Q&A & New Website!

Get to know me a little better and see what I have in store for one of my next YA novels! Read more from my Q&A at the UnCommonYA blog.

Also, if you haven't checked out my new website, what are you waiting for? You can order autographed copies of my books now too!

Agent Interview: Natalie Lakosil

I recently interviewed my fun and fabulous agent, Natalie Lakosil, who can hammer out a book deal and deliver a baby at the same time! If you’re an author looking for a literary agent, I also include links to my blog posts on searching for an agent and questions to ask an agent if you get The Call. Read the interview here

Book Release & Interview: COME HELL OR HIGH DESIRE

(Click Banner for Blog Tour page)

Today, I interview Misty Dietz and spotlight her debut novel, COME HELL OR HIGH DESIRE. Read more to learn what and who inspired Misty to write her novel and what she’s working on next! Plus, I have a fun and awesome excerpt! Be sure to enter the super cool international giveaway at the bottom.

Title:  Come Hell or High Desire
Author: Misty Dietz
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing
Release Date:  August 12, 2013
Format:  eBook 

Buy Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

Back Cover Blurb:

 

Torn between dangerous desires…

 

Framed for a series of brutal murders, rebel-turned-CEO Zack Goldman must go to ground. When he discovers that sexy boutique owner Sloane Swift has a shocking gift—terrifying visions that connect her to his mentor’s missing daughter—he can’t believe her refusal to help him. Nor can he believe he’s actually falling for the frustrating woman.

 

Their chemistry will either find its perfect equation…

 

Helping an accused killer ranks low on Sloane’s to-do list, no matter how hot the attraction burns between them. But putting to rest her overwhelming guilt over the missing girl’s fate proves more difficult than she ever imagined…that is, until her heart and conscience begin to align.

 

…or detonate everything in its path.

 

As the real killer locks in on Sloane, Zack will stop at nothing to keep her safe. And as they earn each other’s trust—with danger in hot pursuit—they may just lose their hearts in the process…

 

Interview with Misty Dietz

 

Welcome Misty! Let's start with some basics:

 

What country or state do you live in? North Dakota. Yes, for real! J

 

What’s your day job (other than writing)? Mom & Zumba instructor

 

What’s your secret passion? Secret?!? I can’t tell! Haha, just kiddin’…My guiltiest pleasure is lying in a hammock at the lake with a book. I also love kayaking and paddle boarding. Like, really a lot.

The hammock at the lake sounds lovely and peaceful. Now let's move on to the tough questions!

What inspired you to write this book?

COME HELL OR HIGH DESIRE was inspired by several things: the Red River which is one block from my house and the border line between North Dakota and Minnesota; my heroine’s boutique Skinny Dipping was fashioned after a local Fargo, ND, shop called O’Day Cache (kicks ass! I could spend hours in there.); and finally, I drew inspiration for Zack, my hero, from three men whom I love the most: my hubby (Zack’s calm and protective nature), my brother (Zack’s introspection and fearlessness), and my first love—my dad—who is a construction entrepreneur (Zack’s like-a-rock steadiness and down-in-the-trenches work ethic). 

What’s the first creative writing you did outside school or a class?

As a sophomore in high school I wrote a short story about a single mother from Barbados who survived a hurricane, but, in the wake of the disaster, had to deal with unhappy ghosts. I have NO idea where that idea came from! And I have no idea where those laser printed pages went either. Hopefully they’ll never be discovered. LOL 

If you didn’t live where you live now, where would you live? Why?

In my dreams, I live somewhere warm by the ocean. Coastal Malaysia and Fiji sound dreamy. Why? Sand in my toes and sun on my face. Beautiful scenery and crystalline water. No more scraping ice off my windshield in minus thirty degree weather. The things we put up with because we can’t bear to be apart from our family! LOL

If you were to invent something (besides fiction), what would it be?

A machine that folds laundry!

I would love a laundry folding machine! Tell us one thing about you that would surprise people?

I write suspense and read scary stuff, but I hate horror movies. In other words…I’m a big chicken! 

What are your pet peeves?

