Showing posts with label Author Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Author Interview. Show all posts

Monday, August 11, 2014

Interview: Sheena Hutchinson author of Seraphina: The Awakening

Seraphina: The Awakening
Seraphina Series
Book One
Sheena Hutchinson
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ASIN: B00HL5PQYM
Word Count: 60,000

Book Description:

For as long as she can remember, Seraphina Cross has experienced these visions that made her feel like there was more to life. It wasn’t until one moment, one accident that her life changed forever. She awakens the next day a new person in more ways than one. With no recollection of past night’s events, she’s forced to adapt to certain sensations she is experiencing all while trying to piece together what exactly happened to her that fateful night.

Her strange, hectic life doesn’t seem to make sense until she meets a handsome stranger. Only then does the puzzle finally piece itself together. What she doesn’t expect is the new powers she has developed attracting all kinds of unwanted attention.

Thrown into a world she never truly believed existed she is forced to come to grips with who she is becoming while staying out of trouble long enough to figure out what needs to be done to fulfill her destiny.

Available at Amazon and Amazon UK

Excerpt:

I was 18 the first time it happened. I wake up the next day and remember everything about the dream I had just experienced. It’s as if I live one life during the day and once I close my eyes on this world I wake up in another. I’ve gotten used to it over the years; my dreams have actually become something of an escape from my mundane life. During the day I’m a normal, everyday receptionist, but at night I become something else, something important. It’s not always images either. Sometimes my dreams are blank and I’m just experiencing emotions or sensations. Don’t get me wrong- it can be scary sometimes. I never know if it will be a good dream or a bad one. The good ones tend to make me feel empowered and strong, while the bad ones will have me waking up in a pool of my own sweat screaming or even shaking in fear.

Driving home I try to focus on the road, but my mind won’t seem to cooperate. Tears begin to well up in my eyes as I’m driving down the lonely, deserted street. Staring out the windshield through my tears I can’t help but think the scenery is just how I feel inside, alone and dead. It’s just a normal December night outside, but I can feel it coming for me. The darkness and depression creeping up on me like a monster in the night.
I pull up to my house, put my car in park, and pause for a second. I sit with my hands still on my steering wheel staring down the empty dead-end street, not hearing the radio blasting, breathing in the darkness, and finally accepting the depression that’s coming. Tears are streaming down my face now, smearing the mascara I was wearing. Resting my head on the steering wheel, I allow the tears to stream down my pale cheeks. I can’t get control of all the emotions swirling up inside of me, it seems like all I can do is release them.  My mind wanders from the freakiness of my date, to my dreams, to the psychic encounter, to the weird feelings I’ve been having and back again. I can’t help but feel like this world will never be enough. I will never be truly whole because part of me lives in another realm. I will never be truly content with this life, I have this overwhelming feeling that I’m waiting for something, something else, something… more.


About the Author:

Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can’t hide her hard sarcasm. Like some she went to college blindly and spend her early years trying to decide which path to take, dabbling in various jobs and career ventures, such as modeling, clinical psychology, retail, and medical billing. All before destiny lead her to writing again. She constantly strives to be a positive role model and write stories that empower and inspire.  

Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after. While God is currently writing her love story she continues to put all her time into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more on Sheena and her books visit her website www.SheenaHutchinson.com
Twitter: @Sheena_Hutch
www.Facebook.com/TheSeraphinaSeries
www.Goodreads.com/SheenaHutch

Tour giveaway

5 e-copies of Seraphina

2 baskets of Seraphina Swag Including: a mug, keychain, bookmark, notebook, pen- open to US Shipping

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, August 4, 2014

Author Interview: Nancy J. Cohen author of the Warrior Lord

Warrior Lord
The Drift Lords Series
Book 3
Nancy J. Cohen
Genre: Paranormal SciFi/Fantasy Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: August 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-62830-446-6
ISBN: 978-1-62830-445-9
Number of pages:  422
Word Count: 102,340

Book Description:


A fantasy wedding in Las Vegas turns into a nightmare when contest winner Erika Sherwood realizes she’s married an alien.


Pottery sculptor Erika Sherwood has no idea her televised wedding in Las Vegas is for real until an official confirms she and the stranger she’s just met are legitimately wed.


