follow my tour, next stop will be tomorrow at http://www.readergirlsblog.com/.

Here's a list of all tour dates and blog stops.

Readers, the more you comment, the more chances you have to win!

Thanks for being here today, Jennifer.