Disrespectful behavior, when people don’t open or hold doors for the elderly, people who text and drive.

Are you a pantser or plotter?

I’m a plotter upside down, inside out, and crossways, so I generally fight it when my characters insist on drawing outside the lines, but they always win. J

What’s the best piece of advice given to you? 

Be present. We move through life so fast sometimes I wonder if we’re even enjoying it. It’s like preparing a fantastic meal that you scarf down in five minutes. What’s the point of working so hard if we’re not taking the time to relish the fruits of our labor? Being present means clearing the static in your mind to pour your focus on what’s right in front of you. It’s quite delicious when you manage it. My husband is fantastic at it.

That's a great piece of advice! Give us a hint about your current writing project.

I am so excited to focus on my next project! It’s a sexy paranormal romantic suspense series set in the lawless North Dakota oil fields that follows the f*ck ups and hook-ups of an estranged group of cowboys and cowgirls as they try to work through their explosive conflicts in order to return a violent wraith to her resting place. But she’s got a big-time score to settle…and nothing to lose.

Thank you so much for having me, Erin, this was fun! If anyone wants to be entered in the giveaway (see below), they can feel free to answer any of these same questions because they’re awesome! J

Excerpt

Her fingernails suddenly raked at her skull. “Lord! I almost forgot. We have to go back to Ann’s. She has a diary!”

 

He swerved into an empty parking lot and swiveled to face her, blood pounding in his ears. 

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Ann keeps a diary. We have to find it.”

 

“You’re just telling me this now? You should have goddamn said something right away!”

 

“Don’t you dare curse at me like that, you seismic jackass!”

 

He had to get out. He flung the truck door open and strode onto the cracked asphalt. Her door slammed shut moments later, and within seconds she was wagging a finger in his face. “And don’t you walk away from me, either!”

 

“Then don’t be such a damn shrew.”

 

Color flooded over her cheekbones seconds before she punched him in the gut. Hard. An ancient fire lit up his nerve circuits and adrenaline had him widening his stance. His heart gunned.

 

His groin tightened.

 

And she was still shrill.

 

“I’m not a shrew! How am I supposed to act in a situation like this? You think I’m enjoying this? I hate it! But unfortunately I have a conscience which would haunt me for the rest of my life if I don’t follow this through until we have some answers. You came to me and wanted to rule out the church first. Then with everything that happened, I forgot about the diary until right now. That clear enough for you, you—”

 

Clear enough, honey.

 

He vised her head between his palms and kissed her. He hadn’t meant to, but the moment her mouth opened to his, he was lost. Not breaking contact with her mouth, he wrapped one arm around her, his hand splaying across her ass, locking her hips against him. Her hands were in his hair, her hips grinding, driving him crazy. They feasted on each other’s mouth, tongues dueling, daring, seeking. He felt her fingers between their bodies, slipping underneath the waistband of his jeans, pulling at the hem of his shirt. Her fingernail scraped his abs and he groaned. She leaned away from his mouth, her eyes dead sexy. Liquid brown. He was gonna—

 

A car horn blew, jerking him back to life. Back to the parking lot. He looked over to see a man in a black minivan at a stoplight giving them the thumbs up. He honked twice more, waved, and drove on.

 

Sloane burst into a fit of laughter that quickly dissolved into tears.

 

And that clinched it. He’d woken up this morning in some creepy-assed Twilight Zone.
 

About Misty Dietz

Misty’s love affair with words started in middle school when she penned dark stories set in exotic locales she knew nothing about. In college, her boy-angst spilled over into disturbing reams of poetry. After grad school, real life hit, and the writing went into hibernation until she found her own happily-ever-after with an ultra linear man who is the long-suffering counter-balance to her zig-zagging tendencies. Now, she spends her days writing emotionally complex, adrenaline-fueled stories, teaching Zumba, and praying her children don’t come home with math homework.

 

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

Goodreads | Pinterest

 

 

Giveaway!