A Drift Lord and warrior of the Tsuran, Magnor tricks the redhead into marriage because she’s one of six women prophesied to save Earth. But as he’s forced into her company in their race against the apocalypse, he wonders if he risks his heart more than his life.    


Can a free-spirited ceramic artist and a fierce swordsman trust each other enough to prevent disaster?




Available at Wild Rose Publishing


Short Excerpts:


Excerpt 1


Standing behind him, she linked her arms around his chest, clasped her hands together, and sank her head onto his neck. His solid form felt reassuring as she pressed against him.
Her thoughts evaporated as they swung out into empty space. Her blood froze, and her breath stopped. She clutched Magnor as though her life depended on it, which it did. What if his wounded arm folded, and he lost his grip?
Wind whipped hair into her face and battered her skin. Magnor let go of the cable when they swung over the neighboring roof. As they tumbled, he rolled under her. She crashed atop him, her landing softened by his body.
They ended up face to face, sprawled on a rubbery surface. Her heart pounded as she got her bearings. Splashing sounds came from the near distance amid the glow of lamp light.
Magnor’s arms wrapped around her. Startled, she realized her dress had hiked up, and her hips rode on a burgeoning part of his anatomy. He grinned up at her, clearly enjoying their compromising position.
Or was it the sense of danger that thrilled him more?
About the Author:

Nancy J. Cohen writes the humorous Bad Hair Day mystery series featuring hairdresser Marla Shore. Several of these titles have made the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association bestseller list. Nancy is also the author of Writing the Cozy Mystery, a valuable instructional guide for writers on how to write a winning whodunit. Her imaginative romances have proven popular with fans as well. Her titles in this genre have won the HOLT Medallion and Best Book in Romantic SciFi/Fantasy at The Romance Reviews. A featured speaker at conferences, libraries, and community events, Nancy is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who's Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets.












Tour giveaway

One Warrior Lord T-shirt and a signed print copy of Warrior Prince

Open to US Shipping

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Series Spotlight & Author Interview: Her Loving Husband Trilogy by Meredith Allard

The Loving Husband Trilogy
Box Set- All Three Books
Meredith Allard


Genre: paranormal romance
Publisher: Copperfield Press
Date of Publication: 6/10/14
Number of pages: 782
Cover Artist: LFD Designs

Trilogy Description:
Meredith Allard’s beloved best selling paranormal/historical Loving Husband Trilogy is now available together for the first time, with bonus material about the series. The collection includes the full texts of Her Dear & Loving Husband, Her Loving Husband’s Curse, and Her Loving Husband’s Return, plus a Q&A with Meredith Allard, series inspirations, and discussion questions. The Loving Husband Trilogy Box Set will please the most devoted James and Sarah Wentworth fans as well as fans new to the series.

Her Dear & Loving Husband

Book 1
James Wentworth has a secret. He lives quietly in Salem, Massachusetts, making few ties with anyone. One night his private world is turned upside down when he meets Sarah Alexander, a dead ringer for his wife, Elizabeth. Though it has been years since Elizabeth's death, James cannot move on.

Sarah also has a secret. She is haunted by nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and every night she is awakened by visions of hangings, being arrested, and dying in jail. Despite the obstacles of their secrets, James and Sarah fall in love. As James comes to terms with his feelings for Sarah, he must dodge accusations from a reporter desperate to prove that James is not who, or what, he seems to be. Soon James and Sarah piece their stories together and discover a mystery that may bind them in ways they never imagined. Do vampires and witches live in Salem? Will James make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Sarah and prevent a new hunt from bringing hysteria to Salem again?

Her Loving Husband’s Curse

Book 2
How far will you go to protect the one you love?

Finally, after many long and lonely years, vampire James Wentworth's life is falling into place. Together with his wife, Sarah, the only woman he has ever loved, he has found the meaning behind her nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and now they are rebuilding the life they began together so long ago.

But the past is never far behind for the Wentworths. While Sarah is haunted by new visions, now about the baby she carried over three hundred years before, James is confronted with painful memories from his time with the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Through it all, the persistent reporter Kenneth Hempel reappears, still determined to prove that the undead walk the earth. If Hempel succeeds in his quest, James and Sarah will suffer. Will the curse of the vampire prevent James and Sarah from living their happily ever after?

Her Loving Husband’s Return

Book 3
What would you do to return to the only one you have ever loved?

Vampire James Wentworth’s secret is no longer a secret, and now he and his beloved wife, Sarah, have been separated. While suffering his own internment, James is reminded of his time with Japanese-Americans in the Manzanar Relocation Camp during World War II, and he cannot allow the past to repeat itself. With the help of his friends—Chandresh, Jocelyn, Timothy, even the irreverent Geoffrey—James learns what it means to return, and he is determined to return to his Sarah no matter the challenges—or the consequences. In the end, it may be up to Olivia, the most powerful of witches, to grant James’s most fervent wish. Will James and Sarah be reunited once and for all despite the madness surrounding them?

PRFL would like to extend a very warm welcome to Meredith Allard, author of Her Loving Husband series. Meredith, to begin, can you tell us where you're from, and what inspired you to become a writer?
I currently live in Las Vegas, though I consider L.A. my hometown since I lived there most of my life. I first thought of myself as a writer when I was 12 and I was asked to write our 6th grade graduation play. In truth, I was probably only asked because I had the neatest handwriting in the class, but I felt like a writer. In subsequent years, I had teachers who used my writing as examples for the class, and that added to my feeling that I was a writer. I knew that writing was in my future, and I tried out journalism and screenwriting but neither felt right. Finally, I found my way to writing novels and I knew I found my home.

Can you say that your journey to publication was difficult? If so, what were the hardest moments to get through?
My journey to publication was most certainly difficult. The hardest part for me, as I think it is for a lot of writers, was the rejection letters. With the Loving Husband Trilogy, I felt I had written a story people would like if only they had a chance to read it. With previous books, I had given up after a certain amount of rejection letters, but I wasn’t willing to give up with the Loving Husband Trilogy. I was lucky that the indie author movement was taking off just as I was ready to publish the Loving Husband Trilogy. Sometimes in life you have to make your own luck, and that’s what I did.
How do you overcome I-suck-itis, that little voice in your head that tells you your writing isn’t good enough?
I keep at it. I suffer from I-suck-itis a lot when I’m writing my first drafts because my first drafts really do suck (thank you to Anne Lamott for making the phrase “shitty first drafts” popular). But I’ve been writing long enough by now to know that if I make my way through the first draft, the second draft will be much better—much more focused and cohesive. So really what I do is keep writing, no matter how bad it is, with the knowledge that it will get better in time.
What is your dream vacation?
London, and I’m lucky enough to be going again this summer. For book research, of course...
Describe your writing style in five words.
Keep writing no matter what!
What movies are you currently excited to see?
I’ve been wanting to see the new X-Men movie since it came out. Hopefully it won’t be out of the theaters by the time I get there.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. It’s the second book in her Thomas Cromwell trilogy and I love it almost as much as the first, Wolf Hall.
If you weren’t a writer, what other careers would you pursue?
I would be a college professor, and I’m lucky enough to be able to pursue that dream as well.
For people who haven’t read your novels, how would you summarize the plot?
The Loving Husband Trilogy is about vampire James Wentworth and the only woman he has loved in over three hundred years, his wife Sarah. The first book, Her Dear & Loving Husband, is about James and Sarah finding each other again after more than a 300 year separation. Book Two, Her Loving Husband’s Curse, is about James and Sarah trying to piece their life back together again despite the fact that humans have learned of the existence of vampires. Book Three, Her Loving Husband’s Return, is about James making the ultimate sacrifice to stay by Sarah’s side.
To you, what makes a good story?
The characters are the most important thing in a story to me. Without interesting characters I care about, the rest of the story doesn’t matter. It could be the most interesting plot in the world with unexpected twists and turns, but if I don’t care about the character then I won’t care what happens to him or her.
What usually turns you off about a story?
I don’t care much for stories that don’t have a lot of detail. I like novels to be worlds unto themselves, but in order for me to feel like I’m in that world I need to know the details of what it’s like there. That’s a personal preference, since other readers prefer stories to be barebones so they can create the details in their own imaginations.
If you could collaborate with any author, who would you choose, and why?
Charles Dickens because he’s been so influential in my own writing, but he’s pretty dead so I don’t expect that to happen.
What is on your nightstand?
A clock, a lamp, and my iPad and my phone, both of which are being charged at the moment.
What is your favorite book?
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. I decided I wanted to write fiction after reading that book. Dickens is the perfect example of giving enough detail so that you feel you’re in the story alongside the characters. 