 

Misty is giving away the AWESOME items in this picture. Please enter using the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

 

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

List of Blog Participants

 

Book Release & Interview: BLOOD IN THE STARS

I’m excited to host debut author Jennifer Shea and her paranormal romance, BLOOD IN THE STARS, which released today! HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, Jennifer! I’ve had a chance to read an early version of the novel and it’s a must read for any lover of paranormal romance. Read more about BLOOD IN THE STARS and Jennifer in my interview below. Look for my review to come later in the month.

Title:  Blood in the Stars
Author: Jennifer Shea
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Soul Mate Publishing
Release Date:  August 7, 2013
Format:  eBook 

Buy Links:
Amazon
Soul Mate Publishing

Back Cover Blurb:

 

After Daria Mathew’s handsome blind date rescues her from a fire, she realizes she doesn’t want to die without ever finding love.  When monsters come for her life, her date turned protector reveals her flesh and blood can grant untold powers.  Warm and caring, he saves her countless times and wins her heart.  But his motivations are shrouded in a dark past and Daria must fight for his love and for her life.

 

Jason Angel’s failure to kill led to the death of the last woman he protected and loved.  He vows to keep Daria safe no matter the price.  As they grow closer, he fears he will repeat his past mistakes and fail to protect her.  He is faced with a hard choice―embrace the dark powers of his family to protect Daria, or keep his hands clean and have a chance to claim her love.

 

But Jason’s family is hiding a horrifying secret about Daria’s powers, one they will do anything to keep safe.  For this secret will not only change the balance of power in the realm but also destroy their chances to be together.

 

Interview with Jennifer Shea

 

Jen, thanks for taking the time interview with me and telling us about your debut novel! Let's start with the basics:

 

What country or state do you live in?

Northern California with all the tech geeks

 

What’s your day job (other than writing)?

I work in high tech.  It takes me to the others sides of the ocean at many times a year.

 

What’s your secret passion?

If I told you it wouldn’t be a secret anymore, now would it?  :P
 

Come on spill your secrets! No? Okay, well then, let's move on to the interview!

 

Was there one book that inspired you to write? What book was it and who is the author? What made it stick with you?

 

There’s never been that one book so much as all books.  Books are like my friends and I loathe giving anyway.  I’ve been creating stories in my head for as long as I can remember and have written then down for almost as long.  I will say that I fell in love with historical romances with Judith McNaught and Jude Devereaux.  They still grace my bookshelves.

 

What’s the best and worst part of being an author?

 

Best?  The creation process.  Watching the world and character unveil at your fingertips.  The worst is probably when they don’t do what you want them to do.  (laughs)  Non-writers always give me an askance look when I say that, but writers know that the characters are never as obedient as you think.  You’re playing “God” but they really do have a mind of their own.  Sometimes I end up writing myself into a corner and just don’t have to hit the magical “delete” button.  And maybe a close second “worst” is when I finish the book and am sad that the journey with them has ended.

 

What are your pet peeves?

Misspellings and bad grammar in writing. 

 

Did you publish the first book you wrote? If not, how many books did you write before publishing your first?

 

Honestly, I’ve lost count.  Hang on, let me count on my fingers.  Um…I finished my first romance novel in college (I wrote others before that) and now I’m on number 8?  9?  Then there are the half-finished ones, which would probably bring me to a dozen or so.  Now that the market has changed and the industry is so fragmented, I am thinking about some of my older novels for publication.  It’s a “brave new world” out there and authors and readers have more choices open to them than ten years ago.  I’m not opposed to self-publishing given the right story and editing.

 

What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?

 

We’ve all had days where we’ve received rejections, a bad review, or even hate mail.  You just can’t let it get you down to the point where you can’t write.  If you’re a writer, you know there’s no glamour, there’s no fame, and there’s no money (for the vast majority of us) – we write because we love it, because we don’t know how NOT to write.  Remember why you love to write, why it’s as important as breathing to your existence, and then those bad days won’t matter so much in the grand scheme of your life.

 

Give us a hint about your current writing project.