Thank you so much for joining us today, Meredith. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with your Her Loving Husband Series. 

About the Author:

Meredith Allard is the author of the best-selling novels The Loving Husband Trilogy, Victory Garden, Woman of Stones, and My Brother’s Battle (Copperfield Press). She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from California State University, Northridge. She has taught writing to students aged ten to sixty, and she has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction seminars at Learning Tree University, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Writers Conference. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 



Tour giveaway 
5 digital copies of the trilogy box set 

Monday, June 30, 2014

Author Interview & Giveaway: The Star Catcher by Stephanie Keyes

The Star Catcher
A Star Child Novel
Stephanie Keyes




Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Publishing Date: October 20, 2013 



About the Book:
Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves. Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper. Cali has been taken… Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right? Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?
Quotes about Star Catcher:
“Imaginative and fast-paced. Couldn’t put it down!”—EG Foley, New York Times bestselling author of The Gryphon Chronicles
“Magnificent—Keyes imagination is on fire!”—Linn B. Halton, author Never Alone


PRFL would like to extend a very warm welcome to Stephanie Keyes, author of The Star Catcher. Stephanie, to begin, can you tell us where you're from, and where/whom did your love for writing come from?
I am from the Steel City--Pittsburgh, PA! I couldn’t tell you where my love of writing came from. There are no writers anywhere in my family tree. I’m kind of the odd gal out. 

Can you say that your journey to publication was difficult? If so, what were the hardest moments to get through? 
Compared to other writers out there? It was a six-year process before my first book, The Star Child, was published. However, I know other writers, brilliant writers, who spent decades just writing their books and they still aren’t published. So I can’t say it was difficult with that in mind. The hardest moment, of course, is sending your work out to an agent or Publisher. It’s your baby and you love it. Having to let go like that is necessary, but brutal.

How do you overcome I-suck-at-this, that little voice in your head that tells you your writing isn’t good enough? S
o that’s part of my process. I get an idea, I get excited, I write, then I go through the “I SUCK!” dilemma at least five more times. I get over it though, because I know deep down that my story deserves a chance to be read. I’m also really masochistic. If something is difficult/scary I keep pushing ahead because I know it’ll probably make me better. We all have those moments, but what defines us is when we push through them.

What is your dream vacation? 
I would love to go on a tour of Europe: France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria… Okay, I have to stop now, I’m getting too excited about this vacation and I’m not even taking it.

Describe your writing style in five words. 
Literary Magical Action-Packed Romantic Intense

What movies are you currently excited to see?
Maleficent

What are you currently reading? 
Endure by Carrie Jones

If you weren’t a writer, what other careers would you pursue? Graphic Design
If you could create a holiday of your own, what would it be called?
International Have An Awesome Attitude Day!

For people who haven’t read your novel, how would you summarize the plot? 
Since this is book three here’s an overview. Geeky brain-fest of a guy, Kellen St, James, is haunted by a girl, Calienta, whom he thinks isn’t real. When it turns out she’s not only real but tells him he has to save the world from darkness, he has to save the world using only his guts. But his methods piss of a bunch of Celtic faeries, the Children of Danu, and they go after him and a power they think he has. When it turns out Kellen is destined to be the master of that power, he must use it to save Calienta and stop the Star Catcher, from stealing power from all the stars in the sky.

What are two of your pet-peeves? 
Rudeness. Entitlement.

To you, what makes a good story? 
A great adventure and a great romance.

What usually turns you off about a story? 
Whiny peoplewho don’t take action to resolve their own undesirable circumstances.

If you could collaborate with any author, who would you choose? 
Cate Tiernan

What is on your nightstand? 
A picture of my dad, a baby monitor, a lamp, my stereo dock for my phone, and my kindle!

What is your favorite book?
The Book of Dreams, by OR Melling

I would like to do a special giveaway on this day, since it’s my birthday. J I’ll award one signed copy of The Star Catcher to someone the blogger picks.


Wonderful! Thank you so much for joining us today, Stephanie. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with The Star Catcher


About the Author:
Stephanie Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child, After Faerie, The Fallen Stars, and the soon to-be-released finale, The Star Catcher (November 2013), all from by Inkspell Publishing. Mrs. Keyes is hard at work on a new YA Paranormal Romance.
Mrs. Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University and a M.Ed. from Duquesne University. She is a member of the Society For Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as a featured author in the global group of writers, Love a Happy Ending.com.
Author Links:
Website | FacebookTwitter 


Giveaway:
1-Signed Copy of The Star Catcher
1-Star Child Series Swag Pack

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Author Interview, Book Spotlight & Giveaway: The Alliance Series by SE. Smith

Razor’s Traitorous Heart
The Alliance, Book 2
SE Smith

About the Book:
Kali Parks is a shadow in the war between two factions that are fighting to gain control of Chicago. Born and raised on the streets, she stands as a silent sentinel at her brother’s side as he battles to gain control. She will do whatever it takes to bring peace to those she has pledged her life to protect, including fighting against the creatures that came to their world almost six years before.

Razor, a councilman for the Alliance, has been sent to oversee the remaining Trivator troops on Earth and make sure the transition for the induction of Earth into the Alliance goes smoothly. He is the one the Alliance calls when they have a situation that needs to be resolved once and for all. His reputation for dealing with difficult rebels is renowned. He asks no questions and takes no prisoners. His job is to eliminate all threats to the Alliance.

He finds himself torn between duty and something he is unfamiliar with, his heart. When a shadow warrior saves his life and disappears, he discovers his world is no longer as cut and dry as he thought. The more he learns, the more he discovers he is not immune to the warrior’s passionate desire to fight to protect her people.

Forced by duty to settle the conflict, he must decide between the Alliance and his own desire to claim the unwilling warrior. When the conflict escalates, he does the only thing he can; he makes a pact with one of the factions in exchange for a prize that will surely cause a battle of a different kind – the one for his traitorous heart.

Will he be able to claim her before she escapes from him again? Or worse, will she sacrifice her life to protect those she loves before he can?






Hunter’s Claim
The Alliance, Book 1
SE Smith


About the Book:
Jesse Sampson and her two younger sisters have lived a hard life on the streets of Seattle, Washington for the past several years.

Four years before, the Earth received its first visitors from space causing mass fear.

Alone in a world gone mad with just her sisters, she has learned to use the darkness and the remains of the city to survive and keep what was left of her family alive. She has seen the savage side of human nature and finds they are not much different from the aliens who conquered Earth.

The Trivators have taken control of Earth to prevent the humans from destroying it in their fear.

A world of warriors, they are sent out by the Alliance of Star Systems to seek out new worlds. Their mission is first contact. They are to establish communications with the leaders of the new worlds they find and bring them into the Alliance.

Any resistance is to be quickly subdued to prevent unnecessary death of the inhabitants of the new worlds they find. Their payment comes from the success of their mission.

Hunter is what he is called. A hunter, one of the elite clans of the Trivators who seek out those who resist. His abilities to track, capture and eliminate those who try to harm any warrior is renowned.

He finds the tables turned when he becomes the one captured by a group of ruthless humans. Hunter is shocked when a strange human female risks her life to help him escape only to disappear into the ruins of the city.

He now has a new mission, finding the female who saved his life. He is determined to find her before she is damaged by others of her kind.

What he finds is a reward beyond comprehension to a Trivator warrior, a family.

Can he convince Jesse that he can give her and her younger sisters a better life on his world? Or will fear keep her from accepting what he has to offer?

Available Now:


Interiew:
PRFL would like to extend a very warm welcome to S.E. Smith, author of The Alliance series. SE, to begin, can you tell us where you're from, and where did your desire to write come from? 
Where am I from? I'm an Air Force brat, so I can honestly say from a little bit of here and there. My hometown is a ghost town now. The sign as you enter states it is the Home of the Adventurous. I think that truly fits my personality. I believe my love for writing comes from a grandfather I never met. My grandfather was killed in an oil field accident shortly before I was born but one of the things that ignited my imagination was a poem he wrote that my mom showed me when I was about twelve. The poem was about a tornado that hit Hope, Arkansas and told the story of those that died that tragic night. The words of the story sent shivers through me because I could feel the pain and hopeless of those who lived through that terrible night. So, if I had to give credit, it would be to the grandfather I never knew.