 

I have so many projects that I keep telling myself I will get back to or finish.  The main focus is to wrap up the second book in this series.  It features Miller and Candy from the first book.  They are so much fun to work with because the sexual tension flies off the page.  I also have a contemporary romance that has zero magical elements, but 100% pains of real life.  Sigh.  I don’t have enough fingers and hours in a day to write all of my books.  Lastly, I’m working on editing a few of my historical romances.  Historicals have a special place in my heart and I vow I will return to them one day.

 

Again, thanks for being here today, and I wish you good luck with your debut novel, BLOOD IN THE STARS, and with all your upcoming projects.

 

About Jennifer Shea

 

Jennifer Shea has been spinning stories in her head for ages. When she was a child, she didn't know how to write, so she'd have her family write down the stories she dictated while Jennifer drew in the pictures. For some strange reason, all of her stories had to have a happy ending. It wasn't until she discovered romances as a teenager did she discover why. She was a romance reader and novelist at heart.

 

Jennifer joined RWA in 2001 after completing her first historical romance novel. She loves a great historical romance and plans to go back and write them again one day. For now, she is busy writing paranormal romances and urban fantasies with strong romantic elements. When she isn't writing, she's working on her website, blogging, reading, and daydreaming about her next great hero and heroine. She lives in Northern California and her day job keeps her busy traveling the world.

Author Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

 

Camdeboo Nights Tour and Author Interview

 

I’m excited to host and interview Nerine Dorman as she tours with her exciting paranormal romance novel, Camdeboo Nights. Find out what inspired Nerine to write and what makes her tick! 

Title:  Camdeboo Nights
Author:  Nerine Dorman
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
Release Date:  January 30, 2013
Format:  eBook

Back Cover Blurb (excerpt below):

Helen Ashfield’s world is about to be turned upside down. Is she ready?

Helen Ashfield’s life is complicated. Not only must she adjust to her parents’ divorce, but she has to come to grips with her new school in the small South African Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet. She’s sorely mistaken if she thinks she’s going to slot seamlessly into her new life. Her growing magical powers have attracted the unwanted attention of Trystan, a vampire, who may not have her best interests at heart.

Outcast from his kind for drinking another vampire’s blood, Trystan has been on the run for almost a hundred years from Mantis–the closest thing their kind has to an enforcer. All Trystan wants is an existence of quiet anonymity, but Helen turns his world upside-down.

Helen’s powers also mark her as one of Mantis’ targets. If Mantis gets control of Helen, she’ll change the course of history…for the worse.

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

 

Nerine Dorman Interview

What country or state do you live in? South Africa

 

What’s your day job (other than writing)? Newspaper sub-editor, writer, fiction editor, film production assistant, driver… I wear many hats.

 

What’s your secret passion? Well-written fanfiction imbibed with hot chocolate and a crackling fireplace.

 

Now that we got all the basics aside, let’s learn a bit more about Nerine and Camdeboo Nights!

 

Was there one book that inspired you to write? What book was it and who is the author? What made it stick with you?  I lay the blame squarely on JRR Tolkien’s doorstep. The first fantasy novel I ever read was The Lord of the Rings and I was never quite the same after that. I think what got me was the fact that the author created an entire world, complete with different races, culture and an epic history. I wanted to create stories like that. I wanted to be in charge like that, especially since I wasn’t fully in control of my own life back then.

 

JRR Tolkien also started me on the road to reading and writing fantasy after I read The Hobbit. He certainly inspired many authors. What inspired you to write Camdeboo Nights? I wanted to write an adventure. It started with the idea of a vampire who is on the run because of some terrible crime, only he finds himself the inadvertent custodian of a very precious person. And I was also very much inspired by my love for the South African landscape, and wanted to write a road trip story to end all road trip stories.

 

What’s the first creative writing you did outside school or a class? From the age of about 11 I started keeping a journal, but at the age of 12 started to write my own fumbling attempts at fantasy stories. Looking back now I see I was writing thinly veiled Highlander fanfics, but it got me started. I think the only time I ever stopped writing was for about three or four years in my early twenties when I listened to a boyfriend’s advice when he told me my writing was too sentimental to ever sell. Well, it turns out he was very, very wrong. 

 

I loved the Highlander franchise! It inspired my love for Scottish historicals and I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland. If you didn’t live where you live now, where would you live? Why?  I’d like to be mobile and spend time in Ireland. I was on a media visit there in 2011 and fell in love with that beautiful country. Other than that, I have family in Australia, so I’d like to spend some time there. Apparently Melbourne is the place to be if you’re a creative. But by equal measure I’d like to do my Great American road trip and spend time hanging out in NYC. London is also on my map, and I’d like to visit the Netherlands and France, where my ancestors come from.

 

Ireland’s beautiful. It’s another placed I’d love to visit. Where else would you like to travel to research your next book? Why?  Ooh, I’ve been threatening to write a novel set in Egypt for donkeys’ years now. If I had the time and resources I’d definitely spend a good few weeks in Egypt poking about the temples and museums. I’ve got a great love for ancient Egypt, which is reflected in a lot of what I write.

 

What’s the best and worst part of being an author?  The best part is that moment when inspiration strikes and all the ideas hook up nicely. The other best part is when the words just flow without effort. The worst part is definitely finding the time to revise. I seem to have a built-in resistance when it comes to getting my butt on the chair to revise – but this part is as important, if not more so, than writing new words so I have to do it at some point.

 

What’s one thing in your book that you took from personal experience?  If I tell you, then I’m going to have to kill you… LOL, just kidding. I admit to borrowing A LOT from real life. People who know me well will be able to tell the truth from fiction. I make no secret that I do sneak stuff in that’s true, but I definitely adapt it and modify it. Life is often stranger than fiction, as they say. 

 

Real life is a great inspiration for an author. Just don’t tell where you got the idea from and you won’t have to kill anyone! LOL. What’s the one thing about you that would surprise people?  Seriously? I’m actually just a big softie. I’m not as hardcore/evil/wicked as people seem to assume from the way I dress and present myself to the world. It’s all just a big front. LOL!

 

I love your author picture! It made me wonder if that’s who you are on a daily basis! So what are your pet peeves (that might turn you into that scary, evil persona)?  People who don’t know their boundaries and try to manipulate others emotionally. Or people who constantly run themselves down to the point that you eventually don’t want to encourage them because you know they’re just going to look for excuses to focus on their negative aspects. My attitude is: life’s shit, let’s get on with it and do cool stuff and have fun. I don’t have time for people who’re on a permanent negative buzz. I’ve had far too many low points in my life. I want to be happy.

 

I agree about the negativity. You can’t let it get you down. Life is full of low points and high points and it makes you real (and not the scary, evil persona LOL). Let’s shake things up and talk about writing. Are you a pantser or plotter?  A bit of both, really. I do like having a basic skeleton but then I tend to move the bones around and add bits here and there in subsequent revisions.

 

If your book were made into a TV show or movie, who would you want to play the main character(s)?  That’s a hard one. I just don’t *see* their faces in terms of celebrities when I write. I think the only characters that really were over-the-top inspired by real people Ash from my novel Inkarna, and a character in a fantasy novel that I keep seeing a young version of Julian Rhind-Tutt. I guess what I’m saying is that I give enough description so readers can make up their own minds who they’d like to cast.

 

Did you publish the first book you wrote? If not, how many books did you write before publishing your first?  I’m embarrassed to say yes. But I burnt the second one I ever wrote. And I wrote many, many notebooks full of drivel for many years before I wrote my first novel. I don’t even know how many million words which I eventually burnt. None of these stories were finished; I’d get past the first three or four chapters, only to stall. 

 

What was your favorite book as a kid? What’s your favorite book now?  As a kid it was The Lord of the Rings. I bought the centenary edition with prize money I won for achieving academically at school when I was 12, and I still have it. It really fits the bill as a “hefty tome” and I still have it on my shelf. Love the illustrations by Alan Lee.  

 

What’s the best piece of advice given to you?  Don’t be precious about your words. 

 

What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?  Read a lot, and outside your genre, and don’t be precious about your words.  