Can you say that your journey to publication was difficult? If so, what were the hardest moments to get through?
I wouldn't say it was difficult as much as frustrating. I didn't know anything about self-publishing when I first started. I think the first year of learning the process one mistake at a time was the most difficult. That is one reason why I don't mind reaching out to aspiring authors and helping them when I can. Whether it is guiding them through the writing process, giving them feedback, or showing them how to format their stories, I hope to smooth the path for those who have a great story to tell.

How do you overcome i-suck-at this, that little voice in your head that tells you your writing isn’t good enough?
How did you know about that? Have you been talking to my counselor? LOL. In reality, I do hear that little voice on occasion. When I do, I read back through the emails, posts, and positive reviews. This helps calm the voice so I can lock it away until it escapes the next time I'm feeling down in the dumps.

What is your dream vacation?
Being stranded on a deserted island with my hubby and a solar-power charger for my iPad/computer so I can write. Okay, I might have to pack a few extra things as well including full Internet service. The second would be the same but in a mountain cabin in the middle of the forest.

Describe your writing style in five words.
Pantser, dreamer, humor, loyalty, love.

What movies are you currently excited to see?
I just saw Edge of Tomorrow and loved it! It had the hint of romance in it but most of all it had the action, adventure and touch of humor that I could appreciate.

What are you currently reading?
Sealed with a Kiss by Mina Khan. I wanted to read the other stories so bad in the Alphas Unleashed anthology but the ladies were very protective of their stories! I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I'm also waiting for Lucy Kelly's next book, HeVan and Earth, to be released.

If you weren’t a writer, what other careers would you pursue?
Up until a week ago I had a different career. I am a highly certified teacher and I was a Technical Support Specialist. My focus was helping teachers, students and staff with their technology needs. It was a very difficult choice, but I knew that I wanted to pursue my writing career.

If you could create a holiday of your own, what would it be called?
Make a friend day. It would be one day a year when everyone had to reach out and make one new friend somewhere in the world. Not sure if there is already a day like that. I could always Google it, I guess, but I like to think it is something I just wished for.

For people who haven’t read your novel, how would you summarize the plot?
My books focus on the relationship the characters, no matter how minor, have with each other. There is lots of action, adventure, suspense, passion and, yes, love. Most of all, it is about people who are thurst into situations and how they deal with it.

What are two of your pet-peeves?
Argh!!! Okay, you asked! People who say negative things when they could say the same thing in a positive way and people who buy a book, read all of it, and return it.

To you, what makes a good story?
To me a good story has several key elements. It has to have strong characters. It has to have a good story that involves these characters and their interaction. It has to contain the fine balance between being strong and understanding when it is okay not to be. Not everyone can be strong all the time. Everyone makes mistakes. The biggest thing is how do you handle it? That is the fine balance.

What usually turns you off about a story?
A story turn-off for me is wimpy characters, characters who are unfaithful and who try to justify it as being okay, or stories with no backbone in them. These are the biggest turn offs for me.

If you could collaborate with any author, who would you choose, and why?
Autumn Dawn would probably be my first choice. She has one character (okay, more than one) but one character that I would love to know his story! I have written his story several times in my head and would be interested to see what she came up with.

What is on your night stand?
Not much! A clock radio, a lamp, and at night, the two stuffed animal puppies my grandson gave me when my dog passed away from cancer so I would never be without one again.

What is your favorite book?
The Secret Garden, hands down. Not only is it a great story, I can't help but remember my dad reading it to me. That is something I will always treasure. The story contains just the right touch of mystery and magic that captures my attention and makes me believe. 

Thank you so much for joining us today, SE. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with the series. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
S. E. Smith is a USA Today Best Selling Author and has been ranked in the top 100 Authors on Amazon with 12 books at one time in Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers in multiple genres. A prolific author with books in science fiction romance and fantasy romance, her books are full of action and adventure and focuses on the relationships and the unusual situations her characters find themselves. Susan invites you to come take a journey to romance that takes you to new worlds.

AUTHOR CONTACT LINK:



TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS: 
GRAND PRIZE: $50 Amazon Card
FIRST & SECOND PLACE:  will each receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card
RUNNERS UP:  5 runner ups will receive a signed paperback copy of Razor’s Traitorous Heart.