 

Give us a hint about your current writing project.  I have a fantasy novel I’m busy editing that I’ll be self-publishing later this year. It features a talking griffin as the protagonist and I have my sincere doubts that any publisher at this point would love chatty griffins, so I’m publishing this one for myself because I love it. Then there’s a middle grade fantasy novel I’ve got to revise that will go on the submission mill for agents and publishers. I seem to be writing and selling short stories to anthologies left right and centre, but I’d dearly love to finish writing the third book in my The Books of Khepera series.

 

Excerpt

Armed with her grandmother’s shopping list, Helen ran out to the familiar silver Volvo, looking forward to speaking with Arwen, only to discover Szandor and another woman with a teased-out mop of white-blond hair waited in the car.

The woman turned icy gray eyes on Helen, giving her the impression that she could read each of Helen’s secrets.

 

She was pale, which wasn’t helped by the funerary aspect of her clothing–a buttoned-up sleeveless shirt with a cameo at her throat. When she moved, an audible swish of many layers of satin and chiffon filled the vehicle.

This must be the aunt. She couldn’t be the mother. The resemblance to Szandor was almost uncanny.

Szandor smiled, but the pleasure did not reach his eyes. “This is Sonja, my sister. Sonja, this is Arwen’s new friend, Helen.” Sonja gave the briefest of frowns before facing the window.

“Uh, hi,” Helen said, wishing that she could be anywhere else but in this car with these peculiar people. The journey to Graaff-Reinet would be just over half an hour but it would feel like an eternity.

Szandor made a sound that was almost a snigger before turning the key. If only Damon were here, but her brother had gone to visit the Prof the instant his chores were done.

They drove in silence, with only the hiss of the air-conditioner as accompaniment, until they left the valley. Then Szandor said, “Did you enjoy the films last night, Helen?”

She thought her heart would explode. Should she lie? Should she allow the story to filter through without some of the pertinent details?

“I… Uh. Yes.” She had watched films after Trystan had walked them home. Granted, she hadn’t been able to concentrate on any of the onscreen action.

 

“Oh,” Szandor said.

She caught a glimpse of his amused expression in the rearview mirror.

Bloody hell, of course he didn’t believe her. What did she expect?

“You haven’t seen or heard anything that you would consider out of the ordinary, have you?” Szandor asked.

 

“Um, no.”

“You’ll tell us if you do, won’t you?” Szandor asked. It was more a command than a question.

“I guess so.” Helen clutched the seat with white-knuckled hands.

Her grandmother’s amused tones echoed in her memory. The whole lot of them, they’re all witches. The father, too.

 

How far would Szandor push his craft? What could he do? Was she in any danger? If there was the superstitious fear of witchcraft that was prevalent among the indigenous Africans…

She’d read a little about the subject a few years previously while researching for a painting for her art classes. Witchcraft was a fascinating topic but she had never expected to ever deal with the real thing. Now her present situation seemed very real and very menacing.

“Where’s Arwen?” Helen hoped to steer their conversation to safer territory. She may as well have said “Nice weather, we’re having.”

“Arwen has been grounded,” Szandor said, his pale gaze reading the road ahead.

Oh heck. He knew.

“Oh.” Perhaps it would be better to say nothing at all then she wouldn’t dig herself a deeper hole.

 

The rest of the ride passed in uncomfortable silence. Helen pressed her face against the glass and hoped nothing more would be said.

She hated deception of any kind. Whenever she lied, she always ended up being caught out. Instead, she watched the passing landscape, where gray-blue spiked agave lined the road in clumps. Every so often jeep tracks led from the road they followed and she wondered where they went.

 

About Nerine Dorman

An editor and multi-published author, Nerine Dorman currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa, with her visual artist husband. Some of the publishers with whom she works include Dark Continents Publishing and eKhaya (an imprint of Random House Struik). She has been involved in the media industry for more than a decade, with a background in magazine and newspaper publishing, commercial fiction, and print production management within a below-the-line marketing environment. Her book reviews, as well as travel, entertainment and lifestyle editorial regularly appear in national newspapers. A few of her interests include music travel, history (with emphasis on Egypt), psychology, philosophy, magic and the natural world.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Camdeboo Nights Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books

 

Blog Tour Participants